With the 2025-2026 legislative session officially underway, the State House is taking shape after a high-stakes election in which all 80 seats in the General Assembly were on the ballot. Democrats came out of the election with clear gains, adding several seats and strengthening their existing majority. By winning both Assembly seats in the 21st legislative district and picking up one seat each in the 2nd, 8th, and 25th legislative districts, Democrats secured their largest Assembly majority in more than 50 years.
Join us in expressing gratitude to the Assembly members who have made their mark during their time in the State House:
Claire Swift (R-2), 2022-2025
Michael Torrissi, Jr. (R-8), 2022-2025
Reginald Atkins (D-20), 2022-2025
Michele Matsikoudis (R-21), 2022-2025
Nancy Muñoz (R-21), 2009-2025
Christian Barranco (R-25), 2022-2025
Garnet Hall (D-28), 2024-2025
Barbara McCann Stamato (D-31), 2024-2025
Jessica Ramirez (D-32), 2024-2025
John Allen (D-32), 2024-2025
Julio Marenco (D-33), 2024-2025
Shavonda Sumter (D-35), 2012-2025
Now, let’s meet the fresh faces in the General Assembly:
Maureen Rowan (D-2)
County: Atlantic
Municipalities: Absecon, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway, Hamilton (Atlantic), Linwood, Longport, Margate City, Northfield, Pleasantville, Port Republic, Somers Point, Ventnor City
Maureen Rowan resides in Atlantic City and is a respected trial lawyer with a reputation for confronting and handling challenging situations. For nearly 30 years, she owned and operated her own law firm in Philadelphia, where she built a reputation as an effective litigator who fiercely advocated for her clients. Now Rowan is ready to bring that same passion and determination to the State House.
Anthony Angelozzi (D-8)
Counties: Atlantic, Burlington
Municipalities: Bass River, Chesterfield, Eastampton, Egg Harbor City, Evesham, Folsom, Hainesport, Hammonton, Lumberton, Mansfield (Burlington), Medford, Medford Lakes, Mount Holly, Mullica, New Hanover, Pemberton Borough, Pemberton Township, Shamong, Southampton, Springfield (Burlington), Tabernacle, Washington (Burlington), Westampton, Woodland, Wrightstown
Anthony Angelozzi is a longtime resident of Hammonton. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University-Camden and later completed a master’s degree in US history from American Public University. A dedicated educator, Angelozzi teaches US history at Hammonton High School and serves as president of the Hammonton Education Association, an affiliate of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). In addition to his classroom and union leadership roles, he works as a part-time NJEA UniServ consultant for Atlantic and Cape May counties, focusing on union organizing and contract negotiations.
Ed Rodriguez (D-20)
County: Union
Municipalities: Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Roselle, Union (Union)
Ed Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of Elizabeth and a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in economics. He brings more than a decade of public service experience, having served as the City of Elizabeth’s director of planning and community development, where he led efforts to reduce abandoned properties, expand affordable housing, modernize permitting systems, and support local nonprofits through the Community Development Block Grant program. Rodriguez’s work has centered on housing affordability, community revitalization, and strengthening public services, and he continues to advocate for strong schools, accessible healthcare, and support for working families.
Andrew Macurdy (D-21)
Counties: Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Union
Municipalities: Berkeley Heights, Bernards, Bernardsville, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Dunellen, Far Hills, Garwood, Green Brook, Long Hill, Middlesex, Mountainside, New Providence, Peapack-Gladstone, Springfield (Union), Summit, Warren, Watchung, Westfield
Andrew Macurdy is a New Jersey native and a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he became the first lawyer in his family. He has served as both a federal and state prosecutor in Newark and Jersey City, and later worked in the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, focusing on public safety, gun violence reduction, and justice system reforms. Macurdy helped design the statewide ARRIVE Together program, which pairs mental health professionals with law enforcement personnel to improve crisis response.
Vincent Kearney (D-21)
Counties: Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Union
Municipalities: Berkeley Heights, Bernards, Bernardsville, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Dunellen, Far Hills, Garwood, Green Brook, Long Hill, Middlesex, Mountainside, New Providence, Peapack-Gladstone, Springfield (Union), Summit, Warren, Watchung, Westfield
Vincent Kearney is a lifelong Union County resident and a career law enforcement officer who currently serves as a Union County Sheriff’s officer and an instructor at the John H. Stamler Police Academy. A graduate of Oratory Prep, he has also worked as a 911 dispatcher and an EMT and he has been active in local civic initiatives, including the Garwood Celebrations Committee and the Garwood LIVE project. Kearney was elected to the Garwood Borough Council, where he has focused on fiscal management and property tax relief.
Marisa Sweeney (D-25)
Counties: Morris, Passaic
Municipalities: Boonton Township, Butler, Dover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Mine Hill, Morris, Morristown, Mount Arlington, Randolph, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens, West Milford, Wharton
Marisa Sweeney is a Morristown-based small-business owner and healthcare professional with a long-standing commitment to community wellness. A registered dietitian and doctor of clinical nutrition, she founded and operates Be Well Integrative Health Services, a women’s health and wellness center that also provides nutrition programs in multiple states through partnerships with fertility clinics. Sweeney additionally owns the New Jersey VegFest and has been active in local civic life, serving on the Morristown Planning Board and advocating on health policy issues as a former board member and president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A graduate of Montclair State University who grew up in Brick, she brings experience in wellness, small-business leadership, and community engagement to the Legislature.
Chigozie Onyema (D-28)
Counties: Essex, Union
Municipalities: Hillside, Irvington, Maplewood, Newark, South Orange
Chigozie Onyema is a Newark resident and lawyer whose career has focused on equity, economic justice, and community empowerment. He previously served as Assistant Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and currently works as Senior Director of the Sustainable Cities program at PolicyLink, supporting cities nationwide on climate and racial equity initiatives. Earlier in his career, Onyema advocated to remove employment barriers to individuals with criminal convictions through his work at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. Onyema holds a JD from New York University School of Law, a BA in Afro-American studies from Howard University, and an AA from Essex County College. His leadership has earned numerous distinctions, including recognition as a National Bar Association 40 Under 40 honoree, an NYU Law Alumni of Color Association Rising Star, and a Congressional Black Caucus “emerging leader.”
Jerry Walker (D-31)
County: Hudson
Municipalities: Bayonne, Jersey City, Kearny
Jerry Walker is a lifelong Jersey City resident and the cofounder and CEO of Team Walker, a nonprofit providing academic, athletic, and enrichment programs to hundreds of local youth. After graduating from Seton Hall University and returning home following a successful basketball career, Walker dedicated himself to community service, culminating in the opening of the Team Walker Learning Center, which now offers STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs; recreation, GED and English as a second language classes; and community support initiatives. He has served the region through multiple civic roles, including on the Hudson County Planning Board and as Chair of the Family Services Committee. Walker also works with the Jersey City Department of Recreation and remains deeply engaged in youth mentorship.
Katie Brennan (D-32)
County: Hudson
Municipalities: Hoboken, Jersey City
Katie Brennan is a longtime Jersey City resident and a housing policy expert with 15 years of experience advancing affordable housing, environmental justice, and survivor protections. She has held senior roles in state and local housing agencies in New Jersey and New York, helped secure major investments in affordable housing, and worked to strengthen tenant protections across Hudson County. Brennan also advises housing nonprofits and serves on the board of The Waterfront Project. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University and a master’s degree in urban planning from Rutgers University.
Ravi Bhalla (D-32)
County: Hudson
Municipalities: Hoboken, Jersey City
Ravi Bhalla is a longtime Hoboken resident and public servant, having served eight years on the City Council before being elected Mayor in 2017. A lawyer with a background in civil rights law, he gained national recognition for his advocacy in reforming federal visitation policies at correctional facilities. As Mayor, Bhalla has focused on fiscal responsibility, climate resilience, and safer street design, overseeing improvements to Hoboken’s bond rating, the launch of the city’s Climate Action Plan, and major investments in pedestrian and transportation safety under the Vision Zero initiative. He has also supported local businesses through economic development programs and pandemic recovery efforts. Bhalla holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley; the London School of Economics; and Tulane Law School.
Larry Wainstein (D-33)
County: Hudson
Municipalities: Guttenberg, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken, West New York
Larry Wainstein is a lifelong Hudson County resident and a community advocate from North Bergen. A graduate of Memorial High School and the first in his family to earn a college degree—from Saint Peter’s University—he has dedicated much of his career to local economic development, including serving as Chairman of the Urban Enterprise Zone to support small businesses and revitalize key commercial corridors. A small-business owner himself, Wainstein has been active in community efforts.
Kenyatta Stewart (D-35)
Counties: Bergen, Passaic
Municipalities: Elmwood Park, Garfield, Haledon, North Haledon, Paterson, Prospect Park
Kenyatta Stewart is a lifelong New Jerseyan and an experienced lawyer with a career devoted to public service, justice, and community advocacy. A graduate of William Paterson University and Hofstra Law School, he has represented individuals, public officials, and government entities in matters ranging from civil rights to housing and public safety. Stewart currently serves as Newark’s Corporation Counsel, leading major initiatives to hold negligent landlords accountable, strengthen community safety, and advance fair and effective local policy. His work has earned statewide and national recognition, including honors as a Young Trailblazer and selection among the Top 100 Black Lawyers. Stewart remains deeply committed to mentorship, civic engagement, and expanding opportunities for underserved communities across New Jersey.
Stay tuned for more updates as the political landscape in New Jersey continues to evolve. If you have any questions or would like to discuss these results in more detail, please do not hesitate to reach out to the McCarter & English Government Affairs team.