Vincent J. Polistina

Vincent Joseph Polistina (born June 10, 1971) is an American Republican politician who has served in the New Jersey Senate since 2021. He previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 2nd Legislative District from 2008 to 2012.

Vincent J. Polistina
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 8, 2021
Preceded by	Chris A. Brown
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 2nd district
In office January 8, 2008 – January 10, 2012 Serving with John F. Amodeo
Preceded by	Francis J. Blee Jim Whelan
Succeeded by	Chris A. Brown
Personal details
Born	Vincent Joseph Polistina (1971-06-10) June 10, 1971 (age 53) Galloway Township, New Jersey
Spouse	Carolyn Polistina
Residence	Egg Harbor Township
Website	Legislative web page

Early life and education

A lifelong resident of Atlantic County, Polistina grew up in Galloway Township and graduated from Absegami High School in 1989.^[1]

Polistina received a B.A. from Rutgers University with a major in Bioenvironmental Engineering. He is owner of the engineering firm of Polistina and Associates, L.L.C.^[2]

He lives in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, with his wife Carolyn and their three children.^[3]

Elective office

After serving two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, Polistina ran for the New Jersey Senate in the 2nd district in the 2011 election, losing to incumbent Democrat Jim Whelan in what was the state's most expensive race, with more than $3 million spent by both candidates.^[4] His Assembly seat was filled by Chris A. Brown.^[5]

Shortly after Chris A. Brown resigned from office on July 19, 2021, to join the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Republican Party chose Polistina to fill the vacant Senate seat, but he was not sworn into the Senate until November 8, 2021. In the 2021 New Jersey Senate election, Polistina was elected to fill the full term of office beginning in January 2022, defeating Democratic state Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo.^[6]

Committees

Committee assignments for the current session are:^[2]

• Labor
• State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation

District 2

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 2nd District for the 2024—25 Legislative Session are:^[8]

• Senator Vincent J. Polistina (R)
• Assemblyman Don Guardian (R)
• Assemblyman Claire Swift (R)

Election history

2nd Legislative District General Election, 2023^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Vince Polistina (incumbent)	24,516	52.2
	Democratic	Caren Fitzpatrick	21,045	44.8
	Libertarian	Shawn Peck	1,415	3.0
Total votes			46,976	100.0
	Republican hold

2nd Legislative District General Election, 2021^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Vince Polistina	31,488	51.87
	Democratic	Vince Mazzeo	29,213	48.13
Total votes			60,701	100.0
	Republican hold

New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Whelan (incumbent)	24,075	53.4
	Republican	Vincent J. Polistina	20,997	46.6
	Democratic hold

References

1. Prisament, Steve. "Longtime engineer replaced in Galloway" Archived 2013-11-18 at archive.today, The Current of Galloway Township, January 9, 2013. Accessed November 18, 2013. "Polistina, a former state assemblyman from Atlantic County, said Tuesday, Jan. 8 that he grew up in Galloway attending township public schools and graduating from Absegami High School in 1989."
2. Senator Vincent J. Polistina (R), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 21, 2024.
3. Vince Polistina biography Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine, Team for Change. Accessed March 5, 2010.
4. Dopp, Terence; and Young, Elise. "Christie Says Election ‘No Big Shocker,’ Blames Political Map", Bloomberg Businessweek, November 9, 2011. Accessed January 7, 2012. "Senator Jim Whelan, a Democrat from Atlantic City who voted for the pension package, beat Republican Assemblyman Vince Polistina, 54 percent to 46 percent.... The Whelan-Polistina race was the most expensive in the state, with $3.8 million raised and $3.2 million spent through Oct. 25, election records show."
5. "Turnover in N.J. Legislature is slight". Asbury Park Press. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
6. Post, Michelle Brunetti. "Polistina sworn in as Senator to fill Chris Brown's term", The Press of Atlantic City, November 8, 2021. Accessed November 9, 2021. "State Sen.-elect Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, was sworn in to office Monday morning, but not because he won on Election Day. Polistina was also his party’s choice to fill out the unexpired term of former State Sen. Chris Brown, R-Atlantic, who resigned in July to take a position with Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration."
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 2, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 21, 2024.
9. "Official List, Candidates for State Senate for GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
10. "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 06/08/2021 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
11. Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed January 7, 2012.

External links

• Senator Polistina's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature
• New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
  • 2010 2009 2008 2007