NJEA’s endorsements in state elections helped propel pro-education candidates to success on Nov. 2, but the 2021 election season wasn’t without its share of races coming down to the wire.
In the state Legislature, all 120 seats were up for reelection, with several upsets. In Legislative Districts (LD) 2 and 8, Democratic candidates lost their seats. In LD11, incumbent Sen. Gopal narrowly secured reelection, while his Democratic running mates were defeated. In LD 16, the three Democrats emerged victorious in a tight race. However, in perhaps the most shocking result from the elections, Senate President Steve Sweeney and his running mates were soundly defeated by a slate of virtually unknown Republican challengers.
Ultimately, 81 percent of NJEA PAC-endorsed legislative candidates emerged victorious in their respective districts.
Local endorsements
County and local associations made endorsements in county, municipal and board of education elections level in 15 counties around the state. 56 percent of endorsed candidates were successful. NJEA encourages its affiliates to continue to be involved in local elections.
Members on the ballot
In elections all over the state, a record-setting 286 NJEA/NJREA members sought election to office at all levels of government, including the state Legislature, county commissioner positions, mayoral and other municipal offices and to be members of the Board of Education. At the time of this publication, approximately 68 percent were victorious. All our members who stepped up to make their voices heard, and NJEA encourages our members to continue to run for offices in their communities.
The members of the 220th New Jersey Legislature:
LD1: Michael Testa (R); Antwan McClellan (R); ERIK SIMONSEN (R)
LD2: Vince Polistina (R); Claire Swift (R); Don Guardian (R)
LD3: Edward Durr (R); Beth Sawyer (R); Bethanne McCarthy Patrick (R)
LD4: FRED MADDEN (D); PAUL MORIARTY (D); GABRIELA MOSQUERA (D)
LD5: NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ (D); WILLIAM SPEARMAN (D); WILLIAM MOEN (D)
LD6: JAMES BEACH (D); LOUIS GREENWALD (D); PAMELA LAMPITT (D)
LD7: TROY SINGLETON (D); HERB CONAWAY (D); CAROL MURPHY (D)
LD8: Jean Stanfield (R); Michael Torrissi (R); Brandon Umba (R)
LD9: Christopher Connors (R); DiAnne Gove (R); Brian Rumpf (R)
LD10: Jim Holzapfel (R); Greg McGuckin (R); John Catalano (R)
LD11: VIN GOPAL (D); Kimberly Eulner (R); Marilyn Piperno (R)
LD12: Samuel Thompson (R); RONALD DANCER (R); ROBERT CLIFTON (R)
LD13: Declan O’Scanlon (R); Vicky Flynn (R); Gerard Scharfenberger (R)
LD14: LINDA GREENSTEIN (D); WAYNE DEANGELO (D); DANIEL BENSON (D)
LD15: SHIRLEY TURNER (D); VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON (D); ANTHONY VERRELLI (D)
LD16: ANDREW ZWICKER (D); ROY FREIMAN (D); SADAF JAFFER (D)
LD17: BOB SMITH (D); JOSEPH EGAN (D); JOE DANIELSEN (D)
LD18: PATRICK DIEGNAN (D); NANCY PINKIN (D); ROB KARABINCHAK (D)
LD19: JOSEPH VITALE (D); CRAIG COUGHLIN (D); YVONNE LOPEZ (D)
LD20: JOSEPH CRYAN (D); REGINALD ATKINS (D); ANNETTE QUIJANO (D)
LD21: JON BRAMNICK (R); NANCY MUNOZ (R); Michelle Matsikoudis (R)
LD22: NICHOLAS SCUTARI (D); LINDA CARTER (D); JAMES KENNEDY (D)
LD23: Michael Doherty (R); Erik Peterson (R); John DiMaio (R)
LD24: Steven Oroho (R); Harold Wirths (R); Parker Space (R)
LD25: ANTHONY BUCCO (R); Brian Bergen (R); AURA DUNN (R)
LD26: Joe Pennacchio (R); Jay Webber (R); Christian Barranco (R);
LD27: RICHARD CODEY (D); JOHN MCKEON (D); MILA JASEY (D)
LD28: RONALD RICE (D); RALPH CAPUTO (D); CLEOPATRA TUCKER (D)
LD29: Teresa Ruiz (D); Eliana Pintor Marin (D); Shanique Speight (D);
LD30: Robert Singer (R); SEAN KEAN (R); EDWARD THOMSON (R)
LD31: SANDRA CUNNINGHAM (D); WILLIAM SAMPSON (D); Angela McKnight (D)
LD32: NICHOLAS SACCO (D); ANGELICA JIMENEZ (D); PEDRO MEJIA (D)
LD33: Brian Stack (D); ANNETTE CHAPARRO (D); RAJ MUKHERJI (D)
LD34: NIA GILL (D); THOMAS GIBLIN (D); BRITNEE TIMBERLAKE (D)
LD35: NELLIE POU (D); SHAVONDA SUMTER (D); BENJIE WIMBERLY (D)
LD36: PAUL SARLO (D); GARY SCHAER (D); CLINTON CALABRESE (D)
LD37: GORDON JOHNSON (D); SHAMA HAIDER (D); ELLEN PARK (D)
LD38: JOSEPH LAGANA (D); LISA SWAIN (D); CHRISTOPHER TULLY (D)
LD39: Holly Schepisi (R); Robert Auth (R); Deanne DeFuccio (R)
LD40: KRISTIN CORRADO (R); KEVIN ROONEY (R); CHRISTOPHER DEPHILLIPS (R)
*Senators are listed first; NJEA PAC-endorsed victors are CAPITALIZED; NJEA members are bold-type.
Related
In close election, NJEA members make the difference as students get a win