Ocean County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the southernmost county in the New York metropolitan area. The county borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and in terms of total area is the state's largest county. Its county seat is Toms River. The county is part of the Jersey Shore and is considered part of the Central Jersey region of the state,though it was not among the four counties explicitly listed as included in Central Jersey as part of legislation signed into law in 2023.
Lakewood Township is the most populous township in Ocean County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. A rapidly growing community,as of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 135,158,its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 42,315 (+45.6%) from the 2010 census count of 92,843,which in turn reflected an increase of 32,491 (+53.8%) from the 60,352 counted in the 2000 census. The township ranked as the fifth-most-populous municipality in the state in 2020,after ranking seventh in 2010,and 22nd in 2000,placing the township only behind the state's four biggest cities. The sharp increase in population from 2000 to 2010 was led largely by increases in the township's Orthodox Jewish and Latino communities. Further growth in the Orthodox community led to a sharp increase in population in the 2020 census,with a large number of births leading to a significant drop in the township's median age. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the township's population was 139,506 in 2022,helping the fast-growing town surpass Elizabeth as the fourth-most-populous municipality in the state.
Christine Temple Whitman is an American politician and author who served as the 50th governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001 and as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. As of 2024,Whitman is the only woman to have served as governor of New Jersey.
Nicholas Paul Scutari is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 115th president of the New Jersey Senate since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party,he has held a Senate seat since 2004,representing the 22nd legislative district. Scutari has served as Acting Governor of New Jersey on multiple occasions,the first time being in June 2022.
Elizabeth Randall,is an American Republican Party politician who served as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and served on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2003 to 2007. She previously served as county counsel under the administration of former Bergen County Executive William "Pat" Schuber,where she oversaw efforts including the downsizing of county government and the preservation of thousands of acres of open space. Prior to serving in county government,Randall was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1985 and served there until 1992,representing the 39th Legislative District.
Ocean County College (OCC) is a public community college in Ocean County,New Jersey. Its main campus is in Toms River. Other locations include the Southern Education Center in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township and multiple off-campus sites throughout Ocean County.
Jaynee LaVecchia is a former associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. She was nominated by Governor Christine Todd Whitman to serve on the court on January 6,2000 and was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate on January 10,2000. In 2007,she was reappointed with tenure by Governor Jon Corzine. Although she could have served until reaching the mandatory retirement age in 2024,LaVecchia retired from the Court effective December 31,2021.
Marcia A. Karrow is an American politician affiliated with the Republican Party. She is currently serving as the mayor of Flemington,New Jersey. She previously served in the New Jersey State Senate representing the 23rd Legislative District from February 9,2009 to November 23,2009. She previously served for three years in the General Assembly representing the same district she represented in the Senate.
Kathleen A. Donovan is an American politician who served as County Executive of Bergen County,New Jersey. She previously served as County Clerk of Bergen County,New Jersey for four terms,and one term in the New Jersey General Assembly. Donovan unsuccessfully sought support to run for Bergen County Executive in the 2002 Republican primary,and lost a campaign for the 2006 Republican nomination for County Executive. She ran again for County Executive in 2010,where she defeated incumbent Dennis McNerney,only to lose re-election in 2014 to Democratic challenger Jim Tedesco. Donovan is the last Republican to serve as County Executive of Bergen County,New Jersey.
Barbara Wright McConnell was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey,who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1978 to 1982 and in the cabinet of former Governor James Florio.
Leanna Brown was an American politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature,where she represented New Jersey's 26th legislative district,including parts of Morris and Passaic Counties. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate.
A general election was held in the U.S. state of New Jersey on November 3,2009. Primary elections were held on June 2. Most state positions were up in this election cycle,which includes all 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly,as well as Governor and Lieutenant Governor. In addition to the State Legislative elections,numerous county offices and freeholders in addition to municipal offices were up for election. There was one statewide ballot question. Some counties and municipalities may have had local ballot questions as well. Non-partisan local elections,some school board elections,and some fire district elections also happened throughout the year.
Christopher Jarvis Daggett is an American businessman who is the president and CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation,one of the largest foundations in New Jersey. A former regional administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,he ran as an independent candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 2009,garnering 5.8% of the vote.
The 1993 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 2,1993. Incumbent Democratic governor James Florio was narrowly defeated by Republican former Somerset County freeholder and 1990 U.S. Senate nominee Christine Todd Whitman. Primary elections were held on June 8,1993. In the Democratic primary,Governor Florio's only challenger,anti-tax activist John Budzash,was disqualified from the ballot due to invalid petition signatures. In the Republican primary,Whitman defeated W. Cary Edwards and James Wallwork.
The 2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey took place on November 6,2018,in order to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez won reelection to a third term over Republican businessman Bob Hugin,after the former's criminal trial ended in a mistrial.
Virginia E. "Ginny" Haines is an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey who serves on the Ocean County Board of County Commissioners. She had served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 to 1994 and had been appointed to head the New Jersey Lottery from 1994 to 2002.
John A. Villapiano is an American former professional football player who played in the World Football League and a Democratic Party politician who served on the Monmouth County,New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey General Assembly from 1988 to 1992.
Frank M. Pelly is an American politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 18th Legislative District from 1982 to 1991.
The 2017 New Jersey General Assembly elections were held on November 7,2017,to elect members to all 80 seats of the New Jersey General Assembly. Prior to the elections,Democrats held a 52–28 majority in the lower house. Overall,the Democrats increased their majority by 2 to a super-majority at 54–26,due to holding all their seats as well as picking up open seats in District 2 and District 16. This tied Democrats for their largest majority since 1979.
The 1981 New Jersey State Senate elections were held on November 3. The New Jersey legislature reapportioned its state legislative districts in advance of the 1981 election. The new districts resulted in many senators running for re-election in newly re-numbered districts. The election coincided with a tightly contested gubernatorial election between Thomas Kean and James Florio. Republicans gained five seats,narrowing the Democratic majority to 22-18.
