Luanne Peterpaul

Luanne Peterpaul
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2024
Serving with Margie Donlon
Preceded by
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceLong Branch, New Jersey
WebsiteLegislative webpage

Luanne M. Peterpaul is an American politician, lawyer, and former judge, serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 11th legislative district since taking office on January 9, 2024. As such, she is the first out lesbian in the New Jersey legislature.[1]

Early life and career

Peterpaul served as a board chair of Garden State Equality for 12 years.[2] She helped establish same-sex marriage in New Jersey.[3] In 2011, she co-authored the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights that was signed into law by governor Chris Christie.[3] Peterpaul was an assistant county prosecutor in Essex County and a conflict municipal judge in Asbury Park.[2] In 2018, she was nominated by mayor John Pallone to serve a three-year term as the municipal court judge of Long Branch.[3]

Elected office

Led by running mate Vin Gopal in the New Jersey Senate, Democrats Margie Donlon and Peterpaul defeated Republican incumbents Marilyn Piperno and Kimberly Eulner in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election to represent the 11th legislative district.[4][5][6]

District 11

Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.[7] The representatives from the 11th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[8]

Electoral history

11th Legislative District General Election, 2023[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Margie Donlon 32,005 28.6
Democratic Luanne Peterpaul 31,636 28.3
Republican Marilyn Piperno (incumbent) 24,230 21.7
Republican Kimberly Eulner (incumbent) 24,025 21.5
Total votes 111,896 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ^ Nieto-Munoz, Sophie (November 20, 2023). "Assemblywoman-elect Luanne Peterpaul will be first out lesbian in New Jersey Legislature • New Jersey Monitor".
  2. ^ a b Ring, Trudy (November 8, 2023). "N.J. Elects, Luanne Peterpaul, First LGBTQ Woman Legislator". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  3. ^ a b c "LGBT leader named Long Branch judge". Asbury Park Press. 2018-12-13. pp. A3. Retrieved 2023-11-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Fox, Joey. "Gopal wins re-election; Democrats pick up two 11th district Assembly seats", New Jersey Globe, November 7, 2023. Accessed November 18, 2023. "State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) has won re-election, the New Jersey Globe projects, a huge win for the two-term senator after a grueling and competitive campaign. Gopal’s Assembly running mates, Ocean Township Councilwoman Margie Donlon and former Municipal Court Judge Luanne Peterpaul, have won as well, defeating two incumbent Republican Assemblywomen, Marilyn Piperno (R-Colts Neck) and Kim Eulner (R-Shrewsbury)."
  5. ^ Connolly, John. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023, New Jersey Department of State, December 6, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
  7. ^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
  8. ^ Legislative Roster for District 11, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.