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. They replace 31 incumbents with a combined 389 years of service in Trenton, whose terms come to an end today, some by their own hand and others at the suggestion of their constituents.
Nicholas Scutari is set to assume his second term as Senate President; when Craig Coughlin is sworn into his fourth term, he’ll become the longest-serving Assembly Speaker in New Jersey history. Anthony Bucco will begin his first full term as Senate Minority Leader, and John DiMaio will start his second term as Assembly Minority Leader.
Robert Singer becomes the Dean of the Legislature; he was elected to three non-consecutive terms in the Assembly before joining the Senate in September 1993.
Carmen Amato, John Burzichelli, Owen Henry, John McKeon, Angela McKnight, Paul Moriarty, Raj Mukherji, Parker Space, Britnee Timberlake, and Latham Tiver will join the State Senate.
John Allen, John Azzariti, Al Barlas, Rosy Bagolie, David Bailey, Jr., Alixon Collazos-Gill, Margie Donlon, Mitchelle Drulis, Kevin Egan, Fawn Fantasia, Garnet Hall, Dan Hutchinson, Michael Inganamort, Paul Kanitra, Andrea Katz, Julio Marenco, Cody Miller, Carmen Morales, Greg Myhre, Luanne Peterpaul, Jessica Ramirez, Gabe Rodriguez, Avi Schnall, Heather Simmons, Barbara McCann Stamato, and Michael Venezia will take the oath for the first time as members of the State Assembly. Tennille McCoy, who was sworn in on Monday to fill a one-day unexpired term, will begin her first full term.
Democrats will have a 25-15 majority in the Senate; their majority in the Assembly will be 52-28 after picking up six seats in the 2023 mid-term election.