State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) confirmed on Thursday that he will seek a third term in 2027.
“I’m in,” the Republican lawmaker said.
The race won’t be easy: Democratic powerbroker George E. Norcross III wants Polistina gone and appears ready to spend heavily next year to win the Senate seat.
The animus between the two was on clear display last October when the two engaged in a fiery debate on Scott Cronick’s South Jersey radio show, Off the Press with Scott Cronick on WOND 400 and 92.3.
Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman is stepping down this year and has been taking steps to challenge Polistina for the Senate seat. Other candidates might also emerge.
Polistina represents the 2nd legislative district in Atlantic County; it’s been one of the most competitive districts for the last 55 years. Last year, the district split its vote for the two Assembly seats, re-electing Republican Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City) and replacing another Republican, Claire Swift (R-Margate), with Democrat Maureen Rowan (D-Atlantic City).
For Polistina, navigating a split legislative district is nothing new. He represented the same district in the Assembly from 2008 to 2012 and made his first bid for the Senate in 2011, challenging Democratic incumbent Jim Whelan. He lost that race, 54%-46%.
A decade later, Polistina mounted another Senate campaign and defeated then-Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-Northfield), 52%-48%, for an open seat in one of the state’s most closely watched legislative contests. Guardian and Assemblywoman Claire Swift (R-Margate) were elected alongside him.
The Republican trio won re-election in 2023 with 54% of the vote, but the district’s split nature resurfaced two years later. In 2025, with the Senate not on the ballot, Swift lost her seat to Rowan, while Guardian narrowly survived, the district once again sending divided partisan control of the Assembly.
The 2nd district is one of New Jersey’s premier bellwethers in statewide politics. The district backed Kamala Harris by just under two points in 2024 after giving Jack Ciattarelli a seven-point victory in 2021. Four years later, it swung decisively toward Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who carried the district by nearly nine points.
State Budget
Polistina told the New Jersey Globe that he hasn’t decided if he’ll support or oppose Sherrill’s first budget when the legislature votes, presumably by the end of this month.
He has shown a willingness to support Democratic budgets in the past, voting for Gov. Phil Murphy’s budgets in 2022, 2023, and 2024, but not in 2025.
“The tax increases on internet gaming, sports gaming, and real estate were the reason why we didn’t support the budget,” he said of his decision to oppose Murphy’s final budget. “If it’s good for Atlantic County, I’m happy to support it.”