Steve Oroho

Steven V. Oroho (born July 26, 1958) is an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey Senate from January 8, 2008, to January 9. 2024, where he represented the 24th Legislative District. Oroho served as State Senate Minority Leader after being elected during a State Senate Republicans Caucus meeting, replacing Thomas Kean Jr.^[1]

Steve Oroho
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 24th district
In office January 8, 2008 – January 9, 2024
Preceded by	Robert E. Littell
Succeeded by	Parker Space
Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate
In office January 11, 2022 – July 1, 2023
Preceded by	Thomas Kean Jr.
Succeeded by	Anthony M. Bucco
Personal details
Born	(1958-07-26) July 26, 1958 (age 66) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Saint Francis University (BS)
Website	Party website Legislative website

Oroho announced in January 2023 that he would not seek another term in the November 2023 general election.^[2] On July 1, 2023, he stepped down as Senate Minority Leader.^[3]

Early life and education

Born in Brooklyn and raised in West Milford, New Jersey, Oroho graduated from West Milford High School in 1976 and from Saint Francis University in 1980.^[4][5]

New Jersey Senate

Elections

2007 election

Oroho announced in 2007 that he would seek the Republican nomination for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Robert Littell. With Littell's endorsement, he ran in a competitive primary against Assemblyman Guy Gregg.^[6] Oroho out-raised Gregg during the primary campaign.^[6][7] Oroho sought to portray himself as a small government conservative during the campaign.^[7] He won the primary and the general election in the Republican 24th district.

2021 election

Main article: 2021 New Jersey State Senate election

Republican Daniel Cruz challenged Oroho in the June 3, 2021 primary.^[8]

Tenure

Oroho opposes same-sex marriage and has been the senate sponsor of legislation that would allow a public vote in the form of a ballot question to determine whether it should be legalized or banned in New Jersey.^[9] He is the primary sponsor of that legislation in the Senate. In June 2009 he was one of seven senators to vote against putting open space bond question on the November ballot.^[10] Oroho serves in the Senate on the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Economic Growth Committee.^[11] He served on the Franklin Borough Council from 2001 to 2006 and on the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2005 to 2007.^[11][12] In 2018 Oroho made calls to bring back the death penalty in New Jersey.^[13][14]

Committees

• Joint Budget Oversight
• New Jersey Legislative Select Oversight
• Budget and Appropriations
• Economic Growth

District 24

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. The representatives from the 24th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:^[15]

• Senator Steve Oroho (R)
• Assemblyman Parker Space (R)
• Assemblyman Hal Wirths (R)

Electoral history

New Jersey Senate

New Jersey general election, 2021^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Steve Oroho (Incumbent)	56,628	69.4	8.4
	Democratic	Frederick P. Cook	23,240	30.6	8.3
Total votes			'75,868'	'100.0'

New Jersey general election, 2017^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Steve Oroho (Incumbent)	35,641	61.0	9.4
	Democratic	Jennifer Hamilton	22,760	39.0	9.4
Total votes			'58,401'	'100.0'

New Jersey general election, 2013^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Steve Oroho (Incumbent)	38,819	70.4	4.4
	Democratic	Richard D. Tomko	16,292	29.6	4.4
Total votes			'55,111'	'100.0'

New Jersey general election, 2011^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Oroho (Incumbent)	21,044	66.0
	Democratic	Edwin Selby	10,837	34.0
Total votes			31,881	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2007^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Steve Oroho	31,143	69.5	1.4
	Democratic	Edwin Selby	13,694	30.5	1.4
Total votes			'44,837'	'100.0'

References

1. "Senate Republicans Roll Out Leadership Team; Oroho New Leader". Insider NJ. November 4, 2021.
2. Johnson, Brent. "Top Republican in N.J. Senate surprisingly says he won’t seek re-election", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 30, 2023. Accessed January 31, 2023. "State Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho, the highest-ranking Republican in the New Jersey Legislature, announced Monday he won’t seek re-election to the Senate this fall after 16 years in office — a surprise decision that guarantees at least one leadership shakeup in Trenton next year."
3. Wildstein, David (June 28, 2023). "Oroho steps down early as Senate minority leader". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
4. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 213, p. 239. E. J. Mullin, 2008. Accessed July 7, 2023. "Steve V. Oroho, Rep., Franklin (Sussex)... Senator Oroho was born July 26, 1958, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised in West Milford. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from St. Francis University, Loretto, Pa., in 1980."
5. New Jersey State Sen. Steve Oroho, LegiStorm. Accessed July 7, 2023. "West Milford (N.J.) High School - Diploma (1976)"
6. Staff. "Littell to retire", PolitickerNJ, March 6, 2007. Accessed July 15, 2012.
7. Pizzaro, Max (June 1, 2007). "Mountain Men, Gregg and Oroho, fight for Senate seat". Observer.
8. "Daniel Cruz". Ballotpedia. January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
9. Friedman, Matt. "Leery of poll data, GOP legislators call for a vote on gay marriage" Archived 2009-02-25 at the Wayback Machine, PolitickerNJ, February 19, 2009. Accessed April 24, 2012. "McHose sponsored legislation in the assembly that would create a ballot question to amend the state constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Her district-mate, state Sen. Steve Oroho, is the prime sponsor of the senate version."
10. Pizarro, Max. "Senate reconvenes, passes open space bond question" Archived 2009-09-04 at the Wayback Machine, PolitickerNJ, June 25, 2009. Accessed April 24, 2012. "In a sign of the first significant public dissent of the day here, state Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Franklin) just stood and expressed his opposition to the open space bond question, which already passed in the Assembly earlier in the evening. "
11. Assemblyman Oroho's legislative webpage, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 27, 2022.
12. "Board of Freeholders". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on December 4, 2004. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
13. "Steven Oroho – Eliminating capital punishment has placed..." Facebook. December 5, 2018.
14. Hochron, Adam (December 6, 2018). "Should NJ bring back death penalty? Colts Neck case renews call". New Jersey 101.5.
15. Legislative Roster for District 24, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
16. "New Jersey Division of Elections" (PDF). The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
17. "New Jersey Division of Elections" (PDF). The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey. November 29, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
18. "Official List Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2015 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 4, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
19. Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011, p. 15. Accessed April 27, 2019.
20. Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2007 General Election^{[permanent dead link]}, New Jersey Department of State, December 3, 2007, p. 15. Accessed April 27, 2019.

External links

• Senator Steven Oroho's Official Site
• Senator Oroho's legislative webpage, New Jersey Legislature
• New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
  • 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

New Jersey Senate
Preceded by Robert Littell	Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 24th district 2008–2024	Succeeded by Parker Space
Preceded by Thomas Kean Jr.	Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate 2022–2023	Succeeded by Anthony M. Bucco