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Politics of New Jersey

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United States presidential election results for New Jersey[1]
Year Republican / Whig Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,968,215 45.90% 2,220,713 51.79% 98,812 2.30%
2020 1,883,313 41.25% 2,608,400 57.14% 73,469 1.61%
2016 1,601,933 41.00% 2,148,278 54.99% 156,512 4.01%
2012 1,478,749 40.50% 2,126,610 58.25% 45,781 1.25%
2008 1,613,207 41.61% 2,215,422 57.14% 48,778 1.26%
2004 1,670,003 46.23% 1,911,430 52.92% 30,704 0.85%
2000 1,284,173 40.29% 1,788,850 56.13% 114,203 3.58%
1996 1,103,078 35.86% 1,652,329 53.72% 320,400 10.42%
1992 1,356,865 40.58% 1,436,206 42.95% 550,523 16.47%
1988 1,743,192 56.24% 1,320,352 42.60% 36,009 1.16%
1984 1,933,630 60.09% 1,261,323 39.20% 22,909 0.71%
1980 1,546,557 51.97% 1,147,364 38.56% 281,763 9.47%
1976 1,509,688 50.08% 1,444,653 47.92% 60,131 1.99%
1972 1,845,502 61.57% 1,102,211 36.77% 49,516 1.65%
1968 1,325,467 46.10% 1,264,206 43.97% 285,722 9.94%
1964 963,843 33.86% 1,867,671 65.61% 15,256 0.54%
1960 1,363,324 49.16% 1,385,415 49.96% 24,372 0.88%
1956 1,606,942 64.68% 850,337 34.23% 27,033 1.09%
1952 1,374,613 56.81% 1,015,902 41.99% 29,039 1.20%
1948 981,124 50.33% 895,455 45.93% 72,976 3.74%
1944 961,335 48.95% 987,874 50.31% 14,552 0.74%
1940 945,475 47.93% 1,016,808 51.55% 10,269 0.52%
1936 720,322 39.57% 1,083,850 59.54% 16,265 0.89%
1932 775,684 47.59% 806,630 49.48% 47,749 2.93%
1928 926,050 59.77% 616,517 39.79% 6,814 0.44%
1924 675,162 62.17% 297,743 27.41% 113,174 10.42%
1920 611,541 67.65% 256,887 28.42% 35,515 3.93%
1916 268,982 54.40% 211,018 42.68% 14,442 2.92%
1912 88,835 20.53% 178,289 41.20% 165,615 38.27%
1908 265,326 56.79% 182,567 39.08% 19,305 4.13%
1904 245,164 56.68% 164,566 38.05% 22,817 5.28%
1900 221,754 55.27% 164,879 41.10% 14,573 3.63%
1896 221,535 59.68% 133,695 36.02% 15,981 4.31%
1892 156,101 46.24% 171,066 50.67% 10,456 3.10%
1888 144,360 47.52% 151,508 49.87% 7,933 2.61%
1884 123,440 47.31% 127,798 48.98% 9,683 3.71%
1880 120,555 49.02% 122,565 49.84% 2,808 1.14%
1876 103,517 47.01% 115,962 52.66% 714 0.32%
1872 91,656 54.52% 76,456 45.48% 0 0.00%
1868 80,131 49.12% 83,001 50.88% 0 0.00%
1864 60,723 47.16% 68,024 52.84% 0 0.00%
1860 58,346 48.13% 62,869 51.87% 0 0.00%
1856 28,338 28.51% 46,943 47.23% 24,115 24.26%
1852 38,556 46.33% 44,305 53.24% 359 0.43%
1848 40,015 51.48% 36,901 47.47% 819 1.05%
1844 38,318 50.46% 37,495 49.37% 131 0.17%
1840 33,351 51.74% 31,034 48.15% 69 0.11%
1836 26,137 50.53% 25,592 49.47% 0 0.00%

New Jersey is one of the fifty U.S. states. The state is considered a stronghold of the Democratic Party and has supported the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992. Democrats have also controlled both chambers of the state legislature since 2004. New Jersey currently has two Democratic United States senators. New Jersey's Class I Senate seat has been Democratic since 1959 (aside from the eight-month tenure of Nicholas F. Brady in 1982). New Jersey's Class II Senate seat has been Democratic since 1979 (aside from the four-month tenure of Jeffrey Chiesa in 2013). In addition, New Jersey's House congressional delegation has had a Democratic majority since 1965, except for a period between 1995-1999 and 2013-2017. As of July 1, 2020, there were more registered Democrats than unaffiliated voters for the first time in history, as there are more Democrats than Republicans as well.

History

Main article: History of New Jersey

American Revolution

In 1776, the first constitution of New Jersey was drafted. Written during the American Revolution, it created a basic framework for state government and allowed "all inhabitants of this Colony, of full age, who are worth fifty pounds proclamation money"[2] to vote (including blacks, spinsters, and widows); married women could not own property under common law. The constitution declared itself temporary and void if there was reconciliation with Great Britain.[3][4] Both parties in elections mocked the other party for relying on "petticoat electors", and accused each other of allowing unqualified women to vote. The state voted for Washington in 1789 and 1792, as well as Adams in 1796.

Nineteenth century

The second version of the constitution was adopted on June 29, 1844, and restricted suffrage to white males. Important components of the second state constitution included the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The new constitution also provided a bill of rights, and granted voters (instead of the legislature) the right to elect the governor. It also allowed gubernatorial veto power and appointment of high-level officials.[5]

Throughout the century, the state voted for the Federalist Party twice, the Democratic-Republican Party five times, the National Republican Party once, the Whig Party four times, the Democratic Party ten times, and the Republican Party three times.

Twentieth century

The 20th century saw the nonwhite population grow rapidly, altering the political landscape. Between 1915-1920, the first Great Migration of African Americans from the South brought in thousands of migrants into New Jersey cities, with Newark and Camden both having their black populations double in that time.[6] During the 1920s, the black population grew by 78%, with Newark again doubling its black population.[7] African Americans became a solidly Democratic voting bloc starting in the 1930s under FDR. During the 1980s, a significant number of Asian Americans immigrated to the northeastern and central parts of the state and tended to vote Democratic. Since the 1980s, the Latin American population in New Jersey, who also tended to vote Democratic, has grown significantly, particularly in the northeastern and central parts of the state, as well as Camden and Cumberland County. another group that tended to vote Democratic.[8] In contrast, voters in suburban New Jersey were overwhelmingly white, and more likely to vote Republican.

The 1844 constitution had a confusing and unwieldly court system, as well as an extremely powerful legislature with a weak governor. In 1947, a new Constitution was established, which largely reorganized the judicial system into a hierarchical structure. Gubernatorial terms were extended from three to four years, the governor's term limit extended from one to two terns, and all executive agencies were placed directly under gubernatorial control.[9]

From 1894 to 1973, Republicans usually controlled both houses of the state legislature (with the exceptions of 1907, 1911, 1913–1914, 1932, 1937, 1958–1963, 1966–1967). From 1900 to 1944, New Jersey voted for Democrats five times, and voted for Republicans seven times. After World War II, New Jersey was a Republican-leaning swing state in presidential elections; from the 1948 to the 1988, Republican candidates won nine out of eleven elections. John F. Kennedy won New Jersey in 1960 by 22,000 votes, and Lyndon B. Johnson won in 1964 as a part of his landslide victory, garnering the second-highest percent of the popular vote in history after 1920. The governor of the state swung between both parties every one to four election cycles throughout the entire century.

The two seats for the United States Senate were swing seats in the first half of the century, although they leaned Republican. At least seat was in Democratic control since 1959, and both seats have been held by Democrats since 1978, with the exception of April 1982-December 1982, when Nicholas F. Brady was appointed to the Senate by Governor Thomas Kean after the resignation of Harrison A. Williams. Republicans dominated the majority of seats to the United States House of Representatives from 1895 to 1965, with the exception of 1911-1914, 1923-1924, and 1937-1938. Democrats have controlled a majority of seats since 1965, with the exception of 1995-1998.

Since 1992, New Jersey has voted for Democrats in every presidential election. Bill Clinton won a plurality of New Jersey's popular vote that year, and a majority of New Jersey's popular vote in 1996. Among Republican New Jersey voters, those living in rural parts of the state tended to vote for conservative Republicans; suburban voters tended to prefer liberal, or moderate, Republicans.

Twenty-first century

Since 2002, the New Jersey Legislature has been overwhelmingly Democratic. Democrats won a majority in the New Jersey General Assembly in the 2001 election and a majority in the New Jersey Senate in the 2001 election. As of October 2024, there were over 917,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.[10] Democrats tend to do well in areas near New York City, Philadelphia, and Trenton, and cities such as Jersey City, Newark, Camden, Elizabeth, Trenton, and Paterson are overwhelmingly Democratic. These cities influence their respective counties (namely Hudson, Essex, Camden, Union, Mercer, and Passaic) to vote Democratic. Predominantly suburban and rural counties, especially those along the Jersey Shore and in northwestern New Jersey, tend to vote Republican; these include counties such as Ocean, Warren, Cape May, and Sussex. Other counties, such as Atlantic, Morris, and Cumberland, are considered "swing" counties; they tend to vote closely within the margins of each party, swaying in one direction or the other with each election.

Statistics

The 2016 presidential election in New Jersey was won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in 12 counties, while Republican Donald Trump won nine counties; overall, Clinton carried the state with a vote percentage of 55.45 to 41.35 percent. Trump won two counties (Gloucester and Salem) which had voted Democratic in 2012. Every county voted identically in 2016 and the 2017 gubernatorial election with the exception of Gloucester, which flipped back to Democratic. In the 2018 Senate election, Atlantic and Gloucester Counties flipped Republican. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden flipped Atlantic, Gloucester, and Morris counties from the 2018 elections. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump flipped back Gloucester and Morris counties, which he had both won in 2016, from the 2020 elections. He also flipped Atlantic, Cumberland,

County votes for 2016 Presidential,[11] 2017 Gubernatorial,[12] 2018 Senate,[13] 2020 Presidential, 2020 Senate, 2021 Gubernatorial,[14] 2024 Presidential,[15] 2024 Senate[16]
County 2016 Presidential 2017 Gubernatorial 2018 Senate 2020 Presidential 2020 Senate 2021 Gubernatorial 2024 Presidential 2024 Senate
Atlantic Clinton Murphy Hugin Biden Booker Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Bergen Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Burlington Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Camden Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Cape May Trump Guadagno Hugin Trump Mehta Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Cumberland Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Essex Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Gloucester Trump Murphy Hugin Biden Booker Ciattarelli Trump Kim
Hudson Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Hunterdon Trump Guadagno Hugin Trump Mehta Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Mercer Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Middlesex Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Monmouth Trump Guadagno Hugin Trump Mehta Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Morris Trump Guadagno Hugin Biden Booker Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Ocean Trump Guadagno Hugin Trump Mehta Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Passaic Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Trump Kim
Salem Trump Guadagno Hugin Trump Mehta Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Somerset Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Sussex Trump Guadagno Hugin Trump Mehta Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw
Union Clinton Murphy Menendez Biden Booker Murphy Harris Kim
Warren Trump Guadagno Hugin Trump Mehta Ciattarelli Trump Bashaw

Recent registration statistics

Nine counties (Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, and Union) have a plurality of Democratic registrants, and six (Cape May, Hunterdon, Morris, Ocean, Sussex, and Warren) have a plurality of Republican registrants; the remaining seven have a majority of unaffiliated voters. Of those with an unaffiliated majority, four counties have more Democrats than Republicans (Atlantic, Bergen, Cumberland and Somerset) and three counties (Monmouth, Morris, and Salem) have more Republicans than Democrats.

Two counties (Essex and Hudson) have an absolute majority of their registrants in one party (Democratic). The highest percentage of unaffiliated voters is in Cumberland at 40.13 percent. The highest percentage of Democrats is in Hudson at 52.81 percent, the highest percentage of Republicans is in Cape May at 44.03 percent, and the highest percentage registered in other parties is in Cumberland at 1.83 percent. The lowest percentage of unaffiliated is in Hunterdon at 30.36 percent, Democrats is in Ocean at 20.57 percent, Republicans is in Essex at 10.82 percent, and other parties in Hunterdon at 0.84 percent. The county with the closest Democratic-Republican percentages spread is Salem at 2.44 percent. The county with the largest Democratic-Republican percentage spread is Hudson at 41.01 percent. Bergen County has the largest number of registered voters at 687,031, and Salem County has the least at 49,957.

Voter registration by county on October 1, 2024[10]
County[a] Unaffiliated Una % Democratic Dem % Republican Rep % Other[b] O % Total
Atlantic 73,788 35.80% 69,523 33.73% 59,935 29.08% 2,842 1.38% 206,088
Bergen 263,955 38.42% 256,896 37.34% 159,561 23.22% 6,619 0.96% 687,031
Burlington 125,648 34.00% 142,895 38.67% 96,780 26.19% 4,247 1.15% 369,570
Camden 137,637 35.00% 182,300 46.35% 68,075 17.30% 5,329 1.35% 393,341
Cape May 23,449 30.66% 18,472 24.15% 33,673 44.03% 887 1.16% 76,481
Cumberland 39,192 40.13% 31,943 32.71% 24,729 25.32% 1,788 1.83% 97,652
Essex 218,184 37.08% 301,046 51.17% 63,653 10.82% 5,465 0.93% 588,348
Gloucester 74,730 33.31% 83,595 37.26% 63,146 28.15% 2,873 1.28% 224,344
Hudson 142,386 34.04% 220,915 52.81% 49,350 11.80% 5,644 1.35% 418,295
Hunterdon 33,010 30.36% 31,105 28.60% 43,710 40.20% 912 0.84% 108,737
Mercer 102,289 38.15% 119,704 44.64% 42,504 15.85% 3,636 1.36% 268,133
Middlesex 232,225 39.47% 243,108 41.32% 105,942 18.01% 7,118 1.21% 588,393
Monmouth 197,700 39.11% 141,032 27.90% 161,153 31.88% 5,597 1.10% 505,482
Morris 136,832 34.42% 119,136 29.96% 137,799 34.66% 3,831 0.96% 397,598
Ocean 183,895 38.33% 98,705 20.57% 191,387 39.89% 5,818 1.21% 479,805
Passaic 125,927 37.29% 131,802 39.03% 75,350 22.31% 4,603 1.36% 337,682
Salem 18,662 37.36% 14,633 29.29% 15,849 31.73% 813 1.63% 49,957
Somerset 100,787 38.55% 92,292 35.30% 65,694 25.13% 2,659 1.02% 261,432
Sussex 40,975 33.83% 26,881 22.19% 51,451 42.48% 1,817 1.50% 121,124
Union 142,445 36.41% 179,143 46.79% 65,188 16.66% 4,426 1.13% 391,202
Warren 27,211 30.48% 23,791 26.65% 36,759 41.17% 1,507 1.69% 89,268
Total 2,440,927 36.65% 2,528,917 37.97% 1,611,688 24.20% 78,431 1.18% 6,659,963
  1. ^ Counties are colored based on majority party registration.
  2. ^ Consists of the Conservative Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Natural Law Party, Reform Party, Socialist Party and the U.S. Constitution Party.

Seven districts- the 1st, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th- have a majority of Democratic registrants, and zero have a majority of Republican registrants; the remaining five have a majority of unaffiliated voters. Of those with an unaffiliated majority, three districts have more Republicans than Democrats- 2nd, 4th, and 7th- and two districts- the 3rd and 5th, have more Democrats than Republicans.

Districts 8 and 10 have an absolute majority of their registrants in one party (Democratic). The highest percentage of unaffiliated voters is in District 6 at 39.01 percent. The highest percentage of Democrats is in District 10 at 54.06 percent; the highest percentage of Republicans is in District 4 at 38.17 percent, and the highest percentage registered in other parties is District 2 at 1.42 percent. The lowest percentage of unaffiliated is in District 1 at 34.45 percent, Democrats is in District 4 at 22.10 percent, Republicans is in District 10 at 8.74 percent, and other parties is in District 11 at 0.84 percent. The district with the largest Democratic-Republican percentage spread is District 10 at 45.32 percent. The district with the smallest Democratic-Republican percentage spread is District 7 at 3.01 percent. District 7 has the largest number of registered voters at 634,344 and District 8 has the least at 417,988.

Voter registration by congressional district on October 1, 2024[17]
District[a] Unaffiliated Una % Democratic Dem % Republican Rep % Other[b] O % Total
1 198,034 34.45% 253,888 44.516 115,204 20.04% 7,770 1.35% 574,896
2 212,071 36.03% 175,220 29.77% 193,003 32.79% 8,344 1.42% 588,638
3 223,113 36.36% 219,977 35.85% 163,515 26.65% 6,954 1.13% 613,559
4 226,113 38.60% 129,435 22.10% 223,571 38.17% 5,423 0.93% 585,712
5 219,867 37.20% 207,771 35.16% 157,594 26.67% 5,755 0.97% 590,987
6 201,750 39.01% 208,252 40.27% 100,368 19.40% 6,740 1.350% 517,110
7 219,440 34.59% 194,585 30.67% 213,637 33.68% 6,682 1.05% 634,344
8 147,191 35.21% 216,367 51.76% 48,922 11.70% 5,508 1.31% 417,988
9 184,762 38.70% 191,952 40.20% 94,232 19.73% 6,488 1.36% 477,434
10 183,577 36.02% 275,486 54.06% 44,519 8.74% 6,056 1.19% 509,638
11 216,490 35.44% 226,280 37.04% 162,984 26.68% 5,113 0.84% 610,867
12 208,519 38.70% 229,704 42.63% 94,139 17.47% 6,428 1.19% 538,790
Total 2,440,927 36.65% 2,528,917 37.97% 1,611,688 24.20% 78,431 1.18% 6,659,963
  1. ^ Districts are colored by majority party registration.
  2. ^ Consists of the Conservative Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Natural Law Party, Reform Party, Socialist Party and the U.S. Constitution Party.

1992–present monthly registration statistics

Historic voter registration statistics on specific months[10]
Month Unaffiliated Una % Democratic Dem % Republican Rep % Other[a] O % Total
Nov. 1992 2,060,989 50.76% 1,175,141 28.94% 817,837 20.14% 6,470 0.16% 4,060,337
Nov. 1998 2,513,962 55.38% 1,141,593 25.15% 872,349 19.22% 11,040 0.24% 4,538,944
Nov. 2000 2,641,861 56.08% 1,179,577 25.04% 876,386 18.60% 12,944 0.27% 4,710,768
Nov. 2005 2,760,558 57.12% 1,157,177 23.94% 893,854 18.49% 21,236 0.44% 4,832,825
Nov. 2010 2,441,291 46.29% 1,755,501 33.28% 1,074,364 20.37% 2,937 0.06% 5,274,093
Nov. 2015 2,605,919 48.11% 1,747,551 32.26% 1,058,277 19.54% 4,816 0.09% 5,416,563
Nov. 2016 2,518,824 43.23% 2,076,528 35.64% 1,213,075 20.82% 17,690 0.30% 5,826,116
Nov. 2017 2,362,630 41.02% 2,122,472 36.85% 1,241,674 21.56% 32,519 0.56% 5,759,295
Nov. 2018 2,394,968 40.30% 2,216,958 37.30% 1,285,034 21.62% 45,720 0.77% 5,942,680
Nov. 2019 2,386,164 39.06% 2,315,853 37.91% 1,334,550 21.84% 72,682 1.19% 6,109,249
Nov. 2020 2,440,416 37.54% 2,529,575 38.91% 1,450,137 22.31% 79,707 1.22% 6,499,835
Nov. 2021 2,416,345 36.70% 2,577,146 39.14% 1,508,212 22.91% 81,835 1.24% 6,583,538
Nov. 2022 2,372,156 36.42% 2,532,844 38.88% 1,528,001 23.45% 81,060 1.24% 6,514,061
Jan. 2023 2,379,791 36.47% 2,534,905 38.84% 1,530,185 23.45% 81,126 1.24% 6,526,007
Apr. 2023 2,383,203 36.49% 2,533,035 38.78% 1,534,241 23.49% 80,826 1.24% 6,531,305
Jul. 2023 2,375,234 36.21% 2,547,517 38.84% 1,555,014 23.71% 80,447 1.23% 6,558,212
Nov. 2023 2,367,992 36.47% 2,504,294 38.57% 1,541,158 23.74% 79,090 1.22% 6,492,534
Dec. 2023 2,375,358 36.54% 2,503,172 38.50% 1,542,994 23.74% 79,132 1.22% 6,500,656
Jan. 2024 2,385,821 36.64% 2,500,412 38.40% 1,545,797 23.74% 79,139 1.21% 6,511,169
Feb. 2024 2,399,196 36.77% 2,496,518 38.26% 1,549,728 23.75% 79,290 1.21% 6,524,732
Mar. 2024 2,407,928 36.86% 2,492,866 38.16% 1,552,051 23.76% 79,270 1.21% 6,532,115
Apr. 2024 2,411,762 36.88% 2,492,598 38.12% 1,555,823 23.79% 79,206 1.21% 6,539,389
May 2024 2,416,960 36.90% 2,494,013 38.08% 1,559,327 23.81% 79,268 1.21% 6,549,568
June 2024 2,422,574 36.92% 2,496,054 38.04% 1,563,771 23.83% 79,295 1.21% 6,561,694
July 2024 2,385,434 36.27% 2,520,768 38.33% 1,590,941 24.19% 78,997 1.20% 6,576,140
August 2024 2,400,038 36.37% 2,521,808 38.22% 1,598,106 24.22% 78,736 1.19% 6,598,688
September 2024 2,415,353 36.48% 2,524,384 38.12% 1,603,550 24.22% 78,646 1.19% 6,621,933
October 2024 2,440,927 36.65% 2,528,917 37.97% 1,611,688 24.20% 78,431 1.18% 6,659,963
November 2024 2,485,411 36.94% 2,534,932 37.68% 1,628,633 24.21% 78,382 1.16% 6,727,358
December 2024 2,492,792 36.97% 2,537,193 37.63% 1,634,872 %24.24 78,382 1.16% 6,743,239
  1. ^ Consists of the Conservative Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Natural Law Party, Reform Party, Socialist Party and the U.S. Constitution Party.

Federal representation

Main article: New Jersey's congressional districts

Following each decennial census, the New Jersey Redistricting Commission forms to redraw the districts. New Jersey currently has 12 House districts. In the 118th Congress, nine of New Jersey's seats are held by Democrats and three are held by Republicans:

New Jersey's two United States senators are Democrats Cory Booker and George Helmy, serving since 2013 and 2024, respectively.

New Jersey is part of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in the federal judiciary. The district's cases are appealed to the Philadelphia-based United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Issues

See also: Cannabis in New Jersey

The most contentious recent issue in New Jersey has been the conflict between the state government and public-sector unions. The unions, allied with the Democratic Party, believed that their workers were entitled to pensions and healthcare which had been promised to them in the past. Moderate Democrats and Republicans believed that the state could no longer afford to pay for benefits it had promised public workers in the past.[18]

Property taxes are also an issue, since the state has the nation's highest property tax.[19] New Jersey is a densely-populated, high-income, high-cost-of-living state, with more money needed for infrastructure and transportation, and it does not allow counties and municipalities to impose local income or sales taxes. Property taxes fund local government, schools and county expenses, making lowering it difficult.[20]

Legalized gambling is also an issue. In 2011, Governor Chris Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney promised to limit gambling to Atlantic City for "at least five years" to protect the struggling tourist destination from intrastate competition. Developers are pressuring the legislature to allow gambling in other parts of the state, such as the Meadowlands. New Jersey challenged the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2014, which had grandfathered Nevada's federal statutory monopoly on legal sports betting. The Supreme Court overturned the appellate-court decision, removing the final barrier to New Jersey sports betting on May 14, 2018. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the opinion supporting New Jersey's assertion that the PASPA infringed on the state's Tenth Amendment rights in Murphy vs. Collegiate Athletic Association.[21] The state quickly moved to capitalize on the ruling and allow sports betting at state-sanctioned sportsbooks at the Meadowlands Racetrack.[22]

In 2010, New Jersey legalized medical cannabis. The law, legalizing the drug for medical use, was passed by a Democratic government just before Christie (who was skeptical about legalized medical marijuana) took office. Christie subsequently vetoed, or requested alterations to, laws expanding the state's program. The issue gained attention during the 2013 gubernatorial election, when the father of a young girl with epilepsy confronted Christie at a diner. In March 2019, a vote on recreational legalization was canceled at the last minute.[23] The state senate did not have the 21 votes needed to pass, since all of its Republicans and nine of its Democrats opposed the bill. A ballot measure to legalize marijuana for recreational use was on the ballot on November 3, 2020.[24] Named Public Question 1, it passed overwhelmingly 67%-33%, with every county supporting legalization.

On October 21, 2019, weeks after California passed a similar bill, state Senators Joseph Lagana (D-Bergen) and Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson) introduced the New Jersey Fair Play Act. The bill would allow college athletes to be paid for the use of their names, images and likeness, and to hire an agent or lawyer. It intends to protect student athletes, since one injury can cost them their scholarship without a way to pay for school or vocational guidance.[25]

On February 4, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed a $15-minimum-wage bill into law. The law will increase the minimum wage by $1 every January 1 until it reaches $15 in 2024. When it was enacted, the state's minimum wage was $8.85. The first increase was on July 1, 2019 (to $10) and it became $12 on January 1, 2021. The bill raises tipped-worker wages from $2.13 to $5.13 per hour; if a worker does not earn the minimum wage through tips, the employer must make up the difference. Farm-workers will only be raised to $12.50 an hour in 2024, then possibly raised to $15 by 2027.[26]

LGBT rights

See also: LGBTQ rights in New Jersey

In April 2004, New Jersey enacted a domestic-partnership law which is available to same- and opposite-sex couples aged 62 and over. In 2006, the Supreme Court of New Jersey ordered the state to provide the rights and benefits of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. The following year, New Jersey became the third state in the U.S. (after Connecticut and Vermont) to offer civil unions to same-sex couples. In 2013, the state supreme court ruled that New Jersey must allow same-sex couples to marry. A 2010 last-minute attempt to legalize same-sex marriage under outgoing Democratic governor failed because of objections by Senate President Steve Sweeney (also a Democrat). From 2010 to 2013, Governor Christie vetoed attempts by the state legislature to legalize same-sex marriage. Since the 2013 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling, three government-recognized relationships have been in effect in the state: domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriage. Same-sex marriage was legalized in New Jersey under Obergefell v. Hodges, and was officially codified into law in January 2022.

In 2013, New Jersey became the second state to ban conversion therapy for minors.[27] In 2018, Governor Murphy signed bills that repealed the legal requirement for sex reassignment surgery on birth certificates, created a third gender category on official documents (labelled as "X"), and included transgender and intersex people on death certificates.[28] In January 2020, Murphy signed a law that reduced barriers to same-sex couples in regards to adoption.[29] n January 2020, the New Jersey Legislature unanimously passed during a bill banning the "gay panic defense".[30] In 2021, a law known as the LGBT Senior Bill of Rights was passed, which banned LGBT discrimination in long-term care facilities.[31] In 2022, Murphy signed an executive order legally protecting and defending gender-affirming healthcare within New Jersey borders.[32]

Gun control

See also: Gun laws in New Jersey

New Jersey has some of the country's strictest gun control laws in the nation.

Corruption

United States Senator Bob Menendnez was indicted in 2015 by the FBI for bribery, fraud, and making false statements. In 2023, Menendez was indicted again by the FBI for corruption, on the basis that he "provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt".[33] New Jersey Democratic Party politicians began calling for his resignation the following day. Bribes Menendez received included a Mercedes-Benz car, 13 gold bars, and $486,461 in cash.[34] After a federal jury found Menendez guilty on all 16 counts in July 2024, including for bribery, extortion, and acting as a foreign agent, various United States Senators were calling for his resignation, and that they would expel him from the Senate if he failed to resign.[35] Menendez officially resigned from the Senate on August 20, 2024.[36]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Leip, David. "Presidential General Election Results Comparison – New Jersey". US Election Atlas. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "New Jersey Constitution of 1776". state.nj.us. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  3. ^ Klinghoffer and Elkis. "The Petticoat Electors: Women’s Suffrage in New Jersey, 1776–1807." Journal of the Early Republic, 12, no. 2 (1992): 159–193.
  4. ^ Connors, R. J. (1775). New Jersey's Revolutionary Experience [Pamphlet]. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Historical Commission.
  5. ^ "New Jersey Department of State". www.nj.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  6. ^ "Unit 9 World War I and the Great Migration, 1915-1920". New Jersey State Library. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  7. ^ "Unit 10 Decade of the Twenties: From Great Migration to Great Depression". New Jersey State Library. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  8. ^ "Latinas/os in New Jersey". Rutgers University Press. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  9. ^ Miller, Jodi L. "Constitutionally New Jersey" (PDF). New Jersey State Bar Foundation.
  10. ^ a b c "NJ Department of State - Division of Elections". New Jersey Division of Elections. NJ Department of State.
  11. ^ "NJ Department of State" (PDF). NJ DOS - Division of Elections.
  12. ^ "NJ Department of State" (PDF). NJ DOS - Division of Elections.
  13. ^ "New Jersey Election Results 2018: Live Midterm Map by County & Analysis". www.politico.com. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  14. ^ "New Jersey Election Results". The New York Times. 2021-11-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  15. ^ "NJ Department of State" (PDF). NJ DOS - Department of Elections. 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  16. ^ "NJ Department of State" (PDF). NJ DOS - Department of Elections. 2025-12-05. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  17. ^ "NJ Department of State - Division of Elections". NJ DOS - Division of Elections.
  18. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (24 June 2011). "N.J. Legislature Moves to Cut Benefits for Public Workers". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Which homeowners around the U.S. pay the highest property taxes?". www.cbsnews.com. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  20. ^ Livio, Susan K. (2017-02-18). "7 reasons why N.J.'s property taxes are highest in U.S. again". nj. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  21. ^ "Docket for 16-476". Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  22. ^ Bagli, Charles; Piccoli, Sean (15 July 2018). "For the First Time, Gamblers Bet on Sports at Meadowlands Racetrack". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  23. ^ "New Jersey Cancels Vote On Marijuana Legalization". Point Pleasant, NJ Patch. 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  24. ^ "NJ Marijuana Legalization Is Alive Again: Here's When It May Come". Newark, NJ Patch. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  25. ^ Sitrin, Carly. "New Jersey bill would allow college athletes to earn endorsement money". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  26. ^ L, Katherine; ERGAN. "Murphy signs bill to boost New Jersey's minimum wage to $15". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  27. ^ "HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News". HuffPost. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  28. ^ NJ.com, Kelly Heyboer | NJ Advance Media for (2019-02-01). "N.J. just added a 3rd gender option to its birth certificates". nj. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  29. ^ Biryukov, Nikita (2020-01-15). "Murphy signs bill simplifying adoptions for LGBTQ couples". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  30. ^ O'Neill, Natalie (2020-01-22). "New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy bans "gay panic" legal defense". Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  31. ^ Holmes, Juwan J. (2021-03-10). "New Jersey passes groundbreaking LGBTQ "Senior Bill of Rights"". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  32. ^ Bollinger, Alex (2023-04-05). "New Jersey governor protects trans youth seeking health care with executive order". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  33. ^ NJ.com, Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for (2023-09-22). "Sen. Robert Menendez indicted again on explosive federal corruption charges". nj. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  34. ^ DiFilippo, Dana (2024-05-17). "Gold bars in baggies and cash crammed in boots: Prosecutors detail Menendez's hoarded riches • New Jersey Monitor". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  35. ^ Tarinelli, Ryan (2024-07-22). "Senate panel takes step toward potential Menendez expulsion". Roll Call. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  36. ^ Foran, Lauren Fox, Clare (2024-07-23). "Bob Menendez will resign his US Senate seat effective August 20 | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2024-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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