Nicholas Scutari

Nicholas Scutari (Democratic Party) is a member of the New Jersey State Senate, representing District 22. He assumed office in 2004. His current term ends on January 11, 2028.

Scutari became the president of the New Jersey State Senate on January 11, 2022.^[1] He replaced Stephen Sweeney (D), the longest-serving Senate president in the state's history at 12 years, after Sweeney lost his re-election bid in 2021.^[2] Following his election as president, Scutari said, "That a poor kid from Linden who was raised by a single mom could one day be selected to be Senate president-elect is really just awe-inspiring."^[2]

Scutari earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Kean University, a master's degree in education from Rutgers University, and a law degree from Western Michigan University.^[3] He practiced personal injury law.^[4]

Scutari first took public office in 1994 following his election to the Linden Board of Education. In 1996, he was elected to the Union County Freeholder Board, where he served as Vice Chairman in 1998 and Chairman in 1999.^[5] From 2003 to 2020, Scutari was a municipal prosecutor in Linden.^[3]

Democratic leaders selected Scutari to replace Joseph Suliga (D) on the 2003 ballot for state Senate after Suliga dropped out of the race.^[6] Scutari defeated Martin Marks (R) 55%-45% in the 2003 general election. He won his seven re-election bids that followed by an average margin of 24.3 percentage points. Scutari served as deputy majority leader from 2018 to 2019 and majority whip from 2020 to 2021 before he became president.^[3]

Scutari said he told his friends when first elected in 2004, "I'm gonna legalize marijuana in New Jersey someday."^[7] His bills to legalize and tax marijuana in 2014 and 2017 did not pass.^[8] Introducing the 2017 bill, Scutari said, "It's absolutely necessary to save our neighborhoods from drug dealers. And we can use the tax revenue. And people are smoking it anyway."^[8] Voters approved a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in 2020. When Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed the implementing legislation into law in 2021, Scutari said, "This will usher in a new era of social justice by doing away with the failed policy that criminalized the use of marijuana."^[9]

On August 1, 2023, Scutari began serving as the acting Governor of New Jersey while Gov. Phil Murphy (D) was on vacation. Scutari took on this role after the death of the previous acting governor, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver on August 1, 2023.^[10] Scutari was acting governor on several more occasions thereafter.^[11]

Biography

Scutari earned his B.A. in psychology from Kean University, his Ed.M. in education from Rutgers University, and his J.D from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.^[12] His professional experience includes working as an attorney and as a prosecutor for Linden, New Jersey.^[13]

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.

2023-2024

Scutari was assigned to the following committees:

State Leasing and Space Utilization Committee, Chair

2020-2021

Scutari was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Scutari was assigned to the following committees:

Commerce Committee
Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Scutari served on the following committees:

New Jersey committee assignments, 2015
• Judiciary, Chair
• State Leasing and Space Utilization
• Commerce

2014 legislative session

In the 2014 legislative session, Scutari served on the following committees:

New Jersey committee assignments, 2014
• Judiciary, Chair
• Commerce

2010-2011

In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Scutari served on the following committees:

New Jersey committee assignments, 2010
• State Government, Chair
• State Leasing and Space Utilization
• Commerce
• Judiciary

Elections

2023

General election

General election for New Jersey State Senate District 22

Incumbent Nicholas Scutari defeated William Michelson in the general election for New Jersey State Senate District 22 on November 7, 2023.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Nicholas Scutari (D)	66.2	23,876
	William Michelson (R)	33.8	12,189

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 36,065
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 22

Incumbent Nicholas Scutari advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 22 on June 6, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nicholas Scutari	100.0	10,012

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,012
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 22

William Michelson advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 22 on June 6, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		William Michelson	100.0	2,376

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,376
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Scutari in this election.