New Jersey State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2023
New Jersey Legislative District 26
A district of about 228,000 people, 57% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+7.3 relative to the nation for president.
2023 election
Nov 7, 2023- Joe Pennacchio (R) · won56.8%
- Joan Waks (D)43.2%
Source: New Jersey Division of ElectionsUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 1:01 PM ET
Where it sits among all 40 seats
Every New Jersey State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
16 races since 1973; the seat changed party 1 time. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2023 | |||
| 2023 | Joe Pennacchio (R) | Joan Waks (D) | 13.5 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2021 | Joe Pennacchio (R) | Christine Clarke (D) | 17.9 |
| 2017 | Joe Pennacchio (R) | Elliot Isibor (D) | 13.0 |
| 2013 | Joe Pennacchio (R) | Avery Hart (D) | 30.0 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2011 | Joe Pennacchio (R) | Wasim Khan (D) | 31.5 |
| 2007 | Joe Pennacchio (R) | Wasim Khan (D) | 32.8 |
| 2003 | Robert J. Martin (R) | Daniel L. Grant (D) | 31.9 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2001 | Robert J. Martin (R) | Paul E. Pinneyk (D) | 31.7 |
| 1997 | Robert J. Martin (R) | Virginia P. Bauer (I) | 85.2 |
| 1993 | Robert J. Martin (R) | Drew Britcher (D) | 38.8 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1991 | Leanna Brown (R) | Drew Britcher (D) | 56.3 |
| 1987 | Leanna Brown (R) | Helen Litwin (D) | 48.2 |
| 1983 | Leanna Brown (R) | Anthony Calvino (D) | 36.4 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1981 | James P. Vreeland (R)Flip | Benjamin Steltzer (D) | 39.8 |
| 1977 | Frank J. Dodd (D) | Nancy Jane Schron (R) | 50.7 |
| 1973 | Frank J. Dodd (D) | Salvatore J. Beninati (R) | 50.2 |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 26
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 26's area in each.
- New Jersey General Assembly
- LD-26 100%
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| President | R+8.3 |
| U.S. Senate | R+7.4 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 40 seats. Small marks are other seats in New Jersey. The black marker is District 26.
Higher than 87% of seats.
Higher than 59% of seats.
Lower than 82% of seats.
Lower than 90% of seats.
Higher than 79% of seats.
Less dense than 64% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 3963% college gradsR+0.3Not up in 2026District 40
60% college gradsR+5.4Not up in 2026District 13
53% college gradsR+13.5Not up in 2026District 38
23% Hispanic · 49% college gradsD+3.6Not up in 2026
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET