As of the [[2020 United States census]], the district had a population of 217,994, of whom 172,439 (79.1%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 162,440 (74.5%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4,051 (1.9%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 645 (0.3%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 26,509 (12.2%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 31 (0.0%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 7,565 (3.5%) from [[Race (United States Census)|some other race]], and 16,753 (7.7%) from two or more races.<ref name=Census /><ref>{{cite web |title=RACE FOR THE POPULATION 18 YEARS AND OVER |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US34%246100000&y=2020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P3 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 22,937 (10.5%) of the population.<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US34%246100000&y=2020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
As of the [[2020 United States census]], the district had a population of 217,994, of whom 172,439 (79.1%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 162,440 (74.5%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4,051 (1.9%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 645 (0.3%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 26,509 (12.2%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 31 (0.0%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 7,565 (3.5%) from [[Race (United States Census)|some other race]], and 16,753 (7.7%) from two or more races.<ref name=Census>{{cite web |title=RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US34%246100000&y=2020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=RACE FOR THE POPULATION 18 YEARS AND OVER |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US34%246100000&y=2020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P3 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 22,937 (10.5%) of the population.<ref>{{cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US34%246100000&y=2020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
The district had 180,183 registered voters as of December 1, 2021, of whom 72,087 (40.0%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|unaffiliated]], 54,143 (30.0%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 52,510 (29.1%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], and 1,443 (0.8%) were registered to other parties.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/svrs-reports/2021/2021-12-voter-registration-by-legislative-district.pdf Statewide Voter Registration Summary], [[New Jersey Department of State]], December 1, 2021. Accessed December 23, 2021.</ref>
The district had 180,183 registered voters as of December 1, 2021, of whom 72,087 (40.0%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|unaffiliated]], 54,143 (30.0%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 52,510 (29.1%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], and 1,443 (0.8%) were registered to other parties.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/svrs-reports/2021/2021-12-voter-registration-by-legislative-district.pdf Statewide Voter Registration Summary], [[New Jersey Department of State]], December 1, 2021. Accessed December 23, 2021.</ref>
The district had 180,183 registered voters as of December 1, 2021, of whom 72,087 (40.0%) were registered as unaffiliated, 54,143 (30.0%) were registered as Democrats, 52,510 (29.1%) were registered as Republicans, and 1,443 (0.8%) were registered to other parties.[5]
The district, which covers most of Northern Bergen County, has the smallest African-American population of any district in the state and ranks 31st in the number of Hispanic residents, while it has the ninth-highest percentage of Asian residents. At 0.3% it has the lowest percentage of children receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families aid, just over 5% of the state average. The district ranked second-highest in both equalized property value and personal income on a per capita basis.[6][7]
Throughout most of the district's history since 1973, the year the 40-district legislative map was created in New Jersey, the 39th District has encompassed the small affluent boroughs and townships in northeast Bergen County. In the redistricting of 1981 and 1991, only a few municipalities were added and removed to get the district's population close to one-fortieth of the state's population as required under the Reynolds v. Sims ruling.[9][10][11]
In the 1979 election, Gerald Cardinale and Markert defeated incumbent Democrat Greta Kiernan, who had herself defeated Markert two years earlier.[14]
Cardinale knocked off the incumbent State Senator Frank Herbert in 1981 and Herbert fell short again running against Cardinale in 1983, losing by about 1,000 votes.[15]
Citing recent hip replacement surgery as a factor, John E. Rooney announce in March 2009 that he would not seek another term of office and would retire after 26 years in the legislature. He endorsed Bob Schroeder, a Washington Township councilmember, who won election to succeed him.[16] After Charlotte Vandervalk decided not to run for re-election in 2011, Holly Schepisi ran in her place and won together with the other Republican incumbents.[17]
Changes to the district made as part of the New Jersey Legislative apportionment in 2011 removed several Bergen County municipalities and added portions of Passaic County and northwest Bergen County.[1]
^ abYellin, Deena. "GOP incumbents Cardinale and Schroeder, newcomer Schepisi win in 39th District", The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2011. Accessed August 7, 2012. "Sen. Gerald Cardinale, armed with more than 30 years of legislative experience, easily fended a challenge for his seat by Democratic candidate Lorraine Waldes. Robert Schroeder, a Republican assemblyman, gained an easy victory in his reelection bid and GOP newcomer Holly Schepisi, who took Charlotte Vandervalk’s place on the ballot, won the second Assembly seat."