Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Stephen Sweeney
Stephen Sweeney (Democratic Party) was a member of the New Jersey State Senate, representing District 3. He assumed office in 2004. He left office on January 11, 2022.
Sweeney (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of New Jersey. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 10, 2025.
Sweeney became the state Senate president in 2009. From 1997 to 2010 he served on the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders.[1][2]
Before serving in public office, Sweeney was an ironworker and was active in the ironworkers' union.[3]
Biography
Sweeney graduated with a diploma from Pennsauken High School in Pennsauken, New Jersey.[4] His professional experience includes serving as the general organizer for the International Association of Ironworkers.[3] Sweeney served as the director of the Gloucester County Board of Freeholders from 1997 to 2010.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2015 legislative session
Note: As Senate President, Sweeney was not assigned to any standing committees.
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Sweeney served on the following committees:
| New Jersey committee assignments, 2010 |
|---|
| • Joint Budget Oversight |
| • Budget and Appropriations |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2025
See also: New Jersey gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2025
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Governor of New Jersey
Mikie Sherrill, Jack Ciattarelli, Vic Kaplan, and Joanne Kuniansky are running in the general election for Governor of New Jersey on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Mikie Sherrill (D) | |
 | Jack Ciattarelli (R) | |
 | Vic Kaplan (L) | |
| Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Karen Zaletel (Independent)
- Lily Benavides (G)
- Stephen Zielinski (G)
- Gerardo Cedrone (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 10, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mikie Sherrill | 34.0 | 286,244 |
 | Ras Baraka | 20.7 | 173,951 | |
 | Steve Fulop | 16.0 | 134,573 | |
 | Josh Gottheimer | 11.6 | 97,384 | |
 | Sean Spiller | 10.6 | 89,472 | |
 | Stephen Sweeney | 7.1 | 59,811 | |
| Total votes: 841,435 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 10, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jack Ciattarelli | 67.8 | 316,283 |
 | Bill Spadea | 21.7 | 101,408 | |
 | Jon Bramnick | 6.2 | 29,130 | |
 | Mario Kranjac | 2.7 | 12,782 | |
 | Justin Barbera | 1.4 | 6,743 | |
 | Hans Herberg (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Total votes: 466,346 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- James Fazzone (R)
- Roger Bacon (R)
- Monica Brinson (R)
- Robert Canfield (R)
- Edward R. Durr (R)
Endorsements
Sweeney received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- U.S. Rep. Herbert C. Conaway Jr. (D)
- U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D)
- Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
- International Longshoremen's Association
- Atlantic County (NJ) Democratic Commmittee
- Boilermakers Local 28
- Burlington County Democratic Committee
- Camden County (NJ) Democratic Committee
- Cumberland County (NJ) Democratic Organization
- Gloucester County Democratic Committee
- IBEW Local 351
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 25
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 30
- Southern New Jersey Building Trades and Construction Council
- UNITE HERE Local 54
- United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) local 88, 360, 312, 564B, 1282
- Ventnor Democratic Club
2021
See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2021
General election
General election for New Jersey State Senate District 3
Edward R. Durr defeated incumbent Stephen Sweeney in the general election for New Jersey State Senate District 3 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Edward R. Durr (R) | 51.7 | 33,761 |
| Stephen Sweeney (D) | 48.3 | 31,562 | |
| Total votes: 65,323 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 3
Incumbent Stephen Sweeney advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 3 on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stephen Sweeney | 100.0 | 8,595 |
| Total votes: 8,595 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 3
Edward R. Durr advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 3 on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Edward R. Durr | 100.0 | 8,393 |
| Total votes: 8,393 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2017
General election
Elections for the New Jersey State Senate took place in 2017. All 40 seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 6, 2017. The filing deadline for the primary election was April 3, 2017.[5][6] Incumbent Stephen Sweeney (D) defeated Fran Grenier (R) in the New Jersey State Senate District 3 general election.[7][8]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 3 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Stephen Sweeney Incumbent |
58.76% | 31,822 | |
| Republican | Fran Grenier | 41.24% | 22,336 | |
| Total Votes | 54,158 | |||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||||
Races we watched
Ballotpedia identified five races to watch in the New Jersey State Senate 2017 elections: four Democratic seats and one Republican seat. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
This district was a Race to Watch because the incumbent won by less than 10 percent in 2015. Moreover, the presidential candidate of the opposite party won the district in 2016 by 3.5 points. Incumbent Stephen Sweeney (D)—first elected in 2003 and elected as senate president in 2010—won re-election in 2013 by 9.6 points. He won re-election in 2011 by 11.2 points. District 3 was one of 12 New Jersey state legislative districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 3 by 3.5 points. Democrat Barack Obama won District 3 by 11.2 points. As of 2017, District 3 overlapped with the following counties: Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem. Gloucester and Salem are the two Pivot Counties in New Jersey. These counties voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012 and Trump in 2016.
Democratic primary election
Incumbent Stephen Sweeney ran unopposed in the New Jersey State Senate District 3 Democratic primary election.[9]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 3 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Stephen Sweeney Incumbent | ||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||
Republican primary election
Fran Grenier ran unopposed in the New Jersey State Senate District 3 Republican primary election.[9]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 3 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Fran Grenier | ||
| Source: New Jersey Department of State | ||
2013
State Senate
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013
Sweeney won re-election in the 2013 election for New Jersey State Senate District 3. Sweeney was unopposed in the June 4 Democratic primary and defeated Niki A. Trunk (R) in the general election on November 5, 2013.[10][11][12][13]
| New Jersey State Senate, District 3 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Stephen Sweeney Incumbent |
54.8% | 31,045 | |
| Republican | Niki A. Trunk | 45.2% | 25,599 | |
| Total Votes | 56,644 | |||
Governor
Sweeney briefly explored a bid for Governor of New Jersey in 2013. He initially confided in party members that he would enter the race only if the presumptive Democratic nominee, Mayor of Newark Cory Booker, declined to run, but then told The Huffington Post that his final decision would not depend on Booker's. Ultimately, Booker announced in December that he would not enter the race, and Sweeney followed on January 28, 2013, stating on his Facebook page that, rather than campaigning for governor, "my work now needs to be focused on ensuring the Legislature remains in Democratic control."[14][15][16]
2011
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011
Sweeney won re-election to the District 3 Senate seat in the 2011 election. Sweeney was unopposed for the June 7 Democratic primary. He defeated Michael Mulligan (R) in the general election, which took place on November 8, 2011.[17]
| New Jersey State Senate District 3 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Stephen Sweeney Incumbent |
55.6% | 25,299 | |
| Republican | Michael Mulligan | 44.4% | 20,197 | |
| Total Votes | 45,496 | |||
2007
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2007
In 2007, Sweeney was re-elected to the New Jersey State Senate District 3. Sweeney (D) finished with 29,908 votes and was followed by Mark Cimino (R) with 20,645 votes and William Mead with 1,635 votes.[18] Sweeney raised $1,296,848 for his campaign fund.[19]
| New Jersey State Senate District 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Stephen Sweeney (D)
|
29,908 | |||
| Mark Cimino (R) | 20,645 | |||
| William Mead | 1,635 | |||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Stephen Sweeney did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Stephen Sweeney did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Sweeney's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Our Economy and Jobs
Our Transportation System
Our Colleges and Universities
Our Public Education System
The Pension System
|
” |
| —Stephen Sweeney[21] | ||
State pensions
In February 2014, Sweeney responded to Governor Chris Christie's 2014 budget address and opposed any more new reforms to the state's retirement system, despite a $52 billion public pension debt.[22] “If we stay the course the pension system will be fine,” said Sweeney in an interview. “It’s not going to bankrupt us.” By contrast, Christie stated that previous pension overhauls did not go far enough.[22]
Outside campaign spending
Sweeney's election bid has been supported by the Democratic super PAC Fund for Jobs, Growth and Security. Over three weeks, the group purchased $312,000 in advertisements attacking Sweeney's opponent, Niki A. Trunk (R). Trunk's spokesperson dismissed the advertisements. Trunk's campaign spent about $30,000 on television ads during the election season prior to September 22, 2013.[23]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of New Jersey scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 11 to December 31.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 4 to January 11.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 14 to December 17.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 9, 2018, through January 14, 2020.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 9 through January 8, 2019.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the 217th New Jersey State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 10 through January 9, 2018.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the 217th New Jersey State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 12 through January 10, 2017.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the 216th New Jersey State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 13 through December 31.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 216th New Jersey State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 14 through January 12, 2015.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 215th New Jersey State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 10 to January 13, 2014.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 215th New Jersey State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 10 to January 9, 2013.
|
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sweeney and his wife, Patti, have two children.[24] They have resided in West Deptford, New Jersey.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ He was allowed to serve in the Senate and as a freeholder under a 2007 law allowing legislators serving in two positions to continue doing so even though the practice was banned for future officeholders.
- ↑ New Jersey Legislative District 3, "Steve Sweeney," accessed February 7, 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Facebook, "Stephen M. Sweeney's Facebook page," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ New Jersey State Legislature, "Biography of Stephen Sweeney," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2017 Primary Election Timeline," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Division of Elections, "Official List, Candidate for State Senate for Primary Election, June 6, 2017," accessed April 13, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Candidates for State Senate for General Election 11/07/2017 Election," accessed September 14, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2017 official general election results," accessed November 30, 2017
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 New Jersey Department of State, "Official Primary Results: State Senate," accessed July 14, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Official Primary Election Results," accessed July 26, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Official general election candidates," September 9, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press, "New Jersey - Summary Vote Results," November 6, 2013
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2013 Official General Election results," accessed December 5, 2013
- ↑ West Deptford Patch, "Steve Sweeney Won’t Run for Governor in ’13," January 28, 2013
- ↑ The Star-Ledger, "Sen. Sweeney to run for governor if Cory Booker declines, sources say," November 28, 2012
- ↑ The Huffington Post, "Steve Sweeney Considering Race For Governor Of New Jersey Against Chris Christie," December 6, 2012
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2011 Official State Senate Primary Candidate List," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "New Jersey State Senate 2007 general election results," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Campaign funds," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Senator Stephen Sweeney, "Policy and Issues," accessed August 14, 2017
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 WatchDog.org, "NJ Democrats rule out pension reform despite $52B debt," February 26, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "Democrats eye super PACs for state races," September 22, 2013
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed April 10, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
New Jersey State Senate District 3 2004-2022 |
Succeeded by Edward R. Durr (R) |
 |
State of New Jersey Trenton (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
