WOMEN IN NEW JERSEY GOVERNMENT

 2022 Center for American Women and Politics, C.A.W.P., Rutgers University

CONGRESS

New Jersey has sent a total of seven women (4D, 3R) to the U.S. House of Representatives and no women to the U.S. Senate. The New Jersey congresswomen: Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) 2014-current, Mikie Sherrill (D) 2018-current, Florence Price Dwyer (R), 1957-1973, Millicent Fenwick (R), 1975-1983, Marge Roukema (R), 1981-2003.  Two women currently serving represent 14.3% of 14 seats.

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STATEWIDE

In 2018, Sheila Oliver (D) took office as New Jersey's second lieutenant governor. She is the first woman of color and the first Black woman elected to statewide office in NJ. In New Jersey, the governor and lieutenant governor, elected together, are the only statewide elected officials. Christine Todd Whitman, New Jersey’s first (and to date, only) woman governor, served from 1994-2001.  In 2010, Kim Guadagno (R) took office as New Jersey's first lieutenant governor, a newly-created position. She was re-elected in 2013.  

STATE LEGISLATURE

In 2022, 41 women (27D 14R) serve in New Jersey’s state legislature, holding 34.2% of the 120 available seats.

LEGISLATURE

Nationally women hold 28.7% of all state legislative seats; New Jersey ranks 17th among the 50 states in the proportion of women serving in its legislature. Women of color make up 53.7% of all women in the New Jersey legislature: 60% of women in the Senate and 51.6% of women in the Assembly

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NJ SENATE

In 2022, of the 40 (24D, 16R) seats in the New Jersey State Senate, 10 are held by women (25.0%). Seven are Democrats and Three are Republican.

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NJ ASSEMBLY

In 2022, of the 80 (46D, 34R) members of the State Assembly, 27, or 33.8%, are women. Twenty are Democrats, and Eleven are Republicans.

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COUNTY EXECUTIVE

In 2022, among the five counties in NJ that elect executives, no woman holds that title.