Carmen Morales (New Jersey politician)

Carmen Morales
Carmen Morales
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly; from the 34th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 9, 2024 Serving with Michael Venezia
Preceded by	Thomas P. Giblin; Britnee Timberlake;
Personal details
Born	October 13, 1977 (age 47)
Political party	Democratic
Education	Montclair State University; Fairleigh Dickinson University; Seton Hall University;
Website	Legislative webpage

Carmen Theresa Morales (born October 13, 1977) is an American Democratic Party politician serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 34th legislative district, having taken office on January 9, 2024.

Biography

A resident of Belleville, New Jersey, Morales earned her undergraduate degree at Montclair State University, a master's degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University and has completed all but her dissertation towards a doctorate at Seton Hall University. She is employed by the Essex County Schools of Technology as director of curriculum and instruction, Public or Party Service and has been a trustee of Essex County College from 2017 to 2023.^[1]^[2]

Elective office

In the wake of the 2021 apportionment, the reconfiguration of municipalities in the district and the incumbent Assembly members in those districts choosing to retire or run for other elective office, the Essex County Democratic Organization chose newcomers Morales and Michael Venezia to run for the two Assembly seats.^[3] Morales and Venezia defeated Republicans Clenard H. Childress Jr. and James McGuire in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.^[4]^[5] Marenco was one of 27 members elected for the first time in 2023 to serve in the General Assembly, more than one-third of the seats.^[6]

Committees

Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:^[7]

Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture
Education

District 34

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.^[8] The representatives from the 34th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:^[9]

Senator Britnee Timberlake (D)
Assemblyman Carmen Morales (D)
Assemblyman Michael Venezia (D)

Electoral history

34th Legislative District General Election, 2023^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael Venezia	18,400	38.8
	Democratic	Carmen Morales	18,173	38.3
	Republican	James McGuire	5,597	11.8
	Republican	Clenard H. Childress Jr.	5,241	11.1
Total votes			47,411	100.0
	Democratic hold
	Democratic hold

References

^ Assemblywoman Carmen Theresa Morales (D), New Jersey State Legislature. Accessed January 10, 2024.
^ Election profile: 34th Legislative District, NJ Spotlight News. Accessed January 10, 2024. "For the two open Assembly slots, the Essex County Democrats have chosen Carmen Morales, principal of Newark Tech High School and a resident of Belleville, and Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia."
^ Wildstein, David. "Venezia, Morales are likely Democratic Assembly candidates in the 34th district", New Jersey Globe, February 24, 2023. "Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia and Carmen T. Morales, the principal of Newark Tech High School, have emerged as the leading contenders for two open State Assembly seats in the newly-drawn 34th district after an Essex Democratic screening committee, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. Venezia and Morales would replace Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) and Ralph Caputo (D-Nutley). Timberlake is running for the State Senate, and Caputo plans to resign after Senate confirms him to a seat on the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Board of Directors."
^ Connolly, Julio. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
^ Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023, New Jersey Department of State, December 6, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
^ Wildstein, David. "37 new lawmakers take office at noon", New Jersey Globe, January 9, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2024. "The 221st New Jersey Legislature begins today, with 37 new lawmakers – nearly one-third of the legislature – being sworn in at noon. That number includes ten new Senators and 27 new members of the General Assembly."
^ Assemblywoman Carmen Theresa Morales (D), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2024.
^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
^ Legislative Roster for District 34, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2024.
^ "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.

[1] Assemblywoman Carmen Theresa Morales (D), New Jersey State Legislature. Accessed January 10, 2024.

[2] Election profile: 34th Legislative District, NJ Spotlight News. Accessed January 10, 2024. "For the two open Assembly slots, the Essex County Democrats have chosen Carmen Morales, principal of Newark Tech High School and a resident of Belleville, and Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia."

[3] Wildstein, David. "Venezia, Morales are likely Democratic Assembly candidates in the 34th district", New Jersey Globe, February 24, 2023. "Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia and Carmen T. Morales, the principal of Newark Tech High School, have emerged as the leading contenders for two open State Assembly seats in the newly-drawn 34th district after an Essex Democratic screening committee, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. Venezia and Morales would replace Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) and Ralph Caputo (D-Nutley). Timberlake is running for the State Senate, and Caputo plans to resign after Senate confirms him to a seat on the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Board of Directors."

[4] Connolly, Julio. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.

[5] Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023, New Jersey Department of State, December 6, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.

[6] Wildstein, David. "37 new lawmakers take office at noon", New Jersey Globe, January 9, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2024. "The 221st New Jersey Legislature begins today, with 37 new lawmakers – nearly one-third of the legislature – being sworn in at noon. That number includes ten new Senators and 27 new members of the General Assembly."

[NJLEG-7] Assemblywoman Carmen Theresa Morales (D), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2024.

[8] New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.

[9] Legislative Roster for District 34, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2024.

[GeneralResults-10] "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.

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