New Jersey's 39th legislative district explained

District:39
Senate:Holly Schepisi (R)
Assembly:Robert Auth (R)
John V. Azzariti (R)
Democratic:30.0
Republican:29.1
Independent:40.0
Percent White:74.5
Percent Black:1.9
Percent Native American:0.3
Percent Asian:12.2
Percent Pacific Islander:0.0
Percent Other Race:3.5
Percent Two Or More Races:7.7
Percent Hispanic:10.5
Population:217,994
Year:2020 census
Voting-Age:172,439
Registered:185,890

New Jersey's 39th legislative district is one of 40 in the state, including portions of Bergen County. Included are the Bergen County municipalities of Allendale, Alpine, Cresskill, Closter, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montvale, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Park Ridge, Ramsey, River Vale, Rockleigh, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake.[1]

Demographic characteristics

As of the 2020 United States census, the district had a population of 217,994, of whom 172,439 (79.1%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 162,440 (74.5%) White, 4,051 (1.9%) African American, 645 (0.3%) Native American, 26,509 (12.2%) Asian, 31 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 7,565 (3.5%) from some other race, and 16,753 (7.7%) from two or more races.[2] [3] Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22,937 (10.5%) of the population.[4]

The district had 185,890 registered voters, of whom 73,440 (39.5%) were registered as unaffiliated, 56,530 (30.4%) were registered as Democrats, 54,499 (29.3%) were registered as Republicans, and 1,421 (0.8%) were registered to other parties.[5]

The district, which covers most of Northern Bergen County, has the smallest African-American population of any district in the state and ranks 31st in the number of Hispanic residents, while it has the ninth-highest percentage of Asian residents. At 0.3% it has the lowest percentage of children receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families aid, just over 5% of the state average. The district ranked second-highest in both equalized property value and personal income on a per capita basis.[6] [7]

Political representation

The legislative district is located within New Jersey's 5th congressional district and New Jersey's 9th congressional district.

Apportionment history

Throughout most of the district's history since 1973, the year the 40-district legislative map was created in New Jersey, the 39th district has encompassed the small affluent boroughs and townships in northeast Bergen County. In the redistricting of 1981 and 1991, only a few municipalities were added and removed to get the district's population close to one-fortieth of the state's population as required under the Reynolds v. Sims ruling.

Changes to the district made as part of the New Jersey Legislative apportionment in 2001 removed Englewood Cliffs and Tenafly (to the 37th legislative district added Oradell (from the 38th legislative district) and Waldwick and Washington Township (from the 40th legislative district).[8]

With Democrat Brendan Byrne at the top of the ticket winning the race for Governor of New Jersey, Frank Herbert won the 1977 race for Senate in the 39th district, standing together with his running mates in support of the establishment of a state income tax to defeat Republican John Markert.[9]

In the 1979 election, Gerald Cardinale and Markert defeated incumbent Democrat Greta Kiernan, who had herself defeated Markert two years earlier.[10]

Cardinale knocked off the incumbent State Senator Frank Herbert in 1981 and Herbert fell short again running against Cardinale in 1983, losing by about 1,000 votes.[11]

Citing recent hip replacement surgery as a factor, John E. Rooney announce in March 2009 that he would not seek another term of office and would retire after 26 years in the legislature. He endorsed Bob Schroeder, a Washington Township councilmember, who won election to succeed him.[12] After Charlotte Vandervalk decided not to run for re-election in 2011, Holly Schepisi ran in her place and won together with the other Republican incumbents.

Changes to the district made as part of the New Jersey Legislative apportionment in 2011 removed several Bergen County municipalities and added portions of Passaic County and northwest Bergen County.

Gerald Cardinale died in office on February 20, 2021, after 12 terms in office.[13] Holly Schepisi won a Republican Party special convention over Robert Auth to fill the vacant senate seat and was sworn in on March 25, 2021.[14] Upper Saddle River council member DeAnne DeFuccio edged out John V. Azzariti and was chosen by Republicans to fill the Assembly seat vacated by Schepisi; she took office on April 9, 2021.[15]

On February 2, 2023, DeFuccio announced that she would not seek re-election to the Assembly, despite previously announcing her candidacy[16] and John Azzariti was chosen to fill DeFuccio's slot in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.[17]

Election history

Session Senate General Assembly
1974–1975 Raymond Garramone (D)Herbert M. Gladstone (D)Harold Martin (D)
1976–1977 John Markert (R)Harold Martin (D)
1978–1979 Frank Herbert (D)Greta Kiernan (D)Harold Martin (D)
1980–1981 John Markert (R)Gerald Cardinale (R)
1982–1983 Gerald Cardinale (R)John Markert (R)Joan M. Wright (R)[18]
John E. Rooney (R)[19]
1984–1985 Gerald Cardinale (R)John Markert (R)[20] John E. Rooney (R)
Elizabeth Randall (R)[21]
1986–1987 Elizabeth Randall (R)John E. Rooney (R)
1988–1989 Gerald Cardinale (R)Elizabeth Randall (R)John E. Rooney (R)
1990–1991[22] Elizabeth Randall (R)[23] John E. Rooney (R)
Charlotte Vandervalk (R)[24]
1992–1993 Gerald Cardinale (R)Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
1994–1995[25] Gerald Cardinale (R)Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
1996–1997 Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
1998–1999[26] Gerald Cardinale (R)Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
2000–2001[27] Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
2002–2003[28] Gerald Cardinale (R)Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
2004–2005[29] Gerald Cardinale (R)Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
2006–2007 Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
2008–2009 Gerald Cardinale (R)Charlotte Vandervalk (R)John E. Rooney (R)
2010–2011[30] Charlotte Vandervalk (R)Bob Schroeder (R)
2012–2013[31] Gerald Cardinale (R)Holly Schepisi (R)Bob Schroeder (R)
2014–2015 Gerald Cardinale (R) Holly Schepisi (R)Robert Auth (R)
2016–2017 Holly Schepisi (R)Robert Auth (R)
2018–2019 Gerald Cardinale (R)[32] Holly Schepisi (R)Robert Auth (R)
2020–2021 Holly Schepisi (R)[33] Robert Auth (R)
Holly Schepisi (R) DeAnne DeFuccio (R)[34]
2022–2023 Holly Schepisi (R) DeAnne DeFuccio (R)Robert Auth (R)
2024–2025 Holly Schepisi (R) John V. Azzariti (R)Robert Auth (R)

Election results

General Assembly

Notes and References

  1. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts Districts
  2. Web site: Race . . October 30, 2021.
  3. Web site: Race For The Population 18 Years And Over . . October 30, 2021.
  4. Web site: Hispanic Or Latino, And Not Hispanic Or Latino By Race . . October 30, 2021.
  5. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/svrs-reports/2023/2023-12-voter-registration-by-legislative-district.pdf Statewide Voter Registration Summary by Legislative District
  6. http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~njvi/d/39.php District 39 Profile
  7. Book: 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book . . 162 .
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/19981206050138/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/html98/legdist.htm Legislative Districts
  9. Hanley, Robert. "Democrats in Bergen Support Income Tax", The New York Times, October 13, 1977. Accessed October 27, 2010.
  10. Joseph F. Sullivan. "Jersey Transit Bonds Pass; G.O.P. Gains in Assembly; Imperiale Makes a Comeback Candidates Raised $2 Million", The New York Times, November 7, 1979. Accessed October 27, 2010.
  11. Friedman, Matt. "Frank Herbert, back and ready for action", PolitickerNJ, August 30, 2007. Accessed October 27, 2010.
  12. Bautista, Justo. "Assemblyman won't see re-election", The Record (Bergen County), March 4, 2009. Accessed October 24, 2010.
  13. Johnson, Brent. 'Longtime N.J. lawmaker Gerald Cardinale dies at 86 following brief illness", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 21, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2024. "State Sen. Gerald Cardinale, the second-longest-serving state lawmaker in New Jersey history and a conservative pillar in the state’s Republican Party, died Saturday morning at age 86. The Bergen County legislator — who was in the final year of his 12th term — died at Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood after a brief illness, not related to the coronavirus, the Senate Republican Office said."
  14. [David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]
  15. McDonald, Terrence T. "Upper Saddle River councilwoman chosen to replace Schepisi in Assembly", The record, April 1, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2024. "DeAnne DeFuccio, a Republican Upper Saddle River councilwoman and attorney, will fill the 39th District Assembly seat vacated when Holly Schepisi ascended to the state Senate last week. DeFuccio, 48, was tapped by Bergen County Republican committee members during a special election Wednesday.... Her competition for the appointment was Saddle River Councilman John Azzariti, who was Schepisi's choice to replace her."
  16. Fox, Joey; and Wildstein, David. "DeFuccio won’t run for re-election after all", New Jersey Globe, February 2, 2023. Accessed January 30, 2024. "Just a week after she officially launched her re-election campaign, Assemblywoman DeAnne DeFuccio (R-Upper Saddle River) has decided not to seek re-election after all to the 39th legislative district, the New Jersey Globe has learned. 'I've made the difficult decision not to seek reelection this year,' DeFuccio confirmed in a statement."
  17. Fox, Joey. "Schepisi, Auth, Azzariti hold 39th district for GOP", New Jersey Globe, November 7, 2023. Accessed January 30, 2024. "Azzariti got an unanticipated path to the Assembly this year after Assemblywoman DeAnne DeFuccio (R-Upper Saddle River) decided to retire after just one full term in office. With Schepisi’s backing, Azzariti easily won the GOP convention to succeed her; he had previously been one of Schepisi’s running mates during the 39th district’s chaotic 2021 GOP primary."
  18. Resigned February 28, 1983 to join the Department of Community Affairs Division of Women
  19. Elected to the Assembly in April 1983 special election, sworn in on May 5, 1983
  20. Resigned February 4, 1985 to become deputy director of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
  21. Elected to the Assembly in a March 1985 special election, sworn in on April 5, 1985
  22. Staff. "Vote Totals for the Elections Held on Tuesday in New York and New Jersey", The New York Times, November 9, 1989. Accessed October 22, 2010.
  23. Resigned January 31, 1991 to become Bergen County counsel
  24. Appointed to the Assembly on February 21, 1991
  25. Sullivan, Joseph F. "THE 1993 ELECTIONS: New Jersey Legislature; Cut Taxes 30 Percent? Whitman's Top Statehouse Allies Say Not So Fast", The New York Times, November 4, 1993. Accessed October 22, 2010.
  26. Staff. "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: RESULTS; The Races for the New Jersey Assembly", The New York Times, November 5, 1997. Accessed October 22, 2010.
  27. Kocieniewski, David. "THE 1999 ELECTIONS: NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY; Democrats Win Seats in Three Districts, Narrowing Republicans' Majority", The New York Times, November 3, 1999. Accessed October 22, 2010.
  28. Staff. "THE 2001 ELECTIONS; RESULTS -- The Races for New Jersey", The New York Times, November 8, 2001. Accessed October 22, 2010.
  29. Kocieniewski, David. "THE 2003 ELECTION: THE STATEHOUSE; Democrats Seize Senate And Widen Assembly Gap", The New York Times, November 5, 2003. Accessed October 22, 2010.
  30. Staff. "2009 Election Results", The New York Times, November 9, 2009. Accessed October 22, 2010.
  31. Yellin, Deena. "GOP incumbents Cardinale and Schroeder, newcomer Schepisi win in 39th District", The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2011. Accessed August 7, 2012. "Sen. Gerald Cardinale, armed with more than 30 years of legislative experience, easily fended a challenge for his seat by Democratic candidate Lorraine Waldes. Robert Schroeder, a Republican assemblyman, gained an easy victory in his reelection bid and GOP newcomer Holly Schepisi, who took Charlotte Vandervalk’s place on the ballot, won the second Assembly seat."
  32. Died February 20, 2021
  33. Appointed to the Senate on March 25, 2021
  34. Appointed to the Assembly on April 9, 2021

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