Election profile: 16th Legislative District
New Jersey’s 16th Legislative District contains parts of four counties. Its boundaries changed somewhat after last year’s redistricting. It covers seven municipalities in Hunterdon County (Clinton town and township, Flemington, High Bridge, Lebanon Borough, Raritan and Readington), Princeton in Mercer, South Brunswick in Middlesex and five communities in Somerset (Branchburg, Hillsborough, Millstone, Montgomery and Rocky Hill).
Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, 36% to 26%, with the plurality of voters not affiliated with a party.
The district is currently represented by three Democrats, two of whom are seeking reelection. It also features a rematch for the Senate seat.
Sen. Andrew Zwicker represents the 16th Legislative District after being elected in November 2021 when the Republican who held the seat retired. Prior to that, Zwicker served in the Assembly. He has spent his entire professional career at Princeton University’s Plasma Physics Laboratory, where he currently is the head of the communications and public outreach department. He faces Republican candidate Michael Pappas, a Branchburg man who served a single term in the U.S. Congress in the late 1990s and lost the general election to Zwicker in the district as it is currently drawn in 2021. Also in the race is Libertarian Richard Byrne, a US Army veteran from Hillsborough.
Democratic Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer is not seeking reelection, so Assemblyman Roy Freiman, former vice president of strategy and analytics at Prudential Financial and a Hillsborough resident, is running with Mitchelle Drulis, a Raritan Township woman who served as an aide to Tom Malinowski when he was in Congress. They face Republicans Ross Traphagen, a Clinton councilman, and Grace Zhang, an accountant from Princeton.
Editor’s note: All candidates for state legislative seats were contacted multiple times for the NJ Decides 2023 voting guide Q&As. Click on a candidate to see who responded and any answers provided. More information about the project, including the full text of the questions, is available here.
The candidates
SENATE
Age: 59 Hometown: Kingston Occupation: State senator and physicist Personal background: Political background: I became the first Democrat to represent the 16th District when I was elected as an assemblyman in 2015. Since then, I have used my position to advocate for expanding access to voting, clean energy infrastructure, gun safety reform and making New Jersey a more affordable place to raise a family. I was elected to the Senate in 2021. Why are you running for office? I have found that my science background gives me a unique perspective in the Legislature and helps to bring new, innovative ideas to the body. I would be honored to continue to represent the people of my community in Trenton. Key election issue: Ensuring all students have the freedom to access learning materials, women have the freedom to decide their own health care, and families have the ability to afford to live in the community where they work. I am the author of S3907, the NJ “Right to Read” Act, that will penalize those that try to censor books, and I hope to have that signed into law later this year. I have written a variety of pieces of legislation to expand access to voting, including increased vote-by-mail opportunities, the ability to correct simple mistakes (“Ballot Cure” Act) and the “New Voter Empowerment” Act. I am the author of NJ’s first proposal to begin ranked-choice voting, and I hope to continue to build grassroots support for it. Example of a successful project: For 18 years I was the head of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) Science Education Program, which was focused on providing opportunities for those traditionally underrepresented in the STEM fields. Currently, I am the head of strategic partnerships at PPPL and focused on public-private collaborations to accelerate the development of fusion energy. Example of a challenge faced: Moving from science to politics was one of the most challenging professional endeavors that I’ve ever attempted. To state the obvious, science and politics are typically not combined, but I think they are a wonderful combination. Like anything else, it takes dedication and focus to learn and improve, and I hope I’ve gotten a little bit better each and every day. On NJ’s gun laws: In my time in the NJ Legislature, I have been a leading voice for gun safety legislation. I co-sponsored S1204, requiring the registration of handguns purchased out of state, and sponsored or voted for every other gun safety legislation in front of me, including requiring reporting of large purchases of ammunition, strengthening criteria for obtaining a handgun permit, and requiring gun manufacturers to follow procedures that make tracking weapons easier. Because of my leadership in Trenton, I was recently named a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. On the Murphy administration’s climate change proposals: I have spent my entire professional career working on the development of fusion energy — clean, safe, carbon-free and nearly unlimited electricity once it is completed. I support the Murphy administration’s goal of making NJ a leader in state-level initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint. Incentivizing the transition to carbon-free energy as quickly as possible is key, and I’d like to see an increased investment in electric vehicle rebates and electrification efforts. On housing affordability and property taxes: One of my recent accomplishments in the Legislature is the passage of the StayNJ bill, which reduces property taxes for seniors, allowing them to stay in their communities and with their families. I would continue to support measures that reduce the property tax burden on NJ residents.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Age: 75 Hometown: Hillsborough Occupation: Retired electrical engineer; volunteer adviser for acp-usa.org Personal background: Entrepreneur and electrical engineer (BSEE, MSEE) with hardware design, software and management experience. Inventor listed on 16 issued US patents. US Army Vietnam veteran. Former NJ emergency medical technician. IEEE senior life member. Volunteer Hillsborough Rescue Squad, VFW and VVA life member; volunteer adviser for American Corporate Partners (acp-usa.org). Political background: Was Somerset County Republican Organization representative for Hillsborough Voting District 2 – won with one write-in vote during the primary election – not really a public office. Why are you running for office? Was displeased that the Libertarian Party and Green Party candidates were not allowed to participate in the presidential debates, preventing serious candidate deficiencies from being brought up. Personally, I don’t feel that people who I consider to be draft evaders should become commanders in chief. A question that neither of those two candidates wanted to bring up. Key election issue: NJ should keep its nose out of people’s business. Repeal or vote against laws that restrict liberty. Example of a successful project: East Powelton Concerned Residents: participated in a Neighborhood Historical Renovation Pilot Program to renovate three buildings. Was responsible for rehabilitating one of these first three. All three were renovated successfully. Saved these 19th century urban buildings in neighborhood from being demolished, created low-income apartments. Subsequently, many of the other beautiful century-old buildings in the East Powelton, Philadelphia, urban neighborhood followed in historical rehabilitation and were also saved. Listed as an inventor on 16 issued US patents. Example of a challenge faced: My father died at a young age, leaving my mother with five children, one an infant and another with Down syndrome. Growing up in a single-parent family was a challenge, so we all had to scrimp, work and care for each other in order to survive. At 17, while working full time, I started night college up until I received my draft notice. After completing my military service, I returned to work and continued my education. On NJ’s gun laws: Repeal! The right to bear arms shall not be abridged. On the Murphy administration’s climate change proposals: Probably liquid hydrogen storage as being developed in Australia is better than lithium ion battery storage and EVs. Especially as NJ is a coastal state. On housing affordability and property taxes: The free market. Final thoughts: Byrne’s experience as a veteran, volunteer emergency responder, engineer and inventor will bring useful talents and possibly novel solutions to the NJ Senate. When elected, Byrne will represent the residents of NJ Legislative District 16, negotiating with other senators to ensure support for our district’s needs. As a member of the Libertarian Party, Byrne embraces liberty and prosperity for all, constitutional rights, and prefers that New Jersey mind its own business.
ASSEMBLY
Age: 64 Hometown: Hillsborough Occupation: Assemblyman, Legislative District 16 Personal background: I attended State University of New York–Oneonta and Brunel University of London. Before I was a legislator, my professional career was in business. The majority of my private-sector career was with Prudential Financial, holding several positions leading strategy and analytic teams. Political background: I was originally elected to the Legislature in 2017, becoming only the second Democrat to represent Legislative District 16. This election was my first run for political office (aside from active involvement in college student government, many years prior). Why are you running for office? I am running for reelection because I believe New Jersey is a great place to live and raise a family. I believe that the government’s primary function is to improve the lives of our communities, and to focus upon a family’s future. This is done most effectively when the government works together, when all levels of government, and all parties, work to lift people up instead of pointing fingers for failings. I want to ensure that all New Jerseyans have the opportunity to thrive and can afford to stay in their communities throughout their lives. Key election issue: My key issue in this election and beyond is making New Jersey a safe and affordable place to raise a family. We have worked toward this by cutting property taxes for seniors and capping the cost of life-saving medications. I am a sponsor of NJ’s ANCHOR property tax rebate program and the recently enacted StayNJ property tax rebate program. Example of a successful project: I am proud to be a prime sponsor of new legislation that has made major changes, lowering the costs of prescription drugs. Access to health care should never be a matter of economics. Example of a challenge faced: I have been challenged by negativity and pessimism in political discourse, and I wanted to work with my staff to combat those feelings. So with my team, I work to highlight a minimum of 100 community members each week to thank them for their contributions to the community. From recognizing Girl Scout troop bridging ceremonies to congratulating long-standing community activists, we send personalized letters and Assembly citations to uplift community members and acknowledge the good work they do. On NJ’s gun laws: In my time in the Legislature, I have proposed legislation to increase the minimum age for obtaining a weapons license, as well as sponsored red-flag legislation. On the Murphy administration’s climate change proposals: I support the administration’s energy plan of transitioning away from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. I strongly support incentive programs that help residents and businesses implement electric choices for transportation, HVAC, appliances, etc. On housing affordability and property taxes: In the past few years, the NJ Legislature has implemented the ANCHOR rebate program for both homeowners and renters. This year, the Legislature passed a historic property tax rebate program, StayNJ, which will help to cut property taxes by up to 50% for senior homeowners.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Age: 50 Hometown: Raritan Twp. Occupation: Small business owner Personal background: I attended Rutgers University, where I was an Eagleton Institute of Politics undergraduate associate, and I live in Raritan Township with my husband, Michael Drulis, and our daughter. Political background: I started my career as a legislative aide for then assemblyman, now state senator, Bob Smith. I went on to become chief of staff for Assemblyman Joe Egan, serving for over a decade, and then served as district director for congressman Tom Malinowski until January of 2023. Why are you running for office? I am running for the opportunity to continue to serve my community and bring my unique perspective as a public servant, small business owner and mother to Trenton. Key election issue: A key issue for me in this election is safeguarding women’s contraceptive health-care access. When elected, I will always vote to support access to reproductive health care in New Jersey, and I will always support expanding coverage of health services, including access to affordable contraception. Example of a successful project: I am very proud of my work as district director. I set up and led the congressman’s constituent services program, which helped over 11,600 constituents obtain their federal benefits such as veterans benefits, Social Security payments, tax refunds, SBA assistance and more, recovering over $105 million for constituents in the last year alone. And I did this while also working collaboratively with the congressman and his legislative director to identify needed community projects in the district, as well as other areas of need that resulted in over $9.6 billion in federal funding for the 7th Congressional District during his time in office. Example of a challenge faced: Like it was for every NJ small business owner, COVID was the ultimate challenge. Due to the nature of the business my husband and I own, we were one of the first groups to be shut down and one of the last sectors to reopen. During the shutdown, we of course were worried about staff members, their health and financial situations. My husband and I made sure to check in on them regularly to see if they needed anything, see how they were doing and if we could be of any help. When a reopening date was announced for our type of industry, we were elated. As the daughter of a US Marine, there are three simple words that my father uses often that have always guided me in challenging situations. Adapt. Improvise. Overcome. So we did. Reopening the business came with its own set of challenges, as we are a service-based business and changes were required to keep our staff and clients safe and happy and our business open. By using available information and educating ourselves on new best practices, new cleaning and sanitation standards, restructuring how we did things, communicating clearly and effectively with staff and clients, and instituting new and improved protocols and technology, just as many small businesses did, we were able to adapt, improvise and overcome and had a fantastic reopening celebration. On NJ’s gun laws: I am proud to live in a state that has passed common-sense gun legislation such as background checks, extreme risk orders (red-flag laws) and secure storage laws that keep our kids and our communities safe, and I will continue to support these gun safety initiatives in office. On the Murphy administration’s climate change proposals: I support the administration’s climate initiatives and would continue to do so in Trenton in a way that is responsible and makes it affordable for NJ families and small businesses to access and utilize these programs. On housing affordability and property taxes: NJ has some of the best schools in the nation, and I am a strong supporter of public education. School funding is currently the highest percentage of the local property tax bill and has a direct effect on the cost of rent that landlords charge tenants and monthly mortgage payments with escrow for property taxes. We need to look at the school funding formula and how the state aid is distributed to our districts to ensure that our kids and our schools have the resources they need to be successful and we are not overly relying on property taxes to fund our schools. I also support the NJ ANCHOR program and StayNJ, which will cut property taxes in half for most NJ seniors.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.