Hillsborough Democrats announced their municipal slate for next year as they seek to flip the township committee from GOP hands.
The 2026 Hillsborough committee slate will consist of incumbent Committeewoman Samantha Hand and US Army Veteran and community volunteer Meghann Valeo. The Somerset County town is currently held by Republicans in a 3-2 margin, but Democrats in the town are looking to build upon their strong 2026 and wrest control from the GOP.
“We could not have two better candidates for Township Committee in Samantha and Meghann, two women who embody Hillsborough’s long history of community volunteerism,” said Hillsborough Democratic Organization Chair Michele Kidd. “Whether coaching youth sports, raising funds for our local fire departments, or fighting on foreign battlefields, Hand and Valeo have proven their commitment to public service.”
Last month, Democrat Jill Gomez defeated incumbent Republican John Ciccarelli 55%-45%.
Hand, a corporate executive, first won election to the committee in 2023. Valeo, an Army veteran, served as a Military Police platoon leader in Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and received a Bronze Star, according to the announcement.
Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill won Hillsborough by about 13 percentage points last month. In 2021, it went for Republican Jack Ciattarelli by nearly 5 points.
“Samantha and Meghann understand the true meaning of affordability because they live it, raising families, coaching teams, and supporting neighbors who are feeling the strain of rising costs,” said Somerset County Commissioner Paul Drake, a former Hillsborough Township Committee member. “I’m honored to share the ballot with such high-caliber leaders as I run for reelection this year.”
