New Jersey's 33rd legislative district is one of 40 in the state, covering the Hudson County municipalities of Guttenberg, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken and West New York.Districts by Number, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 26, 2014.
Demographic characteristics As of the 2020 United States census, the district had a population of 249,706, of whom 203,973 (81.7%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 100,428 (40.2%) White, 13,401 (5.4%) African American, 2,617 (1.0%) Native American, 44,188 (17.7%) Asian, 148 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 53,709 (21.5%) from some other race, and 35,215 (14.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 99,722 (39.9%) of the population.
The district had 123,298 registered voters , of whom 71,353 (57.9%) were registered as Democrats, 36,107 (29.3%) were registered as unaffiliated, 14,314 (11.6%) were registered as Republicans, and 1,524 (1.2%) were registered to other parties.Statewide Voter Registration Summary by Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State, December 1, 2023. Accessed January 26, 2023.
The district is the smallest and most densely populated district in the state. The district has a majority Hispanic population, with 46% of the population being foreign-born, the largest of any district., Rutgers University. Accessed June 4, 2010. It has a relative paucity of African Americans and senior citizens.
Political representation
The legislative district is entirely located within New Jersey's 8th congressional district.
Apportionment history The 33rd district, since its creation in 1973 along with the 40-district legislative map in the state, has always consisted of most of the municipalities in North Hudson along the Hudson River. From 1973 until 2011, it consisted of all of Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken, West New York, and Guttenberg, and a portion of Jersey City. In order to maintain a population close to one-fortieth of the state's population, wards from Jersey City were added and removed as necessary to obtain this population count.
Guttenberg and West New York, which had been in the district since 1973, were shifted to the 32nd district in 2011.Municipalities Index, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 22, 2012.
The 33rd district has been reliably Democratic for decades, with Republicans making brief inroads in the 1985 elections. Riding Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean's wave of success in the 1985 elections, two Republicans won election, Jose Arango of West New York and Ronald Dario of Union City. The two defeated Democratic incumbents Robert Ranieri and newcomer Mario R. Hernandez.Narvaez, Alfonso A. "Election Day: For G.O.P., Success In Jersey, A Close Race On Staten Island; Republicans In Jersey Win Control Of State Assembly", The New York Times, November 6, 1985. Accessed June 4, 2010.
Bob Menendez was elevated to fill the Senate vacancy following the death of Christopher Jackman in January 1991.Staff. "Menendez to Seek Congressional Seat", The New York Times, April 8, 1992. Accessed June 4, 2010. Louis Romano was then chosen to fill the vacancy in the Assembly. After Robert Menendez was elected as U.S. Representative in November 1992, Assemblymember Bernard Kenny was chosen to fill Menendez's vacancy in the New Jersey Senate. In turn, Hudson County, New Jersey Democratic Party boss Bruce Walter picked Rudy Garcia in January 1993 to fill Kenny's now-vacant spot in the Assembly.Strunsky, Steve. "IN PERSON; A Former Sports Star Finds Politics A Rougher Field", The New York Times, October 22, 2000. Accessed June 4, 2010.
In the June 1999 primaries, the Hudson County Democratic Party organization was looking for "new blood" and chose to give its official support to West New York mayor Albio Sires. Four-term incumbent Louis Romano ran in the Democratic primary and lost, making him the only one of the 80 incumbents in the Assembly to lose their primary bid.Staff. "Hudson County Assemblyman Defeated in Primary", The New York Times, June 9, 1999. Accessed June 6, 2010.
Assemblymember Rafael Fraguela was knocked off the ballot in 2003 by the Hudson County Democratic Party and chose to run for the Senate as a Republican against Bernard Kenny. Fraguela insisted that the Democrats "have been putting aside all the Hispanic Democratic candidates", while "The GOP has had open arms to the Hispanic community". Caridad Rodriguez resigned from office in May 2011 after winning a seat on the West New York Board of Commissioners.Mestanza, Jean-Pierre. "Dr. Felix Roque, four other new commissioners take oaths in West New York Town Hall, then Roque is picked to be mayor", The Jersey Journal, May 18, 2011. Accessed May 24, 2011. "Commissioner Caridad Rodriguez, 62, who resigned from the state Assembly yesterday, will lead the Department of Revenue and Finance."
In the wake of the 2021 apportionment, the reconfiguration of municipalities in the 32nd and 33rd districts and the incumbent Assembly members in those districts choosing to retire or run for other elective office, the Hudson County Democratic Organization chose newcomers Julio Marenco and Gabe Rodriguez to run for the two Assembly seats.Fox, Joey. "Mejia at last confirms he won’t run for re-election", New Jersey Globe, January 17, 2023. Accessed January 10, 2024. "Mejia added that he intends on “fully supporting” the Hudson Democratic slate in the new 33rd district, which consists of State Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union City), West New York Mayor Gabe Rodriguez, and North Bergen Commissioner Julio Marenco; Marenco will take what is essentially Mejia’s current seat..... The neighboring 33rd district will also send two new faces to the Assembly, with Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-Jersey City) running for the Senate and Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro (D-Hoboken) stepping down after losing party support." Marenco and Rodriguez defeated independent candidate Lea Sherman, the only other candidate running in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.Connolly, Julio. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023, New Jersey Department of State, December 6, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
Election history Senators and Assembly members elected from the district are as follows: Session Senate General Assembly 1974–1975 William Musto (D)Thomas Gallo (D)Christopher Jackman (D) 1976–1977 Thomas Gallo (D)Christopher Jackman (D) 1978–1979 William Musto (D)Thomas Gallo (D)Christopher Jackman (D) 1980–1981 Thomas Gallo (D)Christopher Jackman (D) 1982–1983 William Musto (D)Thomas Gallo (D)Christopher Jackman (D) Nicholas LaRocca (D)Elected to the Senate in June 1982 special election, sworn in on June 24, 1982 1984–1985 Christopher Jackman (D)Nicholas LaRocca (D)Robert Ranieri (D) 1986–1987 Ronald Dario (R)Jose Arango (R) 1988–1989 Christopher Jackman (D)Died January 28, 1991Bernard Kenny (D)Bob Menendez (D) 1990–1991 Bernard Kenny (D)Bob Menendez (D)Appointed to the Senate on March 4, 1991Bob Menendez (D)Louis Romano (D)Appointed to the Assembly on April 8, 1991 1992–1993 Bob Menendez (D)Resigned December 17, 1992 following his election to CongressBernard Kenny (D)Appointed to the Senate on January 25, 1993Louis Romano (D)Bernard Kenny (D)Rudy Garcia (D)Appointed to the Assembly on February 1, 1993 1994–1995 Bernard Kenny (D)Rudy Garcia (D)Louis Romano (D) 1996–1997 Rudy Garcia (D)Louis Romano (D) 1998–1999 Bernard Kenny (D)Rudy Garcia (D)Louis Romano (D) 2000–2001 Rudy Garcia (D)Albio Sires (D) 2002–2003 Bernard Kenny (D)Rafael Fraguela (D)Albio Sires (D)Rafael Fraguela (R)Rafael Fraguela (D) 2004–2005 Bernard Kenny (D)Brian P. Stack (D)Albio Sires (D) 2006–2007 Brian P. Stack (D)Albio Sires (D)Resigned on November 13, 2006 upon his election to CongressSilverio Vega (D)Appointed to the Assembly on December 11, 2006 2008–2009 Brian P. Stack (D)Ruben J. Ramos (D)Caridad Rodriguez (D) 2010–2011 Ruben J. Ramos (D) Caridad Rodriguez (D)Resigned May 17, 2011 2012–2013 Brian P. Stack (D) Ruben J. Ramos (D) Sean Connors (D) 2014–2015 Brian P. Stack (D) Carmelo Garcia (D) Raj Mukherji (D) 2016–2017 Annette Chaparro (D) Raj Mukherji (D) 2018–2019 Brian P. Stack (D) Annette Chaparro (D) Raj Mukherji (D) 2020–2021 Annette Chaparro (D) Raj Mukherji (D) 2022–2023 Brian P. Stack (D) Annette Chaparro (D) Raj Mukherji (D) 2024–2025 Brian P. Stack (D) Julio Marenco (D) Gabe Rodriguez (D) 2026–2027 Larry Wainstein (D) Gabe Rodriguez (D)
Election results Senate
General Assembly
References