Bob Andrzejczak

Robert John "Bob" Andrzejczak (born May 1, 1986) is an American Democratic Party politician who represented the 1st Legislative District in the New Jersey State Senate from January 15, 2019, when he was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Jeff Van Drew, until December 5, 2019. Andrzejczak previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly from March 21, 2013, to January 14, 2019, when he was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Matthew W. Milam.

Bob Andrzejczak
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 1st district
In office
January 15, 2019 – December 5, 2019
Preceded byJeff Van Drew
Succeeded byMike Testa
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 1st district
In office
March 21, 2013 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byMatthew Milam
Succeeded byMatthew Milam
Chair of the Assembly Agriculture
and Natural Resources Committee
In office
January 14, 2014 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byNelson T. Albano[1]
Succeeded byEric Houghtaling[2]
Personal details
Born (1986-05-01) May 1, 1986
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseTrisha Andrzejczak
Children2
Residence(s)Middle Township, New Jersey, U.S.
WebsiteLegislative website
Military service
Years of service2005–2010
Rank Sergeant
Unit25th Infantry Division
Battles/warsIraq War
Awards Bronze Star
Purple Heart

Early life

Andrzejczak was raised in the North Cape May section of Lower Township, New Jersey, and graduated from Lower Cape May Regional High School in 2004. He attended the Williamson College in Media, Pennsylvania, before joining the United States Army in 2005.[3] Andrzejczak had served in the Iraq War as a sergeant in the Army's 25th Infantry Division until his discharge following an injury from a grenade explosion which led to the amputation of his left leg in 2009. As a result, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star; his recovery was featured on a 2009 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.[3][4][5] Following his return from military service, Andrzejczak joined the Cape May Veterans of Foreign Wars where he became active in veterans' issues.[3]

New Jersey Assembly

After Matthew W. Milam resigned from his seat in the Assembly on February 28, 2013,[6] Andrzejczak was appointed to the Assembly after being selected by Democratic committee members from Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. He was sworn in on March 21, 2013, and subsequently won election to a full term in 2013.[4] Andrzejczak is a resident of Middle Township. He is married to his wife Trisha, with whom he has two children.[3] He resigned from the Assembly on January 14, 2019.

Committee assignments
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources [7]
  • Military and Veteran Affairs
  • Intergovernmental Relations Commission

New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Legislative District 1

On November 5, 2018, 1st District State Senator Jeff Van Drew won a seat to the United States House of Representatives, creating a vacancy for his state senate seat.[8] On January 6, 2019, Van Drew formally nominated Bob Andrzejczak for his replacement, which the Democratic Committees of the 1st Legislative District approved unanimously.[9] On January 15, the state senate formally swore in Andrzejczak as state senator.[10]

Tenure

Andrzejczak has said he is opposed to the legalization of Marijuana in 2019.[11] The Chairman of the Cumberland County GOP Mike Testa has announced he would challenge Andrzejczak in the 2019 special election. In the first quarter of 2019 Testa out-raised Andrzejczak 6 to 1.[12] Testa went on to beat Andrzejczak in the November special election.[13]

Committee assignments
  • Military and Veterans Affairs [14]
  • Joint Committee on Public Schools
  • Budget and Appropriations

District 1

New Jersey's 1st Legislative District encompasses parts of Atlantic County, New Jersey, Cumberland County, New Jersey, and all of Cape May County, New Jersey. The current representatives from the 1st district to the 218th New Jersey Legislature are:

Electoral history

New Jersey Senate
2019 special election [15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Testa 27,163 53.5 Increase 19.5
Democratic Bob Andrzejczak (incumbent) 23,636 46.5 Decrease 18.3
Total votes 50,799 100.0

New Jersey Assembly
2017 New Jersey general election[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Andrzejczak (incumbent) 32,554 31.2 Increase 3.3
Democratic R. Bruce Land (incumbent) 30,938 29.7 Increase 3.3
Republican James R. Sauro 20,445 19.6 Decrease 3.0
Republican Robert G. Campbell 20,250 19.4 Decrease 3.8
Total votes 104,187 100.0
2015 New Jersey general election[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Andrzejczak (incumbent) 20,231 27.9 Increase 0.7
Democratic R. Bruce Land 19,140 26.4 Increase 2.2
Republican Sam Fiocchi (incumbent) 16,818 23.2 Decrease 1.8
Republican Jim Sauro 16,395 22.6 Decrease 0.9
Total votes 72,584 100.0
2013 New Jersey general election[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Andrzejczak (incumbent) 29,958 27.2 Increase 2.2
Republican Sam Fiocchi 27,539 25.0 Increase 1.2
Democratic Nelson Albano (incumbent) 26,611 24.2 Decrease 3.7
Republican Kristine Gabor 25,903 23.5 Increase 0.1
Total votes 110,011 100.0

References
  1. "New Jersey Legislature Committees and Membership 2014-2015 Legislative Session". njleg.state.nj. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  2. "New Jersey Legislature Committees and Membership 2018-2019 Legislative Session". njleg.state.nj. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  3. Avedissian, Eric (May 20, 2015). "A soldier's story: Bob Andrzejczak lost a leg, not his resolve". Ocean City Sentinel. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  4. Woods, Don E. "Robert Andrzejczak will take oath to replace Matt Milam in First District", South Jersey Times, March 19, 2013. Accessed April 10, 2013. "The First Legislative District Democrats will officially welcome a new member to their team this Thursday.Robert Andrzejczak is scheduled to be sworn as an assemblyman at the Statehouse in Trenton to fill the seat left vacant after the resignation of Assemblyman Matt Milam, D-1st Dist., on Feb. 28."
  5. Campbell, Al. "Milam Retires, Andrzejczak Gets Dem's Nod for Assembly", Cape May County Herald, February 28, 2013. Accessed April 10, 2013. "A video clip was shown on monitors throughout the restaurant of the Army veterans with Oprah Winfrey as he went through physical therapy after losing his leg when an enemy grenade was hurled at the vehicle in which he was riding.... Andrzejczak received a host of medals for his service and heroism, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star."
  6. Woods, Don E. "Milam resigns from Assembly seat in First Legislative District", South Jersey Times, February 28, 2013. Accessed March 15, 2013. "In a shakeup in the First Legislative District, Democrat Assemblyman Matt Milam announced tonight that he was resigning.... He will a replaced on the ticket by Bob Andrzejczak, 26, of Middle Township."
  7. "Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak". njleg.state.nj. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  8. "Jeff Van Drew wins New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District seat". The Washington Post. November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  9. "It's a game of musical chairs in 1st Legislative district after Van Drew heads to Washington". NJ.com. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  10. "Andrzejczak to Fill 1st District Senate Vacancy Today". Insider NJ. January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  11. "Murphy six votes short on Senate weed vote". newjerseyglobe.com. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  12. "Testa outraises Andrzejczak 6-1". Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  13. "Testa to join senate next week". newjerseyglobe.com. November 29, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  14. "Senator Bob Andrzejczak (D)". njleg.state.nj. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  15. "NJ State Senate 01 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  16. "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2017 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 29, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  17. "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly for GENERAL ELECTION 11/03/2015 Election" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  18. "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly for GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2013 Election" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
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