Joann Downey

Joann Downey
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 11th district
In office
January 12, 2016 – January 11, 2022
Serving with Eric Houghtaling
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Chair of the New Jersey General Assembly Committee on Human Services
In office
January 9, 2018 – January 11, 2022
Preceded byValerie Vainieri Huttle
Personal details
Born
Joann Lillian Kagan[1]

(1966-10-31) October 31, 1966 (age 58)
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseStephen Downey
Education
Websitewww.njleg.state.nj.us/members/bio.asp?Leg=380[dead link‍]

Joann Kagan Downey (born October 31, 1966) is an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who represented the 11th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2016 to 2022. She later became a judge.[2]

Early life

Downey was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University in 1988, where she studied Political Science and English, a Juris Doctor from New York Law School in June 1991 and a Masters of Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work in 2005.[1][3] After graduating from Freehold Township High School, Downey was accepted to the New Jersey State Police, inspired by her father, who was a New Jersey State Trooper. Downey ultimately decided to pursue law school and prosecutorial work instead.[4] She went on to serve as Deputy State Attorney General, working in the Department of Children and Families. Downey cites this experience as the impetus that moved her to work toward her Masters in Social Work.[4]

New Jersey Assembly

Downey was elected to the General Assembly alongside running mate Eric Houghtaling in November 2015.[5] Their narrow victory was considered by many to be an unexpected upset.[6] In July 2018 Downey and fellow Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling accused fellow Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso of violating the Truth-In-Caller ID law while sending out robocalls.[7]

In 2021, Downey and Houghtaling narrowly lost their reelection bids in an upset to Republican candidates Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner.[8]

Electoral history

Assembly

New Jersey general election, 2017[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joann Downey 31,347 27.7 Increase 2.5
Democratic Eric Houghtaling 31,012 27.4 Increase 1.8
Republican Robert Acerra 25,672 22.6 Decrease 2.2
Republican Michael Whelan 25,320 22.3 Decrease 2.1
Total votes '113,351' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2015[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Eric Houghtaling 15,149 25.6 Increase 5.0
Democratic Joann Downey 14,906 25.2 Increase 5.0
Republican Mary Pat Angelini 14,653 24.8 Decrease 5.3
Republican Caroline Casagrande 14,418 24.4 Decrease 4.7
Total votes '59,126' '100.0'

References

  1. ^ a b Ninety-Ninth Commencement Exercises. New York Law School. 9 June 1991. p. 18. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. ^ https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/nj-judges-can-rule-on-laws-they-authored-as-legislators. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "votesmart.org". Joann Downey's Biography. votesmart.org. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Meet the Leaders | February 19, 2016 - New Jersey | New Jersey Assemblywoman Joann Downey". www.meettheleaders.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  5. ^ "Monmouth County Election Results 2015". Monmouth County Clerk's Office. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  6. ^ Johnson, Brent (3 November 2015). "Elections 2015: Democrats oust Republicans in Assembly's 11th District". nj.com. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Ethics panel finds probable cause to investigate DiMaso". New Jersey Globe. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Piperno, Eulner win Assembly seats in Monmouth in pickup for GOP". 14 November 2021.
  9. ^ "2017-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  10. ^ "2015-official-ge-results-nj-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 11th District
January 12, 2016 – January 11, 2022
With: Eric Houghtaling 		Succeeded by