Carmen Morales (New Jersey politician)

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.

Carmen Morales
Morales in 2025
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	(1977-10-13) October 13, 1977 (age 47)
Political party	Democratic
Education	Montclair State University Fairleigh Dickinson University Seton Hall University
Website	Legislative webpage

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