Carlos Rendo, the mayor of Woodcliff Lake and the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2017, announced to the New Jersey Globe that he would enter the 39th district GOP primary to run for State Assembly.
In the race against incumbents Bob Auth (R-Old Tappan) and John Azzariti, Jr. (R-Saddle River), Rendo will run for the support of the Bergen County Republican organization. Three other candidates are Frank Pallotta, a former congressional candidate and investment banker, Saddle River Councilman Jon Kurpis, and Mahwah Councilman.Donigian Ward.
According to Rendo, it is crucial for us Republicans to run the most competitive ticket in order to serve the people of the 39th district. My qualifications and experience will be a valuable addition to the legislative ticket.
In the mayoral contest for Woodcliff Lake, where Democrats outnumber Republicans, he bragged about his three wins.
This demonstrates my broad appeal, and I succeed,” Rendo added.
Rendo was chosen as Kim Guadagno’s running mate in 2017, when she was the lieutenant governor and the Republican nominee for governor. By three percentage points, the Guadagno-Rendo squad prevailed in the 39th. A fundraiser for Woodcliff Lake Democrats featured Gov. Phil Murphy as the main attraction two years later.
Rendo was born in Cuba and arrived in the US at the age of two when his family fled the Fidel Castro government. He is a Union City-raised immigration lawyer who entered politics in 1993 as a Republican candidate for Hudson County freeholder.
Seven years later, he relocated to Woodcliff Lake, where he was elected to the borough council in 2013.
Although Republicans have won the Bergen County district for 46 consecutive years, the 39th has been on the Democratic radar for a number of cycles.
Joe Biden won the 39th by six points in 2020, whereas Donald Trump carried it by two points the previous year. State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale) was re-elected by a ten-point margin in 2023, while Republican Jack Ciattarelli won the district by seven points in the 2021 gubernatorial contest.
