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.

The northernmost legislative district in the state, the 24th covers 36 communities in Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties: Allamuchy, Andover Borough and Andover Township, Belvidere, Blairstown, Branchville, Byram, Frankford, Franklin (Warren), Fredon, Frelinghuysen, Green, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardwick, Hardyston, Hopatcong, Hope, Independence, Knowlton, Lafayette, Liberty, Montague, Mount Olive, Newton, Ogdensburg, Oxford, Sandyston, Sparta, Stanhope, Stillwater, Sussex, Vernon, Walpack, Wantage, and White Township.

The “reddest” districts in the state, the 24th has 41 % of its voters registered as Republicans, 21 % as Democrats, and almost all the rest unaffiliated.

The district is represented by Republicans, and both Assemblymen are on the ballot. Incumbents F. Parker Space, the owner of Space Farms Zoo & Museum from Wantage, and Harold J. Wirths, the former state labor commissioner from Hamburg, are seeking re-election.

The Democrats on the ballot are Deana Lykins of Newton and Dan Solomon Smith of Mount Olive.

ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES

F. PARKER SPACE: REPUBLICAN (incumbent)

Hometown: Wantage

Occupation: Farmer; owner of Space Farms Zoo & Museum and Extreme Pizza

Top three issues: Put the Legislature in to a special session to reduce and reform property taxes; reduce regulations on businesses to keep them here as well as to entice others to move here; combat illegal immigration.

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HAROLD J. WIRTHS REPUBLICAN (incumbent)

Hometown: Hamburg

Occupation: Self-employed investor

Top three issues: Property tax relief and school funding reform to reverse cuts to Sussex and Warren counties; fighting against new state taxes and wasteful government spending; standing up for conservative and constitutional values, including the Second Amendment, the unborn, and our unique way of life in Sussex, Warren, and Morris counties.

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DEANA LYKINS: DEMOCRAT

Hometown: Newton

Occupation: Lawyer

Top three issues: Taxes; economic development; environmental protection

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DAN SOLOMON SMITH: DEMOCRAT

Hometown: Mount Olive

Occupation: Attorney

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