Jennifer Williams (New Jersey)

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Jennifer Williams

Nonpartisan

Trenton City Council North Ward

Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2029

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Marge Caldwell-Wilson

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Jennifer Williams is a member of the Trenton City Council in New Jersey, representing North Ward. Williams assumed office on January 1, 2023. Williams' current term ends on January 1, 2029.

Williams ran for re-election to the Trenton City Council to represent North Ward in New Jersey. Williams won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Elections

2024

See also: City elections in Trenton, New Jersey (2024)

General election

General election for Trenton City Council North Ward

Incumbent Jennifer Williams won election in the general election for Trenton City Council North Ward on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Williams (Nonpartisan)	100.0	2,187

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,187
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Williams in this election.

2022

See also: City elections in Trenton, New Jersey (2022)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Trenton City Council North Ward

Jennifer Williams defeated Algernon Ward in the general runoff election for Trenton City Council North Ward on December 13, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Williams (Nonpartisan)	50.1	428
	Submit photo	Algernon Ward (Nonpartisan)	49.9	427

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 855
= 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.
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General election

General election for Trenton City Council North Ward

Jennifer Williams and Algernon Ward advanced to a runoff. They defeated Merkle Cherry and Divine Allah in the general election for Trenton City Council North Ward on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Williams (Nonpartisan)	32.8	583
✔	Submit photo	Algernon Ward (Nonpartisan)	27.6	490
	Submit photo	Merkle Cherry (Nonpartisan)	21.7	385
	Submit photo	Divine Allah (Nonpartisan)	17.9	317

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,775
= 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.

2019

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2019

General election

General election for New Jersey General Assembly District 15 (2 seats)

Incumbent Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and incumbent Anthony S. Verrelli defeated Jennifer Williams, Robert Edward Forchion Jr., and Dioh Williams in the general election for New Jersey General Assembly District 15 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)	39.2	23,715
✔	Submit photo	Anthony S. Verrelli (D)	38.0	23,029
		Jennifer Williams (R)	16.0	9,698
	Submit photo	Robert Edward Forchion Jr. (Legalize Marijuana Party)	4.2	2,537
	Submit photo	Dioh Williams (Legalize Marijuana Party)	2.6	1,593

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 60,572
= 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 General Assembly District 15 (2 seats)

Incumbent Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and incumbent Anthony S. Verrelli defeated Alex Bethea in the Democratic primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 15 on June 4, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Verlina Reynolds-Jackson	46.7	5,919
✔	Submit photo	Anthony S. Verrelli	41.1	5,202
	Submit photo	Alex Bethea	12.2	1,545

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,666
= 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 General Assembly District 15 (2 seats)

Jennifer Williams advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 15 on June 4, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Williams	100.0	1,772

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,772
= 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.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jennifer Williams did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Jennifer Williams did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2019

Jennifer Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Williams' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Reducing taxes while lowering NJ's Cost of Living; Increasing economic opportunities for all New Jerseyans; Making New Jersey a fairer, safer state for everyone.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Poverty reduction, equal access to liberty and freedom, Stratification of urban New Jersey versus suburban New Jersey

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Nelson Mandela, because when he was finally freed from prison after several decades - he chose to unify his nation and bring all South Africans together to make their country a stronger, freer and more equitable nation without violence, revenge and harm to his former captors and their leaders. He saw a greater goal and kept his "eyes on the prize" despite much criticism. To me, that was an excellent example of wise, compassionate and forward-thinking leadership.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The film, Invictus, which was directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The book in which Invictus is based upon, Playing the Enemy, is a phenomenal one to read and I think reflects my views of having many voices at the table for decision-making, but one still having to make a hard decision at the end of the day and sticking by it against the odds.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, honesty, patience, vision, confidence and being a good listener.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Sense of fairness, moral clarity, tenaciousness, patience, inclusiveness and confidence.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To do the best you can to improve the lives and futures of your constituents so that they can be the best they can be in our community and greater world.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I helped to improve the lives of my fellow man and woman and made our world a better place.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

President Nixon resigning because of Watergate. I was six.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Delivering papers. I had it for several years, while going to school.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

The Fourth of July, because I live in one of the Thirteen Original Colonies and our country’s founding on July 4th, 1776 made it possible for me to have the freedoms and liberties that I have and cherish today.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Winds of War by Herman Wouk. Great, overarching story about the beginnings of World War II and how one person's life can be influenced by events and influence events.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My bookshelves of books. A greater world lives on my bookshelves in our family's living room.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The number of members representing the same district - two Assemblymembers, but only one Senator.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Costs of living and staying in New Jersey. Our state is becoming unaffordable and is increasingly becoming stratified into the only the rich and the poor incmany places.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

One of collaboration and respect, while remembering your goal should be serving the people you represent to the best of your ability. Without dogma or agenda.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, because you get better decision-making and solutions through having built up your relationship and trust with legislative colleagues. Otherwise, it is way too easy to simply fall into turf wars and act like governing is the Yankees versus the Red Sox on every decisin and vote.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I have some interests, but am not thinking that far ahead. I have to work hard and win my seat first.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Yes, I have heard from many people who are heart-broken that they will have to leave New Jersey because they can no longer afford to leave here. Especially from senior citizens. We must prevent that from happening to more seniors and I plan to help our Legislature do just that when I am elected.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Marge Caldwell-Wilson	Trenton City Council North Ward 2023-Present	Succeeded by -