Senator Gerald Cardinale (R) Voting-age population 162,280 | Population 217,041 | |
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Assembly members Holly Schepisi (R)
Robert Auth (R) Registration 28.6% Republican
25.6% Democratic
45.4% unaffiliated Demographics 81.3% White
1.5% Black/African American
0.1% Native American
13.7% Asian
0.0% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
3.3% Other race
7.6% Hispanic | ||
New Jersey's 39th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, including portions of Bergen County and Passaic County. Included are the Bergen County municipalities of Closter Borough, Demarest Borough, Dumont Borough, Emerson Borough, Harrington Park Borough, Haworth Borough, Hillsdale Borough, Mahwah Township, Montvale Borough, Norwood Borough, Oakland Borough, Old Tappan Borough, Park Ridge Borough, Ramsey Borough, River Vale Township, Saddle River Borough, Upper Saddle River Borough, Washington Township, Westwood Borough, and Woodcliff Lake Borough; and the Passaic County municipalities of Bloomingdale Borough, Ringwood Borough, and Wanaque Borough. As of the 2010 United States Census, the pre-2011 district had a population of 217,041.
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Demographic characteristics
As of the 2010 United States Census, the district had a population of 217,041, of whom 162,280 (74.8%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 176,496 (81.3%) White, 3,273 (1.5%) African American, 216 (0.1%) Native American, 29,836 (13.7%) Asian, 49(0.0%) Pacific Islander, 3,685 (1.7%) from some other race, and 3,486 (1.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16,408 (7.6%) of the population. The district had 156,894 registered voters as of December 31, 2016, of whom 71,203 (45.4%) were registered as unaffiliated, 44,889 (28.6%) were registered as Republicans, 40,414 (25.6%) were registered as Democrats, and 388 (0.2%) were registered to other parties.
The district, which covers most of Northern Bergen County, has the smallest African-American population of any district in the state and ranks 31st in the number of Hispanic residents, while it has the ninth highest percentage of Asian residents. At 0.3% it has the lowest percentage of children receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families aid, just over 5% of the state average. The district ranked second-highest in both equalized property value and personal income on a per capita basis
Political representation
The district is represented for the 2016–2017 Legislative Session (Senate, General Assembly) in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the General Assembly by Holly Schepisi (R, River Vale) and Robert Auth (R, Old Tappan).
Apportionment history
Throughout most of the district's history since 1973, the year the 40-district legislative map was created in New Jersey, the 39th District has encompassed the small affluent boroughs and townships in northeast Bergen County. In the redistrictings of 1981 and 1991, only a few municipalities were added and removed to get the district's population close to one fortieth of the state's population as required under the Reynolds v. Sims ruling.
Changes to the district made as part of the New Jersey Legislative apportionment in 2001 removed Englewood Cliffs Borough and Tenafly Borough (to the 37th Legislative District added Oradell Borough (from the 38th Legislative District) and Waldwick Borough and Washington Township (from the 40th Legislative District).
Changes to the district made as part of the New Jersey Legislative apportionment in 2011 removed several Bergen County municipalities and added portions of Passaic County and northwest Bergen County.
Election history
With Democrat Brendan Byrne at the top of the ticket winning the race for Governor of New Jersey, Frank Herbert won the 1977 race for Senate in the 39th District, standing together with his running mates in support of the establishment of a state income tax to defeat Republican John Markert.
In the 1979 election, Gerald Cardinale and Markert defeated incumbent Democrat Greta Kiernan, who had herself defeated Markert two years earlier.
Cardinale knocked off the incumbent State Senator Frank Herbert in 1981 and Herbert fell short again running against Cardinale in 1983, losing by about 1,000 votes.
Citing recent hip replacement surgery as a factor, John E. Rooney announce in March 2009 that he would not seek another term of office and would retire after 26 years in the legislature. He endorsed Bob Schroeder, a Washington Township councilmember, who won election to succeed him.
After Charlotte Vandervalk decided not to run for re-election in 2011, Holly Schepisi ran in her place and won together with the other Republican incumbents.