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 36th District includes 15 communities in Bergen and Passaic counties: Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, East Rutherford, Little Ferry, Lyndhurst, Moonachie, North Arlington, Passaic, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Rutherford, South Hackensack, Teterboro, Wallington, and Wood-Ridge.

Voter registration is 39% Democratic and 16% Republican, with most other voters declaring no party affiliation.

Both Democratic incumbents are running for re-election. They are Assemblymen Gary Schaer, a Passaic councilman, and Clinton Calabrese of Cliffside Park.

The Republican ticket features Khaldoun Androwis of Wallington and Foster Lowe of Little Ferry.

ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES

GARY SCHAER: DEMOCRAT (incumbent)

Hometown: Passaic

Occupation/Service: Legislator, Passaic city councilman

Top three issues: Lead remediation; student debt; criminal justice reform.

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CLINTON CALABRESE: DEMOCRAT (incumbent)

Hometown: Cliffside Park

Occupation: Real estate development and investment

Top three issues: To encourage sustainable economic growth; improve NJ transportation; support pragmatic environmental initiatives

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KHALDOUN ANDROIS: REPUBLICAN 

Hometown: Wallington

Occupation: Global IT manager for a financial firm

Top three issues: No tax increases; no recreational marijuana; support small businesses

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FOSTER LOWE: REPUBLICAN

Hometown: Little Ferry

Occupation: Property manager

Top three issues: Gov. Murphy’s desired “sanctuary state”; Attorney General not wanting county sheriffs to cooperate with federal law enforcement regarding criminal illegals; no legalizing marijuana for recreational use (medical use may be acceptable).

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