‍POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT PRESS RELEASE

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Contact Information:

Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ)

Matthew Caliente, President

mcaliente@newjerseyfirefighers.org

Release Date:
October 15, 2025

‍‍‍FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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PFANJ ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS FOR 2025 ASSEMBLY RACES

TRENTON, NJ – October 15, 2025 – The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ), continuing its advocacy for public safety and community well-being, today announced its initial endorsement of candidates running for election in the State Assembly. Spanning both Democrat and Republican parties, these cross-aisle endorsements recognize the candidates’ collaborative and successful efforts in passing critical legislation to significantly improve the lives, health, and working conditions of our state’s first responders.

The incumbents on this list have earned this endorsement through their pivotal roles in championing key bipartisan bills, notably:

• Periodic Cancer Screening Examinations for Career Firefighters
• Ricci World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery, and Cleanup Operations Act Extension
• Workers Compensation Presumptive Illness for Heart Attack and Stroke
• Workers Compensation Counseling 
• Updates to Fire Safety Standards

While the endorsed challengers represent the next generation of advocates whose platforms include a clear commitment to significantly improve the lives, health, and working conditions of the state’s first responders and public safety in our communities.

“When it comes to public safety, party lines disappear. The unwavering bipartisan support from our state lawmakers for our first responders proves a singular commitment to protecting everyone in our communities. Simply put: We support those who support us,” says PFANJ President Matthew Caliente. The incumbent Assembly members to receive the PFANJ endorsement are:

Legislative District 1

Erik Simonsen (R)

Antwan McClellan (R)

Legislative District 3

Heather Simmons (D)

David Bailey Jr. (D)

Legislative District 4

Dan Hutchison (D)

Cody Miller (D)

Legislative District 5

William Moen Jr. (D)

William Spearman (D)

Legislative District 6

Louis Greenwald (D)

Melinda Kane (D)

Legislative District 7

Carol Murphy (D)

Legislative District 10

Paul Kanitra (R)

Legislative District 12

Alex Sauickie (R)

Legislative District 14

Wayne DeAngelo (D)

Legislative District 15

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)

Anthony Verrelli (D)

Legislative District 16

Roy Freiman (D)

Mitchelle Drulis (D)

Legislative District 17

Kevin Egan (D)

Joseph Danielsen (D)

Legislative District 18

Robert Karabinchak (D)

Sterley Stanley (D)

Legislative District 19

Craig Coughlin (D)

Yvonne Lopez (D)

Legislative District 20

Annette Quijano (D)

Eduardo Rodriguez (D)

Legislative District 22

James Kennedy (D)

Linda Carter (D)

Legislative District 23

John DiMaio (R)

Erik Peterson (R)

Legislative District 25

Aura Dunn (R)

Legislative District 26

Brian Bergen (R)

Legislative District 27

Rosy Bagolie (D)

Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)

Legislative District 29

Eliana Pintor Marin (D)

Shanique Speight (D)

Legislative District 31

William Sampson (D)

Jerry Walker (D)

Legislative District 33

Gabriel Rodriguez (D)

Larry Wainstein (D)

Legislative District 34

Carmen Morales (D)

Michael Venezia (D)

Legislative District 36

Gary Schaer (D)

Clinton Calabrese (D)

Legislative District 38

Lisa Swain (D)

Christopher Tully (D)

Legislative District 39

Robert Auth (R)

Legislative District 40

Christopher DePhillips (R)

Al Barlas (R)

The General Election is November 4, 2025 with the early voting period taking place from October 25th through November 2nd.
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‍The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ), was established and chartered as a State Association by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) on October 29, 1929. It is a member of the AFL-CIO. The PFANJ represents nearly 3,500 Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Dispatchers, Fire Inspectors, Instructors, and HazMat Technicians though its over 60 locals. This includes over 3,000 of New Jersey’s approximately 6,000 professional firefighters. Its local affiliates represent first responders who work in dispatch centers, academies, airports, fire districts, suburban municipalities, and the state’s largest and busiest urban fire departments.

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