Mike Testa | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Andrzejczak |
| Chair of the Cumberland County Republican Party | |
| Assumed office July 19, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Greco |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1, 1976 Vineland, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Julie Barber |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Villanova University (BA, JD) Temple University (LLM) |
| Website | Legislative webpage |
Michael L. Testa Jr. (born May 1, 1976) is an American politician and lawyer who represents the 1st Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate. A Republican, Testa was elected to the state senate on November 5, 2019 in the special election to fill the remaining 14 months of the unfinished term of Jeff Van Drew, who won a seat to the United States House of Representatives in 2018. He was sworn into office on December 5, 2019.[1]
Background
Testa was born in Vineland, New Jersey, on May 1, 1976.[2][3] He is the great-grandson of Italian immigrants on his father's side, and his mother is a Polish Jew who was born to parents who had met each other in a concentration camp.[4] Testa received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University, and a Master of Laws degree from Temple University.[2]
Testa is a partner at the law firm of Testa Heck Testa and White, P.A.[2] He was elected as chairman of the Cumberland County GOP in 2014, after serving as vice chairman for three years. From 2006 to 2008, Testa was a member of the Vineland Downtown Improvement District/Main Street Vineland. He has also been a chairman of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties, and board president of Vineland Regional Dance.[5]
New Jersey Senate
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.[6] On November 20, Testa announced he would run for the special election for the remainder of Van Drew's State Senate term.[5] President Donald Trump recorded robocalls for Testa in his state senate election, which were sent out on the day before election day.[7]
Tenure
Testa was sworn into the Senate on December 5, 2019, by Senate President Steve Sweeney. After Rep. Jeff Van Drew switched to the Republican Party, Testa endorsed Van Drew.[8]
Committee assignments
- Budget and Appropriations
- Labor
In October 2019, President Donald Trump named Testa, along with State Senate Minority Whip Joseph Pennacchio, as co-chairs for the president's re-election bid.[9]
Personal life
Testa and his wife Julie, a former Miss New Jersey, live in Vineland. They have three children.[10][9]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Testa | 27,163 | 53.5 |  19.5 | |
| Democratic | Bob Andrzejczak (incumbent) | 23,636 | 46.5 | ||
| Total votes | 50,799 | 100.0 | |||
References
- ↑ Biryukov, Nikita. "Testa sworn in Cumberland County GOP chairman takes Senate seat", New Jersey Globe. December 5, 2019. Accessed December 5, 2019.
- 1 2 3 "Senator Michael L. Testa Jr. (R)". New Jersey Legislature. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ↑ Furman, Harrison (February 12, 2020). "Senator Michael Testa to speak as part of new JCRC series". Jewish Community Voices.
- ↑ About Mike, Mike Testa for State Senate. Accessed January 14, 2020. "On Mom’s side, my grandparents were Polish Jews who met in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II and were, thank God, freed by Allied soldiers. After the war, they came to the United States, where my Mom was born. They settled in Buena and my family ran a chicken farm that I fondly recall playing at as a kid."
- 1 2 Joseph P. Smith. "Testa running for N.J. Senate in 1st District".
- ↑ "Jeff Van Drew wins New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District seat". The Washington Post. November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ↑ "Trump records robocall to help Testa Senate bid". New Jersey Globe. November 4, 2019.
- ↑ "Testa backs Van Drew". New Jersey Globe. January 9, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- 1 2 Graney, Gary (October 16, 2019). "Trump campaign names Pennacchio, Testa to head NJ campaign". New Jersey Globe.
- ↑ "Michael Testa's Biography | Senator Michael Testa | New Jersey's 1st Legislative District". SenateNJ.com. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ↑ "NJ State Senate 01 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 5, 2019.