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2017 New Jersey General Assembly election

The 2017 New Jersey General Assembly elections were held on November 7, 2017, to elect members to all 80 seats of the New Jersey General Assembly. Prior to the elections, Democrats held a 52–28 majority in the lower house. Overall, the Democrats increased their majority by 2 to a super-majority at 54–26, due to holding all their seats as well as picking up open seats in District 2 and District 16.

This tied Democrats for their largest majority since 1979, and marked the first veto-proof majority for either party since 1991 and the first for Democrats since 1979.

Overall results

Incumbents not seeking re-election

Democratic

Republican

In addition, four members who were elected in the last election in 2015 have since resigned: Patrick J. Diegnan (D-18th), L. Grace Spencer (D-29th), Scott Rumana (R-40th), and Dave Rible (R-30th).

Summary of results by district

Close races

Districts where the difference of total votes between the top two parties was under 10%:

  6. gain

List of races

Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.

Results by district

District 1

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

All three County Republican Parties in the district (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland) initially endorsed McDowell and Sauro for the Assembly seats. However, the Cape May and Cumberland parties pulled their endorsements of McDowell after a video surfaced of him propositioning a woman in a bar, with Cumberland endorsing Campbell instead.

Declared

Results<br />

General election

Polling<br />

Results<br />

District 2

Incumbent Republican Assemblyman Chris A. Brown and incumbent Democratic Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo both declared runs for Senate to replace the retiring Jim Whelan. Mazzeo later dropped out of the Senate race on March 15 and instead ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

Withdrawn

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Heather Gordon (independent), small business owner and author
  • Mico Lucide (Green), community activist and organizer

General election

Polling<br />

Results<br />

|- style="background-color:#F6F6F6" ! style="background-color: <nowiki>#3333FF</nowiki>" | | colspan="6" | One Democratic gain from Republican |-

District 3

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

General election

Results<br />

District 4

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Patricia Jefferson Kline
  • Eduardo J. Maldonado

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • William McCauley Jr. (independent)

General election

Results<br />

District 5

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Kevin Ehret, nominee for Assembly in 2015
  • Teresa L. Gordon

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 6

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Winston Extavour
  • David C. Moy

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

General election

Results<br />

District 7

Incumbent Democratic Assemblyman Troy Singleton ran for the district's open Senate seat. Fellow incumbent Democrat Herb Conaway contemplated a run for Senate as well, but decided to run for re-election.

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Mike Piper
  • Octavia Scott

Declined

  • Dana Dewedoff, Young Republican and nonprofit president

Results<br />

Piper was replaced on the ballot for the general election by Beverly Common Councilman Bob Thibault, as selected by local Republican committee members on September 6.

General election

Results<br />

District 8

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Following the primary, Rodriguez-Gregg announced she was dropping out of the race on August 30. Burlington County Freeholder Ryan Peters was named as a replacement candidate, selected by local Republican committee members on September 6 over Lumberton Mayor Sean Earlen, Burlington County Freeholder Kate Gibbs, and Westampton Deputy Mayor Abe Lopez.

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Ryan T. Calhoun (independent)

General election

Results<br />

District 9

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Jill Dobrowansky, teacher and school administrator
  • Ryan Young, communications expert and army veteran

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 10

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Raymond Baker, retired pharmacist
  • Michael Cooke, attorney and nominee for Ocean County freeholder in 2016

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 11

Democratic primary

Declared

Withdrawn

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 12

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Gene Davis, former Linden City Councilman
  • Nirav Patel, pharmacist

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

General election

Results<br />

District 13

Incumbent Republican Assembly members Declan O'Scanlon and Amy Handlin both declared for the district's open Senate seat. Handlin dropped out on March 2 and chose to seek re-election instead after being outraised by O'Scanlon.

Republican primary

Declared

Withdrawn

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Mariel DiDato, activist
  • Thomas Giaimo, attorney

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

General election

Results<br />

District 14

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 15

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Emily Rich
  • Rimma Yakobovich

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 16

Incumbent Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli announced a run for governor on October 3, 2016.

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

Declined

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

|- style="background-color:#F6F6F6" ! style="background-color: <nowiki>#3333FF</nowiki>" | | colspan="6" | One Democratic gain from Republican |-

District 17

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Joseph Danielsen, incumbent assemblyman
  • Joseph V. Egan, incumbent assemblyman
  • Heather Fenyk, nonprofit director
  • Ralph E. Johnson, law enforcement official

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Robert Quinn, operations director for a data center and disaster recovery firm
  • Nadine Wilkins, businesswoman and former special education teacher

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Michael Habib (independent)

General election

Results<br />

District 18

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • April Bengivenga
  • Lewis Glogower

Withdrawn

  • Bryan Li

Results<br />

Following the primary, Glogower was selected as a replacement nominee for the Senate seat. Zhiyu "Jimmy" Hu replaced Glogower on the Assembly ballot for the general election.

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Sean Stratton (Green), consultant

General election

Results<br />

District 19

Incumbent Democratic Assemblyman John Wisniewski announced a run for governor on November 15, 2016.

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Deepak Malhotra, certified public accountant
  • Amarjit K. Riar

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • William Cruz (independent)

General election

Results<br />

District 20

Democratic primary

Declared

Withdrawn

  • Ieesha Turnage

Results<br />

Republican primary

With the removal of Michael Barrett from the ballot, there was only one Republican who filed for the two seats in this district.

Declared

  • Joseph G. Aubourg

Withdrawn

  • Michael Barrett

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 21

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Following the primary, Barnett dropped out, citing work commitments. Bruce Bergen, Union County freeholder chairman and nominee for Assembly in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011, was selected by local Democratic committee members as a replacement candidate on August 14.

General election

Results<br />

District 22

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Richard S. Fortunato
  • John Quattrocchi

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Onel Martinez (independent), Kean University student
  • Sumantha Prasad (independent)

General election

Results<br />

District 23

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Isaac Hadzovic
  • Laura Shaw

Results<br />

Following the primary, Hadzovic was ruled ineligible to run in the district due to residency requirements. Charles Boddy was selected as a replacement candidate.

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Michael Estrada (independent)
  • Tyler J. Gran (independent)

General election

Results<br />

District 24

In February, incumbent Republican Assemblywoman Gail Phoebus declined to run for a second term and announced a primary challenge to Steve Oroho, reportedly due to disagreements with Oroho over an increase to the gas tax. On March 28, Phoebus dropped her challenge and announced that she would not run for re-election either.

Republican primary

Declared

Withdrawn

  • Mark Quick, former U.S. Marine and independent candidate for Congress in NJ-5 in 2010 and 2014 (petitions rejected)
  • David Scapicchio, former Morris County freeholder (running for freeholder)

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Kate Matteson, paralegal
  • Michael Thomas Pirog
  • Gina Trish, adjunct professor at Centenary University, design professional, and nominee for Blairstown Township Committee in 2012

Withdrawn

  • Sean Clarkin, real estate agent

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Kenneth Collins (Green)
* Collins announced on June 3 that he was dropping out of the race. However, his name still remained on the ballot.

Declined

  • Mark Quick (independent), former U.S. Marine and independent candidate for Congress in NJ-5 in 2010 and 2014

General election

Results<br />

District 25

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Richard Corcoran, forensic accountant and nominee for Assembly in 2015
  • Tom Moran, retired IT professional and nominee for Assembly in 2015

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 26

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • William Edge, former Verona and Caldwell councilman
  • Laura Fortgang, life coach and author
  • Joseph Raich, limousine driver and nominee for Assembly in 2001, 2011, 2012, and 2013

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 27

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 28

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • James Boydston
  • Veronica Branch

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Joanne Miller (independent)
  • Scott Thomas Nicastro Jr. (independent)

General election

Results<br />

District 29

Incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Blonnie R. Watson did not run for a full term.

Democratic primary

Declared

Withdrawn

  • Tai Cooper, policy advisor to Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka
  • Pat Council, Newark Director of Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and Senior Services
  • Safanya Searcy, labor organizer and party strategist

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Charles G. Hood
  • Jeanette Veras, nominee for Assembly in 2015

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 30

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Following the primary, Rible was nominated director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control by Governor Chris Christie. Rible resigned his Assembly seat on July 17 to accept the position. A special convention was held on August 15, where local Republican committee members selected a candidate to serve the remaining months of Rible's term in addition to replacing him on the ballot. Three Republicans were running: former Belmar Borough Councilman James Bean, chairman of the Lakewood Republican Party Justin Flancbaum, and former mayor of Wall Ned Thomson. Wall school board member Ralph Addonizio and Monmouth County Freeholder Gary Rich also declared runs but later dropped out. Thomson was selected as the replacement, receiving 83 votes to Flancbaum's 53 and Bean's 18, and was sworn into the Assembly on August 24.

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Eliot Colon, businessman
  • Kevin Scott, manager of a Chipotle restaurant

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 31

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Marie Tauro, a commissioner of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority and vice chair of the Jersey City Tea Party Alliance, was planning on running, but was killed in a hit-and-run on April 2, the night before the filing deadline.

Declared

  • Michael J. Alonso
  • Lauren DiGiaro

Withdrawn

  • Neil A. Schulman
  • Sonia N. Schulman

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 32

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Ann M. Corletta
  • Bartholomew J. Talamini

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 33

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Francisco Aguilar
  • Holly Lucyk

Results<br />

Following the primary, Aguilar dropped out of the race on September 13.

General election

Results<br />

District 34

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Following the primary, Oliver was selected by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy to be his nominee for lieutenant governor on July 26. Despite state law prohibiting accepting nominations for more than one office in the same election, Oliver still ran for re-election, with party officials claiming a loophole in the law with her being selected as a running mate instead of being nominated as a candidate in a primary.

Republican primary

Declared

  • Ghalib Mahmoud
  • Nicholas G. Surgent

Results<br />

Mahmoud was replaced on the ballot for the general election by Tafari Anderson.

General election

Results<br />

District 35

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Ibrahim Mahmoud
  • Nihad Younes

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 36

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Marc Marsi
  • Paul Passamano, former Lyndhurst commissioner

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 37

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Margaret Ahn, loan expert and nominee for Fort Lee Borough Council in 2015
  • Paul A. Duggan
  • Angela Hendricks
  • Gino P. Tessaro

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

General election

Results<br />

District 38

Democratic primary

Declared

Results<br />

Republican primary

Declared

  • Matthew Seymour, attorney and nominee for New Milford Borough Council in 2015
  • Christopher Wolf, pastor and radio show host

Declined

Results<br />

Following the primary on July 1, Seymour dropped out, switched party registration, and endorsed the Democratic slate, citing policy differences with the party in regards to domestic violence victims assistance. Former Hasbrouck Heights Borough Councilman Dave Gonzalez and Glen Rock Borough Councilman Bill Leonard declared intentions to run as a replacement, with Gonzalez later dropping out to back Leonard.

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Dev Goswami (independent), policy analyst

General election

Results<br />

District 39

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Jannie Chung, Closter borough councilwoman
  • Annie Hausmann

Results<br />

General election

Results<br />

District 40

Incumbent Republican Assemblyman David C. Russo, the longest serving current member of the Assembly, did not run for re-election.

Republican primary

Declared

Results<br />

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Christine Ordway, nominee for Assembly in 2015
  • Paul Vagianos, restaurant owner and nominee for Assembly in 2015

Withdrawn

  • Andrea L. Brown

Results<br />

Independents and third parties

Declared

  • Anthony J. Pellechia (independent)

General election

Polling

Results<br />

References

See also