TOMS RIVER – Longtime Ocean County Democratic Chairman Wyatt Earp secured another four-year term Tuesday, defeating reform challenger Alison Miller in a closely watched leadership battle that exposed deep divisions within the county party while also highlighting a shared desire to rebuild Democratic representation in one of New Jersey’s most Republican counties.
Parliamentarian Jeff Horn announced that Earp defeated Miller by a vote of 230-180 during the Ocean County Democratic Organization’s reorganization convention. The victory extends Earp’s tenure atop the organization to more than two decades. He has served as county chairman since 2005.
Joining Earp on the victorious Team OC Dems slate were Vice Chair Kathy Frisch, Treasurer Dan Ward, Recording Secretary Gabe Franco, Corresponding Secretary Dave Dolan and Sergeant-at-Arms Nick Montenegro.
The reform slate, backed by Ocean Democrats for Progress, included Miller for chair, Point Pleasant Borough’s Owen Bros for vice chair, Toms River’s Casey Bailey for treasurer, Toms River’s Laurie Singer for recording secretary, Long Beach Township’s Pat Trotter for corresponding secretary and Brick Township’s Kaitlyn Beacham for sergeant-at-arms.
Two Leaders, Two Backgrounds
Earp brought decades of political and labor experience to the race. Before retiring in December 2025, he spent more than 45 years with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, serving as the union’s Third District international representative and lead political organizer for New Jersey and Delaware. Supporters credit that experience with helping him build and maintain Democratic infrastructure in a county where Republicans hold a significant advantage.
Asked why he continues to lead the organization after more than 20 years, Earp said simply, “I actually, I really care. I mean, I really do. I want to be helpful. I like people.”
He added, “I’m passionate about doing this.”
Stafford Township Democrat Alison Miller, who challenged incumbent Chairman Wyatt Earp for leadership of the Ocean County Democratic Organization, speaks with supporters following Tuesday night’s vote. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Challenging Earp was Stafford Democratic Club President Alison Miller, who grew up in Rockaway Beach, Queens, and spent decades in New York City, where she became active in politics through the Working Families Party in the late 1990s. She later served three terms on Manhattan Community Board Two and on a school leadership team in New York City.
Professionally, Miller founded a chocolate and bakery company in 2001 that eventually expanded internationally before she sold the business in 2016. She moved to New Jersey in 2012 after much of her family had relocated here.
Miller said her experiences convinced her that Ocean County Democrats needed to become more active and better organized.
“I see how much passion and drive and skills and talent there are that is untapped,” Miller said. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”
A Party Divided
The race was Earp’s second contested reorganization election in four years. In 2022, he defeated former Toms River Councilman Terrance Turnbach and Lacey Democrat Tara Kownacki by a vote of 264-204.
For months, the campaign played out on social media, through campaign literature and in conversations among Democratic activists across the county.
Ocean Democrats for Progress argued that the party needs new leadership, greater transparency and a stronger focus on recruiting candidates and engaging grassroots activists.
The reform group pointed to statistics showing Democrats held 39 elected offices in 14 municipalities in 2006 but now hold just eight elected positions in only three municipalities. Organizers also said 42 percent of county committee seats are currently vacant and projected that more than 60 percent could remain unfilled in the next cycle.
Supporters of Earp countered that those numbers must be viewed in the context of Ocean County’s political reality. Republicans currently outnumber Democrats by approximately 100,000 registered voters, making Ocean County one of the strongest Republican counties in New Jersey. In the 2025 gubernatorial election, Republican Jack Ciattarelli carried Ocean County by roughly 95,000 votes despite losing statewide.
Miller said the statistics reflected a need for change.
“We have a lot of catching up to do,” she said.
Earp acknowledged setbacks, including Democratic losses in Brick Township, but said Republicans benefited from unusually strong turnout.
“Jack worked the heck out of Ocean County, to his credit,” Earp said. “He brought out a lot of votes.”
The campaign also generated rumors that Earp could be under consideration for an appointment by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, speculation fueled in part because Earp did not run for a county committee seat this year.
Earp dismissed the rumors.
“If I was even in the realm of something I was thinking of, or she was thinking of, would I really go through the effort of running for office when in two weeks I’m going to leave?” Earp said. “If I leave, we have to do all this all over again.”
Despite the contentious campaign, both candidates said before the results were announced that they hoped Democrats could move forward together.
“We have a big tent,” Earp said in an interview. “We’re really excited about the people that are involved in it.”
Miller agreed.
“We need to work together,” she said before the race was called. “The way we keep moving us forward is by keeping the engagement.”
Regardless of who won Tuesday’s election, a number of committee members who voted said the party’s biggest challenge remains the same: rebuilding a competitive organization in one of New Jersey’s deepest red counties while healing divisions within its own ranks.
