NJ Spotlight is sharing election coverage with NJTV News, our sister organization, which invited all candidates to complete a brief survey and record a video message; we have included those for all the candidates who responded.
New Jersey’s 1st Legislative District is the southernmost district in the state, covering Cape May and parts of Atlantic (Corbin, Estell Manor, and Weymouth) and Cumberland (Commercial, Downe, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hopewell, Lawrence, Maurice River, Millville, Shiloh, Stow Creek, and Vineland) counties.
It is one of the few districts where some of the lawmakers are not members of the party with a majority of registered voters. Most voters in the district are unaffiliated, but of those, registered, Republicans outnumber Democrats — there were about 3,100 more Republicans than Democrats as of Aug. 31.
The district is represented by Democratic Assemblymen R. Bruce Land and Matthew Milam. Both incumbents are seeking re-election. For the Republicans, Erik Simonsen of Cape May and Antwan McClellan of Ocean City are the candidates.
Because Jeff Van Drew won a seat in Congress, his unexpired state Senate term is on the ballot. Democrat Bob Andrzejczak, who was appointed to fill the seat, is running for the full term. Mike Testa of Vineland is the Republican seeking the Senate seat.
Follow this link for our in-depth report on the 1st District
SENATE CANDIDATES
BOB ANDRZEJCZAK: DEMOCRAT (incumbent)
Hometown: Cape May
Occupation: Legislator (2013-present)
Top three issues: Quality health care; property-tax rates; ensure veterans have job training, education opportunities and support they need to succeed once they’ve come back home
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MIKE TESTA JR: REPUBLICAN
Hometown: Vineland
Occupation: Attorney
Top three issues: Economic development; ending Gov. Murphy’s “sanctuary state”; reducing taxes and spending
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ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES
BRUCE LAND: DEMOCRAT (incumbent)
Hometown: Vineland
Occupation:Legislator (2016-present)
Top three issues: Taking care of veterans, including increasing job training and scholarship opportunities; cutting property taxes; increasing access to affordable healthcare
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MATTHEW MILAM: DEMOCRAT (incumbent)
Hometown:Vineland
Occupation:Legislator (2008-13, 2019-present)
Top three issues:Helping local industries grow by cutting red tape and spurring economic development; keeping government spending under control; helping seniors stay in their homes
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ANTWAN McCLELLAN: REPUBLICAN
Hometown: Ocean City
Occupation/Service: Ocean City councilman
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ERIK SIMONSEN: REPUBLICAN
Hometown: Lower Township
Occupation/Service: Director of athletics at Lower Cape May Regional School District; mayor of Lower Township
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