2023 NJ State Legislative Districts s 36, 37, 38 & 39 State Senate Elections

Bergen County was home to Four State Senate contests which were Predominantly Held in the County, LDs 36, 37, 38 & 39; with two others (35 & 40) being partially contained within the county. However, this thread will only provide an overview as to the predominantly Bergen Seats.

NJ LD-36

Starting off with the Clinton+18.1%, Biden+13.7% and Murphy (2021)+6.5% LD-36, Incumbent Paul Sarlo Romped by 22.8%, Locking down the District for another Four year term.

Historically competitive, while there are countervailing trends in the Bergen County section, The Orthodox Jewish swing right on the federal level brought this district to the attention of observers as a potentially competitive race

However, as Rs didn't invest and with one of their assembly Candidates (Joseph Viso) staring down the Poopgate scandal (https://newjerseyglobe.com/legislature/assembly-candidate-spread-fecal-matter-on-daycare-center-doors/) Rs lost the seat by the same margin that they did in 2011.

NJ LD-37

Secondly, the Clinton+44.7%, Biden+40.1% and Murphy (2021)+36.8% LD-37, Two year Incumbent Gordon Johnson - who assumed his seat after the retirement of Senate majority Leader Weinberg won by a commanding 44.0% Margin

This Palisades centered district was never competitive, but it holds the distinction of being the State legislative district of Indicted Senator Bob Menendez (D-Englewood Cliffs) - whose current town was the only one to vote for Republican Diedre Paul

NJ LD-38

Thirdly, the Clinton+10.6%, Biden+14.2% and Murphy (2021)+5.0% LD-38, Incumbent Democrat Joseph Lagana Who had a Scarilly close election in the 2021 Red Wave nearly Matched Biden with Current Returns - this being despite a mediocre showing in Trump+1.9 Paramus

North Jersey and national Dems fearing the potential loss of Lagana Funded his race against a half decent slate of R challengers who - while outspent & by no means the Bergen County GOP's first choices - spent a decent amount in this wealthy Bergen County seat.

NJ LD-39

Lastly, the Trump(2016)+2.8%, Biden+6.4%, and Ciattarelli+7.0% LD-39, in perhaps one of the bigger surprises of the night, Incumbent Republican Holly Schepisi had the closest Race of all four Bergen County Senators despite Dems not contesting her seat in 2023

There was the potential for Dems to contest the seat if Rs nominated Todd Calaguire, however that did not occur and Dems did not beleive it would end up even on the periphery of competitiveness.

Heading into the election, most observers believed Lagana in LD-38 would end up having the closest race of the Bergen County incumbents.

However, because of his unexpectedly strong showing that title went to Schepisi who while Outrunning Trump by a comparative 17% nonetheless underperformed her 2021 14.8% win despite running in a decently redder seat.

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