Rubina and Cohen win Democratic primary for Princeton Council

Pair advances to November ballot after four-way race for two council seats

Newcomer Marina Rubina and incumbent David Cohen won the Democratic primary for Princeton Council on Tuesday in a four-way contest for the two seats up for grabs on the governing body.

With all precincts reporting, Rubina received 2,588 votes, or 30.33% of the vote, while Cohen earned 2,429 votes, or 28.46%.

Jon Durbin finished third with 2,095 votes, or 24.55%, and Kemilola Leanna Jahnke received 1,400 votes, or 16.40%. Democratic voters also cast 22 write-in votes.

Rubina finished first among the four candidates, while Cohen secured the second nomination by a margin of 334 votes over Durbin.

Only 14.85 percent of Princeton’s registered voters turned out to vote on Primary Day, according to the Mercer County Clerk’s website.

In November, Rubina and Cohen will face Republican Antonio Merolli, who received 237 votes, or 94.05%, in the Republican primary. A Republican write-in candidate will also appear on the November ballot.

Councilwoman Leticia Fraga did not seek reelection.

The winners of the November election will serve three-year terms on the Princeton Council beginning in January.