The district had 185,890 registered voters as of December 1, 2023[update], of whom 73,440 (39.5%) were registered as unaffiliated, 56,530 (30.4%) were registered as Democrats, 54,499 (29.3%) were registered as Republicans, and 1,421 (0.8%) were registered to other parties.[5]
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.[6][7]
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 redistricting 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.[9][10][11]
In the 1979 election, Gerald Cardinale and Markert defeated incumbent Democrat Greta Kiernan, who had herself defeated Markert two years earlier.[14]
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.[15]
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.[16] 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.[17]
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.
Gerald Cardinale died in office on February 20, 2021, after 12 terms in office.[18]Holly Schepisi won a Republican Party special convention over Robert Auth to fill the vacant senate seat and was sworn in on March 25, 2021.[19]Upper Saddle River council member DeAnne DeFuccio edged out John V. Azzariti and was chosen by Republicans to fill the Assembly seat vacated by Schepisi; she took office on April 9, 2021.[20]
On February 2, 2023, DeFuccio announced that she would not seek re-election to the Assembly, despite previously announcing her candidacy[21] and John Azzariti was chosen to fill DeFuccio's slot in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.[22]
^ abYellin, Deena. "GOP incumbents Cardinale and Schroeder, newcomer Schepisi win in 39th District", The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2011. Accessed August 7, 2012. "Sen. Gerald Cardinale, armed with more than 30 years of legislative experience, easily fended a challenge for his seat by Democratic candidate Lorraine Waldes. Robert Schroeder, a Republican assemblyman, gained an easy victory in his reelection bid and GOP newcomer Holly Schepisi, who took Charlotte Vandervalk’s place on the ballot, won the second Assembly seat."
^Johnson, Brent. 'Longtime N.J. lawmaker Gerald Cardinale dies at 86 following brief illness", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 21, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2024. "State Sen. Gerald Cardinale, the second-longest-serving state lawmaker in New Jersey history and a conservative pillar in the state’s Republican Party, died Saturday morning at age 86. The Bergen County legislator — who was in the final year of his 12th term — died at Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood after a brief illness, not related to the coronavirus, the Senate Republican Office said."
^Wildstein, David; and Biryukov, Nikita. "Schepisi narrowly defeats Auth for Cardinale Senate seat", New Jersey Globe, March 9, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2024. "Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale) narrowly won a State Senate seat on Tuesday evening, defeating Assemblyman Bob Auth (R-Old Tappan) by eight votes in a special election convention to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Gerald Cardinale last month."
^McDonald, Terrence T. "Upper Saddle River councilwoman chosen to replace Schepisi in Assembly", The record, April 1, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2024. "DeAnne DeFuccio, a Republican Upper Saddle River councilwoman and attorney, will fill the 39th District Assembly seat vacated when Holly Schepisi ascended to the state Senate last week. DeFuccio, 48, was tapped by Bergen County Republican committee members during a special election Wednesday.... Her competition for the appointment was Saddle River Councilman John Azzariti, who was Schepisi's choice to replace her."
^Fox, Joey; and Wildstein, David. "DeFuccio won’t run for re-election after all", New Jersey Globe, February 2, 2023. Accessed January 30, 2024. "Just a week after she officially launched her re-election campaign, Assemblywoman DeAnne DeFuccio (R-Upper Saddle River) has decided not to seek re-election after all to the 39th legislative district, the New Jersey Globe has learned. 'I've made the difficult decision not to seek reelection this year,' DeFuccio confirmed in a statement."
^Fox, Joey. "Schepisi, Auth, Azzariti hold 39th district for GOP", New Jersey Globe, November 7, 2023. Accessed January 30, 2024. "Azzariti got an unanticipated path to the Assembly this year after Assemblywoman DeAnne DeFuccio (R-Upper Saddle River) decided to retire after just one full term in office. With Schepisi’s backing, Azzariti easily won the GOP convention to succeed her; he had previously been one of Schepisi’s running mates during the 39th district’s chaotic 2021 GOP primary."
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