Sam Joshi wins landslide reelection for Edison mayor

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
Sam Joshi wins landslide reelection for Edison mayor

Campaign signs for the 2025 Edison mayor election. ZFJ/Zoe Wu

EDISON, N.J., Nov. 5 (ZFJ) — Sam Joshi won reelection for Edison mayor by a landslide in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The Democrat garnered 71.51% of the vote, putting him ahead of independent candidate David Tingle by about 12,000 votes.

“Since first announcing my candidacy for Mayor four years ago, I was determined to make decisions based on putting the public first,” wrote Joshi in a victory post on social media. “466 community meetings and countless improvements later, Edison residents spoke loud and clear about my approach.”

“In a municipality known for its fierce, bitter politics and narrow elections, this was the largest margin of victory in at least 32 years, demonstrating that democrats, independents and republicans came together. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Mayor for another four years.”

Joshi was first elected to the position in 2021. Some of his accomplishments since then include buying the Silver Lake property to prevent the construction of a warehouse, bringing Comcast in to compete with Optimum for providing internet services, constructing new infrastructure in municipal parks, building a splash park, hiring more police officers, and hosting large festivals, such as the largest in the state for Diwali.

He faced controversies over crime, especially after a violent attempted carjacking attempt at the Patel Brothers on Oak Tree Road in March 2024, prompting him to open a police substation there. He later also opened a police substation at Menlo Park Mall.

Among the emergency management situations he faced were several water main breaks and the arrival from Texas of buses full of migrants heading to New York City in January 2024.

Joshi’s team for council—Robert J. Kentos, Biral Patel, and Kelli Dima—won the three available seats this year, giving the mayor several allies in the municipal legislature. His council team from 2021 declined to seek reelection this year.

Joshi and his ticket swept the Democratic primary in June.

In a concession post on Facebook, Tingle thanked his supporters and wished the winners well.

“While the outcome was not what we worked tirelessly toward, I am incredibly proud of the race we ran — one built on integrity, service, and a genuine belief in giving our residents a real voice,” wrote the Edison police lieutenant and U.S. Air Force Reserve chief master sergeant.

Gloria Dittman was originally the Republican nomination for this race, but she dropped out to run for town council as a Republican. As a result, the Republicans had no candidate for Edison mayor.

The Edison mayor serves a four year term.

Voter turnout was at 49.47%, with 30,393 ballots cast and 61,440 registered voters.

All results are unofficial until certified by the County Board of Canvassers on or before Nov. 19, 2025.

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