NJ Voters Guide: 34th Legislative District
New Jersey’s 34th Legislative District is based in Essex County. It covers Belleville, Bloomfield, Orange, East Orange, Glen Ridge and Nutley.
This has been Democratic stronghold for decades. More than half of registered voters are Democrats, compared to 12% who are Republicans. Most of the rest are unaffiliated.
Both Assembly incumbents withstood a primary challenge to seek reelection:. Both work at the Essex County Schools of Technology: Carmen Morales as the director of curriculum and instruction and Mike Venezia as the director of human resource.
Their Republican challengers are Demetrius Eley and Lorenzo Machese Jr.
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: 47 Hometown: Belleville Occupation: Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Essex County Schools of Technology Personal or professional background: I’m a proud resident of Belleville, a former educator, and now honored to serve as Assemblywoman for District 34. Before joining the Assembly, I dedicated my career to public education, serving as Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Essex County Schools of Technology and previously as a trustee of Essex County College. I have spent my life focused on expanding access to education, opportunity, and community services. As an educator and public servant, I bring a deep commitment to building stronger, fairer communities for every New Jerseyan. What is your top issue this year? My top priority is making New Jersey more affordable. Whether it’s the cost of property taxes, housing, or everyday essentials, families are feeling squeezed. I’m committed to delivering real relief through smart investments and responsible budgeting. I helped pass the StayNJ property tax relief program to cut seniors’ taxes in half starting in 2026, and I’m fighting to hold utility companies accountable for unfair rate hikes. Our families deserve real action to ease financial burdens and build a future they can afford. What are your specific proposals for making New Jersey more affordable? I’ve focused on making New Jersey more affordable for working families, seniors, and young people. We passed the StayNJ program to cut seniors’ property taxes by half starting in 2026. I’m also working to expand prescription drug savings and strengthen programs like PAAD to make healthcare more affordable for seniors. In addition, I’m fighting to stop unfair utility rate hikes. My office is here to assist residents with relief programs because delivering real, lasting savings is my top priority. 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 expanding affordable housing across New Jersey. In District 34 — including Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley, and Orange — affordable housing is critical for first-time buyers, veterans, seniors, and working families. I am proud that we supported creating 85,000 new homes statewide, investing in down payment assistance, and strengthening rent protections to guard against unfair increases. I’m also focused on encouraging development near transit hubs to make living here easier and more affordable. Housing affordability is essential to keeping our communities strong and thriving. 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? We must protect the critical services our residents depend on. I will continue to prioritize strong funding for education, health care, and social safety nets. I’m proud to support historic investments that have expanded access to pre-K, strengthened K-12 schools, and made college and job training more affordable. Even if federal cuts come, I’ll fight to restore funding wherever possible and protect taxpayers from bearing the burden. When we prioritize New Jersey families, we can deliver real results.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Age: 43 Hometown: Bloomfield Occupation: Director of Human Resources at Essex County Schools of Technology Personal or professional background: I’m a lifelong Bloomfield resident, former Mayor, and now proud Assembly member representing District 34. I’ve dedicated my career to strengthening local government, expanding access to services, and building stronger, more affordable communities. With a background in public service and a proven record of collaboration, I bring real-world experience and a commitment to solving New Jersey’s toughest challenges. What is your top issue this year? My top priority is affordability. Whether it’s the cost of property taxes, housing, or everyday expenses, families in New Jersey are feeling squeezed. I’m committed to delivering real relief through smart investments, responsible budgeting, and policies that lower costs without sacrificing critical services. I helped pass the StayNJ property tax relief program to cut seniors’ taxes in half starting in 2026, and I’m fighting to hold utility companies accountable for unfair rate hikes. Our families deserve real action to ease their financial burdens. What are your specific proposals for making New Jersey more affordable? Since taking office in January 2024, I’ve focused on making New Jersey more affordable for working families and seniors. We passed the StayNJ property tax relief program to cut seniors’ property taxes in half starting in 2026. I’m also working to expand prescription drug savings for seniors and strengthen programs like PAAD. Additionally, I’m fighting to hold utility companies accountable as they push for unfair rate hikes. My office is available to help residents apply for relief programs. I’m committed to delivering real, lasting savings for New Jersey families. 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 fully support the new law to expand affordable housing across New Jersey. In District 34, affordable housing is critical for working families, veterans, and first-time buyers. We’re creating 85,000 new homes statewide, investing in down payment assistance, and strengthening rent protections to guard against unfair increases. I’m also focused on encouraging development near transit hubs, especially in communities like East Orange and Bloomfield, to make living here easier and more affordable. Housing affordability is essential to keeping our communities strong and thriving. 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? We must protect the critical services our residents rely on. I will prioritize strong funding for education, health care, and social safety nets in the state budget. I’m proud to support historic investments that have expanded access to pre-K, strengthened K-12 schools, and made college and job training more affordable. Even if federal cuts come, I’ll fight to restore funding wherever possible and protect taxpayers from bearing the burden. When we prioritize what matters in Trenton, we can deliver real results that strengthen New Jersey families and communities.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
