NJ Voters Guide: 20th Legislative District
New Jersey’s 20th Legislative District is based in Union County, covering Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Roselle, and Union Twp.
The district has been represented by Democrats in the state legislature for decades. Almost half of registered voters are Democrats, just 13% are Republicans and most of the rest are unaffiliated.
Following a competitive primary, the Democratic candidates are incumbent Annette Quijano, a municipal prosecutor, and Ed Rodriguez, the former director of planning and community development for Elizabeth. Rodriguez beat Quijano’s running mate Sergio Granados, a Union County commissioner who had been endorsed by the county Democratic committee. Assemblyman Reginald Atkins is retiring.
Carmen Bucco, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year, is the only Republican on the ballot.
Editor’s note: All candidates were contacted multiple times for the NJ Decides 2025 voting guide Q&As. Click on a candidate to see any answers provided.
The candidates
Age: 46 Hometown: Elizabeth Occupation: (Former) Director of Planning & Community Development for the City of Elizabeth Personal or professional background: I am excited to be running for the Democratic nomination for Assembly alongside Walter Wimbush. I most recently served as its Director of Planning & Community Development from 2014-2025. During my tenure, I reduced the number of abandoned properties from 487 to just 9 and led the development of over 400 affordable housing units and 1 million square feet of warehouse space. I also have an MBA in Accounting from NYU and graduated from Rutgers Law School with a JD in 2010. What is your top issue this year? My top issue this election is making New Jersey more affordable for everyone. I’ve heard from recent college graduates with student loan debt, unable to plant roots here. I’ve met working-class families choosing between groceries and rent, and seniors struggling to stay in the communities they’ve called home for decades. Affordability isn’t a partisan issue—it’s a New Jersey issue. Together, Walter Wimbush and I plan to lower property taxes, expand access to housing, and reduce the cost of living so that every generation, from first-time renters to lifelong residents, has a future here. What are your specific proposals for making New Jersey more affordable? To make New Jersey more affordable for senior citizens, I propose targeted grants to help seniors afford essential home modifications—like ramps, safer bathrooms, and energy-efficient upgrades. These improvements not only enhance safety but also reduce long-term costs, allowing seniors to remain in their homes rather than moving into costly care facilities. By investing in our aging residents, we can take the pressure off their adult caregivers and reduce strain on public services. Do you support the state law designed to increase the amount of affordable housing and if not, how would you make housing less costly for residents? I support the state law to increase affordable housing because it’s a step forward in ensuring everyone has a place to call home. By offering grants to landlords to renovate aging buildings, we can preserve existing housing without displacing tenants. Without this support, landlords are incentivized to make costly upgrades and raise rents, pricing families out. This creates a win-win: safer, updated homes and stable rents. How would you manage potential federal funding cuts to social services, health care, education, and other areas, particularly in light of the state’s budget challenges? I am committed to building on the New Jersey Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act, which provides targeted supports to communities facing short- and long-term financial instability. Working with all members of the New Jersey State Assembly—regardless of party—Walter Wimbush and I will find bipartisan, responsible solutions to protect essential services.
Age: 53 Hometown: Kenilworth Occupation: Small Business and foundation owner Personal or professional background: My name is Carmen Bucco, a bit about my journey and my aspirations for our beloved state of New Jersey. As someone who has experienced the challenges of the foster care system and later faced the adversity of living on the streets, nearly losing my life and overcoming drug abuse, to becoming a successful small business owner and having a foundation for foster children and orphans. I have a profound understanding of the struggles many in our community face. These experiences have instilled in me a deep determination to create meaningful change and to fight for those who often feel voiceless and forgotten. What is your top issue this year? There are so many issues we face today, be it cost of living, educating our children, failing them fails the future, and public safety would be a main focus. You can learn more on my website www.carmenbucco.com What are your specific proposals for making New Jersey more affordable? Do you support the state law designed to increase the amount of affordable housing and if not, how would you make housing less costly for residents? We talked about this for almost a decade. We are letting builders build but the housing the is supposed to be affordable is actually making it hard for people to afford a home they can call their own. This is truly sad for people who want to have a home. I am looking to work with others to come up with a real solution. How would you manage potential federal funding cuts to social services, health care, education, and other areas, particularly in light of the state’s budget challenges? There will be no cuts to and funding that a lot of people need to help get started to a better life. The funds are being given to people who are cheating the system and if you stop that the funds will always be there for the people who truly need it. We need to stop the fraud that is happening and the greed!
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
