Melinda Kane elected to N.J. State Assembly

Democrats today picked Melinda Kane, a Camden county commissioner and Gold Star Mother, to replace Pamela Lampitt (D-Cherry Hill) as the new assemblywoman from the 6th legislative district.

Kane was unopposed this morning at a special election convention of the Camden and Burlington county municipalities in the safe Democratic district.  She will likely take office this month.

Lampitt was elected Camden County Clerk in November 2025 after nineteen years in the New Jersey Legislature.

Kane and her new running mate, Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Voorhees), are expected to face Rebecca Holloway and Kevin Ryan in the June 10 Democratic primary.  Holloway and Ryan are running on a slate allied with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Democrats still have two legislative vacancies to fill this month: the 7th district Assembly seat of Herb Conaway, Jr. (D-Delran) and the 35th district State Senate seat of Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon).  Both resigned to take their seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

A former teacher and Cherry Hill councilwoman, Kane won a special election convention to fill a Camden County freeholder seat in 2019.  She replaced Bill Moen (D-Bellmawr), who left to run for the State Assembly.

Her son, Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Kane, was killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan in 2010 while in the Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. as part of Operating Enduring Freedom.

Greenwald was elected in 1995, unseating two-term Assemblyman Lee Solomon (R-Haddon Heights) by 1,618 votes.  He is now the dean of the New Jersey State Assembly.

The 6th district includes Audubon Park Borough, Berlin Borough, Berlin Township, Clementon, Cherry Hill Township, Gibbsboro Borough, Haddon Township, Haddonfield Borough, Hi-Nella Borough, Laurel Springs, Lawnside, Lindenwold, Magnolia, Oaklyn Borough, Pine Hill Borough, Somerdale Borough, Stratford Borough, Tavistock Borough and Voorhees Township.in Camden County and Maple Shade Township in Burlington.