new jersey – Ballotpedia News

May 25, 2023 at 5:03 PM

New Jersey is holding elections, including for legislative offices, on June 6, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of May 25. To read each candidate’s full responses, click their name at the bottom of the article.

Incumbent Yraida Aponte-Lipski (D) is running for Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders District 4, and the Democratic primary election is on June 6. Here’s how Aponte-Lipski responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Causes that I have worked on specifically are balanced/stable budgets, … direct services for our homeless and senior neighbors, helicopter reduction in our area, bike-pedestrian-vehicular safety and education, protecting Liberty State Park, women’s empowerment, helping families apply for admissions to Hudson County Schools of Technology and Hudson County Community College as well as appeal decisions that are not favorable, worked with inmates at the county jail, their families, and jail staff to facilitate optimum communication, and, lastly, being a commissioner on the County planning board who has missed only 1 meeting.”

Click here to read the rest of Aponte-Lipski’s answers.

Chris Auriemma (R) is running for New Jersey State Senate District 36, and the Republican primary election is on June 6. Here’s how Auriemma responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Parental Rights. We pay for the schools and we have a right to what our children are taught. We have children who cannot read or do math at college level leaving high school unprepared for the real world. There are so many parents who are afraid to s[p]eak out against these radical politics going into the classrooms.”

Click here to read the rest of Auriemma’s answers.

Mario De Santis (D) is running for New Jersey State Senate District 3, and the Democratic primary election is on June 6. Here’s how De Santis responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Education, public safety, healthcare, & economic opportunities.”

Click here to read the rest of De Santis’ answers.

Roger Forest Locandro (R) is running for New Jersey State Senate District 15, and the Republican primary election is on June 6. Here’s how Locandro responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Jobs
Education
Work Force Development
Green Sustainability
Equity in opportunity
Agriculture, Solar, Hydro Electric Geothermal”

Click here to read the rest of Locandro’s answers.

If you’re a New Jersey candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.

Additional reading:

New Jersey statewide primary to be held June 6

By Mercedes Yanora

In State

May 19, 2023 at 1:01 PM

The statewide primary election for New Jersey is on June 6, 2023. The filing deadline to run was on March 27. Candidates are running in elections for the following offices:

New Jersey State Senate
New Jersey General Assembly
Ballotpedia is also covering local elections in the following areas:
- Essex County
- Hudson County

Candidates are competing to advance to the general election scheduled for Nov. 7, 2023.

New Jersey utilizes a semi-closed primary process, in which the selection of a party’s candidates in an election is generally limited to registered party members. Unaffiliated voters can register as party members at the polls on primary election day. Otherwise, a voter must indicate his or her party preference (e.g., via an updated voter registration) no later than the 55th day preceding the primary in order to vote in that party’s primary.

New Jersey’s statewide primary is the seventh to take place in the 2023 election cycle. The next primary is on June 20 in Virginia.

Additional reading:

Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues one executive order from May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora

In State

May 18, 2023 at 4:41 PM

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued one executive order from May 8-14. As of May 14, Murphy has issued 16 executive orders in 2023 — three fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is:

Executive Order No. 329, where the governor ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in recognition and mourning of Deptford Township Police Officer Robert Shisler.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 8-14, the nation’s governors issued 18 executive orders. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued the most with three. Governors in 36 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 10 of the 18 orders, while Democratic governors issued eight.

Murphy has served as governor since Jan. 16, 2018. He issued 37 executive orders in 2022 and 66 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,565 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 591 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 386, while Democratic governors issued 205. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

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All candidates for New Jersey General Assembly District 5 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Mercedes Yanora

In State

May 17, 2023 at 10:52 PM

Both of the candidates running in the June 6, 2023, Republican primary election for New Jersey General Assembly District 5 — Joe Miller and Yalinda Pagan — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Miller:

“Joe stands for individual freedom and success.
Miller believes that your financial earnings belong to no one but yourself and your family.
Joe supports limited government interference in our day-to-day lives.”

Pagan:

“Parental rights are to be protected and not stripped away by government.
I fully support a limited government and individual liberty.
Our children’s education needs to be age appropriate and factual.”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:

New Jersey Supreme Court issues one opinion from May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora

In State

May 17, 2023 at 10:36 PM

The New Jersey Supreme Court issued one opinion from May 8-14. As of May 14, the court issued 20 opinions — three fewer than this point a year ago. The opinion is below:

New Jersey v. Bullock, where the court “suppressed all of defendant’s statements, finding that he was in custody in the courtyard and should have been properly advised of his rights, which did not occur. The trial court also suppressed the statements defendant made at the police station because of improper administration and waiver of Miranda rights. The Appellate Division affirmed, agreeing with the trial court that defendant’s statements in the courtyard must be suppressed. The New Jersey Supreme Court concurred with the Appellate Division and affirmed suppression of defendant’s statements.”

From May 8-14, state supreme courts issued 110 opinions nationally. The North Dakota Supreme Court issued the most with 12. State supreme courts in 20 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 68 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 42.

The New Jersey Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Stuart Rabner. The court issued 55 opinions in 2022 and 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021. The courts have issued 2,474 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 1,390 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 1,084. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

Additional reading:

Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey: New Jersey roundup

By Mercedes Yanora

In Local

May 11, 2023 at 9:54 PM

New Jersey is holding elections, including for municipal office, on June 6, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of May 11. To read each candidate’s full responses, click their name at the bottom of the article.

Ron Bautista (D) is running for Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders District 5 and the primary is on June 6. Here’s how Bautista responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“I have been a member of the Hoboken Vision Zero Task Force since 2019. … In 2019, I joined the Port Authority Bus Terminal Advisory Council. … Since 2020, I’ve been a board member of the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy, a nonprofit organization focused on ensuring a public waterfront walkway throughout Hudson and Bergen County. … I also became a board member of the Coalition for Food and Health Equity in 2022.”

Click here to read the rest of Bautista’s answers.

TJ Senger (D) is running for Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders District 1 and the primary is on June 6. Here’s how Senger responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“First, keeping public green spaces public. … Second is a county-wide initiative to best help municipalities navigate the new recreation marijuana industry. … Lastly, aiding the municipalities to spur improvement. … If a project that would improve a community, but requires some initial investment, like remediation of lead and asbestos, the county with their budget surplus should be able to help that municipality with a loan.”

Click here to read the rest of Senger’s answers.

Alex Valdez (D) is running for Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders District 9 and the primary is on June 6. Here’s how Valdez responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“-Education

-Housing Affordability

-Environmental Sustainability

-Pedestrian Safety.”

Click here to read the rest of Valdez’s answers.

If you’re a New Jersey candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.

Additional reading:

Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues one executive order from May 1-7

By Mercedes Yanora

In State

May 11, 2023 at 9:02 PM

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued one executive order from May 1-7. As of May 7, Murphy has issued 15 executive orders in 2023 — four fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is:

Executive Order No. 328, where the governor ordered flags flown at half-staff in recognition of the anniversary of State Trooper Werner Foerster’s death.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 1-7, the nation’s governors issued 26 executive orders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued the most with 16. Governors in 41 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 19 of the 26 orders, while Democratic governors issued seven.

Murphy has served as governor since Jan. 16, 2018. He issued 37 executive orders in 2022 and 66 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,558 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 568 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 371, while Democratic governors issued 197. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

Additional reading:

New Jersey Supreme Court issues two opinions from May 1-7

By Mercedes Yanora

In State

May 11, 2023 at 7:08 PM

The New Jersey Supreme Court issued two opinions from May 1-7. As of May 7, the court issued 19 opinions in 2023 — three fewer than this point a year ago. The two opinions are below:

New Jersey v. Torres, where the court affirmed a trial court’s opinion “holding that the seizure of defendant’s clothing was valid as a search incident to arrest under the totality of the circumstances.”
New Jersey v. Miranda, where the court “determined N.D. had apparent authority to consent to the officer’s search of the storage trailer. However, the exigent-circumstances exception to the warrant requirement did not justify the officer’s search of the black bag or his seizure of the weapons in that bag, and the denial of defendant’s motion to suppress [the weapons found in the black bag] constituted error.”

From May 1-7, state supreme courts issued 156 opinions nationally. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia issued the most with 22. State supreme courts in Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, and South Dakota issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 91 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 65.

The New Jersey Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Stuart Rabner. The court issued 55 opinions in 2022 and 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021. The courts have issued 2,357 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 1,315 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 1,042. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

Additional reading:

Newcomers will represent at least 23% of New Jersey’s state legislative seats next year

By Douglas Kronaizl

In 2023 elections

April 28, 2023 at 4:36 PM

Twenty-eight state legislative seats up for election in New Jersey this year are open, meaning no incumbents filed to run. This represents 23% of the state’s legislature, a decade-high rate of open seats, and a marked increase from previous election cycles.

Newcomers are guaranteed to win all open seats since no incumbents are running for them.

This is New Jersey’s first election under new state legislative maps following the 2020 redistricting cycle.

The number of open seats tends to increase after redistricting.

Incumbents may opt against running for re-election because they now live in a district with a different partisan makeup than the one they previously represented or because they now live in a district with another incumbent.

Additionally, an incumbent might run for re-election in a new district, leaving their old seat open.

In New Jersey, three incumbents are running for re-election in new districts.

In the General Assembly, Assms. Brian Bergen (R) and Christian Barranco (R) effectively swapped districts, with Bergen moving from District 25 to District 26 and vice versa for Barranco.

In the Senate, Sen. Nia Gill (D) is running in District 27, leaving her current District 34 seat open. Gill will face incumbent District 27 Sen. Richard Codey (D) in a Democratic primary.

This year, 255 major party candidates filed to run for the state’s 80 General Assembly and 40 Senate seats: 134 Democrats and 121 Republicans.

New Jersey has had a Democratic trifecta since the party won the governorship in 2017. Democrats hold a 45-34 majority in the General Assembly, with one vacancy, and a 25-15 majority in the Senate.

New Jersey will hold its state legislative primaries on June 6, the first state legislative primary date of the 2023 election cycle.

Additional reading:

Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues one executive order from April 10-16

By Mercedes Yanora

In State

April 20, 2023 at 6:05 PM

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued one executive order from April 10-16. As of April 16, Murphy has issued 14 executive orders in 2023 — four fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is:

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 327, where the governor ordered the prioritization of work experience and skills training over four-year degrees for certain jobs within state government.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of April 10-16, the nation’s governors issued 23 executive orders. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D), South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R), and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued the most with three each. Governors in 35 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Democratic governors issued 12 of the 23 orders, while Republican governors issued 11.

Murphy has served as governor since Jan. 16, 2018. He issued 37 executive orders in 2022 and 66 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,558 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 447 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 283, while Democratic governors issued 164. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

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