New Jersey Governor Chris Christie addresses state legislators during his State of the State Address on January 8, 2013, in Trenton, New Jersey. The New Jersey state legislator has not had a Republican majority in over twenty years. JOHN MOORE/BALLOTPEDIA
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Twenty-eight state legislative seats up for election in New Jersey this year is open, meaning no incumbents filed to run. This represents 23% of the state’s legislature, a decade-high rate of open seats, and a marked increase from previous election cycles.
Newcomers are guaranteed to win all open seats since no incumbents are running for them.
The state of New Jersey lost over 6,000 residents between July 2021 and July 2022 due to the increase in the cost of living in the Tri-State area seeking more affordable housing elsewhere. New Jersey leads the U.S. in the highest property in the country.
This is New Jersey’s first election under new state legislative maps following the 2020 redistricting cycle.
The number of open seats tends to increase after redistricting.
Incumbents may opt against running for re-election because they now live in a district with a different partisan makeup than the one they previously represented or because they now live in a district with another incumbent.
“I never had any role or stake in that company,” said Chris Del Borrello, a small business owner who is running for state Senate in New Jersey. Del Borrello responded to allegations of business ties to Tasteful Temptations. “As far as I know, that company ceased operating almost a decade ago. I do not know when it dissolved.”
Additionally, an incumbent might run for re-election in a new district, leaving their old seat open.
In New Jersey, three incumbents are running for re-election in new districts.
In the General Assembly, Assms. Brian Bergen (R) and Christian Barranco (R) effectively swapped districts, with Bergen moving from District 25 to District 26 and vice versa for Barranco.
In the Senate, Sen. Nia Gill (D) is running in District 27, leaving her current District 34 seat open. Gill will face incumbent District 27 Sen. Richard Codey (D) in a Democratic primary.
This year, 255 major party candidates filed to run for the state’s 80 General Assembly and 40 Senate seats: 134 Democrats and 121 Republicans.
New Jersey has had a Democratic trifecta since the party won the governorship in 2017. Democrats hold a 45-34 majority in the General Assembly, with one vacancy, and a 25-15 majority in the Senate.
The New Jersey state Republicans have not held the majority in the state legislator for over 20 years in the state Senate.
Intra party fighting is currently hindering the New Jew Republican Party as they look to gain control of the state Senate.
“I consider abortion murder and anybody that supports it, is considered ‘evil’ to me!!” Nick DeSilvio said on a Facebook page four years ago. DeSilvio is a Gloucester County Supervisor running for the New Jersey state legislator.
New Jersey is one of few states that protects abortions amid the overturn of Roe vs. Wade. Governor Phil Murphy signed the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act giving New Jersey residents a choice about birth control, abortion, and parental care.
New Jersey will hold its state legislative primaries on June 6, the first state legislative primary date of the 2023 election cycle.
Produced in association with Ballotpedia
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