Al Barlas

Al Barlas (born June 21, 1981) is an American Republican Party politician serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 40th legislative district, having taken office on January 9, 2024.

Al Barlas
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 40th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2024 Serving with Christopher DePhillips
Preceded by	Kevin J. Rooney
Personal details
Born	(1981-06-21) June 21, 1981 (age 43)
Political party	Republican
Website	Legislative webpage

Biography

A resident of Cedar Grove, New Jersey,^[1] Barlas is employed as co-administrator and director of marketing for the New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund and has been the chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee since 2011.^[2] He served as the Republican chair of the New Jersey Apportionment Commission.^[1]

A Muslim American who was born in Pakistan, Barlas announced in June 2016 that he still supported Donald Trump's candidacy in the 2016 United States presidential election, despite Trump's criticism of Islam and Muslims after the Orlando nightclub shooting that took place in the preceding days.^[3]

New Jersey General Assembly

In the wake of the 2021 apportionment, with several municipalities in Essex County added to the district, Barlas gained support from Republican leaders for the second Assembly seat that had been held by Kevin J. Rooney.^[4] Barlas and incumbent Christopher DePhillips defeated Democrats Giovanna Irizarry and Jennifer Marrinan in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.^[5][6] Barlas was one of 27 members elected for the first time in 2023 to serve in the General Assembly, more than one-third of the seats.^[7]

Committees

Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:^[2]

• Budget
• Community Development and Women's Affairs
• Labor

District 40

Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.^[8] The representatives from the 40th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:^[9]

• Senator Kristin Corrado (R)
• Assemblyman Al Barlas (R)
• Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R)

Electoral history

40th Legislative District General Election, 2023^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Christopher P. DePhillips (incumbent)	28,601	27.9
	Republican	Al Barlas	27,638	27.0
	Democratic	Jennifer Marrinan	23,202	22.7
	Democratic	Giovanna Irizarry	22,952	22.4
Total votes			102,393	100.0
	Republican hold
	Republican hold

References

1. Election profile: 40th Legislative District, NJ Spotlight News. Accessed January 11, 2024. "Incumbent GOP Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips, a Wyckoff attorney and the vice president of a consulting and systems company, is running with Al Barlas, a Cedar Grove man who served as the Republican chairman of the New Jersey Legislative Apportionment Commission."
2. Assemblyman Al Barlas (R), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 30, 2024.
3. Alfaro, Alyana. "Muslim Essex County GOP Chairman Stands by Trump Despite Islam Comments; Al Barlas is the Essex County Republican chairman. He is a Muslim American who immigrated to the United States from Pakistan.", New York Observer, June 14, 2016. Accessed January 11, 2024. "Following Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando where a possibly self-radicalized Muslim American opened fire on a crowded dance floor, the presumptive Republican nominee took to the media to harden his already controversial stance on Muslims.... However, despite Barlas' personal beliefs and clear distance from Trump on Islam, the chairman said that he believes Trump is still the right person to become the next president."
4. Wildstein, David. "Bergen, Passaic, Essex back Corrado, DePhillips and Barlas in 40th district next year", New Jersey Globe, November 10, 2022. Accessed January 11, 2024. "With about one-third of the newly drawn 40th legislative district now sitting in Essex County, State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa) and Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-Wyckoff) will seek re-election next year on a ticket with Essex County GOP Chairman Al Barlas running for the State Assembly – a move that has the support of party leaders in Bergen, Passaic and Essex. The move leaves Assemblyman Kevin Rooney (R-Wyckoff) without a seat next year as party leaders adjust for the realities of legislative redistricting that puts seven Essex County municipalities into the district.... Born in Pakistan, Barlas would become the first South Asian American Republican to serve in the legislature, and potentially brings diversity to the Republican Party in Trenton."
5. Connolly, Julio. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
6. Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023, New Jersey Department of State, December 6, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
7. Wildstein, David. "37 new lawmakers take office at noon", New Jersey Globe, January 9, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2024. "The 221st New Jersey Legislature begins today, with 37 new lawmakers – nearly one-third of the legislature – being sworn in at noon. That number includes ten new Senators and 27 new members of the General Assembly."
8. New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
9. Legislative Roster for District 40, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2024.
10. "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.