New Jersey State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2023
New Jersey Legislative District 38
A district of about 225,000 people, 23% Hispanic, 49% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+3.6 relative to the nation for president.
2023 election
Nov 7, 2023- Joe Lagana (D) · won57.1%
- Micheline B. Attieh (R)42.9%
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
17 races since 1973; the seat changed party 3 times. 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 Lagana (D) | Micheline B. Attieh (R) | 14.2 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2021 | Joe Lagana (D) | Richard Garcia (R) | 5.8 |
| 2018 special | No winner recorded | Joe Lagana (D) | — |
| 2017 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Kelly Langschultz (R) | 14.1 |
| 2013 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Fernando A. Alonso (R) | 3.8 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2011 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | John J. Driscoll Jr. (R) | 6.1 |
| 2007 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Robert Colletti (R) | 19.8 |
| 2003 | Joseph Congilio (D) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | 11.5 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2001 | Joseph Congilio (D)Flip | Louis F. Kosco (R) | 6.4 |
| 1997 | Louis F. Kosco (R) | Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D) | 13.0 |
| 1993 | Louis F. Kosco (R) | James Krone (D) | 26.6 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1991 | Louis F. Kosco (R)Flip | Paul Contillo (D) | 14.3 |
| 1987 | Paul Contillo (D) | Louis F. Kosco (R) | 5.3 |
| 1983 | Paul Contillo (D) | John B. Paolella (R) | 1.3 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1981 | John B. Paolella (R)Flip | John M. Skevin (D) | 4.5 |
| 1977 | John M. Skevin (D) | Frank A. Buono Jr. (R) | 12.2 |
| 1973 | John M. Skevin (D) | Frederick E. Wendel (R) | 15.2 |
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 38
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 38's area in each.
- New Jersey General Assembly
- LD-38 100%
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 38.
Higher than 72% of seats.
Lower than 51% of seats.
Higher than 64% of seats.
Lower than 67% of seats.
Higher than 85% of seats.
Denser than 74% 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 1448% college gradsD+13.0Not up in 2026District 39
63% college gradsR+0.3Not up in 2026District 26
57% college gradsR+7.3Not up in 2026District 40
60% college gradsR+5.4Not 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