American legislative district
New Jersey 's 22nd legislative district is one of 40 in the New Jersey Legislature . The district includes the Somerset County municipality of North Plainfield ; and the Union County municipalities of Clark , Cranford , Fanwood , Linden , Plainfield , Rahway , Roselle Park , Scotch Plains and Winfield Township .[ 1] [ 2]
Demographic characteristics [ edit ] As of the 2020 United States census , the district had a population of 229,951, of whom 176,697 (76.8%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 91,410 (39.8%) White , 50,902 (22.1%) African American , 1,961 (0.9%) Native American , 12,140 (5.3%) Asian , 87 (0.0%) Pacific Islander , 45,390 (19.7%) from some other race , and 28,061 (12.2%) from two or more races.[ 3] [ 4] Hispanic or Latino of any race were 78,068 (33.9%) of the population.[ 5]
The 22nd district had 146,052 registered voters as of December 1, 2021, of whom 48,780 (33.4%) were registered as unaffiliated , 72,133 (49.4%) were registered as Democrats , 23,134 (15.8%) were registered as Republicans , and 2,005 (1.4%) were registered to other parties.[ 6]
The district had the eighth-highest percentage of African-American residents of all 40 districts statewide. The municipal tax rate was 11th highest and school taxes were 12th highest leading to one of the highest overall tax rates, after including rebates, which was the 7th highest in the state. Registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by a 5-2 margin.[ 7] [ 8]
Political representation [ edit ] For the 2024-2025 session , the 22nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nicholas Scutari (D , Linden ) and in the General Assembly by Linda S. Carter (D, Plainfield ) and James J. Kennedy (D, Rahway ).[ 9]
The legislative district overlaps with New Jersey's 7th , 10th and 12th congressional districts.
Apportionment history [ edit ] When the 40-district legislative map was created in 1973, the 22nd district had an unusual shape as it weaved its way through the parts of Union County not covered by the 20th , 21st , and 25th districts. The center of the 1973 district was Scotch Plains and included spurs to Kenilworth , Chatham Township in Morris County via Berkeley Heights , Plainfield, and Rahway.[ 10] Following the 1981 redistricting, the district became more straightforward with fewer prongs running from Winfield Township and comprising the remainder of western Union County (except Plainfield) and into western Essex County up to Caldwell with a spur to Maplewood .[ 11] The 1991 district created in that year's redistricting became much more compact, comprising western Union County (again excluding Plainfield) but heading into Middlesex County's Dunellen, Morris County's Chatham Township and Passaic Township (renamed Long Hill Township in 1992) and Somerset County's Green Brook, North Plainfield, Warren Township , and Watchung .[ 12]
Facing challenges from the Democrats, the team of Peter McDonough in the Senate and Donald DiFrancesco and William J. Maguire in the Assembly won re-election in 1977.[ 13] McDonough resigned from the Senate in 1979; DiFrancesco won the Senate seat in a special election in November 1979 while Bob Franks and Maguire won election in the Assembly that year.[ 14]
In redistricting following the 1990 United States census , Maureen Ogden was switched to the 21st district, where she won election to the Assembly, and Richard Bagger won the now-vacant ballot spot in the 22nd district.
Changes to the district made as part of the redistricting in 2001 , based on the results of the 2000 United States census added Middlesex Borough and Plainfield City (from the 17th legislative district ), Rahway City (from the 20th district) and Linden City (from the 21st district) and removed Berkeley Heights Township , Chatham Township, Cranford , Garwood , Long Hill Township, Mountainside Borough , New Providence Borough , Warren Township, Watchung, and Westfield Town (to the 21st legislative district).[ 15] Changes made as part of the New Jersey Legislative apportionment in 2011 left the municipalities in the district unchanged.[ 16]
Alan Augustine left office as of March 31, 2001, just several weeks before his death, due to health problems, and was succeeded by Thomas Kean Jr. [ 17] As of January 21, 2001, DiFrancesco became the 51st Governor of New Jersey after Christine Todd Whitman left office to become Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency , with DiFrancesco simultaneously holding his post as Senate President. In the 2001 redistricting following the 2000 United States census , several of the suburban, Republican-leaning municipalities in the district were replaced by Linden, Plainfield and Rahway, which gave the district a distinct Democratic tilt. DiFrancesco retired from the Legislature, Bagger and Kean were relocated to the 21st district, and the three legislative seats under District 22 were taken by Democrats Joseph Suliga in the Senate and Jerry Green (who previously represented District 17 ) and Linda Stender in the Assembly.
Suliga did not run for re-election in 2003 after a scandal involving his alleged drunken sexual harassment of a woman in Atlantic City, New Jersey . He dropped out and entered rehabilitation for alcoholism and was replaced on the ballot and in the Senate by fellow Linden Democrat Nicholas Scutari .[ 18]
Due to a scandal involving her husband applying for help from Habitat for Humanity to aid in rebuilding their house on the Jersey Shore, Stender did not run for re-election in 2015.[ 19] Union County Democratic officials endorsed former Rahway Mayor James J. Kennedy over Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr as the successor; Green and Kennedy went on to win in the general election.[ 20]
Scutari, Green, and Kennedy were all re-elected in 2017, although Green did not attend any of the following legislative session due to a long illness. He died on April 18, 2018.[ 21] [ 22] Democratic committee members in Middlesex, Somerset, and Union Counties selected Union County Freeholder Linda S. Carter as his replacement on May 19; she took her Assembly seat on May 24.[ 23] [ 24]
^ Resigned January 9, 1979 ^ a b Elected to the Senate in November 1979 special election, sworn in on November 13, 1979 ^ Resigned December 1, 1992 following his election to Congress ^ Appointed to the Assembly in December 1992 ^ Resigned March 31, 2001 due to health issues ^ Appointed to the Assembly on April 19, 2001 ^ Died April 18, 2018 ^ Appointed to the Assembly on May 24, 2018, won a November 6, 2018 special election to complete unexpired term ^ Districts by Number , New Jersey Legislature . Accessed February 6, 2014. ^ Municipalities (sorted by 2011 legislative district) Archived 2019-06-04 at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey Department of State . Accessed February 6, 2014. ^ "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 22 Profile Archived 2010-07-09 at the Wayback Machine , Rutgers University . Accessed July 21, 2010. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book . Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy . p. 97. ^ Legislative Roster for District 22 , New Jersey Legislature . Accessed January 12, 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 . ^ Narvaez, Alfonso A. "G.O.P. Expected to Maintain Strength In Morris, Union and Essex Counties" , The New York Times , October 10, 1977. Accessed July 22, 2010. ^ Edge, Wally . "The Bob Franks Story" , PolitickerNJ.com , April 11, 2010. Accessed July 22, 2010. Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ^ Legislative Districts , New Jersey Legislature , backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 6, 1998. Accessed July 21, 2010. ^ Districts by Number , New Jersey Legislature , backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 6, 2011. ^ Bowman, Bill. "Ex-governor's son swims upstream" , Asbury Park Press , September 27, 2003. Accessed July 22, 2010. "Kean, who was appointed to the Assembly in March 2001 upon the resignation of the late Alan Augustine, won re-election in 2001. He was appointed to his 21st district Senate seat earlier this year after the resignation of Richard H. Bagger." ^ via Associated Press . "Democrats allowed to substitute candidate -- Union state senator quit after his arrest" , The Record (Bergen County) , October 4, 2003. Accessed July 22, 2010. "Democratic leaders named Nicholas P. Scutari to replace Sen. Joseph Suliga, D-Union, who dropped out of the 22nd district election race last week to seek treatment for 'an alcohol-related problem.'" ^ Bichao, Sergio (February 26, 2015). "Linda Stender won't seek re-election, citing Shore home scandal" . myCentralJersey.com . Retrieved January 14, 2017 . ^ Haydon, Tom (March 5, 2015). "Former Rahway mayor picked to run for Assemblywoman Stender's seat" . NJ.com . Retrieved January 14, 2017 . ^ Panico, Rebecca (April 13, 2018). "Ailing Green absent from Assembly since re-election" . Union News Daily . Retrieved June 24, 2018 . ^ Grzella, Paul C. (April 19, 2018). "Assemblyman Jerry Green of Plainfield has died" . myCentralJersey.com . Retrieved June 24, 2018 . ^ "Plainfield's Linda Carter Elected to Fill LD22 NJ State Assembly Seat" . TAPinto . May 22, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018 . ^ Russell, Suzanne (May 24, 2018). "Linda Carter sworn into General Assembly, replacing Jerry Green" . myCentralJersey.com . Retrieved June 24, 2018 . ^ 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 6, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2016 . ^ "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: RESULTS; The Races for New Jersey Senate" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2016 . ^ a b "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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 11/06/2018 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . December 3, 2018. 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2016 . ^ "NJ General Assembly 22" . Our Campaigns . Retrieved October 3, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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