New Jersey State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2023

New Jersey Legislative District 5

A district of about 239,000 people, 29% Hispanic, 26% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+31.5 relative to the nation for president.

2023 election

Nov 7, 2023
  1. Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D) · won69.6%
  2. Clyde E. Cook (R)30.4%

Full results →

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.

D+31.59th most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican21st seat · the majority lineDistrict 5

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

19 races since 1971. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.

YearWinnerRunner-upWon by
Lines first used in 2023
2023Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)Clyde E. Cook (R)39.3
Lines first used in 2012
2021Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)Clyde E. Cook (R)15.4
2017Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)Keith Walker (R)33.1
2015 specialNilsa Cruz-Perez (D)—Unopposed
2013Donald Norcross (D)Keith Walker (R)15.8
Lines first used in 2002
2011Donald Norcross (D)Keith Walker (R)13.7
2007Dana Redd (D)Hans Berg (R)25.8
2003Wayne R. Bryant (D)Sloan Elali (R)29.8
Lines first used in 1992
2001Wayne R. Bryant (D)Mary Ann T. Callahan (R)38.6
1997Wayne R. Bryant (D)Mel Suplee (R)43.9
1995 specialWayne R. Bryant (D)Mel Suplee (R)37.7
1993Walter Rand (D)Anthony J. Degerolamo (R)38.5
Lines first used in 1982
1991Walter Rand (D)Edwin A. Martinez (R)34.2
1987Walter Rand (D)Mary Jo Tate (R)36.7
1983Walter Rand (D)Gregory B. Montgomery (R)32.0
Lines first used in 1972
1981Walter Rand (D)John H. Lyons Jr. (R)43.9
1977Angelo J. Errichetti (D)Ernest J. Merlino (R)38.7
1973John J. Horn (D)Richard C. Hardenbergh (R)31.3
Lines first used in 1962
1971Richard R. Stout (R)Alfred N. Beadleston (R)0.1

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 5

The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 5's area in each.

U.S. House
NJ-1 100%
New Jersey General Assembly
LD-5 100%

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
PresidentD+4.2
U.S. SenateD+12.9

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 5.

Adults with a bachelor's degree26% 8th pct · 37th of 40 in NJ

Lower than 92% of seats.

White adults without a degree32% 64th pct · 15th of 40 in NJ

Higher than 64% of seats.

Hispanic residents29% 79th pct · 9th of 40 in NJ

Higher than 79% of seats.

Black residents20% 79th pct · 9th of 40 in NJ

Higher than 79% of seats.

Asian residents4% 21st pct · 32nd of 40 in NJ

Lower than 79% of seats.

People per square mile3,962 64th pct · 15th of 40 in NJ

Denser 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