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New Jersey State Senate District 1
New Jersey State Senate District 1 is represented by Mike Testa Jr. (R).
As of the 2020 Census, New Jersey state senators represented an average of 232,362 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 220,188 residents.
About the office
Members of the New Jersey State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Known as the "2-4-4" cycle, Senators serve four-year terms, except in the first term of a new decade, which only lasts for two years. New Jersey legislators assume office at noon of the second Tuesday in January following the election.[1]
Qualifications
In order to qualify as a candidate for the New Jersey State Senate, a candidate must:[2]
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be 30 years of age or older by the day of swearing in
- Be a registered voter
- Reside in the state for a minimum of four years prior to the general election
- Reside in the legislative district for one year prior to the general election
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $49,000/year | No per diem is paid. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the New Jersey State Legislature, the vacancy will be filled by an interim appointment by the county leadership of the political party that holds the seat. The office will be on the ballot in the next general election, unless the vacancy occurs within 51 days of the election. If that is the case, the appointment would stand until the following general election.[4][5]
See sources: New Jersey Const., Art. IV, Sec. IV(1)
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On February 18, 2022, the New Jersey Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted to approve a new set of state legislative maps.[6] The commission voted 9-2 to approve the maps. Thomas Kean Jr. (R) and Cosmo A. Cirillo (D) were the two dissenting votes.[7] The New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov wrote that the vote was "an unprecedented compromise for a commission that has historically relied on a court-appointed tiebreaker to end partisan gridlock."[6] These maps took effect for New Jersey's 2023 legislative elections.
How does redistricting in New Jersey work? In New Jersey, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by two distinct politician commissions. The congressional redistricting commission comprises the following 13 members:[8]
- The majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the New Jersey State Legislature appoint two commissioners a piece (for a total of eight members).
- The chairs of the state's two major political parties each appoint two members to the commission (for a total of four members). Commissioners appointed by the political parties cannot be members of Congress or congressional employees.
- The first 12 commissioners appoint the last member. This member cannot have held public office in the state within the previous five-year period. If the first 12 commissioners cannot agree on an appointment, they must submit two names to the New Jersey Supreme Court. The court must then appoint the final commissioner.
If the congressional redistricting commission fails to reach an agreement about a redistricting plan, it must submit two plans to the state Supreme Court, which must in turn select from those two plans a final map.[8]
The state legislative redistricting commission comprises 10 members. The chairs of the state's two major political parties each appoint five members to the commission. In the event that this commission is unable to reach an agreement about a redistricting plan, the state Supreme Court may appoint a tie-breaking member.[8]
State law requires that state legislative districts meet the following criteria:[8]
- Districts must be contiguous.
- Districts "must be as nearly compact as possible."
- Municipalities "must be kept intact, except where otherwise required by law."
There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[8]
New Jersey State Senate District 1
until January 2, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
New Jersey State Senate District 1
starting January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2023
See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2023
General election
General election for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Incumbent Mike Testa Jr. defeated Charles Laspata in the general election for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Testa Jr. (R) | 64.6 | 29,186 | |
| Charles Laspata (D) | 35.4 | 15,972 | ||
| Total votes: 45,158 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Charles Laspata advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on June 6, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Charles Laspata | 100.0 | 6,234 | |
| Total votes: 6,234 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Incumbent Mike Testa Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on June 6, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Testa Jr. | 100.0 | 8,356 | |
| Total votes: 8,356 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2021
See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2021
General election
General election for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Incumbent Mike Testa Jr. defeated Yolanda Garcia Balicki in the general election for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Testa Jr. (R) | 64.6 | 42,438 | |
| Yolanda Garcia Balicki (D) | 35.4 | 23,269 | ||
| Total votes: 65,707 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Yolanda Garcia Balicki advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Yolanda Garcia Balicki | 100.0 | 9,157 | |
| Total votes: 9,157 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Incumbent Mike Testa Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Testa Jr. | 100.0 | 13,845 | |
| Total votes: 13,845 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2019
A special election for District 1 of the New Jersey State Senate took place on November 5, 2019. A primary was held on June 4, 2019. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 1, 2019.
The seat became vacant after Jeff Van Drew (D) won election to New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House on November 6, 2018. Bob Andrzejczak (D) was appointed to fill the seat until a special election could be held. In New Jersey, special elections coincide with the next general election unless the vacancy occurs within 51 days of the election.
General election
Special general election for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Mike Testa Jr. defeated incumbent Bob Andrzejczak in the special general election for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Testa Jr. (R) | 53.4 | 27,928 | |
| Bob Andrzejczak (D) | 46.6 | 24,343 | ||
| Total votes: 52,271 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Incumbent Bob Andrzejczak advanced from the special Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on June 4, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bob Andrzejczak | 100.0 | 4,925 | |
| Total votes: 4,925 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1
Mike Testa Jr. advanced from the special Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 1 on June 4, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Testa Jr. | 100.0 | 5,687 | |
| Total votes: 5,687 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2017
General election
Elections for the New Jersey State Senate took place in 2017. All 40 seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 6, 2017. The filing deadline for the primary election was April 3, 2017.[9][10] Incumbent Jeff Van Drew (D) defeated Mary Gruccio (R) and Anthony Parisi Sanchez (Cannot Be Bought) in the New Jersey State Senate District 1 general election.[11][12]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 1 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Jeff Van Drew Incumbent |
64.83% | 35,464 | |
| Republican | Mary Gruccio | 33.98% | 18,589 | |
| Cannot Be Bought | Anthony Parisi Sanchez | 1.19% | 652 | |
| Total Votes | 54,705 | |||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||||
Democratic primary election
Incumbent Jeff Van Drew ran unopposed in the New Jersey State Senate District 1 Democratic primary election.[13]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 1 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Jeff Van Drew Incumbent | ||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||
Republican primary election
Mary Gruccio ran unopposed in the New Jersey State Senate District 1 Republican primary election.[13]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 1 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Mary Gruccio | ||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||
2013
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013
Elections for the office of New Jersey State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 4, 2013, and a general election on November 5, 2013. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 1, 2013. Incumbent Jeff Van Drew (D) defeated Susan Adelizzi Schmidt (R) and Thomas Greto (I) in the general election. Drew was unopposed in the June 4 Democratic primary. Adelizzi Schmidt defeated Robert Campbell in the Republican primary.[14][15][16]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 1 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Jeff Van Drew Incumbent |
59.4% | 34,624 | |
| Republican | Susan Adelizzi Schmidt | 39.2% | 22,835 | |
| Independent | Thomas Greto | 1.4% | 825 | |
| Total Votes | 58,284 | |||
| New Jersey State Senate District 1 Republican Primary, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Susan Adelizzi Schmidt |
84% | 6,437 |
| Robert Campbell | 16% | 1,230 |
| Total Votes | 7,667 | |
2011
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011
Elections for the office of New Jersey State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 7, 2011, and a general election on November 8, 2011. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 11, 2011. Incumbent Jeff Van Drew (D) defeated David DeWeese (R) in the general election. Van Drew was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and DeWeese defeated Thomas Greto in the Republican primary to advance to the general election.[17][18][19]
| New Jersey State Senate District 1 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Jeff Van Drew Incumbent |
54.1% | 24,557 | |
| Republican | David DeWeese | 45.9% | 20,857 | |
| Total Votes | 45,414 | |||
| New Jersey State Senate District 1 Republican Primary, 2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| David DeWeese |
78.2% | 4,844 |
| Thomas Greto | 21.8% | 1,349 |
| Total Votes | 6,193 | |
Campaign contributions
From 2001 to 2023, candidates for New Jersey State Senate District 1 raised a total of $5,555,829. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $308,657 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, New Jersey State Senate District 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2023 | $589,910 | 2 | $294,955 |
| 2021 | $666,774 | 2 | $333,387 |
| 2019 | $740,454 | 2 | $370,227 |
| 2017 | $143,301 | 1 | $143,301 |
| 2011 | $518,439 | 3 | $172,813 |
| 2007 | $1,423,960 | 2 | $711,980 |
| 2003 | $251,891 | 3 | $83,964 |
| 2001 | $1,221,100 | 3 | $407,033 |
| Total | $5,555,829 | 18 | $308,657 |
See also
- New Jersey State Legislature
- New Jersey State Senate
- New Jersey General Assembly
- New Jersey state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New Jersey Constitution, "Article IV, Section II (2.)," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ NJ.gov, "PETITION FILING INSTRUCTION SHEET 2025 GENERAL ELECTION NEW JERSEY STATE SENATE," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "Our Legislature," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "New Jersey Constitution," accessed February 10, 2021 (Article IV, Section 4, (1))
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 New Jersey Monitor, "Democrats, GOP agree on new legislative map for N.J.," February 18, 2022
- ↑ Insider NJ, "Redistricting Commission Finalizes Legislative Map by 9-2 Vote," February 18, 2022
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 All About Redistricting, "New Jersey," accessed May 6, 2015
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2017 Primary Election Timeline," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Division of Elections, "Official List, Candidate for State Senate for Primary Election, June 6, 2017," accessed April 13, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Candidates for State Senate for General Election 11/07/2017 Election," accessed September 14, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2017 official general election results," accessed November 30, 2017
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 New Jersey Department of State, "Official Primary Results: State Senate," accessed July 14, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Official Primary Election Results," accessed July 26, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Unofficial general election candidates," accessed August 5, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2013 Official General Election results," accessed December 5, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, “2011 Official General Election Results,” accessed December 5, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, “2011 Official Primary Election Results,” accessed December 5, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, “2011 Official State Senate Primary Candidate List,” accessed December 5, 2013
