The 217th New Jersey Legislature began on January 12, 2016 and ended on January 9, 2018, in the last two years of the Governorship of Chris Christie.

Background The elections for the Assembly were held on November 3, 2015, while elections for the Senate were held on November 5, 2013. In the 2015 Assembly elections, Democrats gained four seats in the Assembly, giving them 52 seats in the Assembly. The incumbents that lost re-election were Sam Fiocchi, Mary Pat Angelini, Caroline Casagrande, and Donna Simon.

Party composition Assembly

AffiliationMembers Democratic Party52 Republican Party28Total80

Senate

AffiliationMembers Democratic Party24 Republican Party16Total40

Leadership Senate PositionNameDistrictPresident of the SenateStephen M. SweeneyDistrict 3Majority LeaderLoretta WeinbergDistrict 37President pro temporeNia GillPaul SarloDistrict 34District 36Assistant Majority LeadersJames BeachLinda R. GreensteinTeresa RuizDistrict 6District 14District 29Majority Conference LeaderRobert M. GordonDistrict 38Majority WhipSandra Bolden CunninghamDistrict 31Minority LeaderThomas Kean, Jr.District 21Deputy Minority LeaderDiane AllenDistrict 7Minority Conference LeaderRobert SingerDistrict 30Deputy Minority Conference LeaderJennifer BeckDistrict 11Assistant Republican LeaderJoseph PennacchioDistrict 26Republican Budget OfficerAnthony BuccoDistrict 25 Assembly Speaker: Vincent Prieto

Majority Leader: Louis Greenwald

Minority Leader: Jon Bramnick

Members Senate The Senate has 40 members, one for each district., New Jersey Legislature Accessed March 20, 2019

DistrictNamePartyResidenceFirst served Dem Dennis Township 2008 Dem Margate City 2017† Dem West Deptford Township 2002 Dem Washington Township (Gloucester) 2004 Dem Camden 2014† Dem Voorhees Township 2009† Rep Edgewater Park 1998 Rep Evesham Township 2010† Rep Lacey Township 2008 Rep Toms River 2012 Rep Red Bank 2008 Rep Old Bridge Township 2012 Rep Middletown Township 1992 Dem Plainsboro Township 2010 Dem Lawrence Township (Mercer) 1998 Rep Branchburg Township 2008 Dem Piscataway 2002 Dem South Plainfield 2016† Dem Woodbridge Township 1998 Dem Elizabeth 1983 Rep Westfield 2003† Dem Linden 2004 Rep Washington Township (Warren) 2009 Rep Franklin 2008 Rep Boonton Township 1998 Rep Montville 2008 Dem Roseland 1982 Dem Newark 1986 Dem Newark 2008 Rep Lakewood Township 1993† Dem Jersey City 2007† Dem North Bergen 1994 Dem Union City 2008 Dem Montclair 2002 Dem North Haledon 2012 Dem Wood-Ridge 2003† Dem Teaneck 2005† Dem Fair Lawn 2008 Rep Demarest 1982 Rep Totowa 2017†

† First appointed to the seat

Former members from this term DistrictNamePartyResidenceFirst servedTerm end Cause Dem Edison 2014 April 25, 2016 Appointed as a judge to the New Jersey Superior CourtJohnson, Brent. "Meet the newest member of the N.J. Legislature", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 26, 2016. Accessed August 21, 2016. "Robert Karabinchak, a Democrat, was appointed to represent Middlesex County's 18th District in the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. He replaces Patrick Diegnan, a Democrat who recently moved across the Statehouse to replace Patrick Barnes III in the state Senate after Barnes was appointed as a state Superior Court judge in Middlesex County." Rep Cedar Grove 20081 July 1, 2017 Appointed to the Board of Commissioners of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Dem Atlantic City 2008 August 22, 2017 Death (heart attack) 1 O'Toole had previously served in the Senate from 2001 to 2002

Committees and Committee Chairs, 2016-2017 Legislative Session Committee chairs are: (All are Democrats)New Jersey Legislature Committees and Membership 2016-2017 Legislative Session , New Jersey Legislature. Accessed August 17, 2016.

CommitteeNameBudget and AppropriationsPaul SarloCommerceNia GillCommunity and Urban AffairsJeff Van DrewEconomic GrowthRaymond LesniakEducationTeresa RuizEnvironment and EnergyBob SmithHealth, Human Services and Senior CitizensJoseph VitaleHigher EducationSandra Bolden CunninghamJudiciaryNicholas ScutariLaborFred H. MaddenLaw and Public SafetyLinda R. GreensteinLegislative OversightRobert M. GordonMilitary and Veterans' AffairsJames BeachState Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic PreservationJim WhelanTransportationNicholas Sacco

Assembly The Assembly has 80 members, two for each district. DistrictNamePartyResidenceFirst served Dem Middle Township 2013First appointed to the seat Dem Vineland2016 Rep Ventnor City2012 Dem Northfield2014 Dem Paulsboro2002 Dem Woolwich Township2015 Dem Washington Township (Gloucester)2006 Dem Gloucester Township2012 Dem Camden 2016 Dem Barrington 2015 Dem Voorhees Township1996 Dem Cherry Hill2006 Dem Delanco Township1998 Dem Palmyra2011 Rep Evesham Township2016 Rep Evesham Township2014 Rep Long Beach Township2009 Rep Little Egg Harbor2003 Rep Toms River2012 Rep Brick Township1992 Dem Freehold Township2016 Dem Neptune Township 2016 Rep Matawan2012 Rep Plumsted Township2002 Rep Middletown Township2006 Rep Little Silver2008 Dem Hamilton Township (Mercer)2011 Dem Hamilton Township2008 Dem Trenton1996 Dem Pennington2015 Rep Hillsborough Township2011 Dem South Brunswick2016 Dem Franklin Township (Somerset)2014 Dem New Brunswick2002 Dem Edison2016 Dem East Brunswick2014 Dem Woodbridge Township2010 Dem Sayreville1996 Dem Roselle 2015 Dem Elizabeth2008 Rep Westfield2003 Rep Summit2009 Dem Plainfield1992 Dem Rahway2016 Rep Hackettstown2009 Rep Franklin Township (Hunterdon)2009 Rep Wantage Township 2013 Rep Andover Township 2015 Rep Boonton Township2010 Rep Morris Township1996 Rep Parsippany-Troy Hills2012 Rep Morris Plains2008 Dem South Orange2007 Dem West Orange2002 Dem Bloomfield2008Served in the Assembly as a Republican from 1968–1972 Dem Newark2008 Dem Newark2013 Dem Newark2016 Rep Wall Township2012Served in the Assembly from 2002–2008 Rep Wall Township2017 Dem Bayonne2016 Dem Jersey City2016 Dem West New York2012 Dem Secaucus2004 Dem Hoboken2016 Dem Jersey City2014 Dem Montclair2006 Dem East Orange2004 Dem Paterson2012 Dem Paterson2012 Dem Ridgefield2012 Dem Passaic2006 Dem Englewood2006 Dem Englewood2002 Dem Maywood2012 Dem Paramus2014 Rep River Vale2012 Rep Old Tappan2010 Rep Ridgewood1990 Rep Wyckoff2016

Former members from this term DistrictNamePartyResidenceFirst servedLeft office Cause Dem South Plainfield 2002 May 9, 2016 Appointed to the District's Senate seatJohnson, Brent. "Meet the newest member of the N.J. Legislature", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 26, 2016. Accessed August 21, 2016. "Robert Karabinchak, a Democrat, was appointed to represent Middlesex County's 18th District in the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. He replaces Patrick Diegnan, a Democrat who recently moved across the Statehouse to replace Patrick Barnes III in the state Senate after Barnes was appointed as a state Superior Court judge in Middlesex County." Dem Newark 2008 June 30, 2016 Appointed as a judge to the New Jersey Superior CourtJohnson, Brent. "N.J. Assemblywoman becomes judge, leaves seat open", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 1, 2016. Accessed August 21, 2016. "Grace Spencer, who has represented New Jersey's largest city for eight years in the state Assembly, has been confirmed to become a state Superior Court judge in Essex County.... Gov. Chris Christie nominated Spencer (D-Essex) — whose legislative district includes Newark, the most populous municipality in the state — to the bench last month. She was confirmed by the state Senate on Thursday." Rep Wayne 2008 October 20, 2016 Appointed as a judge to the New Jersey Superior CourtEnsslin, John C. "Assembly regulates ride-hailing services, votes on more than 100 bills", Asbury Park Press, October 20, 2016. Accessed December 12, 2016. "Assembly members also gave a standing ovation to Rumana, who took part in his final session as a legislator after learning that the Senate had confirmed his appointment to a judgeship. The former Wayne mayor, is following in the footsteps of his father, who also was a Superior Court judge in Passaic County." Rep Wall Township 2008 July 17, 2017 Appointed Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control

Vacancies Senate DistrictOriginalPartyPeriod of vacancyAppointeeParty of Appointee18thPeter J. Barnes IIIJohnson, Brent. "N.J. Senate confirms colleague to become state judge", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 25, 2016. Accessed March 20, 2019.Democratic PartyApril 25, 2016 – May 9, 2016Patrick J. DiegnanDemocratic Party40thKevin J. O'TooleRepublican PartyJuly 1, 2017 – October 5, 2017Kristin CorradoRepublican Party2ndJim WhelanDemocratic PartyAugust 22, 2017 – October 5, 2017Colin BellDemocratic Party

Assembly DistrictOriginalPartyPeriod of vacancyAppointeeParty of Appointee18thPatrick J. DiegnanJohnson, Brent. "Meet the newest member of the N.J. Legislature", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 26, 2016. Accessed March 20, 2019. "Robert Karabinchak, a Democrat, was appointed to represent Middlesex County's 18th District in the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. He replaces Patrick Diegnan, a Democrat who recently moved across the Statehouse to replace Patrick Barnes III in the state Senate after Barnes was appointed as a state Superior Court judge in Middlesex County."Democratic PartyMay 9, 2016 – May 26, 2016Robert KarabinchakDemocratic Party29thL. Grace SpencerJohnson, Brent. "N.J. Assemblywoman becomes judge, leaves seat open", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 1, 2016. Accessed March 20, 2019. "Grace Spencer, who has represented New Jersey's largest city for eight years in the state Assembly, has been confirmed to become a state Superior Court judge in Essex County.... Gov. Chris Christie nominated Spencer (D-Essex) — whose legislative district includes Newark, the most populous municipality in the state — to the bench last month. She was confirmed by the state Senate on Thursday."Democratic PartyJune 30, 2016 – July 21, 2016Blonnie R. WatsonDemocratic Party40thScott RumanaEnsslin, John C. "Assembly regulates ride-hailing services, votes on more than 100 bills", Asbury Park Press, October 20, 2016. Accessed March 20, 2019. "Assembly members also gave a standing ovation to Rumana, who took part in his final session as a legislator after learning that the Senate had confirmed his appointment to a judgeship. The former Wayne mayor, is following in the footsteps of his father, who also was a Superior Court judge in Passaic County."Republican PartyOctober 20, 2016-???Kevin J. RooneyRepublican Party30thDave RibleRepublican PartyJuly 17, 2017 – August 24, 2017Ned ThomsonRepublican Party

See also List of New Jersey state legislatures

Notes

References