Former State Sen. George Geist (R-Gloucester Township), who was one of Camden County’s top vote-getters in the 1990s, has endorsed Amanda Esposito and Jerry McManus for the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 4th district.
Esposito and McManus face Barbara McCormick in the June 10 GOP primary.
“Known for his dedication to public safety, economic development, and responsible governance, Senator Geist was instrumental in advancing legislation that improved the lives of South Jersey families and strengthened our communities,” Esposito and McManus said.
Geist lost his Senate seat by 63 votes in 2003 in the most expensive legislative campaign in New Jersey history at the time. With Democratic powerbroker George Norcross’ help, Madden shattered spending records and spent about $4.4 million and aired prime-time Philadelphia network TV ad during the World Series. Geist spent roughly $1.9 million.
A former Camden County GOP chairman who served during the last Republican majority in county government, Geist flipped the 4th district Assembly seat in 1991 and was re-elected five times. He moved up to the Senate following the resignation of John Matheussen (R-Washington) in 2003, becoming the last Republican to have senatorial courtesy over all of Camden County. Geist later spent sixteen years as a Workers Compensation Court Judge, including a stint as supervising judge.
Legislative redistricting gives Republicans a path to flipping Senate and Assembly seats in the 4th legislative district. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy won the old district by two percentage points in 2021, but Republican Jack Ciattarelli carried newly-drawn 4th by six points.
In 2023, Democrat Paul Moriarty (D-Washington) won an open Senate seat by ten percentage points, and Democrat Kamala Harris carried the 4th by 1.6 points last year.
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