Clinton Calabrese (born March 4, 1986) is an American Democratic Party politician who has represented the 36th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly[1] since February 10, 2018, when he was sworn in to replace Marlene Caride, who resigned from office after being nominated to serve as head of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Calabrese had served on the Board of Education of the Cliffside Park School District.[2] He has been the Assembly's Deputy Whip since 2022.[1]

Clinton Calabrese
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 36th district
Assumed office
February 8, 2018
Serving with Gary Schaer
Preceded byMarlene Caride
Personal details
Born (1986-03-04) March 4, 1986 (age 38)
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceCliffside Park, New Jersey
Alma materSaint Joseph's University and New York University
OccupationPrincipal, Alkova Companies
WebsiteLegislative web page

Background

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A resident of Cliffside Park, Calabrese graduated from Don Bosco Preparatory High School in 2004,[3] attended Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, and New York University, where he received a master's degree in real estate finance. Calabrese had been an analyst for Deutsche Bank and works as a principal for Alkova Companies, a real estate investment firm. Calabrese is the son of Gerald Calabrese Jr., the chairman of the Cliffside Park Democratic Party, and the grandson of Gerald Calabrese, a former professional basketball player who served for 50 years as mayor of Cliffside Park.[2]

New Jersey Assembly

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In December 2017, Marlene Caride was nominated by incoming governor Phil Murphy to head the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, a cabinet-level position,[4] and resigned from office in January 2018.[5] After being chosen by Democratic county committee members from Bergen County and Passaic County to fill the vacancy, Calabrese was sworn in to office on February 8, 2018, to succeed Caride.[2] When he first took office at 31-years-old, Calabrese was the youngest serving member in the General Assembly.[2]

Committees

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Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[1]

  • Transportation and Independent Authorities (as chair)
  • Tourism, Gaming and the Arts (as vice-chair)

District 36

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Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.[6] The representatives from the 36th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[7]

Legislation

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In the 2018–2019 legislative session, Calabrese was primary sponsor on the following bills signed into law:

  • A-4031 Requires display of identifying information on rear of school bus so public may report bus driver misconduct.[8]
  • A-4229 Applies Meadowlands regional hotel use assessment to all municipalities that participate in Meadowlands tax sharing program.[9]
  • A-4707 Directs Department of Agriculture to establish public awareness campaign for food waste.[10]

Electoral history

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36th Legislative District General Election, 2023[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clinton Calabrese (incumbent) 18,228 30.6
Democratic Gary S. Schaer (incumbent) 18,072 30.3
Republican Craig Auriemma 11,761 19.7
Republican Joseph Viso Jr. 11,546 19.4
Total votes 59,607 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic hold
36th legislative district general election, 2021[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gary S. Schaer (incumbent) 24,654 28.40%
Democratic Clinton Calabrese (incumbent) 24,137 27.80%
Republican Joseph Viso Jr. 19,025 21.91%
Republican Craig Auriemma 19,008 21.89%
Total votes 86,824 100.0
Democratic hold
36th Legislative District General Election, 2019
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gary Schaer (incumbent) 14,990 30.86%
Democratic Clinton Calabrese (incumbent) 14,901 30.68%
Republican Foster Lowe 9,350 19.25%
Republican Khaldoun Androwis 9,336 19.22%
Total votes 47,346 100%
Democratic hold
36th Legislative District Special Election, 2018[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clinton Calabrese (incumbent) 36,914 63.8%
Republican Marc Marsi 20,946 36.2%
Total votes 57,860 100%
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ a b c Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Johnson, Brent. "Meet the newest – and youngest – N.J. lawmaker", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 8, 2018. Accessed February 10, 2018. "The newest member of the New Jersey Legislature is also the youngest – and hails from a storied Bergen County political family. Clinton Calabrese, a 31-year-old Democrat and Cliffside Park resident who once served on the borough's school board, was sworn in Thursday to serve in the state Assembly. He was appointed to replace Marlene Caride, a Democrat who is new Gov. Phil Murphy's nominee to serve as commissioner of the state Department of Banking and Insurance."
  3. ^ Dietel, Craig. "Clinton Calabrese '04 Named to 2018 Insider 100 Top Millennials List!", Don Bosco Preparatory High School, July 27, 2018. Accessed January 5, 2022. "Congratulations Clinton Calabrese '04 on being named to the 2018 Insider Top 100 Millennials List as well!"
  4. ^ Arco, Matt. "Phil Murphy's latest cabinet pick once again highlights diversity (and opposing Trump)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 19, 2017. Accessed February 10, 2017. "The dual qualities were on display again Tuesday when Murphy announced he'll nominate state Assemblywoman Marlene Caride to head the state Department of Banking and Insurance. Caride, D-Bergen, would become the first Hispanic to head the agency that regulates the state's banking, insurance and real estate industries, if she's confirmed by the Democratically controlled state Senate after Murphy takes office Jan. 16."
  5. ^ New Jersey Legislative Digest for January 29, 2018, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 10, 2018. "Assemblywoman Marlene Caride, of the 36th Legislative District, has resigned."
  6. ^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
  7. ^ Legislative Roster for District 36, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Calabrese, Chiaravalloti & Tully Bill Encouraging Reporting of School Bus Driver Misconduct Becomes Law". New Jersey Assembly Democrats. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "Calabrese Bill Package to Ensure State Meets its Financial Obligation to Meadowlands Towns Goes to Governor". New Jersey Assembly Democrats. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "FDA: 30–40 Percent of the Nation's Food is Uneaten". New Jersey Assembly Democrats. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  12. ^ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/02/2021 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/06/2018 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 3, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  14. ^ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/06/2018 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 3, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
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New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 36th District
February 8, 2018–present
With: Gary Schaer
Succeeded by
Incumbent