David Wright (New Jersey)

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

David Wright

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Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Education

Bachelor's

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, 2009

Law

Widener University School of Law, 2012

Personal

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

David Wright (Democratic Party) ran for election to the New Jersey State Senate to represent District 9. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Wright completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

David Wright was born in Willingboro, New Jersey. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey in 2009 and a J.D. from the Widener University School of Law in 2012. His professional experience includes working as an attorney, working in the food service industry, and writing for The Sandpaper on Long Beach Island. Wright has served as a member of the New Jersey Association for Justice.

Elections

2021

See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2021

General election

General election for New Jersey State Senate District 9

Incumbent Christopher Connors defeated David Wright and Regina Discenza in the general election for New Jersey State Senate District 9 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christopher Connors (R)	69.4	62,401
	Submit photo	David Wright (D)	29.8	26,818
	Submit photo	Regina Discenza (Unaffiliated Best Choice Party)	0.8	701

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 89,920
= 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 9

David Wright advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 9 on June 8, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	David Wright	100.0	7,000

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,000
= 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 9

Incumbent Christopher Connors advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 9 on June 8, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christopher Connors	100.0	17,194

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,194
= 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

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

David Wright completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wright'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.

My name is David Wright and I am Democratic candidate for New Jersey State Senate in Legislative District 9 in the 2021 Election. I am an attorney in Manahawkin, representing injured workers and consumers whose rights have been violated. I have been married to my wife, Charlene, for ten years and we have one son (Woodrow) and two rescue dogs (Goober and Nibbler). Every day in legal practice I fight for the rights of people who have been injured and plan to do so as the 9th Legislative District's representative in the State Senate.

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?

• Change is needed in Trenton. My opponent or (his father) have held the Senate Seat in the 9th Legislative District for nearly 40 years.
• Our waterways and natural resources are one of this District's greatest assets and if elected I will do everything I can to ensure the protection and sustainability of our amazing resources.
• Education will be a primary focus if I am elected.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about the inclusion and protection of all people. No one should feel unsafe or unprotected in our society and if elected, I will strive to make changes that include rather than exclude.

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

Elected officials owe a duty to their constituents to legislate the way there constituents want. It is not the elected official's job to determine what is best for his constituents, rather it is the constituents that should determine the direction of an elected official.

What legacy would you like to leave?

If elected I want to be remembered as someone that cared about the impact that they made, not from a standpoint of personal accomplishments, but from a standpoint of making positive impacts on the residents of this state.

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

My first job was at my family's bagel restaurant on Long Beach Island when I was 13 or 14 years old. I worked there until the business was sold after a few summers, but I continued to work in the service industry at various restaurants on Long Beach Island from that time all the way through law school.

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

Hook by Blues Traveler

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I don't think prior government or political experience is any more beneficial to other types of experiences or backgrounds that different candidates bring to the table. While it may have benefits with regards to knowing the procedures for different administrative functions, but real world experience in dealing with real world issues is far more beneficial to an elected official.

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

Absolutely. If elected I will work tirelessly to forge relationships with anyone that is interested in improving the lives of residents of New Jersey. As an attorney my job is to be a communicator and work with people who have opposing views or interests to mine. This is a role that I perform on a regular basis and do so successfully.

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

I would like to be involved in committees that directly provide positive impacts to the lives of residents of New Jersey. The Judiciary committee, Environment and Energy Committee, and the Labor Committee are all committees to which I believe I would be a good addition.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim is an inspiration for what can be accomplished by working tirelessly to achieve great success. Congressman Kim has accomplished so much since being elected and it is obvious by the way he operates that he cares not just about himself or his position like so many politicians that we have seen over the years, but about the lives of his constituents.

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

2021 Elections

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the New Jersey State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Nicholas Scutari

Majority Leader:Teresa Ruiz

Minority Leader:Anthony Bucco

Senators

District 1

Mike Testa (R)

District 2

Vincent Polistina (R)

District 3

John Burzichelli (D)

District 4

Paul Moriarty (D)

District 5

Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)

District 6

James Beach (D)

District 7

Troy Singleton (D)

District 8

Latham Tiver (R)

District 9

Carmen Amato (R)

District 10

James Holzapfel (R)

District 11

Vin Gopal (D)

District 12

Owen Henry (R)

District 13

Declan O'Scanlon (R)

District 14

Linda Greenstein (D)

District 15

Shirley Turner (D)

District 16

Andrew Zwicker (D)

District 17

Bob Smith (D)

District 18

Patrick Diegnan (D)

District 19

Joseph Vitale (D)

District 20

Joseph Cryan (D)

District 21

Jon Bramnick (R)

District 22

Nicholas Scutari (D)

District 23

Doug Steinhardt (R)

District 24

Parker Space (R)

District 25

Anthony Bucco (R)

District 26

Joseph Pennacchio (R)

District 27

John McKeon (D)

District 28

Renee Burgess (D)

District 29

Teresa Ruiz (D)

District 30

Robert Singer (R)

District 31

Angela McKnight (D)

District 32

Raj Mukherji (D)

District 33

Brian Stack (D)

District 34

Britnee Timberlake (D)

District 35

Benjie Wimberly (D)

District 36

Paul Sarlo (D)

District 37

Gordon Johnson (D)

District 38

Joseph Lagana (D)

District 39

Holly Schepisi (R)

District 40

Kristin Corrado (R)

Democratic Party (25)

Republican Party (15)