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New Jersey is one of the fifty U.S. states. The state is considered a stronghold of the Democratic Party and has supported the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992. Democrats have also controlled both chambers of the state legislature since 2004. New Jersey currently has two Democratic United States senators. New Jersey's Class I Senate seat has been Democratic since 1959 (aside from the eight-month tenure of Nicholas F. Brady in 1982). New Jersey's Class II Senate seat has been Democratic since 1979 (aside from the four-month tenure of Jeffrey Chiesa in 2013). In addition, New Jersey's House congressional delegation has had a Democratic majority since 1965, except for a period between 1995-1999 and 2013-2017. As of July 1, 2020, there were more registered Democrats than unaffiliated voters for the first time in history, as there are more Democrats than Republicans as well.
| Year | Republican / Whig | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 1,883,313 | 41.25% | 2,608,400 | 57.14% | 73,469 | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 1,601,933 | 41.00% | 2,148,278 | 54.99% | 156,512 | 4.01% |
| 2012 | 1,478,749 | 40.50% | 2,126,610 | 58.25% | 45,781 | 1.25% |
| 2008 | 1,613,207 | 41.61% | 2,215,422 | 57.14% | 48,778 | 1.26% |
| 2004 | 1,670,003 | 46.23% | 1,911,430 | 52.92% | 30,704 | 0.85% |
| 2000 | 1,284,173 | 40.29% | 1,788,850 | 56.13% | 114,203 | 3.58% |
| 1996 | 1,103,078 | 35.86% | 1,652,329 | 53.72% | 320,400 | 10.42% |
| 1992 | 1,356,865 | 40.58% | 1,436,206 | 42.95% | 550,523 | 16.47% |
| 1988 | 1,743,192 | 56.24% | 1,320,352 | 42.60% | 36,009 | 1.16% |
| 1984 | 1,933,630 | 60.09% | 1,261,323 | 39.20% | 22,909 | 0.71% |
| 1980 | 1,546,557 | 51.97% | 1,147,364 | 38.56% | 281,763 | 9.47% |
| 1976 | 1,509,688 | 50.08% | 1,444,653 | 47.92% | 60,131 | 1.99% |
| 1972 | 1,845,502 | 61.57% | 1,102,211 | 36.77% | 49,516 | 1.65% |
| 1968 | 1,325,467 | 46.10% | 1,264,206 | 43.97% | 285,722 | 9.94% |
| 1964 | 963,843 | 33.86% | 1,867,671 | 65.61% | 15,256 | 0.54% |
| 1960 | 1,363,324 | 49.16% | 1,385,415 | 49.96% | 24,372 | 0.88% |
| 1956 | 1,606,942 | 64.68% | 850,337 | 34.23% | 27,033 | 1.09% |
| 1952 | 1,374,613 | 56.81% | 1,015,902 | 41.99% | 29,039 | 1.20% |
| 1948 | 981,124 | 50.33% | 895,455 | 45.93% | 72,976 | 3.74% |
| 1944 | 961,335 | 48.95% | 987,874 | 50.31% | 14,552 | 0.74% |
| 1940 | 945,475 | 47.93% | 1,016,808 | 51.55% | 10,269 | 0.52% |
| 1936 | 720,322 | 39.57% | 1,083,850 | 59.54% | 16,265 | 0.89% |
| 1932 | 775,684 | 47.59% | 806,630 | 49.48% | 47,749 | 2.93% |
| 1928 | 926,050 | 59.77% | 616,517 | 39.79% | 6,814 | 0.44% |
| 1924 | 675,162 | 62.17% | 297,743 | 27.41% | 113,174 | 10.42% |
| 1920 | 611,541 | 67.65% | 256,887 | 28.42% | 35,515 | 3.93% |
| 1916 | 268,982 | 54.40% | 211,018 | 42.68% | 14,442 | 2.92% |
| 1912 | 88,835 | 20.53% | 178,289 | 41.20% | 165,615 | 38.27% |
| 1908 | 265,326 | 56.79% | 182,567 | 39.08% | 19,305 | 4.13% |
| 1904 | 245,164 | 56.68% | 164,566 | 38.05% | 22,817 | 5.28% |
| 1900 | 221,754 | 55.27% | 164,879 | 41.10% | 14,573 | 3.63% |
| 1896 | 221,535 | 59.68% | 133,695 | 36.02% | 15,981 | 4.31% |
| 1892 | 156,101 | 46.24% | 171,066 | 50.67% | 10,456 | 3.10% |
| 1888 | 144,360 | 47.52% | 151,508 | 49.87% | 7,933 | 2.61% |
| 1884 | 123,440 | 47.31% | 127,798 | 48.98% | 9,683 | 3.71% |
| 1880 | 120,555 | 49.02% | 122,565 | 49.84% | 2,808 | 1.14% |
| 1876 | 103,517 | 47.01% | 115,962 | 52.66% | 714 | 0.32% |
| 1872 | 91,656 | 54.52% | 76,456 | 45.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1868 | 80,131 | 49.12% | 83,001 | 50.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 60,723 | 47.16% | 68,024 | 52.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 58,346 | 48.13% | 62,869 | 51.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1856 | 28,338 | 28.51% | 46,943 | 47.23% | 24,115 | 24.26% |
| 1852 | 38,556 | 46.33% | 44,305 | 53.24% | 359 | 0.43% |
| 1848 | 40,015 | 51.48% | 36,901 | 47.47% | 819 | 1.05% |
| 1844 | 38,318 | 50.46% | 37,495 | 49.37% | 131 | 0.17% |
| 1840 | 33,351 | 51.74% | 31,034 | 48.15% | 69 | 0.11% |
| 1836 | 26,137 | 50.53% | 25,592 | 49.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
American Revolution
In 1776, the first constitution of New Jersey was drafted. Written during the American Revolution, it created a basic framework for state government and allowed "all inhabitants of this Colony, of full age, who are worth fifty pounds proclamation money"[2] to vote (including blacks, spinsters, and widows); married women could not own property under common law. The constitution declared itself temporary and void if there was reconciliation with Great Britain.[3][4] Both parties in elections mocked the other party for relying on "petticoat electors", and accused each other of allowing unqualified women to vote. The state voted for Washington in 1789 and 1792, as well as Adams in 1796.
Nineteenth century
The second version of the constitution was adopted on June 29, 1844, and restricted suffrage to white males. Important components of the second state constitution included the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The new constitution also provided a bill of rights, and granted voters (instead of the legislature) the right to elect the governor. It also allowed gubernatorial veto power and appointment of high-level officials.[5]
Throughout the century, the state voted for the Federalist Party twice, the Democratic-Republican Party five times, the National Republican Party once, the Whig Party four times, the Democratic Party ten times, and the Republican Party three times.
Twentieth century
The 20th century saw the nonwhite population grow rapidly, altering the political landscape. Between 1915-1920, the first Great Migration of African Americans from the South brought in thousands of migrants into New Jersey cities, with Newark and Camden both having their black populations double in that time.[6] During the 1920s, the black population grew by 78%, with Newark again doubling its black population.[7] African Americans became a solidly Democratic voting bloc starting in the 1930s under FDR. During the 1980s, a significant number of Asian Americans immigrated to the northeastern and central parts of the state and tended to vote Democratic. Since the 1980s, the Latin American population in New Jersey, who also tended to vote Democratic, has grown significantly, particularly in the northeastern and central parts of the state, as well as Camden and Cumberland County. another group that tended to vote Democratic.[8] In contrast, voters in suburban New Jersey were overwhelmingly white, and more likely to vote Republican.
The 1844 constitution had a confusing and unwieldly court system, as well as an extremely powerful legislature with a weak governor. In 1947, a new Constitution was established, which largely reorganized the judicial system into a hierarchical structure. Gubernatorial terms were extended from three to four years, the governor's term limit extended from one to two terns, and all executive agencies were placed directly under gubernatorial control.[9]
From 1894 to 1973, Republicans usually controlled both houses of the state legislature (with the exceptions of 1907, 1911, 1913–1914, 1932, 1937, 1958–1963, 1966–1967). From 1900 to 1944, New Jersey voted for Democrats five times, and voted for Republicans seven times. After World War II, New Jersey was a Republican-leaning swing state in presidential elections; from the 1948 to the 1988, Republican candidates won nine out of eleven elections. John F. Kennedy won New Jersey in 1960 by 22,000 votes, and Lyndon B. Johnson won in 1964 as a part of his landslide victory, garnering the second-highest percent of the popular vote in history after 1920. The governor of the state swung between both parties every one to four election cycles throughout the entire century.
The two seats for the United States Senate were swing seats in the first half of the century, although they leaned Republican. At least seat was in Democratic control since 1959, and both seats have been held by Democrats since 1978, with the exception of April 1982-December 1982, when Nicholas F. Brady was appointed to the Senate by Governor Thomas Kean after the resignation of Harrison A. Williams. Republicans dominated the majority of seats to the United States House of Representatives from 1895 to 1965, with the exception of 1911-1914, 1923-1924, and 1937-1938. Democrats have controlled a majority of seats since 1965, with the exception of 1995-1998.
Since 1992, New Jersey has voted for Democrats in every presidential election. Bill Clinton won a plurality of New Jersey's popular vote that year, and a majority of New Jersey's popular vote in 1996. Among Republican New Jersey voters, those living in rural parts of the state tended to vote for conservative Republicans; suburban voters tended to prefer liberal, or moderate, Republicans.
Twenty-first century
Since 2002, the New Jersey Legislature has been overwhelmingly Democratic. Democrats won a majority in the New Jersey General Assembly in the 2001 election and a majority in the New Jersey Senate in the 2001 election. As of October 2024, there were over 917,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.[10] Democrats tend to do well in areas near New York City, Philadelphia, and Trenton, and cities such as Jersey City, Newark, Camden, Elizabeth, Trenton, and Paterson are overwhelmingly Democratic. These cities influence their respective counties (namely Hudson, Essex, Camden, Union, Mercer, and Passaic) to vote Democratic. Predominantly suburban and rural counties, especially those along the Jersey Shore and in northwestern New Jersey, tend to vote Republican; these include counties such as Ocean, Warren, Cape May, and Sussex. Other counties, such as Atlantic, Morris, and Cumberland, are considered "swing" counties; they tend to vote closely within the margins of each party, swaying in one direction or the other with each election.
The 2016 presidential election in New Jersey was won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in 12 counties, while Republican Donald Trump won nine counties; overall, Clinton carried the state with a vote percentage of 55.45 to 41.35 percent. Trump won two counties (Gloucester and Salem) which had voted Democratic in 2012. Every county voted identically in 2016 and the 2017 gubernatorial election with the exception of Gloucester, which flipped back to Democratic. In the 2018 Senate election, Atlantic and Gloucester Counties flipped Republican. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden flipped Atlantic, Gloucester, and Morris counties from the 2018 elections.
| County | 2016 Presidential | 2017 Gubernatorial | 2018 Senate | 2020 Presidential | 2020 Senate | 2021 Gubernatorial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Clinton | Murphy | Hugin | Biden | Booker | Ciattarelli |
| Bergen | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Burlington | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Camden | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Cape May | Trump | Guadagno | Hugin | Trump | Mehta | Ciattarelli |
| Cumberland | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Ciattarelli |
| Essex | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Gloucester | Trump | Murphy | Hugin | Biden | Booker | Ciattarelli |
| Hudson | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Hunterdon | Trump | Guadagno | Hugin | Trump | Mehta | Ciattarelli |
| Mercer | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Middlesex | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Monmouth | Trump | Guadagno | Hugin | Trump | Mehta | Ciattarelli |
| Morris | Trump | Guadagno | Hugin | Biden | Booker | Ciattarelli |
| Ocean | Trump | Guadagno | Hugin | Trump | Mehta | Ciattarelli |
| Passaic | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Salem | Trump | Guadagno | Hugin | Trump | Mehta | Ciattarelli |
| Somerset | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Sussex | Trump | Guadagno | Hugin | Trump | Mehta | Ciattarelli |
| Union | Clinton | Murphy | Menendez | Biden | Booker | Murphy |
| Warren | Trump | Guadagno | Hugin | Trump | Mehta | Ciattarelli |
Recent registration statistics
Nine counties (Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, and Union) have a plurality of Democratic registrants, and six (Cape May, Hunterdon, Morris, Ocean, Sussex, and Warren) have a plurality of Republican registrants; the remaining seven have a majority of unaffiliated voters. Of those with an unaffiliated majority, four counties have more Democrats than Republicans (Atlantic, Bergen, Cumberland and Somerset) and three counties (Monmouth, Morris, and Salem) have more Republicans than Democrats.
Two counties (Essex and Hudson) have an absolute majority of their registrants in one party (Democratic). The highest percentage of unaffiliated voters is in Cumberland at 40.13 percent. The highest percentage of Democrats is in Hudson at 52.81 percent, the highest percentage of Republicans is in Cape May at 44.03 percent, and the highest percentage registered in other parties is in Cumberland at 1.83 percent. The lowest percentage of unaffiliated is in Hunterdon at 30.36 percent, Democrats is in Ocean at 20.57 percent, Republicans is in Essex at 10.82 percent, and other parties in Hunterdon at 0.84 percent. The county with the closest Democratic-Republican percentages spread is Salem at 2.44 percent. The county with the largest Democratic-Republican percentage spread is Hudson at 41.01 percent. Bergen County has the largest number of registered voters at 687,031, and Salem County has the least at 49,957.
| County[lower-alpha 1] | Unaffiliated | Una % | Democratic | Dem % | Republican | Rep % | Other[lower-alpha 2] | O % | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 73,788 | 35.80% | 69,523 | 33.73% | 59,935 | 29.08% | 2,842 | 1.38% | 206,088 |
| Bergen | 263,955 | 38.42% | 256,896 | 37.34% | 159,561 | 23.22% | 6,619 | 0.96% | 687,031 |
| Burlington | 125,648 | 34.00% | 142,895 | 38.67% | 96,780 | 26.19% | 4,247 | 1.15% | 369,570 |
| Camden | 137,637 | 35.00% | 182,300 | 46.35% | 68,075 | 17.30% | 5,329 | 1.35% | 393,341 |
| Cape May | 23,449 | 30.66% | 18,472 | 24.15% | 33,673 | 44.03% | 887 | 1.16% | 76,481 |
| Cumberland | 39,192 | 40.13% | 31,943 | 32.71% | 24,729 | 25.32% | 1,788 | 1.83% | 97,652 |
| Essex | 218,184 | 37.08% | 301,046 | 51.17% | 63,653 | 10.82% | 5,465 | 0.93% | 588,348 |
| Gloucester | 74,730 | 33.31% | 83,595 | 37.26% | 63,146 | 28.15% | 2,873 | 1.28% | 224,344 |
| Hudson | 142,386 | 34.04% | 220,915 | 52.81% | 49,350 | 11.80% | 5,644 | 1.35% | 418,295 |
| Hunterdon | 33,010 | 30.36% | 31,105 | 28.60% | 43,710 | 40.20% | 912 | 0.84% | 108,737 |
| Mercer | 102,289 | 38.15% | 119,704 | 44.64% | 42,504 | 15.85% | 3,636 | 1.36% | 268,133 |
| Middlesex | 232,225 | 39.47% | 243,108 | 41.32% | 105,942 | 18.01% | 7,118 | 1.21% | 588,393 |
| Monmouth | 197,700 | 39.11% | 141,032 | 27.90% | 161,153 | 31.88% | 5,597 | 1.10% | 505,482 |
| Morris | 136,832 | 34.42% | 119,136 | 29.96% | 137,799 | 34.66% | 3,831 | 0.96% | 397,598 |
| Ocean | 183,895 | 38.33% | 98,705 | 20.57% | 191,387 | 39.89% | 5,818 | 1.21% | 479,805 |
| Passaic | 125,927 | 37.29% | 131,802 | 39.03% | 75,350 | 22.31% | 4,603 | 1.36% | 337,682 |
| Salem | 18,662 | 37.36% | 14,633 | 29.29% | 15,849 | 31.73% | 813 | 1.63% | 49,957 |
| Somerset | 100,787 | 38.55% | 92,292 | 35.30% | 65,694 | 25.13% | 2,659 | 1.02% | 261,432 |
| Sussex | 40,975 | 33.83% | 26,881 | 22.19% | 51,451 | 42.48% | 1,817 | 1.50% | 121,124 |
| Union | 142,445 | 36.41% | 179,143 | 46.79% | 65,188 | 16.66% | 4,426 | 1.13% | 391,202 |
| Warren | 27,211 | 30.48% | 23,791 | 26.65% | 36,759 | 41.17% | 1,507 | 1.69% | 89,268 |
| Total | 2,440,927 | 36.65% | 2,528,917 | 37.97% | 1,611,688 | 24.20% | 78,431 | 1.18% | 6,659,963 |
Seven districts- the 1st, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th- have a majority of Democratic registrants, and zero have a majority of Republican registrants; the remaining five have a majority of unaffiliated voters. Of those with an unaffiliated majority, three districts have more Republicans than Democrats- 2nd, 4th, and 7th- and two districts- the 3rd and 5th, have more Democrats than Republicans.
Districts 8 and 10 have an absolute majority of their registrants in one party (Democratic). The highest percentage of unaffiliated voters is in District 6 at 39.01 percent. The highest percentage of Democrats is in District 10 at 54.06 percent; the highest percentage of Republicans is in District 4 at 38.17 percent, and the highest percentage registered in other parties is District 2 at 1.42 percent. The lowest percentage of unaffiliated is in District 1 at 34.45 percent, Democrats is in District 4 at 22.10 percent, Republicans is in District 10 at 8.74 percent, and other parties is in District 11 at 0.84 percent. The district with the largest Democratic-Republican percentage spread is District 10 at 45.32 percent. The district with the smallest Democratic-Republican percentage spread is District 7 at 3.01 percent. District 7 has the largest number of registered voters at 634,344 and District 8 has the least at 417,988.
| District[lower-alpha 1] | Unaffiliated | Una % | Democratic | Dem % | Republican | Rep % | Other[lower-alpha 2] | O % | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 198,034 | 34.45% | 253,888 | 44.516 | 115,204 | 20.04% | 7,770 | 1.35% | 574,896 |
| 2 | 212,071 | 36.03% | 175,220 | 29.77% | 193,003 | 32.79% | 8,344 | 1.42% | 588,638 |
| 3 | 223,113 | 36.36% | 219,977 | 35.85% | 163,515 | 26.65% | 6,954 | 1.13% | 613,559 |
| 4 | 226,113 | 38.60% | 129,435 | 22.10% | 223,571 | 38.17% | 5,423 | 0.93% | 585,712 |
| 5 | 219,867 | 37.20% | 207,771 | 35.16% | 157,594 | 26.67% | 5,755 | 0.97% | 590,987 |
| 6 | 201,750 | 39.01% | 208,252 | 40.27% | 100,368 | 19.40% | 6,740 | 1.350% | 517,110 |
| 7 | 219,440 | 34.59% | 194,585 | 30.67% | 213,637 | 33.68% | 6,682 | 1.05% | 634,344 |
| 8 | 147,191 | 35.21% | 216,367 | 51.76% | 48,922 | 11.70% | 5,508 | 1.31% | 417,988 |
| 9 | 184,762 | 38.70% | 191,952 | 40.20% | 94,232 | 19.73% | 6,488 | 1.36% | 477,434 |
| 10 | 183,577 | 36.02% | 275,486 | 54.06% | 44,519 | 8.74% | 6,056 | 1.19% | 509,638 |
| 11 | 216,490 | 35.44% | 226,280 | 37.04% | 162,984 | 26.68% | 5,113 | 0.84% | 610,867 |
| 12 | 208,519 | 38.70% | 229,704 | 42.63% | 94,139 | 17.47% | 6,428 | 1.19% | 538,790 |
| Total | 2,440,927 | 36.65% | 2,528,917 | 37.97% | 1,611,688 | 24.20% | 78,431 | 1.18% | 6,659,963 |
1992–present monthly registration statistics
| Month | Unaffiliated | Una % | Democratic | Dem % | Republican | Rep % | Other[lower-alpha 1] | O % | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 1992 | 2,060,989 | 50.76% | 1,175,141 | 28.94% | 817,837 | 20.14% | 6,470 | 0.16% | 4,060,337 |
| Nov. 1998 | 2,513,962 | 55.38% | 1,141,593 | 25.15% | 872,349 | 19.22% | 11,040 | 0.24% | 4,538,944 |
| Nov. 2000 | 2,641,861 | 56.08% | 1,179,577 | 25.04% | 876,386 | 18.60% | 12,944 | 0.27% | 4,710,768 |
| Nov. 2005 | 2,760,558 | 57.12% | 1,157,177 | 23.94% | 893,854 | 18.49% | 21,236 | 0.44% | 4,832,825 |
| Nov. 2010 | 2,441,291 | 46.29% | 1,755,501 | 33.28% | 1,074,364 | 20.37% | 2,937 | 0.06% | 5,274,093 |
| Nov. 2015 | 2,605,919 | 48.11% | 1,747,551 | 32.26% | 1,058,277 | 19.54% | 4,816 | 0.09% | 5,416,563 |
| Nov. 2016 | 2,518,824 | 43.23% | 2,076,528 | 35.64% | 1,213,075 | 20.82% | 17,690 | 0.30% | 5,826,116 |
| Nov. 2017 | 2,362,630 | 41.02% | 2,122,472 | 36.85% | 1,241,674 | 21.56% | 32,519 | 0.56% | 5,759,295 |
| Nov. 2018 | 2,394,968 | 40.30% | 2,216,958 | 37.30% | 1,285,034 | 21.62% | 45,720 | 0.77% | 5,942,680 |
| Nov. 2019 | 2,386,164 | 39.06% | 2,315,853 | 37.91% | 1,334,550 | 21.84% | 72,682 | 1.19% | 6,109,249 |
| Nov. 2020 | 2,440,416 | 37.54% | 2,529,575 | 38.91% | 1,450,137 | 22.31% | 79,707 | 1.22% | 6,499,835 |
| Nov. 2021 | 2,416,345 | 36.70% | 2,577,146 | 39.14% | 1,508,212 | 22.91% | 81,835 | 1.24% | 6,583,538 |
| Nov. 2022 | 2,372,156 | 36.42% | 2,532,844 | 38.88% | 1,528,001 | 23.45% | 81,060 | 1.24% | 6,514,061 |
| Jan. 2023 | 2,379,791 | 36.47% | 2,534,905 | 38.84% | 1,530,185 | 23.45% | 81,126 | 1.24% | 6,526,007 |
| Apr. 2023 | 2,383,203 | 36.49% | 2,533,035 | 38.78% | 1,534,241 | 23.49% | 80,826 | 1.24% | 6,531,305 |
| Jul. 2023 | 2,375,234 | 36.21% | 2,547,517 | 38.84% | 1,555,014 | 23.71% | 80,447 | 1.23% | 6,558,212 |
| Nov. 2023 | 2,367,992 | 36.47% | 2,504,294 | 38.57% | 1,541,158 | 23.74% | 79,090 | 1.22% | 6,492,534 |
| Dec. 2023 | 2,375,358 | 36.54% | 2,503,172 | 38.50% | 1,542,994 | 23.74% | 79,132 | 1.22% | 6,500,656 |
| Jan. 2024 | 2,385,821 | 36.64% | 2,500,412 | 38.40% | 1,545,797 | 23.74% | 79,139 | 1.21% | 6,511,169 |
| Feb. 2024 | 2,399,196 | 36.77% | 2,496,518 | 38.26% | 1,549,728 | 23.75% | 79,290 | 1.21% | 6,524,732 |
| Mar. 2024 | 2,407,928 | 36.86% | 2,492,866 | 38.16% | 1,552,051 | 23.76% | 79,270 | 1.21% | 6,532,115 |
| Apr. 2024 | 2,411,762 | 36.88% | 2,492,598 | 38.12% | 1,555,823 | 23.79% | 79,206 | 1.21% | 6,539,389 |
| May 2024 | 2,416,960 | 36.90% | 2,494,013 | 38.08% | 1,559,327 | 23.81% | 79,268 | 1.21% | 6,549,568 |
| June 2024 | 2,422,574 | 36.92% | 2,496,054 | 38.04% | 1,563,771 | 23.83% | 79,295 | 1.21% | 6,561,694 |
| July 2024 | 2,385,434 | 36.27% | 2,520,768 | 38.33% | 1,590,941 | 24.19% | 78,997 | 1.20% | 6,576,140 |
| August 2024 | 2,400,038 | 36.37% | 2,521,808 | 38.22% | 1,598,106 | 24.22% | 78,736 | 1.19% | 6,598,688 |
| September 2024 | 2,415,353 | 36.48% | 2,524,384 | 38.12% | 1,603,550 | 24.22% | 78,646 | 1.19% | 6,621,933 |
| October 2024 | 2,440,927 | 36.65% | 2,528,917 | 37.97% | 1,611,688 | 24.20% | 78,431 | 1.18% | 6,659,963 |
| November 2024 | 2,485,411 | 36.94% | 2,534,932 | 37.68% | 1,628,633 | 24.21% | 78,382 | 1.16% | 6,727,358 |
Following each decennial census, the New Jersey Redistricting Commission forms to redraw the districts. New Jersey currently has 12 House districts. In the 118th Congress, nine of New Jersey's seats are held by Democrats and three are held by Republicans:
- New Jersey's 1st congressional district represented by Donald Norcross (D)
- New Jersey's 2nd congressional district represented by Jeff Van Drew (R)
- New Jersey's 3rd congressional district represented by Andy Kim (D)
- New Jersey's 4th congressional district represented by Chris Smith (R)
- New Jersey's 5th congressional district represented by Josh Gottheimer (D)
- New Jersey's 6th congressional district represented by Frank Pallone (D)
- New Jersey's 7th congressional district represented by Tom Kean Jr. (R)
- New Jersey's 8th congressional district represented by Rob Menendez (D)
- New Jersey's 9th congressional district represented by Bill Pascrell (D)
- New Jersey's 10th congressional district is represented by LaMonica McIver (D)
- New Jersey's 11th congressional district represented by Mikie Sherrill (D)
- New Jersey's 12th congressional district represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D)
New Jersey's two United States senators are Democrats Cory Booker and George Helmy, serving since 2013 and 2024, respectively.
New Jersey is part of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in the federal judiciary. The district's cases are appealed to the Philadelphia-based United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
The most contentious recent issue in New Jersey has been the conflict between the state government and public-sector unions. The unions, allied with the Democratic Party, believed that their workers were entitled to pensions and healthcare which had been promised to them in the past. Moderate Democrats and Republicans believed that the state could no longer afford to pay for benefits it had promised public workers in the past.[16]
Property taxes are also an issue, since the state has the nation's highest property tax.[17] New Jersey is a densely-populated, high-income, high-cost-of-living state, with more money needed for infrastructure and transportation, and it does not allow counties and municipalities to impose local income or sales taxes. Property taxes fund local government, schools and county expenses, making lowering it difficult.[18]
Legalized gambling is also an issue. In 2011, Governor Chris Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney promised to limit gambling to Atlantic City for "at least five years" to protect the struggling tourist destination from intrastate competition. Developers are pressuring the legislature to allow gambling in other parts of the state, such as the Meadowlands. New Jersey challenged the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2014, which had grandfathered Nevada's federal statutory monopoly on legal sports betting. The Supreme Court overturned the appellate-court decision, removing the final barrier to New Jersey sports betting on May 14, 2018. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the opinion supporting New Jersey's assertion that the PASPA infringed on the state's Tenth Amendment rights in Murphy vs. Collegiate Athletic Association.[19] The state quickly moved to capitalize on the ruling and allow sports betting at state-sanctioned sportsbooks at the Meadowlands Racetrack.[20]
In 2010, New Jersey legalized medical cannabis. The law, legalizing the drug for medical use, was passed by a Democratic government just before Christie (who was skeptical about legalized medical marijuana) took office. Christie subsequently vetoed, or requested alterations to, laws expanding the state's program. The issue gained attention during the 2013 gubernatorial election, when the father of a young girl with epilepsy confronted Christie at a diner. In March 2019, a vote on recreational legalization was canceled at the last minute.[21] The state senate did not have the 21 votes needed to pass, since all of its Republicans and nine of its Democrats opposed the bill. A ballot measure to legalize marijuana for recreational use was on the ballot on November 3, 2020.[22] Named Public Question 1, it passed overwhelmingly 67%-33%, with every county supporting legalization.
On October 21, 2019, weeks after California passed a similar bill, state Senators Joseph Lagana (D-Bergen) and Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson) introduced the New Jersey Fair Play Act. The bill would allow college athletes to be paid for the use of their names, images and likeness, and to hire an agent or lawyer. It intends to protect student athletes, since one injury can cost them their scholarship without a way to pay for school or vocational guidance.[23]
On February 4, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed a $15-minimum-wage bill into law. The law will increase the minimum wage by $1 every January 1 until it reaches $15 in 2024. When it was enacted, the state's minimum wage was $8.85. The first increase was on July 1, 2019 (to $10) and it became $12 on January 1, 2021. The bill raises tipped-worker wages from $2.13 to $5.13 per hour; if a worker does not earn the minimum wage through tips, the employer must make up the difference. Farm-workers will only be raised to $12.50 an hour in 2024, then possibly raised to $15 by 2027.[24]
LGBT rights
In April 2004, New Jersey enacted a domestic-partnership law which is available to same- and opposite-sex couples aged 62 and over. In 2006, the Supreme Court of New Jersey ordered the state to provide the rights and benefits of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. The following year, New Jersey became the third state in the U.S. (after Connecticut and Vermont) to offer civil unions to same-sex couples. In 2013, the state supreme court ruled that New Jersey must allow same-sex couples to marry. A 2010 last-minute attempt to legalize same-sex marriage under outgoing Democratic governor failed because of objections by Senate President Steve Sweeney (also a Democrat). From 2010 to 2013, Governor Christie vetoed attempts by the state legislature to legalize same-sex marriage. Since the 2013 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling, three government-recognized relationships have been in effect in the state: domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriage. Same-sex marriage was legalized in New Jersey under Obergefell v. Hodges, and was officially codified into law in January 2022.
In 2013, New Jersey became the second state to ban conversion therapy for minors.[25] In 2018, Governor Murphy signed bills that repealed the legal requirement for sex reassignment surgery on birth certificates, created a third gender category on official documents (labelled as "X"), and included transgender and intersex people on death certificates.[26] In January 2020, Murphy signed a law that reduced barriers to same-sex couples in regards to adoption.[27] n January 2020, the New Jersey Legislature unanimously passed during a bill banning the "gay panic defense".[28] In 2021, a law known as the LGBT Senior Bill of Rights was passed, which banned LGBT discrimination in long-term care facilities.[29] In 2022, Murphy signed an executive order legally protecting and defending gender-affirming healthcare within New Jersey borders.[30]
Gun control
New Jersey has some of the country's strictest gun control laws in the nation.
Corruption
United States Senator Bob Menendnez was indicted in 2015 by the FBI for bribery, fraud, and making false statements. In 2023, Menendez was indicted again by the FBI for corruption, on the basis that he "provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt".[31] New Jersey Democratic Party politicians began calling for his resignation the following day. Bribes Menendez received included a Mercedes-Benz car, 13 gold bars, and $486,461 in cash.[32] After a federal jury found Menendez guilty on all 16 counts in July 2024, including for bribery, extortion, and acting as a foreign agent, various United States Senators were calling for his resignation, and that they would expel him from the Senate if he failed to resign.[33] Menendez officially resigned from the Senate on August 20, 2024.[34]
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