American legislative district
New Jersey 's 23rd legislative district is one of 40 in the New Jersey Legislature . The district includes the Hunterdon County municipalities of Alexandria Township , Bethlehem Township , Bloomsbury , Califon , Franklin Township , Glen Gardner , Hampton , Holland Township , Lebanon Township , Milford , Tewksbury Township and Union Township , the Somerset County municipalities of Bedminster Township , Bound Brook , Bridgewater Township , Manville , and Raritan .
As well as the Warren County municipalities of Alpha , Belvidere Town , Blairstown Township , Franklin Township , Frelinghuysen Township , Greenwich Township , Hardwick Township , Hope Township , Knowlton Township , Liberty Township , Hackettstown Town , Harmony Township , Lopatcong Township , Mansfield Township , Oxford Township , Phillipsburg Town , Pohatcong Township , Washington Borough and Washington Township .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
Demographic characteristics [ edit ]
As of the 2020 United States census , the district had a population of 222,231, of whom 177,008 (79.7%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 160,381 (72.2%) White , 10,593 (4.8%) African American , 630 (0.3%) Native American , 19,106 (8.6%) Asian , 56 (0.0%) Pacific Islander , 12,743 (5.7%) from some other race , and 18,722 (8.4%) from two or more races.[ 4] [ 5] Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29,551 (13.3%) of the population.[ 6]
The 23rd district had 174,110 registered voters as of December 1, 2021, of whom 61,978 (35.6%) were registered as unaffiliated , 61,046 (35.1%) were registered as Republicans , 49,004 (28.1%) were registered as Democrats , and 2,082 (1.2%) were registered to other parties.[ 7]
As of 2000, the district had the largest population of any in the state and the second-highest land area, making it one of the least densely populated districts in the state. The district had a small minority population, with comparatively few African American, Asian and Hispanic residents. The district had the highest municipal tax rate in the state, but lower than average school and county taxes leave the overall rate near the statewide median. Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 2-1 margin.[ 8] [ 9]
Political representation [ edit ]
For the 2024-2025 session , the 23rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Doug Steinhardt (R , Lopatcong Township ) and in the General Assembly by John DiMaio (R, Hackettstown ) and Erik Peterson (R, Franklin Township ).[ 10]
The legislative district overlaps with 7th and 12th congressional districts.
Apportionment history [ edit ]
Upon the creation of the 40-district legislative map in 1973, the 23rd district consisted of central Morris County including Madison , Morristown , Dover , and Town and Township of Boonton.[ 11] Following the 1981 redistricting, the 23rd shifted to the rural areas of western New Jersey including the Borough and Township of Hopewell and Pennington in Mercer County , all of Hunterdon County except East Amwell Township , in Warren County Franklin Township , Greenwich Township , and the Borough and Township of Washington, western Morris County, and Stanhope in Sussex County .[ 12] For the 1991 redistricting following the 1990 census , the district shifted to most of Hunterdon County except for some municipalities in the northern part of the county, all of Warren County, and the Mercer County portion remaining unchanged.[ 13]
In the 2001 redistricting , the Mercer County municipalities were eliminated from the 23rd with the district only consisting of Hunterdon County save for Tewksbury Township and Califon and all of Warren County.[ 14] The district experienced a major change following the 2011 redistricting; the 23rd currently consists of southern Warren County including Phillipsburg, Washington, and Hackettstown, most of northern Hunterdon County, and a spur into Somerset County with Bedminster, Peapack-Gladstone, Bridgewater, Raritan Borough, Bound Brook, and South Bound Brook.
Despite the historic Republican nature of Morris County, Democrats swept the three legislative seats up for election in 1973: Stephen B. Wiley , who was also elected in a special election to complete an unexpired Senate term under the old at-large Morris County district, was elected to a four-year Senate term from this district, Gordon MacInnes and Rosemarie Totaro won both Assembly seats as well.[ 15] MacInnes and Totaro would both be defeated for re-election in 1975 but Totaro would again serve one term in the Assembly after winning in 1977 and MacInnes would later serve four years in the Senate from the geographically similar 25th district in 1993. Governor of New Jersey Brendan Byrne nominated State Senator Wiley to the New Jersey Supreme Court in 1977, his nomination was approved by the Senate, but was rejected by the Supreme Court, which ruled that as Wiley had voted to raise the salary of justices of the Supreme Court in 1974, he could not be appointed to serve on the court until after his term of office expired.[ 16] Wiley served the remainder of his term in the Senate but was defeated for re-election in 1977 by Republican John H. Dorsey .
After the 1981 redistricting, Senator Walter E. Foran and Assemblyman Karl Weidel , who had been elected from the 14th district in the previous election, became representatives from the 23rd. Following the death of Foran in 1986, Dick Zimmer filled the vacant seat in the Senate and William E. Schluter won Zimmer's Assembly seat, and then continued on to the State Senate after Zimmer succeeded Jim Courter in the United States House of Representatives in 1991.[ 17] Schluter's Assembly seat was filled by Leonard Lance .
On January 24, 2009, a special election was held by a convention of Republican committee members from Hunterdon and Warren counties to fill the Senate vacancy created when Leonard Lance was elected to Congress. Marcia A. Karrow defeated Michael J. Doherty in the special election by a margin of 195 votes to 143. Doherty announced he would run against Karrow a second time in the June 2009 primary, when she would be running as the incumbent.[ 18] The Hunterdon and Warren County Republican committee members held another special convention on February 21, 2009 to fill Karrow's vacant Assembly seat. In the contest, Warren County Freeholder John DiMaio defeated Hunterdon County Freeholders Matt Holt and Erik Peterson .[ 19] [ 20]
On June 2, 2009, Doherty defeated Karrow in the Republican Senate primary by a margin of 52%-48%, making her the only incumbent to lose a primary battle that year.[ 21] Doherty went on to win the November special election, defeating Democratic candidate Harvey Baron to fill the remaining two years of the term.[ 22] Karrow's Senate term ended on November 23, 2009 when Doherty was sworn into office.[ 23]
Doug Steinhardt took office on December 19, 2022, succeeding Michael J. Doherty , who resigned to take the position as Warren County Surrigate.[ 24]
Senators and Assembly members elected from the district are as follows:[ 25]
^ Died December 8, 1986
^ Resigned June 13, 1986 to join staff of Department of Insurance
^ a b Elected to the Senate in March 1987 special election, sworn in on April 23, 1987
^ Elected to the Assembly in August 1986 special election, sworn in on September 8, 1986
^ Elected to the Assembly in July 1987 special election, sworn in on September 10, 1987
^ Resigned January 3, 1991 upon election to Congress
^ a b Appointed to the Senate on January 29, 1991
^ Appointed to the Assembly on February 21, 1991
^ Resigned January 3, 2009 upon election to Congress
^ a b Appointed to the Senate on February 9, 2009, lost June 2009 special primary election, served until November 23, 2009
^ a b Won Senate seat in November 2009 special election, sworn in on November 23, 2009
^ Appointed to the Assembly on March 16, 2009
^ Appointed to the Assembly on December 7, 2009
^ Resigned November 30, 2022 to become Warren County Surrogate
^ Appointed to the Senate on December 19, 2022
^ Districts by Number , New Jersey Legislature . Accessed February 10, 2014.
^ Municipalities (sorted by 2011 legislative district) Archived 2019-06-04 at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey Department of State . Accessed February 10, 2014.
^ About District 23 , Senator Michael Doherty. Accessed January 15, 2020. "District 23 is comprised of the following towns:Alexandria; Alpha; Bedminster; Bethlehem; Bloomsbury; Bound Brook; Bridgewater; Califon; Clinton Town; Clinton Twp.; Franklin Twp. (Hunt.); Franklin Twp. (War.); Frenchtown; Glen Gardner; Greenwich; Hackettstown; Hampton Borough; Harmony; High Bridge; Holland; Kingwood; Lebanon Borough; Lebanon Twp.; Lopatcong; Mansfield; Milford; Peapack & Gladstone; Phillipsburg; Pohatcong; Raritan Boro; South Bound Brook; Tewksbury; Union Twp.; Washington Borough; and Washington Twp.."
^ "RACE" . United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 17, 2021 .
^ "RACE FOR THE POPULATION 18 YEARS AND OVER" . United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 17, 2021 .
^ "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE" . United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 17, 2021 .
^ Statewide Voter Registration Summary , New Jersey Department of State , December 1, 2021. Accessed December 28, 2021.
^ District 23 Profile Archived 2010-07-09 at the Wayback Machine , Rutgers University . Accessed July 26, 2010.
^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book . Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy . p. 97.
^ Legislative Roster for District 23 , New Jersey Legislature . Accessed January 18, 2024.
^ "New Jersey Legislative Districts 1974–" (PDF) . New Jersey Legislative Services Agency. 1973. Retrieved July 25, 2015 .
^ "New Jersey Legislative Districts" (PDF) . 1981. Retrieved July 26, 2015 .
^ "1991 Legislative Districts" (PDF) . 1991. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2015 .
^ "2001 Legislative Districts" (PDF) . 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2015 .
^ Edge, Wally (February 18, 2009). "Through parts of four decades, ten districts that have never flipped" . Politicker NJ . Retrieved July 26, 2015 . District 25: [sic ] Democrats have won a few times in heavily Republican Morris County. They swept in 1973, when Stephen Wiley won a State Senate seat and Gordon MacInnes and Rosemarie Totaro went to the Assembly after beating John Dorsey and Assemblyman Albert Merck.
^ Waldron, Martin . "SUPREME COURT BARS WILEY APPOINTMENT; Cites His Membership in Legislature When It Raised Justices' Salaries Byrne to Nominate an Aide" , The New York Times , February 12, 1977. Accessed July 29, 2010.
^ "The Harvey Smith Club" , PolitickerNJ.com , June 6, 2007. Accessed July 29, 2010.
^ "Karrow wins; calls for unity as Doherty vows to fight on in the primary" . PolitickerNJ. January 24, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^ Novak, Stephen J. (February 1, 2009). "GOP convention picks to fill district Senate and Assembly seats could lead to contentious primary season" . The Express-Times . Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^ Olanoff, Lynn (February 22, 2009). "John DiMaio named to fill Assembly seat" . The Express-Times . Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^ "Karrow loses in Hunterdon and Warren" . PolitickerNJ. June 2, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^ Wichert, Bill (November 4, 2009). "Republican Michael Doherty wins New Jersey Senate post; GOP running mates John DiMaio and Erik Peterson capture state Assembly seats" . The Express-Times . Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^ Wichert, Bill (November 23, 2009). "Michael Doherty sworn in as new state senator representing Warren, Hunterdon counties" . The Express-Times . Archived from the original on August 11, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^ "Steinhardt Sworn-in as State Senator for New Jersey’s 23rd Legislative District", Insider NJ, December 19, 2022. Accessed December 19, 2022. "Douglas J. Steinhardt has taken the oath of office to become the new state senator for New Jersey’s 23rd Legislative District.... Steinhardt, a resident and former five-time mayor of Lopatcong Township, was sworn-in during a session of the New Jersey Senate on December 19, 2022. Senator Steinhardt was selected to fill the remainder of former Senator Mike Doherty’s term."
^ "NJ Election Information and Results Archive" . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Retrieved July 26, 2015 .
^ Staff. "Vote Totals for the Elections Held on Tuesday in New York and New Jersey" , The New York Times , November 9, 1989. Accessed June 23, 2010.
^ Sullivan, Joseph F. "THE 1993 ELECTIONS: New Jersey Legislature; Cut Taxes 30 Percent? Whitman's Top Statehouse Allies Say Not So Fast" , The New York Times , November 4, 1993. Accessed June 23, 2010.
^ a b Staff. "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: RESULTS; The Races for the New Jersey Assembly" , The New York Times , November 5, 1997. Accessed July 12, 2010.
^ Kocieniewski, David. "THE 1999 ELECTIONS: NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY; Democrats Win Seats in Three Districts, Narrowing Republicans' Majority" , The New York Times , November 3, 1999. Accessed July 12, 2010.
^ Staff. "THE 2001 ELECTIONS; RESULTS -- The Races for New Jersey" , The New York Times , November 8, 2001. Accessed July 12, 2010.
^ Kocieniewski, David. "THE 2003 ELECTION: THE STATEHOUSE; Democrats Seize Senate And Widen Assembly Gap" , The New York Times , November 5, 2003. Accessed June 23, 2010.
^ Staff. "2009 Election Results" Archived February 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine , The New York Times , November 9, 2009. Accessed July 12, 2010.
^ a b Official List; Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2013 Election Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey Department of State , December 4, 2013. Accessed February 10, 2014.
^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/02/2021 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021 .
^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2017 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . November 29, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017 .
^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate for GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2013 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for State Senate for November 2011 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for Special Senate Election for November 2009 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for State Senate for November 2007 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for State Senate for November 2003 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for State Senate for November 2001 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official Results, General Election Returns for the Office of State Senate for Election Held November 4, 1997" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: RESULTS; The Races for New Jersey Senate" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ a b "Official List, General Election Returns for the Office of Senate and Assembly for Election Held November 2, 1993" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ a b "Official Results, General Election, November 5, 1991" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ a b "Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "1987 Special Elections" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ a b "Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ a b "Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ a b "Results of the General Election Held November 8, 1977" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ a b "Results of the General Election Held November 6, 1973" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/02/2021 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021 .
^ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2019 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . December 2, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2020 .
^ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2017 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . November 29, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017 .
^ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly for GENERAL ELECTION 11/03/2015 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly for November 2011 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly for November 2009 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 30, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly for November 2007 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly for November 2005 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly 12-02-2003 for November 2003 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly for November 2001 General Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 9, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly for November 1999 General Election" . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original on August 14, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official Results, General Election Returns for the Office of State Assembly for Election Held November 4, 1997" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Official List, General Election Results for the Office of General Assembly for Election Held November 7, 1995" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "NJ General Assembly 23" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved October 4, 2017 .
^ "Candidates for the Office of General Assembly" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Special Elections Held in 1987 to Fill Vacancies in the State Legislature" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "1986 Special Elections" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Candidates for the Office of General Assembly" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Results of the General Election Held on November 6, 1979" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
^ "Results of the General Election Held November 4, 1975" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016 .
Districts are co-terminous for both
Senate and
General Assembly (each district elects
one Senator and
two members of the General Assembly)
Districts Apportionments