Spotlight on New Jersey
State Assembly Watch
InadditiontotheGovernorRace,thisyear,NewJerseyresidentswillalsobevoting onall80membersofthestateassemblyaswellasmultiplecountyandlocaloffices. Thereare40legislativedistrictsinNJ,eachrepresentedbyonesenatorandtwo assemblymembers.Whilewecan’tprovideprofileson every stateassemblyrace, hereissomeinformationonthecandidatesrunningintheCentralJerseydistricts. Aswiththegovernors,somecandidateshadinformationmorereadilyavailable thanothers,wetriedourbesttoprovideasmuchinformation.
District 10 (incumbents)
ProprotectingtheShore ProPolice
FormerMayorofPointPleasantBeach
Hopestoprohibitmunicipalitiesfromadopting sanctuarycitypoliciesforimmigrants
Sponsoredthe“NewJerseyLakenRileyAct” establishinglawenforcementproceduresfor arrestsofalienspresentintheU.S.charged withcertaincrimes
Paul Kanitra (R)
Gregory P. McGuckin (R)
District 10 (challengers)
Janine Bauer (D)
LawyerwithfocusesinEnvironmental, Transportation,CommercialRealEstateand LandUseLaw
Environmentalist
Anti-shortcutsininfrastructure
ProLowerElectricbills
Debra Di Donato (D)
MemberoftheNJMedicalReserveCorps Advocatesforhealthcare
Hopestodrivemeaningfulpolicyreformsfor individualsandfamiliesaffectedbyhealth issues
Phil Nufrio (D)
EmeritusProfessorofPublicPolicyand Administration,SchoolofPublicAffairsand itanCollegeof
District 11 (incumbents)
Supporterofenvironmentalresearch
Promoterofhealthcareeducation
Hasfocusedonaffordabilityforresidentswhile passingotherlegislationtopromoteeconomic development
Supporterofgenderidentityandsexual educationprograms
PromotedandhelpedcreateNewJersey’santibullyinglegislation
Instrumentalinbringingmarriageequalityto NewJersey
SupporterofLGBTQ+rights,asthefirstoutgay womaninNJassembly
SupporterofLegalandCivilJusticereforms
Margie Donlon M.D. (D)
Luanne M. Peterpaul Esq (D)
District 11 (challengers)
Lowertaxes
Increasegovernmentefficiencyand
FormerMayorofNeptuneCity
SupporterofVeteransAffairs PublicSchoolTeacher
Jessica Ford (R)
Andrew Wardell (R)
District 12 (incumbents)
Robert Clifton (R)
Passionateaboutfightingagainst overdevelopmentinhiscommunity
Antihightaxesthatthreatensmallbusiness andfamilies
Wantstopreventwell-fundedschooldistricts frommisusingtaxpayerdollars
Alex Sauickie (R)
Wantstopreventwell-fundedschooldistricts frommisusingtaxpayerdollars
Believesthatpublicofficialsneedtohaveback thepolice.Hislegislationbackingtheblue includesensuringsafetyofofficerson universitycampuses,upgradingthecrimeof assaultonpolice,andmore
Wantstofightagainstunrestrictedwarehouse ourState’s
District 12 (challengers)
Kyler Dineen (D)
Passionateabouthousingthehomeless
Freshta Taeb (D)
Passionateaboutfightagainstdomestic violence
Advocateforveterans
Mentalhealthprofessionalandadvocate
District 13 (incumbents)
Victoria A. Flynn (R)
Supportswomen’shealthandmentalhealth awarenessinpublicrestroomsandschools
Supportsthestudyofmentalhealthandits impactsonyouth
Supportsallocatingtaxmoneytofundingof studentmeals,medicalsupplies,and playgroundequipment
Gerard Scharfenberger (R)
Againstdiscussionofcriticalracetheoryin publicclassrooms,andprohibitsteachersfrom engaginginadvocacyofreligions,politics,or ideologies.
Supportslowbusinesstaxratesforbusinesses andcorporations
Requiresparentalconsentforteacherstoteach childrenhealth,family,sexeducation
District 14 (incumbents)
Wayne P. DeAngelo (D)
DeputySpeakeroftheStateAssembly
CosponsoredtheCleanRenewableEnergyBill
Tennille R. McCoy (D)
Co-foundedtheNewJerseyBlackWomen’s
District 14 (challengers)
Marty Flynn (R)
PreviouslyranformayorofHamilton Formerdirectorofeconomicdevelopmentfor HamiltonTownship
Joseph Stillwell (R)
ViceChairoftheMercerCountyYoung RepublicanFederation
District 15 (incumbents)
District 15 (challengers)
There are no Democratic or Republican challengers in this race
District 16 (incumbents)
Mitchelle Drulis (D)
Supporterofreproductiverights
Supporterofpubliceducation-workedto secureCOVIDrelieffundsforNJschools
CommittedtoprotectingNewJersey’snatural resourcesandaddressingclimatechange throughlegislativeaction
Roy Freiman (D)
Wantstocutpropertytaxes,propertytaxrelief &makeNJmoreaffordable
SupportforsmallbusinessesandAgriculture EndorsedbyNewJerseyLeagueof ConservationVoters(LCV)forhiscommitment toenvironmentalprotectioninitiatives
Advocateforpubliceducation,laborrights, hcare Planned
District 16 (challengers)
Mahmoud Desouky (D)
AbouttostartlawschoolatRutgersUniversity NewBrunswick
Supporteroffreedomofspeech
Supporterofsmallbusinesses
Wantstostrengthenthemiddleclassby creatingjobopportunitiesandsupporting workforcedevelopment
Catherine Payne (R)
CurrentlyservingasDeputyMayorof HillsboroughandisrunningwithScottSipos Wantstooffervotersaclear,pragmatic,and collaborativealternativetothestatusquoin Trenton
Focusesonfixingthebrokenschoolfunding formulaandenhancingaffordability
Scott Sipos (R)
Passionateaboutrecognizingtheserviceof veteransthrougheducationalprogramsand communityinitiatives
Supporterofenhancingemergency bili i dinvestedin ell-beingofthe
District 17 (incumbents)
Joe Danielsen (D)
DeputyWhip
Sponsoredacontroversialbilltweakingthe provisionsoftheOpenPublicRecordsActthat wouldrestricttheaccessibilityofgovernment documents
Served9yearsintheU.S.ArmyReserve
Kevin P. Egan (D)
Succeededhisfatherintheassembly,who servedfor22years
FormermemberoftheNewBrunswickCity Council
MemberoftheRutgersUniversityBoardof Governors
District 17 (challengers)
Loretta
Rivers (D)
MemberofthePiscatawayBoardofEducation GraduateofEmerge,anorganization dedicatedtoempoweringwomenand transformingpoliticalleadership WorksforGreaterMiddlesex&MorrisHabitat forHumanityastheDirectorofFamilyServices
District 18 (incumbents)
Robert J. Karabinchak (D)
Supporterofenvironmentalprotection throughWaterQualitycontrol.
Supporterinthefightagainstclimatechange andclimatechangemitigation.
Supporterofprotectingworker’srights
Supporterofstrengtheningeducation
Supporterofmakingcollegemoreaffordable Prioritizesimprovinginfrastructuresand prioritizingattractingbusinessestoNewJersey Supporterofprotectingwomenandcivilrights
Sterley S. Stanley (D)
Supporterofreproductivehealthcare
Supporterofanti-discriminationefforts
FirstSouthAsiantorepresentMiddlesex Countyinthestatelegislature
SponsoredbillsestablishingaPlasticsTask Force,creatingpilotschoolbuselectrification programs,andupdatedgreenbuilding
District 18 (challengers)
Christopher Binetti (D)
BelievesthestateofNewJersey’spolitical systemisdiscriminatoryagainstItalian Americans.
IsanItalianAmericancivilrightsactivist.
Eugene DeMarzo (R)
HasafocusontheeconomicissuesinNew Jersey
Proposestore-developcitiessuchasNewark andCamdenwhichusedtobethrivingareasso thattheycanprosperagain
Believesthathighincomehousingshouldbe demandedtobebuiltinlowincometownsso thatdevelopinglowincomeareaswouldbea boomforjobsinthoseareas
Realestateagent
Pro-Trump
Melanie McCann-Mott (R)
District 19 (incumbents)
Craig J. Coughlin (D)
SpeakeroftheNewJerseyGeneralAssembly since2018,makinghimthelongest-serving SpeakerinthehistoryoftheGeneralAssembly Proeconomicreliefformiddleclassandsenior citizens
Advocateforfoodsecurity
Proaffordablehousing
Supporterofwomen'srights
Environmentaladvocate
Yvonne Lopez (D)
District 19 (challengers)
Michelle Burwell (D)
Lowerthecostofchildcare
Makehousingaffordable
Climatechange/environmentaladvocate
Marilyn Colon (R)
Couldnotfindphotoorinformationonthis candidate
Maria Garcia (R)
Believesintherebeingastrongdifference betweenmenandwomen
Opposesdiscussionsinschoolaboutsexual healthbecausetheyarenot“ageappropriate” Couldnotfindphotoforthiscandidate
District 21 (Incumbents)
Nancy Muñoz (R)
Sheisanadvocateagainstdomesticviolence andabuse
Supportsincreasedpenaltiesforsexoffenders andpeoplewhoharborthem
SignedabillthatbannedallmarriagesinNew Jerseyundertheageof18. Signedabillthat
Michele Matsikoudis (R)
GunSafety:Supportstargetingillegalfirearms whileprotectinglawfulgunownership.
FiscalResponsibility:BacksaConventionof Statestolimitfederaloverreachandspending.
VeteransSupport:Helpsveteranstransition intohealthcarecareers.
EducationReform:Advocatesforparental involvementandcuttingredtapeinschools.
District 21 (challengers)
Lawenforcementofficer
Fixpublictransportation/NJTransit
ImprovedaccessibilityofchildcareforNJ families
ProChoice
Vincent Kearney (D)
Andrew Macurdy (D)
District 22 (incumbents)
Linda Carter (D)
Signedabilltoincreasethepublic'sawareness andunderstandingofthenumerous contributionsofNewJersey'solderAmericans Supportstransparencyaboutpavement conditionstothepublic
James J. Kennedy (D) FormerMayorofRahway
District 22 (challenger)
Lisa Fabrizio (R)
EndorsedbytheNewJerseyPublicHealth InnovationPoliticalActionCommitteeand NewJersey’sWomen’sPoliticalCaucus Aimstobringfiscallyresponsibleleadershipto herconstituents
Patricia Quattrocchi (R)
FormermayorofGarwoodandformer Garwoodcouncilwoman
EndorsedbytheNewJerseyPublicHealth InnovationPoliticalActionCommittee
Opposedtooffshorewindindustrialization
District 23 (Incumbents)
John DiMaio (R)
Advocatesfortaxcutsthatareadjustedfor inflationforbusinesses.
Supportsstatebudgetsurplusgoingto propertytaxreliefbyallocatingthatmoneyto schools.
Supportsequitableschoolfunding. Opposesschoolsholdinggenderidentity informationaboutstudentsfromparents. Supportstransparencyinthegovernment. StrongsupporteroftheSecondAmendment
Erik Peterson (R)
Strongsupportoflawenforcementand supportstougherpenaltiesoncriminalactivity
Supporterofmoreaccesstomentalhealth services,especiallyforunderserved populations
Prefersalimitedgovernmentwithlimited spendingandmoretransparency
District 23 (challengers)
Guy Citron (D)
Supportforcommunity-focusedleadership withanemphasisoninter-partycollaboration
Supportsabortionrights
Supportsmarriageequality
Supportsarankedvotingsystem
Supportsnon-partisanprimaries
Supporterofgovernmenttransparency
Supportsveteransthroughimprovingtheir qualityoflifeafterservice
Tyler Powell (D)
Endorsesforwardparty
Supportsranked-choicevoting
Supportsnonpartisanprimaries
Profightingcorruptioningovernment
Emphasisoncommunityinvolvementand engagement
