Timberlake Running For NJ Senate In 34th District: 2023 Election

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A self-described “affordable housing advocate and mom who answered the call to run for higher office” has officially thrown her hat into the ring for a state senate seat in the 34th District of New Jersey.

On Thursday, Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake announced that she is running for the vacant senate seat left behind by Sen. Nia Gill, who is now campaigning in the 27th District due to redistricting. Assemblyman Thomas Giblin – who has served in the 34th since 2006 – is now running in the 27th District as well. Read More: Gill vs. Codey: Democratic Primary Race Heats Up In NJ-27

The redrawn 34th District includes Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley and Orange.

Timberlake, a rising Democratic star in Essex County, will be running alongside Michael Venezia, the mayor of Bloomfield, and Carmen T. Morales, a Belleville resident employed as a school principal in Newark.

Venezia and Morales are seeking seats in the New Jersey Assembly, and all three have captured the party line.

Timberlake released a statement announcing her campaign, which can be seen below.

"After speaking with my husband, children, family, and friends, I have decided to run to be your next District 34 State Senator, which includes Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley, and Orange. I am always grateful to God for the opportunity to work hard for people, and am thankful the local, county, and state Democratic Committee has given me their support. I look forward to the campaign and governance with my running mates, Mike Venezia (Bloomfield) and Carmen T. Morales (Belleville).

“In just five years as your District 34 Assemblywoman, time and time again, my work has proven to be consistent with my slogan of putting ‘Principles Over Politics.’ At my core, I am an affordable housing advocate and a mom who answered the call to run for higher office. That is why, while on the inside, at the decision-making table, I unapologetically carry the message of the people with me and collaborate with my colleagues to make our society better; this approach has yielded positive change you can see and feel throughout New Jersey: I am proud to have been one of the prime sponsors of the country's strongest environmental justice law and the $15-an-hour minimum wage bill. I worked hard with advocates to get passed the law requiring New Jersey to have an independent investigation if someone loses their life during interaction with law enforcement. To name a few, my record also includes bills to beat back climate change, like the electric school bus pilot program, laws to expand housing access and equity creation, gain social justice, the expansion of women's rights and freedom, reduction of the maternal and infant death rates, and for insurance companies to pay for procedures like preserving male and female reproductive abilities when facing harsh radiation treatments for illnesses like cancer.

“Amongst many things, I am currently working on the Community Wealth Preservation Program bill to address the state's widest racial wealth gap exasperated by foreclosures; and am also working to "ban book banning" because everyone should be able to read what they want and see themselves represented in different forms of literature.

“My most successful work to secure funding revolves around the NJ State Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the new Affordable Housing Production Fund. Alongside grass-roots advocacy groups, we got the fund to go from $0 initially proposed to over $60 Million. We also gained an additional $305 Million in a newly created Housing Production Fund. In addition to housing, in collaboration, I have secured millions of dollars for infrastructure train station improvements, and funding for different programs and public education institutions.

“Standing on the side of workers' rights is crucial to me, which is why I have supported labor unions in the quest for collective bargaining and fair contracts. I have also supported legislation protecting our first responders, hospital workers, public school teachers, and more.

“During the pandemic, my staff and I secured PPE for our hospitals, helped hundreds of people with unemployment issues, and partnered with organizations to bring weekly food distributions to my represented towns. We also provided services to veterans.

“In a time when partisan politics has been a fruitless distraction throughout the country, while in the Assembly, I have intentionally built relationships across the aisle and am proud to have authored several bipartisan laws such as the one to cut down on excessive EZPass violations.

“In closing, I have always been about doing the job in partnership with the community vs. just holding a title. Going to the Senate will further allow us to simultaneously amplify the systemic issues of this great state while legislating the solutions. I am excited to be running so that together we can continue to put Principles over Politics for the advancement of all people in New Jersey. More about our campaign can be found at www.ElectTimberlake.com."

• See Related: NJ Assemblywoman Makes History As Youngest Committee Chair
• See Related: Assemblywoman Timberlake Nets 'Legislator of the Year Award'
• See Related: Fix This Deadly Stretch Of Road In The Oranges, Assemblywoman Says

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