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New Jersey's 2nd legislative district
Senator	Vincent J. Polistina (R)
Assembly members	Don Guardian (R) Claire Swift (R)
Registration	37.0% Democratic 26.3% Republican 35.3% unaffiliated
Demographics	54.1% White 16.8% Black/African American 0.5% Native American 8.2% Asian 0.1% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 10.8% Other race 9.5% Two or more races 20.8% Hispanic
Population	216,156
Voting-age population	170,802
Registered voters	165,449

New Jersey's 2nd legislative district is one of 40 in the state, covering the Atlantic County municipalities of Absecon, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, Linwood, Longport, Margate City, Northfield, Pleasantville, Port Republic, Somers Point and Ventnor City as of the 2021 apportionment. Since 1967, the 2nd District has been exclusively made up of municipalities from Atlantic County, except for an eight-year period from 1974 until 1982.

Demographic characteristics

As of the 2020 United States census, the district had a population of 216,156, of whom 170,802 (79.0%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 116,893 (54.1%) White, 36,312 (16.8%) African American, 1,051 (0.5%) Native American, 17,740 (8.2%) Asian, 320 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 23,314 (10.8%) from other races, and 20,526 (9.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44,899 (20.8%) of the population.

The district had 165,449 registered voters as of December 1, 2021, of whom 58,399 (35.3%) were registered as unaffiliated, 61,149 (37.0%) were registered as Democrats, 43,534 (26.3%) were registered as Republicans, and 2,367 (1.4%) were registered to other parties.

Political representation

For the 2024-2025 session, the 2nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vincent J. Polistina (R, Egg Harbor Township) and in the General Assembly by Don Guardian (R, Atlantic City) and Claire Swift (R, Margate City).

It is entirely located within New Jersey's 2nd congressional district.

1965–1973

During the period of time after the 1964 Supreme Court decision in Reynolds v. Sims and before the establishment of a 40-district legislature in 1973, the 2nd District was based around Atlantic County except for the 1965 Senate elections. In that election, the 2nd District encompassed all of Salem and Cumberland counties with the election being won by Democrat John A. Waddington.

In the following sessions, the Senate seat (one Senator elected in each election) and Assembly seats (two people elected per election) encompassed all of Atlantic County. Republican Frank S. Farley won the 1967 Senate election but was defeated by Democrat Joseph McGahn in 1971. Republicans Albert S. Smith and Samuel A. Curcio won the 1967 and 1969 Assembly elections but Democrats Steven P. Perskie and James A. Colasurdo won the 1971 election.

District composition since 1973

Upon the creation of the 40 equal-population districts for the State Legislature in 1973, the 2nd District encompassed all of Atlantic County plus Burlington County townships Washington and Bass River and Ocean County's Little Egg Harbor Township and Tuckerton. For the 1980s 2nd District, the Burlington and Ocean County municipalities were removed as were Buena, Buena Vista Township, and Folsom. The 1990s version of the district was made further compact by shifting Hammonton and Egg Harbor City to other districts. In the 2001 redistricting, Egg Harbor City returned to the 2nd but Somers Point shifted to the 1st District.

The 2011 apportionment added Buena (from District 1), Buena Vista Township (1st District), Folsom (9th District) and Somers Point (1st District). Municipalities that had been in the 2nd District as part of the 2001 apportionment that were shifted out of the district are Corbin City (to 1st District), Estell Manor (1st District), Galloway Township (9th District), Port Republic (9th District) and Weymouth Township (1st District). Under the 2021 apportionment, Buena, Buena Vista Township, Egg Harbor City, Folsom, and Mullica Township were removed while Galloway Township and Port Republic were added from the 9th district.

Election history

1. Resigned June 28, 1982 to become a Superior Court judge
2. ^ Elected to the Senate in a September 7, 1982 special election and seated on September 16, 1982
3. Elected in a special election on November 2, 1982
4. Died August 27, 1995
5. Appointed September 18, 1995
6. Resigned May 16, 2003
7. Appointed May 22, 2003
8. Resigned February 15, 2007
9. Appointed February 22, 2007
10. Died August 22, 2017
11. Appointed October 5, 2017
12. Resigned July 19, 2021 to join the Department of Community Affairs
13. Appointed November 8, 2021

Election results, 1973–present

Senate

2021 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Vince Polistina	31,488	51.9	1.6
	Democratic	Vince Mazzeo	29,213	48.1	1.6
Total votes			60,701	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2017

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Chris Brown	26,950	53.5	8.5
	Democratic	Colin Bell	23,406	46.5	8.5
Total votes			50,356	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2013

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Whelan	29,337	55.0	1.6
	Republican	Frank X. Balles	24,008	45.0	1.6
Total votes			53,345	100.0

2007 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James Whelan	27,913	57.1	20.0
	Republican	James "Sonny" McCullough	21,013	42.9	17.1
Total votes			48,926	100.0

2003 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William L. Gormley	24,680	60.0	26.5
	Democratic	Tom Swift	15,281	37.1	N/A
	Green	Robert "Gabe" Gabrielsky	1,174	2.9	10.6
Total votes			41,135	100.0

1997 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William L. Gormley	34,814	65.2	3.6
	Democratic	John R. Piatt	18,569	34.8	3.6
Total votes			53,383	100.0

1993 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William L. Gormley	32,059	61.6	8.3
	Democratic	Mark Roody	19,973	38.4	8.3
Total votes			52,032	100.0

1987 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William L. Gormley	30,665	73.4	16.6
	Democratic	William J. Polistina	11,119	26.6	14.4
Total votes			41,784	100.0

1983 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William L. Gormley	27,616	56.8	15.5
	Democratic	Arlene Groch	19,937	41.0	16.0
	Senate Independent	James T. Hagen	1,062	2.2	1.3
Total votes			48,615	100.0

Special election, September 7, 1982

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William L. Gormley	13,874	72.3	24.0
	Democratic	Howard J. Lynde, Jr.	4,800	25.0	26.7
	Jobs-Equality-Business	Willie Norwood	347	1.8	N/A
	Representative Independent	James T. Hagen	177	0.9	N/A
Total votes			19,198	100.0

1977 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Steven P. Perskie	31,712	47.9	7.2
	Republican	F. Frederick Perone	20,160	30.5	14.4
	Re-Elect, Experience, Integrity	Joseph L. McGahn	14,288	21.6	33.5
Total votes			66,160	100.0

General Assembly

2021 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Claire Swift	31,818	26.8	2.7
	Republican	Don Guardian	31,640	26.7	2.6
	Democratic	John Armato	28,094	23.7	1.5
	Democratic	Caren Fitzpatrick	27,127	22.9	3.8
Total votes			118,679	100.0

2019 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Vincent Mazzeo	23,211	26.7	1.9
	Democratic	John Armato	21,892	25.2	1.4
	Republican	John W. Risley Jr.	20,906	24.1	2.6
	Republican	Philip J. Guenther	20,905	24.1	2.8
Total votes			86,914	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2017

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Vince Mazzeo	27,601	28.6	3.1
	Democratic	John Armato	25,683	26.6	2.2
	Republican	Vince Sera	20,814	21.5	5.0
	Republican	Brenda Taube	20,611	21.3	2.3
	Independent, Honest, Reliable	Heather Gordon	1,208	1.3	N/A
	Green	Mico Lucide	718	0.7	N/A
Total votes			96,635	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2015

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Chris Brown	18,959	26.5	0.9
	Democratic	Vincent Mazzeo	18,279	25.5	0.7
	Democratic	Colin Bell	17,433	24.4	0.9
	Republican	Will Pauls	16,907	23.6	1.1
Total votes			71,578	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2013

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Chris Brown	26,022	25.6	1.5
	Democratic	Vincent Mazzeo	25,182	24.77	1.8
	Republican	John F. Amodeo	25,131	24.72	4.5
	Democratic	Nick Russo	23,921	23.5	2.8
	Brownie Plus Me	Gary Stein	1,394	1.4	N/A
Total votes			101,650	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2009

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John F. Amodeo	33,787	30.3	2.0
	Republican	Vincent J. Polistina	32,981	29.6	2.0
	Democratic	Jimmy Martinez	22,430	20.1	3.3
	Democratic	Reginald Floyd	22,316	20.0	0.8
Total votes			111,514	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2007

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John F. Amodeo	26,214	28.3	2.6
	Republican	Vince Polistina	25,603	27.6	6.6
	Democratic	Joe Wilkins	21,699	23.4	4.2
	Democratic	Blondell K. Spellman	19,260	20.8	3.4
Total votes			92,776	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2005

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Whelan	29,906	27.6	9.8
	Republican	Frank Blee	27,846	25.7	5.3
	Democratic	Damon Tyner	26,264	24.2	6.8
	Republican	Kirk W. Conover	22,795	21.0	8.1
	Socialist	Sharon Chiorazzo	832	0.8	N/A
	Socialist	Willie Norwood	665	0.6	N/A
Total votes			108,308	100.0

New Jersey general election, 2003

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Frank Blee	24,787	31.0	3.3
	Republican	Kirk Conover	23,259	29.1	1.0
	Democratic	Stephen P. Swift	14,277	17.8	4.0
	Democratic	Alisa Cooper	13,945	17.4	4.2
	Green	Meredith Slotoroff	1,579	2.0	1.1
	Green	Ray Higbee Jr	1,488	1.9	N/A
	People's People	Joseph T. Hicks	700	0.9	N/A
Total votes			80,035	100.0

New Jersey general election, 1999

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kenneth C. LeFevre	23,414	32.8	0.6
	Republican	Francis J. Blee	22,897	32.0	0.5
	Democratic	John Piatt	12,797	17.9	0.5
	Democratic	Milton Berkes	12,378	17.3	0.6
Total votes			71,486	100.0

New Jersey general election, 1997

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kenneth C. Le Fevre	33,430	32.2	3.7
	Republican	Frank Blee	32,698	31.5	4.3
	Democratic	John Di Maria	19,132	18.4	4.9
	Democratic	E. Iris Hernandez	18,651	17.9	1.7
Total votes			103,911	100.0

New Jersey general election, 1995

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kenneth C. LeFevre	22,072	28.5	2.1
	Republican	Frank Blee	21,070	27.2	1.6
	Democratic	Tom Foley	18,010	23.3	2.7
	Democratic	Barbara Hudgins	15,155	19.6	2.4
	Natural Law	Kim D. Fioriglio	1,017	1.3	N/A
Total votes			77,324	100.0

New Jersey general election, 1993

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John F. Gaffney	26,354	26.4	0.1
	Democratic	Tom Foley	25,932	26.0	2.8
	Republican	Fredrick P. Nickles	25,601	25.6	0.2
	Democratic	Denis Floge	21,959	22.0	2.9
Total votes			99,846	100.0

1989 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Dolores G. Cooper	27,736	26.1	6.4
	Democratic	Fred Scerni	26,833	25.2	6.2
	Republican	J. Edward Kline	26,443	24.9	8.4
	Democratic	Mary Ellen Starn	25,351	23.8	8.6
Total votes			106,363	100.0

1987 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	J. Edward Kline	26,754	33.3	0.8
	Republican	Dolores G. Cooper	26,140	32.5	3.4
	Democratic	Alfred "Fred" Scerni	15,234	19.0	2.2
	Democratic	William A. Thompson III	12,216	15.2	0.4
Total votes			80,344	100.0

1985 New Jersey general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	J. Edward Kline	32,092	34.1	5.6
	Republican	Dolores G. Cooper	27,395	29.1	2.0
	Democratic	Joel Jacovitz	19,899	21.2	1.0
	Democratic	Lillian E. Bryant	14,634	15.6	4.8
Total votes			94,020	100.0

New Jersey general election, 1983

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Edward Kline	26,269	28.5	5.9
	Republican	Dolores G. Cooper	24,981	27.1	2.4
	Democratic	Lincoln Green	20,433	22.2	4.8
	Democratic	James T. Brennan	18,836	20.4	0.1
	The Independent Voice	Michael P. Toland	1,652	1.8	N/A
Total votes			92,171	100.0

New Jersey general election, 1979

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William L. Gormley	28,428	26.3	2.0
	Democratic	Michael J. Matthews	28,423	26.3	0.4
	Republican	Kenneth C. Le Fevre	26,095	24.1	0.1
	Democratic	Nelson C. Johnson	25,163	23.3	0.0
Total votes			108,109	100.0

New Jersey general election, 1977

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Michael J. Matthews	31,305	25.9	0.5
	Republican	William L. Gormley	29,375	24.3	1.4
	Republican	Howard Kupperman	29,030	24.0	2.7
	Democratic	Rocco S. Carri	28,138	23.3	2.1
	Honesty-Integrity-Credibility	Joseph J. Polillo	3,048	2.5	N/A
Total votes			120,896	100.0

New Jersey general election, 1975

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Howard Kupperman	30,347	26.7	2.8
	Democratic	Steven P. Perskie	30,016	26.4	1.8
	Republican	Frederick Perone	29,291	25.7	1.9
	Democratic	Lois Hughes Finifter	24,167	21.2	2.9
Total votes			113,821	100.0

Election results, 1965–1973

Senate

General Assembly

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• Atlantic County, New Jersey
• New Jersey legislative districts