TJ Senger

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

TJ Senger

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 6, 2023

Education

High school

Bayonne High School

Bachelor's

Centenary University, 2007

Personal

Birthplace

Secaucus, N.J.

Religion

Agnostic

Profession

Realtor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

TJ Senger (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Hudson County Board of County Commissioners to represent District 1 in New Jersey. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 6, 2023.

Senger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

TJ Senger was born in Secaucus, New Jersey. Senger earned a bachelor's degree from Centenary University in 2007. His career experience includes working as a realtor. Senger has been affiliated with Exit Realty.

Elections

2023

See also: Municipal elections in Hudson County, New Jersey (2023)

General election

General election for Hudson County Board of County Commissioners District 1

Incumbent Kenneth Kopacz defeated Leandro LaChica in the general election for Hudson County Board of County Commissioners District 1 on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Kenneth Kopacz (D)	74.3	5,034
	Submit photo	Leandro LaChica (R)	25.1	1,699
		Other/Write-in votes	0.6	41

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,774
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Hudson County Board of County Commissioners District 1

Incumbent Kenneth Kopacz defeated TJ Senger in the Democratic primary for Hudson County Board of County Commissioners District 1 on June 6, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Kenneth Kopacz	82.5	3,045
		TJ Senger	17.4	643
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	4

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,692
= 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 Hudson County Board of County Commissioners District 1

Leandro LaChica advanced from the Republican primary for Hudson County Board of County Commissioners District 1 on June 6, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Leandro LaChica	95.7	540
		Other/Write-in votes	4.3	24

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 564
= 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.

Endorsements

Senger received the following endorsements.

• Our Revolution New Jersey
• Progressive Democrats of New Jersey
• Run for Something

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

TJ Senger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Senger's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a born and raised Hudson County resident. I've been helping the people of Bayonne and beyond with all their real estate concerns and needs. I've focused on renters and love the challenge that brings. I've been involved with local politics since 2020 but have been an avid follower of political science trends since college.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Sustainable Housing Practises for All. Low-Income Housing Trusts, Senior Housing Development, and Rights for Renters
• Budget Clarity and Oversight. The county's spending habits need some level of scrutiny and efficiencies must be found to try and actually save residents some money.
• Public Safety. Pedistrians are facing an increasingly hostile road system in Hudson County, and something needs to be done to protect those that choose to not use cars to get around. Speed limiters, bus lanes, safer crossings.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

First, keeping public green spaces public. There's a campaign to turn Liberty State Park into some private complex lead by a billionaire. It's nonsense, and if they were so altruistic about things, they would invest in improving existing sport facilities across Hudson County.

Second is a county-wide initiative to best help municipalities navigate the new recreation marijuana industry. There's some unevenness in the county on where and how to best approach legal weed and mismanagement could be a long term loss nobody seems to be talking about.

Lastly, aiding the municipalities to spur improvement. The County Commissioners, formerly Freeholders, have been fairly hands-off and left the cities to themselves outside of major crisis. If a project that would improve a community, but requires some initial investment, like remediation of lead and asbestos, the county with their budget surplus should be able to help that municipality with a loan. The county is there to help the cities on more than just making sure the county parks look nice or the sheriff's office gets bulk gas.

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

I think there's a lot of great people out there that are positive examples of wanting to make things better. My grandfather used to have a saying that he learned while in service in World War 2. "Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out." And we need more people in office willing to stick their necks out for progress.

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

I haven't done much research to see if there is indeed one book or concept behind my thoughts on politics. I'm sure there is, I just haven't found it. There's a meme about positive masculinity showcasing Steve Irwin, Mr. Rodgers, Jim Henson, Stan Lee, Bob Ross, and Levar Burton. Their contributions to media showing guys that want to make things better is an inspiration.

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

A willingness to listen and communicate. I don't know the answers to a lot of questions, but I'm honest about that lack of knowledge and am willing to learn more about it. I think it's okay to not know and to learn every day.

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

I'm open to listening, can admit when I'm wrong and can learn from that, and I'm not afraid to be stubborn over something if it's worth fighting for.

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

To serve their community equitably and work to solve problems that affect everyone. To earn their votes in the next election by working with them and being available to speak with.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Physically? Bus Lanes and Pedestrian Bridges.

More social legacy was of open communication and for people to expect that from their elected officials.

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

9/11 when I was 16. The Invasion of Iraq and Afganistan when I was 18. The 2008 Financial collapse when I was 23. I turned 35 when Covid shut everything down in 2020. Jan 6 before I was 36.

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

My first job was as a stockboy at a deli and then moved to food prep. I think I was hired because I was over 6 feet tall and could get the stuff off the top shelves without a stepladder. It was a summer gig between semesters at college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I enjoy Hemingway. I liked that he was not like usual writers and kind of inspired me to get into creative writing as a kid.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Not sure! I think there's some good choices, but, nothing I'd find escape from.

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

This acoustic version of Gin and Juice, the song by Snoop Dogg. I was grocery shopping and just started singing to himself.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I've noticed that it's harder to live in our area, and for a combination of grace and luck, I can. Others can't, and that's something I get frustrated about.

Tell us your favorite joke.

There's too many good memes to pick just one.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

We are waiting endorsement from a few local and state level Progressive groups.

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.

See also

2023 Elections

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Candidate

Hudson County Board of County Commissioners District 1

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