New Jersey's

New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

 26th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Morris County

Morris County, New Jersey

Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....

 municipalities of Butler Borough

Butler, New Jersey

Butler is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,539.Butler was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of Pequannock Township.-Geography:Butler is located at...

, Chatham Borough

Chatham Borough, New Jersey

Chatham is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 8,962.The village that now is Chatham first was settled by Europeans in 1710 in Morris Township, within the Province of New Jersey...

, East Hanover Township

East Hanover, New Jersey

East Hanover Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 11,393. The town was incorporated in 1928. The headquarters of the Nabisco company and the pharmaceutical company Novartis are located in East...

, Florham Park Borough

Florham Park, New Jersey

Florham Park is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,857, which had grown to 12,389 as of the Bureau's 2008 estimate....

, Hanover Township

Hanover Township, New Jersey

Hanover Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 12,898...

, Kinnelon Borough

Kinnelon, New Jersey

Kinnelon is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,248. It is a low density, suburban community, with many parks and trails....

, Lincoln Park Borough

Lincoln Park, New Jersey

Lincoln Park is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,930....

, Montville Township, Morris Plains Borough

Morris Plains, New Jersey

Morris Plains, billing itself "the Community of Caring," is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,236....

, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township

Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey

Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, commonly called Parsippany, is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 50,649. The name Parsippany comes from the Lenape Native American word parsipanong, which means "the place where...

, Pequannock Township

Pequannock Township, New Jersey

Pequannock Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 13,888....

 and Riverdale Borough

Riverdale, New Jersey

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,498 people, 919 households, and 671 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,215.2 people per square mile . There were 940 housing units at an average density of 457.3 per square mile...

, along with the Passaic County

Passaic County, New Jersey

Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...

 communities of
Bloomingdale Borough, Pompton Lakes Borough

Pompton Lakes, New Jersey

Pompton Lakes is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 11,097....

 and West Milford Township

West Milford, New Jersey

West Milford is a township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 25,850.-History:...

. As of the 2000 United States Census, the district had a population of 207,093.

Changes to the district made as part of the New Jersey Legislative redistricting in 2001

New Jersey Legislative Districts, 2001 redistricting

The members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one Senator and two Assemblymen.New Jersey is one of only seven states with nested state legislative districts, in which two or more state House are coextensive with a single state Senate seat. In...

, based on the results of the 2000 United States Census added Hanover Township (from the 25th Legislative District

25th Legislative District (New Jersey)

New Jersey's 25th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Morris County municipalities of Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Chester Borough, Chester Township, Denville Township, Dover Town, Mendham Township, Mine Hill Township, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mount Arlington...

) and West Milford Township (from the 40th Legislative District) and removed Madison Borough

Madison, New Jersey

Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....

 (to the 21st Legislative District

21st Legislative District (New Jersey)

New Jersey's 21st Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Essex County municipality of Millburn Township, the Morris County communities of Chatham Township, Harding Township, Long Hill Township and Madison Borough, the Somerset County localities of Warren Township and Watchung...

), Mountain Lakes Borough

Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

Mountain Lakes is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 4,256....

 (to the 25th Legislative District) and Fairfield Township and West Caldwell Township

West Caldwell, New Jersey

West Caldwell is an township located in the West Essex area in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey. It is located approximately west of Manhattan and six miles northwest of Newark...

 (to the 27th Legislative District

27th Legislative District (New Jersey)

New Jersey's 27th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Essex County municipalities of Caldwell Township, Essex Fells Township, Fairfield Township, Livingston Township, Maplewood Township, Newark City , North Caldwell Township, Orange Township, Roseland Borough, South Orange...

).

Demographic characteristics

The Asian population is above the state average, while there are relatively few African American and Hispanic residents in the district. The percentage of children receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is one of the United States of America's federal assistance programs. It began on July 2, 1997, and succeeded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, providing cash assistance to indigent American families with dependent children through the...

 is the fourth lowest of any district and the percentage of the population age 65 and over is eighth highest. The district has one of the lowest percentages in the state of registered Democrats, with Republicans outnumbering Democrats by a more than 2–1 margin.

Political representation

The district is represented in the New Jersey Senate

New Jersey Senate

The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...

 by Joseph Pennacchio

Joseph Pennacchio

Joseph "Joe" Pennacchio is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th Legislative district...

 (R

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, Pine Brook

Pine Brook, New Jersey

Pine Brook is an unincorporated area within Montville Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07058....

) and in the New Jersey General Assembly

New Jersey General Assembly

The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...

 by Alex DeCroce

Alex DeCroce

Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....

 (R

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, Morris Plains

Morris Plains, New Jersey

Morris Plains, billing itself "the Community of Caring," is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,236....

) and Jay Webber

Jay Webber

Jay Webber is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th legislative district...

 (R

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, Morris Plains

Morris Plains, New Jersey

Morris Plains, billing itself "the Community of Caring," is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,236....

).

Election history

In the 1977 Democratic primary for the Senate seat, incumbent Frank J. Dodd

Frank J. Dodd

Frank J. "Pat" Dodd was an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate from 1974 to 1975.-Early life:...

 faced opposition from Assemblyman Eldridge Hawkins

Eldridge Hawkins

Eldridge Hawkins was an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1978....

 and tennis star Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson was a World No. 1 American sportswoman who became the first African-American woman to be a competitor on the world tennis tour and the first to win a Grand Slam title in 1956. She is sometimes referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the color barrier...

, who was serving as state Athletic Commissioner. Dodd was supported by the Essex County

Essex County, New Jersey

Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...

 Democratic organization under County Chairman Harry Lerner. With Gibson and Hawkins splitting the anti-organization vote, Dodd won the nomination and the subsequent general election.

In 1983, Leanna Brown

Leanna Brown

Leanna Brown is an American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where she represented the 26th Legislative District. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate....

 challenged her former running-mate, James P. Vreeland

James P. Vreeland

James P. Vreeland is an American Republican Party politician who served four terms in the New Jersey Senate. He served in office from 1974 to 1984, representing the 24th Legislative District until 1982, and then served one term representing the 26th Legislative District.-Political career:Vreeland's...

, for the Republican nomination for State Senate in the Republican primary in what the Philadelphia Daily News

Philadelphia Daily News

The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...

described as a "stunning upset" and was elected to the State Senate, becoming the first woman from the Republican Party to serve in the upper house of the State Legislature. In 1993, Brown resigned from the Senate after she was appointed to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission

New Jersey Casino Control Commission

The Casino Control Commission is a New Jersey state governmental agency that was founded in 1977 as the state's gaming control board, responsible for administering the Casino Control Act and its regulations to assure public trust and confidence in the credibility and integrity of the casino...

, initially to serve out the unexpired term of Charles J. Irwin. Assemblymember Robert Martin was chosen to fill Brown's vacancy in the Senate.

In December 1988 Governor of New Jersey

Governor of New Jersey

The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...

 Thomas Kean

Thomas Kean

Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...

 nominated Ralph A. Loveys

Ralph A. Loveys

Ralph A. Loveys is an American Republican Party politician who was elected to three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 26th Legislative District...

 to succeed Joseph A. Sullivan as the chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority

New Jersey Turnpike

The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...

 In January 1989, Alex DeCroce

Alex DeCroce

Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....

, a member of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Board of Chosen Freeholders

In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...

, was named to fill Loveys' vacant seat in the General Assembly.

Carol Murphy

Carol Murphy

Carol J. Murphy is an American Republican Party politician. She served four full terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1993 to 2002, where she represented the 26th Legislative District....

 was nominated in February 2001 to serve on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is a regulatory authority in New Jersey charged with the responsibility of seeing that "safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey." The NJBPU regulates natural gas, electricity, water,...

 by Acting Governor of New Jersey

Governor of New Jersey

The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...

 Donald DiFrancesco

Donald DiFrancesco

Donald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....

. In February 2001, a special convention of district Republicans chose Joseph Pennacchio

Joseph Pennacchio

Joseph "Joe" Pennacchio is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th Legislative district...

 to fill the General Assembly seat vacated by Murphy.

Session	State Senate	Assembly
1976-1977	Frank J. Dodd Frank J. Dodd Frank J. "Pat" Dodd was an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate from 1974 to 1975.-Early life:...	Richard Codey Richard Codey Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...	Eldridge Hawkins Eldridge Hawkins Eldridge Hawkins was an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1978....
1978-1979	Frank J. Dodd Frank J. Dodd Frank J. "Pat" Dodd was an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate from 1974 to 1975.-Early life:...	Richard Codey Richard Codey Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...	Mildred Barry Garvin Mildred Barry Garvin Mildred Barry Garvin was an American Democratic Party politician who served two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1978 to 1988, representing the 26th Legislative District until 1982 and the 27th Legislative District thereafter.-Biography:Garvin was born on November 29, 1929, in...
1980-1981		Richard Codey Richard Codey Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...	Mildred Barry Garvin Mildred Barry Garvin Mildred Barry Garvin was an American Democratic Party politician who served two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1978 to 1988, representing the 26th Legislative District until 1982 and the 27th Legislative District thereafter.-Biography:Garvin was born on November 29, 1929, in...
1982-1983	James P. Vreeland James P. Vreeland James P. Vreeland is an American Republican Party politician who served four terms in the New Jersey Senate. He served in office from 1974 to 1984, representing the 24th Legislative District until 1982, and then served one term representing the 26th Legislative District.-Political career:Vreeland's...	Leanna Brown Leanna Brown Leanna Brown is an American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where she represented the 26th Legislative District. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate....	Dean Gallo Dean Gallo Dean Anderson Gallo was an American Republican party politician, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing for nearly ten years....
1984-1985	Leanna Brown Leanna Brown Leanna Brown is an American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where she represented the 26th Legislative District. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate....	Dean Gallo Dean Gallo Dean Anderson Gallo was an American Republican party politician, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing for nearly ten years....	Ralph A. Loveys Ralph A. Loveys Ralph A. Loveys is an American Republican Party politician who was elected to three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 26th Legislative District...
1986-1987		Ralph A. Loveys Ralph A. Loveys Ralph A. Loveys is an American Republican Party politician who was elected to three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 26th Legislative District...	Robert Martin
1988-1989	Leanna Brown Leanna Brown Leanna Brown is an American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where she represented the 26th Legislative District. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate....	Ralph A. Loveys Ralph A. Loveys Ralph A. Loveys is an American Republican Party politician who was elected to three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 26th Legislative District...	Robert Martin
1990-1991		Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Robert Martin
1992-1993	Leanna Brown Leanna Brown Leanna Brown is an American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where she represented the 26th Legislative District. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate....	Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Robert Martin
1994-1995	Robert Martin	Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Carol Murphy Carol Murphy Carol J. Murphy is an American Republican Party politician. She served four full terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1993 to 2002, where she represented the 26th Legislative District....
1996-1997		Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Carol Murphy Carol Murphy Carol J. Murphy is an American Republican Party politician. She served four full terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1993 to 2002, where she represented the 26th Legislative District....
1998-1999	Robert Martin	Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Carol Murphy Carol Murphy Carol J. Murphy is an American Republican Party politician. She served four full terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1993 to 2002, where she represented the 26th Legislative District....
2000-2001		Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Carol Murphy Carol Murphy Carol J. Murphy is an American Republican Party politician. She served four full terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1993 to 2002, where she represented the 26th Legislative District....
2002-2003	Robert Martin	Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Joseph Pennacchio Joseph Pennacchio Joseph "Joe" Pennacchio is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th Legislative district...
2004-2005	Robert Martin	Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Joseph Pennacchio Joseph Pennacchio Joseph "Joe" Pennacchio is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th Legislative district...
2006-2007		Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Joseph Pennacchio Joseph Pennacchio Joseph "Joe" Pennacchio is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th Legislative district...
2008-2009	Joseph Pennacchio Joseph Pennacchio Joseph "Joe" Pennacchio is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th Legislative district...	Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Jay Webber Jay Webber Jay Webber is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th legislative district...
2010-2011		Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce Alex DeCroce is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1989, where he represents the 26th legislative district....	Jay Webber Jay Webber Jay Webber is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th legislative district...