2021 New Jersey General Assembly election explained

Election Name:	2021 New Jersey General Assembly election
Country:	New Jersey
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2019 New Jersey General Assembly election
Previous Year:	2019
Next Election:	2023 New Jersey General Assembly election
Next Year:	2023
Seats For Election:	All 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly
Majority Seats:	41
Election Date:	November 2, 2021
Image1:	3x4.svg
Leader1:	Craig Coughlin
Color1:	0000FF
Party1:	Democratic
Leader Since1:	January 9, 2018
Leaders Seat1:	19th (Woodbridge)
Last Election1:	52 seats
Seats Before1:	52
Seats1:	46
Seat Change1:	6
Popular Vote1:	2,521,259
Percentage1:	51.6%
Swing1:	9.33 pp
Leader2:	Jon Bramnick (retired)
Color2:	FF0000
Party2:	Republican
Leader Since2:	January 17, 2012
Leaders Seat2:	21st (Westfield) (ran for Senate)
Last Election2:	28 seats
Seats Before2:	28
Seats2:	34
Seat Change2:	6
Popular Vote2:	2,351,564
Percentage2:	48.2%
Swing2:	9.13 pp
Map Size:	400px
Speaker
Before Election:	Craig Coughlin
Before Party:	Democratic
After Election:	Craig Coughlin^[1]
After Party:	Democratic
Time Zone:	EST^[2]

The 2021 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 2, 2021. New Jersey voters elected two assembly members in all of the state's legislative districts for a two-year term to the New Jersey General Assembly.^[3]

All 80 seats of the New Jersey General Assembly were up for election. Democrats held a 52-28 majority in the lower house prior to the election. The members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one state senator and two state assembly members. New Jersey uses coterminous legislative districts for both its State Senate and General Assembly.

Ultimately, Republicans gained six seats in the chamber, reducing Democrats' majority to 46–34. They flipped both seats in the 2nd, 3rd, and 11th districts.

Incumbents not running for re-election

Democratic

• Nicholas Chiaravalloti, District 31 (lost party endorsement; withdrew from primary)^[4]
• Jamel Holley, District 20 (ran for State Senate)^[5]
• Valerie Huttle, District 37 (ran for State Senate)^[6]
• Gordon M. Johnson, District 37 (ran for State Senate)^[7]
• Vince Mazzeo, District 2 (ran for State Senate)^[8]
• Andrew Zwicker, District 16 (ran for State Senate)^[9]

Republican

• Jon Bramnick, District 21 (ran for State Senate)^[10]
• BettyLou DeCroce, District 26 (defeated in primary)^[11]
• Serena DiMaso, District 13 (lost party endorsement; defeated in primary)^[12]
• Ryan Peters, District 8 (retired from politics)^[13]
• Jean Stanfield, District 8 (ran for State Senate)^[14]

In addition, two members who were elected in the last election in 2019 have since resigned: Nancy Pinkin (D-18th), who was elected Middlesex County Clerk^[15] and Holly Schepisi (R-39th, after previously announcing a run for State Senate).^{[16] [17]}

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Overview

Parties	Candidates	Seats	Popular vote
align=center	2019	align=center	2021	align=center	+/-	align=center	Strength	align=center	Vote	align=center	%	align=center	Change
	Democratic	align=right	80	align=right	52	align=right	46	align=right	6	align=right	57%	align=right	2,521,259	align=right	51.6%	align=right	3.7
	Republican	align=right	75	align=right	28	align=right	34	align=right	6	align=right	43%	align=right	2,351,564	align=right	48.2%	align=right	4.1
	Libertarian	align=right	4	align=right	0	align=right	0	align=right	0	align=right	0%	align=right	2,947	align=right	0.1%	align=right	0.04
	Green	align=right	1	align=right	0	align=right	0	align=right	0	align=right	0%	align=right	1,152	align=right	0.02%	align=right	N/A
	Independent	align=right	6	align=right	0	align=right	0	align=right	0	align=right	0%	align=right	6,667	align=right	0.1%	align=right	0.3
align=center colspan="2"	Total	align=center	166	align=center	80	align=center	80	align=center		align=center	100.00%	align=center		align=center	100.00%	align=center
align=left colspan="2"	Turnout						align=right		align=right		align=right
align=left colspan="2"	Registered						align=right		align=right		align=right

Summary of results by district

^{[18] [19] [20]}

Legislative district	Incumbent	Party		Elected assembly member	Party
District 1	Erik Simonsen		Rep	Erik Simonsen		Rep
	Antwan McClellan		Rep	Antwan McClellan		Rep
District 2	Vince Mazzeo		Dem	Claire Swift		Rep
	John Armato		Dem	Don Guardian		Rep
District 3	John J. Burzichelli		Dem	Beth Sawyer		Rep
	Adam Taliaferro		Dem	Bethanne McCarthy-Patrick		Rep
District 4	Paul D. Moriarty		Dem	Paul D. Moriarty		Dem
	Gabriela Mosquera		Dem	Gabriela Mosquera		Dem
District 5	William Spearman		Dem	William Spearman		Dem
	Bill Moen		Dem	Bill Moen		Dem
District 6	Louis Greenwald		Dem	Louis Greenwald		Dem
	Pamela Rosen Lampitt		Dem	Pamela Rosen Lampitt		Dem
District 7	Herb Conaway		Dem	Herb Conaway		Dem
	Carol A. Murphy		Dem	Carol A. Murphy		Dem
District 8	Ryan Peters		Rep	Michael Torrissi		Rep
	Jean Stanfield		Rep	Brandon Umba		Rep
District 9	Brian E. Rumpf		Rep	Brian E. Rumpf		Rep
	DiAnne Gove		Rep	DiAnne Gove		Rep
District 10	Gregory P. McGuckin		Rep	Gregory P. McGuckin		Rep
	John Catalano		Rep	John Catalano		Rep
District 11	Eric Houghtaling		Dem	Marilyn Piperno		Rep
	Joann Downey		Dem	Kim Eulner		Rep
District 12	Ronald S. Dancer		Rep	Ronald S. Dancer		Rep
	Robert D. Clifton		Rep	Robert D. Clifton		Rep
District 13	Serena DiMaso		Rep	Vicky Flynn		Rep
	Gerard Scharfenberger		Rep	Gerard Scharfenberger		Rep
District 14	Wayne DeAngelo		Dem	Wayne DeAngelo		Dem
	Daniel R. Benson		Dem	Daniel R. Benson		Dem
District 15	Verlina Reynolds-Jackson		Dem	Verlina Reynolds-Jackson		Dem
	Anthony Verrelli		Dem	Anthony Verrelli		Dem
District 16	Andrew Zwicker		Dem	Sadaf Jaffer		Dem
	Roy Freiman		Dem	Roy Freiman		Dem
District 17	Joseph Danielsen		Dem	Joseph Danielsen		Dem
	Joseph V. Egan		Dem	Joseph V. Egan		Dem
District 18	Sterley Stanley		Dem	Sterley Stanley		Dem
	Robert Karabinchak		Dem	Robert Karabinchak		Dem
District 19	Craig Coughlin		Dem	Craig Coughlin		Dem
	Yvonne Lopez		Dem	Yvonne Lopez		Dem
District 20	Annette Quijano		Dem	Annette Quijano		Dem
	Jamel Holley		Dem	Reginald Atkins		Dem
District 21	Jon Bramnick		Rep	Michele Matsikoudis		Rep
	Nancy Munoz		Rep	Nancy Munoz		Rep
District 22	James J. Kennedy		Dem	James J. Kennedy		Dem
	Linda S. Carter		Dem	Linda S. Carter		Dem
District 23	Erik Peterson		Rep	Erik Peterson		Rep
	John DiMaio		Rep	John DiMaio		Rep
District 24	Parker Space		Rep	Parker Space		Rep
	Hal Wirths		Rep	Hal Wirths		Rep
District 25	Aura Dunn		Rep	Aura Dunn		Rep
	Brian Bergen		Rep	Brian Bergen		Rep
District 26	BettyLou DeCroce		Rep	Christian Barranco		Rep
	Jay Webber		Rep	Jay Webber		Rep
District 27	John F. McKeon		Dem	John F. McKeon		Dem
	Mila Jasey		Dem	Mila Jasey		Dem
District 28	Cleopatra Tucker		Dem	Cleopatra Tucker		Dem
	Ralph R. Caputo		Dem	Ralph R. Caputo		Dem
District 29	Eliana Pintor Marin		Dem	Eliana Pintor Marin		Dem
	Shanique Speight		Dem	Shanique Speight		Dem
District 30	Sean T. Kean		Rep	Sean T. Kean		Rep
	Ned Thomson		Rep	Ned Thomson		Rep
District 31	Angela V. McKnight		Dem	Angela V. McKnight		Dem
	Nicholas Chiaravalloti		Dem	William Sampson		Dem
District 32	Angelica M. Jimenez		Dem	Angelica M. Jimenez		Dem
	Pedro Mejia		Dem	Pedro Mejia		Dem
District 33	Raj Mukherji		Dem	Raj Mukherji		Dem
	Annette Chaparro		Dem	Annette Chaparro		Dem
District 34	Thomas P. Giblin		Dem	Thomas P. Giblin		Dem
	Britnee Timberlake		Dem	Britnee Timberlake		Dem
District 35	Shavonda E. Sumter		Dem	Shavonda E. Sumter		Dem
	Benjie E. Wimberly		Dem	Benjie E. Wimberly		Dem
District 36	Gary Schaer		Dem	Gary Schaer		Dem
	Clinton Calabrese		Dem	Clinton Calabrese		Dem
District 37	Gordon M. Johnson		Dem	Ellen Park		Dem
	Valerie Huttle		Dem	Shama Haider		Dem
District 38	Lisa Swain		Dem	Lisa Swain		Dem
	Chris Tully		Dem	Chris Tully		Dem
District 39	DeAnne DeFuccio		Rep	DeAnne DeFuccio		Rep
	Robert Auth		Rep	Robert Auth		Rep
District 40	Kevin J. Rooney		Rep	Kevin J. Rooney		Rep
	Christopher DePhillips		Rep	Christopher DePhillips		Rep

Close races

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

1. gain
3. gain
8. gain

List of races

align=center

District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40

District 1

See also: New Jersey's 1st legislative district.

Democratic primary

Following the primary, Wilson withdrew from the general election on August 31.^[21] Former NJ DHS official Julia Hankerson was added to the ballot as a replacement candidate on September 8.^{[22] [23]}

General election

Polling

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 2

See also: New Jersey's 2nd legislative district.

General election

Polling

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 3

See also: New Jersey's 3rd legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 4

See also: New Jersey's 4th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 5

See also: New Jersey's 5th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 6

See also: New Jersey's 6th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 7

See also: New Jersey's 7th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 8

See also: New Jersey's 8th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 9

See also: New Jersey's 9th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 10

See also: New Jersey's 10th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 11

See also: New Jersey's 11th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Endorsements

Results

District 12

See also: New Jersey's 12th legislative district.

Republican primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 13

See also: New Jersey's 13th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 14

See also: New Jersey's 14th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 15

See also: New Jersey's 15th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 16

See also: New Jersey's 16th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 17

See also: New Jersey's 17th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 18

See also: New Jersey's 18th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 19

See also: New Jersey's 19th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 20

See also: New Jersey's 20th legislative district.

Republican primary

No Republicans filed.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 21

See also: New Jersey's 21st legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 22

See also: New Jersey's 22nd legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 23

See also: New Jersey's 23rd legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 24

See also: New Jersey's 24th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 25

See also: New Jersey's 25th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 26

See also: New Jersey's 26th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 27

See also: New Jersey's 27th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 28

See also: New Jersey's 28th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 29

See also: New Jersey's 29th legislative district.

Republican primary

No Republicans filed.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 30

See also: New Jersey's 30th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 31

See also: New Jersey's 31st legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 32

See also: New Jersey's 32nd legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 33

See also: New Jersey's 33rd legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 34

See also: New Jersey's 34th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 35

See also: New Jersey's 35th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 36

See also: New Jersey's 36th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

Republican primary

No Republicans filed. However, Craig Auriemma and Joseph Viso Jr. received enough write-in votes to qualify for the general election.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 37

See also: New Jersey's 37th legislative district.

Democratic primary

Endorsements

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

Endorsements

District 38

See also: New Jersey's 38th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 39

See also: New Jersey's 39th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

District 40

See also: New Jersey's 40th legislative district.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	New Jersey Globe		October 28, 2021
align=left	Elections Daily		November 1, 2021

Results

See also

• 2021 New Jersey elections
• 2021 New Jersey Senate election
• List of New Jersey state legislatures

Notes and References

1. Web site: Coughlin Backed as Speaker- and its Impact on Senate Prez . Insider NJ . November 13, 2021 . November 4, 2021.
2. News: 2021-11-02. New Jersey Election Results. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-05. 0362-4331.
3. Web site: New Jersey Secretary of State. state.nj.us. en.
4. Web site: Israel . Daniel . Chiaravalloti ends re-election bid . . April 19, 2021 . April 19, 2021.
5. Web site: Wildstein . David . Holley announces Senate bid . New Jersey Globe . February 9, 2021 . February 9, 2021.
6. Web site: Vainieri Huttle ran for LD37 Senate Seat . Insider NJ . January 19, 2021 . January 13, 2021.
7. Web site: Johnson Kicks off Bid to Succeed Weinberg as LD37 Senator . Insider NJ . January 19, 2021 . January 13, 2021.
8. Web site: Huba . Nicholas . Brunetti Post . Michelle . Mazzeo to seek Brown's second district state senate seat . . March 1, 2021 . March 1, 2021.
9. Web site: Knapp . Krystal . Zwicker kicks off campaign for 16th District Senate seat . Planet Princeton . February 3, 2021 . February 3, 2021.
10. Web site: Catalini . Mike . Kean Jr. won't run again for Senate, but Bramnick is in . AP . February 1, 2021 . February 1, 2021 . February 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210207043325/https://pressofatlanticcity.com/ap/state/article_caa6ccd8-5934-568c-abde-a299b3647f02.html . dead .
11. Web site: Pizarro . Max . DeCroce in Defeat: 'NJ has Changed, and not for the Good of the People of NJ' . Insider NJ . August 1, 2021 . June 9, 2021.
12. Web site: Baldwin . Carly . DiMaso Concedes As She Loses NJ 13 Primary To Party Candidates . . August 1, 2021 . June 8, 2021.
13. Web site: Woolston . George . 8th Legislative District Assemblyman Ryan Peters will not seek reelection . . January 19, 2021 . January 12, 2021.
14. Web site: Woolston . George . Stanfield to challenge Addiego for state senate seat . . January 19, 2021 . January 19, 2021.
15. Web site: Vashti . Harris . Democratic Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin wins county clerk election . Cranbury Press . CentralJersey.com . November 24, 2020 . August 1, 2021.
16. Web site: McDonald . Terrence T. . 'Just wants to stir the pot': Fight brewing as two Bergen Republicans vie for NJ Senate seat . NorthJersey.com . August 1, 2021 . February 3, 2021.
17. Web site: Terrence T. . McDonald . Holly Schepisi becomes NJ's newest state senator . . . August 1, 2021 . March 26, 2021.
18. Web site: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2019 . . June 21, 2019.
19. Web site: 2019 Unofficial Primary Election Results General Assembly. . June 21, 2019.
20. News: New Jersey Election Results . New York Times . November 2, 2021 . November 15, 2021.
21. Web site: AMENDED CERTIFICATION . . September 12, 2021 . August 31, 2021.
22. Web site: Wildstein . David . Democrats to switch Assembly candidates in 1st district . New Jersey Globe . September 12, 2021 . August 26, 2021.
23. Web site: AMENDED CERTIFICATION . . September 12, 2021 . September 8, 2021.