NJ 16’s Jaffer Becomes 1st Muslim American Member Of NJ Assembly

PRINCETON, NJ — Former Montgomery Township Mayor Sadaf Jaffer was sworn into office on Tuesday, becoming one of the first Muslim American members of the New Jersey General Assembly.

Jaffer, along with fellow first-time legislator Shama Haider will be the first Muslim Americans elected to the New Jersey Legislature. Additionally, Jaffer, Haider and Ellen Park are the first Asian American women to serve in the New Jersey Legislature.

Jaffer joins Assemblyman Roy Freiman in representing the 16th Legislative District in Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, and Hunterdon Counties.

Jaffer received the oath of office from Speaker Pro Tempore Benjie Wimberly.

“I am truly honored that the people of New Jersey’s 16th Legislative District have entrusted me with the responsibility of representing them in the General Assembly,” Jaffer said in a statement. “I look forward to being a strong voice in Trenton on behalf of my constituents as I work with my fellow legislators to build a stronger, healthier and more prosperous future for New Jersey.”

Jaffer served two terms as the Mayor of Montgomery Township where she made history as the first South Asian American woman to serve as mayor in New Jersey and the first Muslim American woman to serve as mayor of a municipality in the country.

She is employed as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in South Asian Studies at Princeton University.

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