Shirley Turner
New Jersey State Senator, District 15 since 1997. Next on the ballot in 2027.
- In office
- 29 yrs
- Since 1997
- Bills became law
- 66
- 776 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 5.7%
- Chamber median 2.7%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +46.4
- 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.
- Economic Growth · vice chair
- Education · vice chair
- Legislative Services Commission
- Public Schools
- State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Sep 2026
Became law Sep 2026
Became law Aug 2026
Became law Jul 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Turner sits in the New Jersey State Senate
Turner is closer to the center than 44% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Paul Moriarty, Britnee Timberlake
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:57 PM ET
With Turner’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills17%
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: Turner’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Turner | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22, 2025 | A 3016: Allows follow-up communication by operators of mental health and suicide crisis resources… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 27–6 |
| Dec 18, 2025 | A 2316: Increases traffic threshold for local installation of certain speed humps on certain local… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 35–2 |
| Dec 18, 2025 | S 3776: Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 26–12 |
| Jun 30, 2025 | A 5463: Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 29–8 |
| Jun 30, 2025 | S 4476: Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 30–7 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Turner 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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+46.4 |
| 2021 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+44.4 |
| 2017 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+48.1 |
| 2013 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+26.7 |
| 2011 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+32.7 |
| 2007 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+25.5 |
| 2003 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+34.8 |
| 2001 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+39.4 |
| 1997 | New Jersey State Senate, District 15 | Won | D+7.8 |
| 1995 | New Jersey General Assembly, District 15 | Won | D+1.9 |
| 1993 | New Jersey General Assembly, District 15 | Won | D+1.9 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Turner has held
- New Jersey State Senate, District 15 · since 1997
- New Jersey General Assembly, District 15 · 1993–1997
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Turner has run against
- Roger R. Locandro (R) · 2023 general, won
- Susan Gaul (R) · 2021 general, won
- Lee Eric Newton (R) · 2017 general, won
- Don Cox (R) · 2013 general, won
- Donald J. Cox (R) · 2011 general, won
- Bob Martin (R) · 2007 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Turner
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/26eb8b3c-59a5-49ca-841c-13a569444994
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET