County Executive in Bergen, New Jersey

2026 Primary Election

• James J. Tedesco Iii — Incumbent County Executive in Hackensack, NJ

  James J. Tedesco III is the incumbent Bergen County Executive, currently in his third term since 2015. A historic figure, he is only the second person elected to this role three times. Tedesco prioritizes improving quality of life, services, and government efficiency. His key achievements include establishing the Office of Food Security, expanding domestic violence support, and creating Bergen County’s first countywide Emergency Medical Service, which has significantly improved response times and contributed to Bergen being named the 9th safest county nationally in 2024. He also spearheads the modernization of the Bergen County Parks System. Tedesco advocates for good government and fiscal responsibility, and his position is on the 2026 ballot.

• Todd H. Hennessey — Painter at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in Rutherford, NJ

  Todd H. Hennessey, a Bergen County Executive candidate, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and graduated from Wayne Valley High School before attending St. Peter's College. A painter at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, he resides in Rutherford with his wife, Diana, and their three children, Briana, Victoria, and Bryan. He has a history of civic engagement, including serving twelve years on the Rutherford Planning Board and as a TWU Chairman. Hennessey is also an elected member of the Bergen County Republican Party Committee and holds leadership roles within the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Politically, he was the Republican nominee for State Assembly in 1995 and narrowly lost a Rutherford council seat in 2009. He has emerged as a leading, albeit reluctant, Republican candidate for Bergen County Executive in the 2026 primary.