In a surprising move that will shake up GOP leadership in Trenton, State Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho said he will not seek re-election joining a growing number of North Jersey lawmakers deciding to not run this year.
Oroho’s decision has led Parker Space, who had previously stated he would not seek reelection as an Assemblyman, to announce that he will attempt to return to Trenton as a State Senator.
The decision by Oroho was a shock as just over two weeks ago the Sussex County lawmaker announced that he would seek a ninth term. Now the 24th Legislative will have at least three lawmakers in new roles as Assemblyman Harold Wirths had earlier announced their intentions to not seek reelection in 2023 as well.
“I recently announced my intention to seek reelection to the New Jersey State Senate, but circumstances have changed and I’ve made a personally difficult decision that I will not be a candidate for re-election,” Oroho said in a press statement released Jan. 30. “It was a difficult decision, however, one particular thought that kept gnawing at me was the commitment of completing a four-year term. If I cannot readily commit to completing the whole term, it’s not fair to the voters and inappropriate for me to run.”
Family, Health Issues Cited
The North Jersey lawmaker said with the birth of a 10th grandchild and recovering from a recent unspecified illness, the decision became clear to him to not run this year.
“I have made my decision for a number of personal reasons that I will mainly keep private,” he said. “I am comfortable that I am making the right decision for my family and me…It’s time for me to be a more attentive Pop Pop.”
Space Re-Entry
Space became the first Republican to announce his intentions to run for the seat.
“After considering the impact of the combined departure of Steve, Hal and myself, I’m troubled that the district will be left with no continuity of service so I am declaring myself a candidate for the open Senate seat for District 24,” Space said. “I know the tremendous service that our joint district office provides to the residents of the district and I think it’s very important for that to continue.”
Among the GOP names that had been mention for Assembly that could change course and run for the upper chamber include Sussex County Commissioners Dawn Fantasia and Chris Carney, Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski, Chester Mayor-elect Michael Inganamort, Lafayette Board of Education President Josh Aikens, and former GOP nominee for U.S. Senate Steve Lonegan
Value of Experience
Oroho noted that when he first entered politics, he believed in term limits. But now in his 16th year in the New Jersey Legislature and his 22nd year in elected office overall, he has come to value that which comes with experience.
“When I first ran for the State Senate, expected that I would serve no more than ten years, mainly because I believed in some sort of term limits,” he said. “Having now served in different legislative roles, I have come to appreciate and understand that the opportunities and strategic knowledge that comes with legislative experience is very valuable.”
The exit of Oroho, Wirths and Space from their seats opens up the race in the 24th Legislative District, a Republican stronghold. Oroho offered that “no one elected official is indispensable,” and that the bench the GOP has in the district includes “many talented individuals are ready to take up the mantle when given the opportunity.”
Wirths Comments
Wirths said that he was saddened to hear that Oroho would not be continuing his tenure in the Legislature beyond this year.
“Our district and state was very well served by his knowledge, commitment and steadfast ability to get things accomplished. Steve was fair and would work with anyone who shared an interest on any given subject,” Wirths said, who first served with Oroho on the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. “No one was more skilled on budgetary issues and from a good government perspective, our state will miss not having his eyes on state budget matters come next year.”
“But what I most treasure is our friendship and I can at least take a bit of solace from today’s news in knowing that we’ll both have some more free time next year to enjoy things we’ve been missing.”
Work Still to Be Done
Oroho noted one of goals is to achieve a Republican majority in both statehouses this year.
“I pledge that I will continue to work incessantly to try to achieve a Republican majority in the State Legislature,” he said. “If we are ultimately successful, that will be an accomplishment for me to cherish. If we come up short, then it will naturally be time for someone else to take up the task.”
The State Senate minority leader, who took over the role from Tom Kean Jr. in 2021, admitted in his statement at being “frustrated” while a member of the minority” but was proud of his accomplishments during his tenure.
“I felt I was still able to work collaboratively to affect positive outcomes for my constituents and state residents alike,” he said. “There are many issues I wish I could have pushed further along, but I’ll leave knowing I was persistent and always tried my best.”
North Jersey Changes
Besides Oroho and Wirth, other North Jersey lawmakers that will not be on the ballot this November include State Sen. Nick Sacco (D-32) and Assembly members Kevin Rooney (R-40), Angelica Jimenez (D-32), and Pedro Mejia (D-32).
Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-33) is running for the newly redrawn State Senate seat in the 32nd Legislative District.
Still to be decided for Dems is State Senate seat in the 27th and 34th. State Sens. Richard Codey (D-27) and Nia Gill (D-34) have been drawn into the new 27th. The former governor is expected to run while Gill’s decision has not be publicly decided.
As for the 34th, Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake is reportedly eyeing a State Senate campaign that would leave an Assembly seat open next to Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, who was redrawn from the 28th.
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