DemocratIn office since Nov 1997

Joe Vitale

New Jersey State Senator, District 19 since 1997. Next on the ballot in 2027.

New Jersey State Senator, District 19

In office
29 yrs
Since 1997
Bills became law
31
339 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
7.8%
Chamber median 2.7%
With party
100%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+26.4
Won 2023
Next election
2027
Nov 2, 2027

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens · chair

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 339 sponsored · 31 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
S 4413 Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program in DCF; requires school…
Became law Sep 2026
A 5223 Creates voluntary pilot program to allow certain facilities flexibility in their psychiatric bed status.
Became law Jul 2026
S 4407 Extends certain provisions relating to involuntary commitment.
Became law Jul 2026
A 4075 Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in international public health.
Became law Jul 2026
A 4852 Revises certain requirements for prescription of Schedule II controlled dangerous substances via…
Became law Jul 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Vitale sits in the New Jersey State Senate

Vitale is closer to the center than 32% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianVitaleMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Joe Lagana, Gordon Johnson, Troy Singleton

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:57 PM ET

With Vitale’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
  • Cosponsorships of the other party's bills8%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the New Jersey State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Vitale’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Vitale was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMargin
2023New Jersey State Senate, District 19WonD+26.4
2021New Jersey State Senate, District 19WonD+19.8
2017New Jersey State Senate, District 19Won—
2013New Jersey State Senate, District 19WonD+25.1
2011New Jersey State Senate, District 19WonD+33.7
2007New Jersey State Senate, District 19WonD+32.7
2003New Jersey State Senate, District 19WonD+30.9
2001New Jersey State Senate, District 19WonD+54.7
1997New Jersey State Senate, District 19WonD+20.4

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Vitale has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Vitale has run against

  • Maria Garcia (R) · 2023 general, won
  • Pedro Pisar (R) · 2021 general, won
  • Robert Luban (R) · 2013 general, won
  • Paul Lund Jr. (R) · 2011 general, won
  • Donald H. Nelsen Jr. (R) · 2007 general, won
  • Paul Danielczyk (R) · 2003 general, won

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Vitale

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET