Overview:

New Jersey was the 3rd state to sign the Declaration of Independence on 18 December 1787. With a 2004 population of 8,698,879, New Jersey is primamrily (72.6%) white. The largest minority (13.6%) is Black, followed by Asian (5.7%). This is an urban state; no one is classified as rural. The state is much more densely populated than the nation, with 1,134.4 persons per square mile versus 79.6.


(Census, USDA)

Presidential Votes:

2004 : Kerry (D) 53%, Bush (R) 46%
2000 : Gore (D) 56%, Bush (R) 40%, Nader (I) 3%
1996 : Clinton (D) 54%, Dole (R) 36%, Perot (I) 8%

Federal Representation - Senate:

New Jersey has 13 US Representatives and two US Senators.

• Sen. Robert Menendez (D-2006) - appointed in 2005
• Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-2008) - elected in 2002

Federal Representation - House:

• Rep. Robert Andrews (01-D)
• Rep. Frank LoBiondo (02-R)
• Rep. Jim Saxton (03-R)
• Rep. Christopher Smith (04-R)
• Rep. E. Scott Garrett (05-R)
• Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (06-D)
• Rep. Michael Ferguson (07-R)
• Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (08-D)
• Rep. Steven Rothman (09-D)
• Rep. Donald Payne (10-D)
• Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (11-R)
• Rep. Rush Holt (12-D)
• Vacant - 13

State Government:

Governor Jon S. Corzine was elected in 2005. The Lt. Governor, Cruz M. Bustamante (D), is the first Latino elected to New Jersey statewide office since 1878.

The capitol is Trenton; the state legislature has 40 seats in the Senate and 80 seats in the Assembly.

Democrats hold a majority in both chambers.