Avi Schnall

Alexander "Avi" Schnall is an American Democratic Party politician, who has represented the 30th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly since being sworn into office on January 9, 2024.

Avi Schnall
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 30th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2024 Serving with Sean T. Kean
Preceded by	Ned Thomson
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Lakewood Township, New Jersey
Alma mater	Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia Beth Medrash Govoha

A Brooklyn native, Schnall moved to Lakewood Township, New Jersey, to study at Beth Medrash Govoha.^[1]

New Jersey General Assembly

In the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election, incumbent Republican Sean T. Kean won re-election, while Schnall won the second seat, more than 10,000 votes ahead of Republican incumbent Ned Thomson, while Schnall's Democratic running mate Salvatore "Sal" Frascino came in a distant fourth.^[2][3] Schnall's victory was described as "a major upset" in a district that had traditionally been solidly Republican, reflecting the growing Orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood Township and surrounding communities.^[4] Schnall was one of 27 members elected for the first time to serve in the General Assembly in 2024, more than one-third of the 80 seats.^[5]

Committees

Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:^[6]

• Education
• State and Local Government

District 30

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.^[7] The representatives from the 30th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:^[8]

• Senator Robert Singer (R)
• Assemblyman Sean T. Kean (R)
• Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D)

Electoral history

30th Legislative District General Election, 2023^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sean T. Kean (incumbent)	37,450	39.9
	Democratic	Avi Schnall	29,482	31.4
	Republican	Edward H. Thomson (incumbent)	18,076	19.3
	Democratic	Salvatore Frascino	8,868	9.4
Total votes			93,876	100.0
	Republican hold
	Democratic gain from Republican

References

1. DiFilippo, Dana (January 2, 2024). "In Shore district, incumbent-toppling rabbi brings a fresh voice to the Assembly". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
2. Connolly, John. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
3. Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023, New Jersey Department of State, December 6, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
4. Johnson, Brent. "Democrats have big night in battle for N.J. Legislature", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 8, 2023, updated November 28, 2023. Accessed December 25, 2023. "In a major upset in the Shore’s 30th District, Democrat Avi Schnall won an Assembly seat in the longtime Republican stronghold that includes Lakewood, home to one of the East Coast’s fastest-growing Orthodox Jewish populations. Schnall, a top Orthodox leader in the township and a former Republican, ousted Republican Ned Thomson, whose two running mates — Sen. Robert Singer and Assemblyman Sean Kean — won re-election."
5. 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."
6. Assemblyman Alexander "Avi" Schnall (D), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 24, 2024.
7. New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
8. Legislative Roster for District 30, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 24, 2024.
9. "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.