Joann Downey | |
---|---|
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 11th district | |
In office January 12, 2016 – January 11, 2022 Serving with Eric Houghtaling | |
Preceded by | |
Succeeded by | |
Chair of the New Jersey General Assembly Committee on Human Services | |
In office January 9, 2018 – January 11, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Valerie Vainieri Huttle |
Personal details | |
Born | Joann Lillian Kagan[1] October 31, 1966 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Stephen Downey |
Education | |
Website | www |
Joann Kagan Downey (born October 31, 1966) is an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who represented the 11th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2016 to 2022. She later became a judge.[2]
Early life
Downey was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University in 1988, where she studied Political Science and English, a Juris Doctor from New York Law School in June 1991 and a Masters of Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work in 2005.[1][3] After graduating from Freehold Township High School, Downey was accepted to the New Jersey State Police, inspired by her father, who was a New Jersey State Trooper. Downey ultimately decided to pursue law school and prosecutorial work instead.[4] She went on to serve as Deputy State Attorney General, working in the Department of Children and Families. Downey cites this experience as the impetus that moved her to work toward her Masters in Social Work.[4]
New Jersey Assembly
Downey was elected to the General Assembly alongside running mate Eric Houghtaling in November 2015.[5] Their narrow victory was considered by many to be an unexpected upset.[6] In July 2018 Downey and fellow Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling accused fellow Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso of violating the Truth-In-Caller ID law while sending out robocalls.[7]
In 2021, Downey and Houghtaling narrowly lost their reelection bids in an upset to Republican candidates Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner.[8]
Electoral history
Assembly
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joann Downey | 31,347 | 27.7 | 2.5 | |
Democratic | Eric Houghtaling | 31,012 | 27.4 | 1.8 | |
Republican | Robert Acerra | 25,672 | 22.6 | 2.2 | |
Republican | Michael Whelan | 25,320 | 22.3 | 2.1 | |
Total votes | '113,351' | '100.0' |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Eric Houghtaling | 15,149 | 25.6 | 5.0 | |
Democratic | Joann Downey | 14,906 | 25.2 | 5.0 | |
Republican | Mary Pat Angelini | 14,653 | 24.8 | 5.3 | |
Republican | Caroline Casagrande | 14,418 | 24.4 | 4.7 | |
Total votes | '59,126' | '100.0' |
References
- ^ a b Ninety-Ninth Commencement Exercises. New York Law School. 9 June 1991. p. 18. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/nj-judges-can-rule-on-laws-they-authored-as-legislators.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "votesmart.org". Joann Downey's Biography. votesmart.org. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Meet the Leaders | February 19, 2016 - New Jersey | New Jersey Assemblywoman Joann Downey". www.meettheleaders.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
- ^ "Monmouth County Election Results 2015". Monmouth County Clerk's Office. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Johnson, Brent (3 November 2015). "Elections 2015: Democrats oust Republicans in Assembly's 11th District". nj.com. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "Ethics panel finds probable cause to investigate DiMaso". New Jersey Globe. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "Piperno, Eulner win Assembly seats in Monmouth in pickup for GOP". 14 November 2021.
- ^ "2017-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "2015-official-ge-results-nj-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- 1966 births
- Living people
- Freehold Township High School alumni
- Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly
- People from Freehold Township, New Jersey
- Politicians from Jersey City, New Jersey
- Politicians from Monmouth County, New Jersey
- Rutgers University alumni
- New Jersey lawyers
- New York Law School alumni
- Boston University School of Social Work alumni
- Women state legislators in New Jersey
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 21st-century American lawyers
- 21st-century American women politicians
- 21st-century members of the New Jersey Legislature