Mitchelle Drulis is an American Democratic Party politician serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 16th legislative district, having taken office on January 9, 2024.

Mitchelle Drulis
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 16th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2024
Serving with Roy Freiman
Preceded bySadaf Jaffer
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceRaritan Township, New Jersey
EducationRutgers University
WebsiteLegislative webpage

Biography

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Drulis has been a resident of Raritan Township, New Jersey, and attended Rutgers University. She has worked on the staff of politicians Bob Smith and Joseph V. Egan in the General Assembly.[1]

In 2018, Drulis served as the Political Director for Tom Malinowski's congressional campaign. She then served as his district director in his office, where she developed and managed a constituent services program that assisted roughly 12,000 individual constituents across the district.[2]

New Jersey General Assembly

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2023

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Drulis and her incumbent running mate Roy Freiman defeated Republicans Ross Traphagen and Grace Zhang in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.[3][4]

Tenure

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Drulis was sworn in January 9, 2024, becoming the first Democrat from Hunterdon County to be elected to the State Legislature in more than 40 years.[2]

District 16

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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.[5] The representatives from the 16th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[6]

Electoral history

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Assembly

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16th Legislative District General Election, 2023[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roy Freiman (incumbent) 34,188 28.3
Democratic Mitchelle Drulis 33,642 27.9
Republican Grace Zhang 26,558 22.0
Republican Ross Traphagen 26,293 21.8
Total votes 120,663 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ Election profile: 16th Legislative District, NJ Spotlight News. Accessed January 9, 2024. "I attended Rutgers University, where I was an Eagleton Institute of Politics undergraduate associate, and I live in Raritan Township with my husband, Michael Drulis, and our daughter. Political background: I started my career as a legislative aide for then assemblyman, now state senator, Bob Smith. I went on to become chief of staff for Assemblyman Joe Egan, serving for over a decade, and then served as district director for congressman Tom Malinowski until January of 2023."
  2. ^ a b "Drulis Takes Oath Of Office For New Jersey General Assembly, Representing The 16th Legislative District", New Jersey Assembly Democrats. Accessed January 19, 2024. "Long-time legislative staffer Mitchelle Drulis received the oath of office Tuesday from Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. Drulis is the first Democrat from Hunterdon County to be elected to the State Legislature in over 40 years. She joins Assemblyman Roy Freiman in representing the 16th Legislative District.... In 2018, Drulis served as the Political Director for Tom Malinowski’s congressional campaign. She then took on the mantle of District Director in his office, where she developed and managed a constituent services program that assisted roughly 12,000 individual constituents across the district."
  3. ^ Connolly, John. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023, New Jersey Department of State, December 6, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
  5. ^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Legislative Roster for District 16, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 28, 2022.