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.

Democratic

 * Troy Singleton, District 7 (ran for state senate)
 * Blonnie R. Watson, District 29
 * John Wisniewski, District 19 (ran for governor)

Republican

 * Chris A. Brown, District 2 (ran for state senate)
 * Jack Ciattarelli, District 16 (ran for governor)
 * Declan O'Scanlon, District 13 (ran for state senate)
 * Gail Phoebus, District 24
 * Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, District 8 (withdrew after renomination)
 * David C. Russo, District 40

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).

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


 * 1) District 8, 0.8%
 * 2) District 21, 4.2%
 * 3) District 25, 4.6%
 * 4) District 39, 5.8%
 * 5) District 40, 6.1%
 * 6) District 16, 6.4% gain

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

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Bob Andrzejczak, incumbent assemblyman
 * R. Bruce Land, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

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
 * Robert Campbell, Mayor of Downe
 * Brian McDowell, real estate agent and former contestant on The Apprentice
 * Jim Sauro, Cumberland County Freeholder and nominee for Assembly in 2015
 * Results

General election

 * Polling


 * Results

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
 * Vince Sera, Brigantine City Councilman
 * Brenda Taube, former Margate City Commissioner
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * John Armato, Buena Vista Township Committeeman
 * Jim Carney, former Atlantic County Surrogate
 * Ernest Coursey, Atlantic County Freeholder
 * Rizwan Malik, former Atlantic City Councilman
 * Vince Mazzeo, incumbent assemblyman
 * Theresa "Birdie" Watts, attorney
 * Withdrawn
 * Colin Bell, former Atlantic County Freeholder and nominee for Assembly in 2015 (running for State Senate)
 * Barbara Rheault, former Mullica Township Committeewoman (did not submit petitions)
 * Results

Independents and third parties

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

General election

 * Polling


 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * John J. Burzichelli, incumbent assemblyman
 * John Kalnas, independent candidate for Assembly in 2015
 * Adam Taliaferro, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Linwood Donelson, Salem County Vocational Technical Schools board member
 * Philip Donohue, former teacher
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Edward Durr (independent)

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Paul D. Moriarty, incumbent assemblyman
 * Gabriela Mosquera, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Patricia Jefferson Kline
 * Eduardo J. Maldonado
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * William McCauley Jr. (independent)

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Arthur Barclay, incumbent assemblyman
 * Patricia Egan Jones, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Kevin Ehret, nominee for Assembly in 2015
 * Teresa L. Gordon
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Frederick Dande
 * Louis Greenwald, incumbent assemblyman
 * Pamela Rosen Lampitt, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Winston Extavour
 * David C. Moy
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Monica Sohler (American Solidarity Party)

General election

 * Results

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
 * Jennifer Chuang, pediatrician
 * Herb Conaway, incumbent assemblyman
 * Carol A. Murphy, director of Policy and Communication for Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Mike Piper
 * Octavia Scott
 * Declined
 * Dana Dewedoff, Young Republican and nonprofit president
 * Results

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

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Joe Howarth, incumbent assemblyman
 * Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

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
 * Maryann Merlino
 * Joanne Schwartz, former Burlington County Freeholder
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Ryan T. Calhoun (independent)

General election

 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * DiAnne Gove, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Brian E. Rumpf, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Jill Dobrowansky, teacher and school administrator
 * Ryan Young, communications expert and army veteran
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Gregory P. McGuckin, incumbent assemblyman
 * David W. Wolfe, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Raymond Baker, retired pharmacist
 * Michael Cooke, attorney and nominee for Ocean County Freeholder in 2016
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Joann Downey, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Eric Houghtaling, incumbent assemblyman
 * Withdrawn
 * Aasim Johnson, Rider University student and candidate for Lakewood school board in 2014
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Robert Acerra, deputy mayor of Ocean Township (Monmouth)
 * Mike Whelan, Red Bank Borough Councilman
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Robert D. Clifton, incumbent assemblyman
 * Ronald S. Dancer, incumbent assemblyman
 * Alex Robotin, former Chesterfield Township Committeeman
 * John Franklin Sheard
 * Eleanor "Debbie" Walker, Old Bridge Township Councilwoman
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Gene Davis, former Linden City Councilman
 * Nirav Patel, pharmacist
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Daniel A. Krause (Libertarian)
 * Anthony J. Storrow (Libertarian)

General election

 * Results

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
 * Serena DiMaso, Monmouth County Freeholder
 * Amy Handlin, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Withdrawn
 * Bob Marchese, Fair Haven Borough Councilman
 * Gerry Scharfenberger, Mayor of Middletown
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Mariel DiDato, activist
 * Thomas Giaimo, attorney
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Eveline H. Brownstein (Libertarian)

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Daniel R. Benson, incumbent assemblyman
 * Wayne DeAngelo, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Kristian Stout, policy analyst and Rutgers University lecturer
 * Steven Uccio, nominee for Congress in NJ-12 in 2016 and Libertarian nominee for Assembly in 2013
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Gail Boyle Boyland
 * Reed Gusciora, incumbent assemblyman
 * Elizabeth Maher Muoio, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Emily Rich
 * Rimma Yakobovich
 * Results

General election

 * Results

District 16
Incumbent Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli announced a run for governor on October 3, 2016.

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Mark Caliguire, Somerset County Freeholder
 * Donna Simon, former assemblywoman
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Roy Freiman, former Prudential executive
 * Andrew Zwicker, incumbent assemblyman
 * Declined
 * Andrew Koontz, Mercer County Freeholder
 * Liz Lempert, Mayor of Princeton
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

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

Republican primary

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

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Michael Habib (independent)

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Robert Karabinchak, incumbent assemblyman
 * Nancy Pinkin, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * April Bengivenga
 * Lewis Glogower
 * Withdrawn
 * Bryan Li
 * Results

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

District 19
Incumbent Democratic Assemblyman John Wisniewski announced a run for governor on November 15, 2016.

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Craig Coughlin, incumbent assemblyman
 * Yvonne Lopez, executive director of the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Deepak Malhotra, certified public accountant
 * Amarjit K. Riar
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * William Cruz (independent)

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Jamel Holley, incumbent assemblyman
 * Annette Quijano, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Withdrawn
 * Ieesha Turnage
 * Results

Republican primary
With the removal of Michael Barrett from the ballot, there was only one Republican filed for the two seats in this district.
 * Declared
 * Joseph G. Aubourg
 * Withdrawn
 * Michael Barrett
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Jon Bramnick, incumbent assemblyman
 * Nancy Munoz, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * David Barnett, former mayor of Springfield Township (Union) and nominee for Assembly in 2015
 * Lacey Rzeszowski, activist
 * Results

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

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Paul M. Alirangues
 * Jerry Green, incumbent assemblyman
 * James J. Kennedy, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Richard S. Fortunato
 * John Quattrocchi
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Onel Martinez (independent), Kean University student
 * Sumantha Prasad (independent)

General election

 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * John DiMaio, incumbent assemblyman
 * Erik Peterson, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Isaac Hadzovic
 * Laura Shaw
 * Results

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

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
 * David Atwood
 * Nathan Orr, candidate for Assembly in 2015
 * Parker Space, incumbent assemblyman
 * Harold J. Wirths, former Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
 * 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

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

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.


 * Aaron Hyndman (Green), co-chair of the Green Party of New Jersey
 * Declined
 * Mark Quick (independent), former U.S. Marine and independent candidate for Congress in NJ-5 in 2010 and 2014

General election

 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Tony Bucco, incumbent assemblyman
 * Michael Patrick Carroll, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

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

General election

 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * John Cesaro, Morris County Deputy Freeholder Director
 * BettyLou DeCroce, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Hank Lyon, Morris County Freeholder
 * Jay Webber, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

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

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Mila Jasey, incumbent assemblywoman
 * John F. McKeon, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Ronald DeRose, member of the Florham Park Zoning Board of Adjustment
 * Angelo Tedesco Jr., former East Hanover Township Councilman
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Ralph R. Caputo, incumbent assemblyman
 * Cleopatra Tucker, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * James Boydston
 * Veronica Branch
 * Results

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Joanne Miller (independent)
 * Scott Thomas Nicastro Jr. (independent)

General election

 * Results

District 29
Incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Blonnie R. Watson did not run for a full term.

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Eliana Pintor Marin, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Shanique Speight, Essex County Sheriff's officer and former Newark school board member
 * 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

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Charles G. Hood
 * Jeanette Veras, nominee for Assembly in 2015
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Sean T. Kean, incumbent assemblyman
 * Dave Rible, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

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

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Nicholas Chiaravalloti, incumbent assemblyman
 * Angela V. McKnight, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Christopher Munoz, Bayonne school board trustee
 * Kristen Zadroga-Hart, high school teacher
 * Results

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

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Angelica M. Jimenez, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Vincent Prieto, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Ann M. Corletta
 * Bartholomew J. Talamini
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Annette Chaparro, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Raj Mukherji, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Francisco Aguilar
 * Holly Lucyk
 * Results

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

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Thomas P. Giblin, incumbent assemblyman
 * Sheila Oliver, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

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

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

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Shavonda E. Sumter, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Benjie E. Wimberly, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Ibrahim Mahmoud
 * Nihad Younes
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Marlene Caride, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Gary Schaer, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Marc Marsi
 * Paul Passamano, former Lyndhurst Commissioner
 * Results

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Valerie Huttle, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Gordon M. Johnson, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

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

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Claudio I. Belusic (Libertarian)

General election

 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Tim Eustace, incumbent assemblyman
 * Joseph Lagana, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Matthew Seymour, attorney and nominee for New Milford Borough Council in 2015
 * Christopher Wolf, pastor and radio show host
 * Declined
 * John Cosgrove, Mayor of Fair Lawn
 * Results

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

Republican primary

 * Declared
 * Robert Auth, incumbent assemblyman
 * Holly Schepisi, incumbent assemblywoman
 * Results

Democratic primary

 * Declared
 * Jannie Chung, Closter Borough Councilwoman
 * Annie Hausmann
 * Results

General election

 * Results

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
 * Joseph Bubba Jr., son of former state senator Joseph Bubba
 * Christopher DePhillips, former mayor of Wyckoff
 * Norman M. Robertson, former state senator (District 34)
 * Kevin J. Rooney, incumbent assemblyman
 * Results

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

Independents and third parties

 * Declared
 * Anthony J. Pellechia (independent)

General election
Polling


 * Results