2025 NJ LD-36 Assembly Election

The 2025 NJ LD-36 Assembly Election, a sleepy contest between Incumbents Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Clinton Calabrese (D-Cliffside Park) and Republican Challengers; Former Lyndhurst BOE Member Chris Musto, and Carlstadt Councilwoman Diane Debiase resulted in a commanding victory for Schaer and Calabrese that saw them almost match their 2023 Performance in the district.

A district placed on the radar of competitiveness due to Donald Trump having won the seat by R+4.5% in 2024, the race ended up being less high profile than the ones in south Jersey, or the nearby LD-38, with most not perceiving the incumbents to be in much danger.

Here, the Republican challengers, outspent by more than 2:1 sought to tie the incumbents to the unpopularity of incumbent governor Phil Murphy, blaming them for rising taxes and costs,

However, campaigning on the Anchor renters assistance program, property tax rebate checks and their 'fighting for the district' Schaer and Calabrese had significant institutional advantages —

Calabrese being a scion of the Calabrese machine that has controlled Cliffside Park for three quarters of a century and Gary Schaer being the first Orthodox Jew elected to the legislature, and high up in Mayor Hector Lora's Passaic City Organization

These advantages aided in helping not just the assembly incumbents winning LD-36, but aiding Democratic Governor candidate Mikie Sherrill in matching former President Joe Biden's Performance in the seat.

Compared to Sherrill's performance, Calabrese and Schaer overperformed most among the Orthodox Jewish community in Passaic City, with them likewise overperforming strongly in Cliffside Park, Paul Sarlo's Wood-Ridge, and in Fairview.

By contrast, Republicans performed strongest in Carlstadt and North Arlington, the former likewise giving Debiase and Musto a strong showing in the primary.

Sources