Draft:Ross Traphagen

Ross Traphagen is an American Republican Party politician serving as a Councilman in the Town of Clinton, New Jersey.

Traphagen resides in the Town of Clinton, New Jersey and is a graduate of Moravian University.

Traphagen was first elected to the Clinton Town Council in the swing town in 2019, where he became the youngest municipal elected official in the state during that time, and was re-elected in 2022 by 15 votes even as former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) carried Clinton 54%-46%. In both of his campaigns, Traphagen was the council’s top vote-getter.

In 2023, Traphagen ran unsuccessfully for the State Assembly in Legislative District 16. The district was noted as one of the most competitive in the state, and was a top target by both parties. Traphagen received 26,293 votes, and carried his hometown of Clinton as the top vote-getter, winning it by 13 votes.