Jon Bramnick

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

Member of the New Jersey Senate

title: "Jon Bramnick" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1953-births", "20th-century-american-jews", "20th-century-american-lawyers", "20th-century-american-legislators", "20th-century-new-jersey-politicians", "21st-century-american-jews", "21st-century-american-lawyers", "21st-century-members-of-the-new-jersey-legislature", "candidates-in-the-2025-united-states-elections", "hofstra-university-alumni", "jewish-state-legislators-in-new-jersey", "living-people", "maurice-a.-deane-school-of-law-alumni", "maxwell-school-of-citizenship-and-public-affairs-alumni", "new-jersey-city-council-members", "lawyers-from-union-county,-new-jersey", "people-from-westfield,-new-jersey", "plainfield-high-school-(new-jersey)-alumni", "politicians-from-new-york-city", "politicians-from-plainfield,-new-jersey", "republican-party-members-of-the-new-jersey-general-assembly", "republican-party-new-jersey-state-senators", "rider-university-faculty", "rutgers-university-faculty"] description: "Member of the New Jersey Senate" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Bramnick" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Member of the New Jersey Senate ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

Field	Value
name	Jon Bramnick
state_senate	New Jersey
district	21st
term_start	January 11, 2022
predecessor	Thomas Kean Jr.
office1	Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly
term_start1	January 10, 2012
term_end1	January 11, 2022
predecessor1	Alex DeCroce
successor1	John DiMaio
state_assembly2	New Jersey
district2	21st
alongside2	Eric Munoz (2003-2009)
Nancy Munoz (2009-2022)
term_start2	February 24, 2003
term_end2	January 11, 2022
predecessor2	Thomas Kean Jr.
successor2	Michele Matsikoudis
birth_date
birth_place	Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.
party	Republican
spouse
children	2
education	Syracuse University (BA)
Hofstra University (JD)
website

| ::

Jon M. Bramnick (born February 24, 1953) is an American Republican Party politician who has served in the New Jersey Senate since 2022, representing the 21st legislative district. He previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 21st Legislative District from 2003 to 2022, where he was the Assembly Republican Leader from January 2012 to January 2022. He was appointed to the Assembly in 2003 to fill the unexpired term of the vacancy created upon the selection of Thomas Kean Jr. to fill an unexpired New Jersey Senate term. He was elected to a full two-year term later that year and was re-elected in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. He was elected to the New Jersey Senate in 2021 and was re-elected in 2023.

In January 2024, Bramnick announced he was running for Governor of New Jersey in 2025, but lost in the primary with 6.2% of the vote. Bramnick is a moderate, anti-Donald Trump Republican.

Early life

Bramnick was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey, to his father Herbert X. Bramnick, and his wife, Babette. His parents ran Lazaar's Stationers, a stationery supply business in Plainfield. He graduated from Plainfield High School, received a B.A. in political science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and was awarded a J.D. from the Hofstra University School of Law.

Before becoming an Assemblyman, Bramnick served two terms on the Plainfield City Council from 1984 to 1991 for the second ward. In 1998, Bramnick ran for the Westfield City Council for the first ward. He won the primary, however he lost the general election. He is the Republican Municipal Chairman in Westfield, where he resides with his family. Bramnick is a former professor at both Rutgers University and Rider University. Following his graduation from law school, he served as an assistant corporation counsel in New York City. He is an attorney with a private practice in Scotch Plains, New Jersey with the firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan.

New Jersey Legislature

Following the appointment of Tom Kean Jr. to the State Senate, a vacancy opened up in the 21st District's Assembly delegation. Bramnick won the most ballots of a vote by members of the Essex, Morris, Somerset, and Union county Republican committee persons of the district beating former Assemblyman James J. Barry Jr., Millburn mayor Thomas McDermott, and Warren Township Planning Board chairman Dan Gallic. In December 2005, he was appointed Assistant Minority Whip of the Assembly for the 2006–2008 term. In June 2007, Bramnick was selected as the Minority Whip, succeeding Francis J. Blee. In November 2009, he was elected as the Republican Conference Leader, the second-highest leadership position in the Republican caucus. In the Assembly, he has served as Vice Chair of the Legislative Services Commission.

After the death of Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce in January 2012, the Assembly Republican caucus chose Bramnick as its new leader. Bramnick has been honored with the 2013 Governor Meyner Award from the Bar Association and the 2011 Legislator of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce. He was named 2013 Legislator of the Year by the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and was honored at Rider University for his dedication to New Jersey politics and public service. On January 3, 2017, Bramnick announced that he would not run for New Jersey governor in 2017, as he was seen as a potential frontrunner for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

In 2022 Bramnick won election to the New Jersey Senate, once again succeeding Tom Kean Jr., who did not run for re-election.

Committee assignments

Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:

Commerce
Judiciary

District 21

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. The representatives from the 21st District for the 2026—2027 Legislative Session are:

Senator Jon Bramnick (R)
Assemblyman Vincent Kearney(D)
Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy (D)

Gubernatorial campaign

In January 2024, Bramnick announced he was running for Governor of New Jersey in 2025. In the Republican primary, Bramnick placed third out of five candidates with 6.2% of the vote.

Political positions

Bramnick is widely described as a moderate Republican who is opposed to Donald Trump.

Abortion

Bramnick supports abortion rights, and described himself as being in favor of Roe v. Wade. In 2022, he abstained on a vote to codify abortion into New Jersey state law, saying that the bill "went too far." In 2024, he described himself as "a pro-choice Republican."

Donald Trump

Bramnick has been critical of president Donald Trump, with a NorthJersey.com article describing him as a "Never Trumper". He has criticised Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election, saying "I think it is dangerous to democracy that anytime a president who says, 'I won,' and then says there is illegality and fraud, and then does not produce it". In 2022, Bramnick said that Trump's presidency "caused a problem for the Republican brand", adding that "ever since January 6, people are concerned whether or not they can trust the Republicans."

Drugs

Bramnick is an opponent of the legalization of recreational marijuana, saying he "doesn't deny" using marijuana while in college but is "not a fan" of its legalization.

Guns

Bramnick received an "A+" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund in 2015 and 2017, though this declined to a "C" grade for 2019, 2021 and 2023. During the 2019 electoral campaign, Bramnick was accused by his opponents of being an opponent of gun control. Bramnick rejected these claims, saying he had voted for universal background checks and limiting handgun purchases, and that he supported a federal ban on assault weapons.

LGBT rights

In 2013, Governor Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have legalized gay marriage in New Jersey. Bramnick opposed gay marriage and expressed his agreement with the governor. Bramnick described marriage equality as not being a civil rights issue, rather "something for the voters". When Christie decided not to appeal New Jersey's Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, Bramnick said it was "a smart thing" to not appeal. In 2021, Bramnick abstained on the bill that codified marriage equality into law in New Jersey.

Personal life

Bramnick holds the honorary title of "Funniest Lawyer in New Jersey" after winning contests sponsored by the bar association at Rascals Comedy Club. He often volunteers his services as a comedic auctioneer on behalf of non-profit organizations including Hurricane Sandy victims. Bramnick resides in Westfield, New Jersey with his wife Patricia (married in 1981), and has two grown children and a granddaughter. He is Jewish.

On March 11, 2019, Bramnick self-published a book titled Why People Don't Like You which is a comedy book about social skills.

Electoral history

New Jersey Senate

New Jersey Assembly

References

(January 11, 2022). "Legislature swears in 21 new members as 220th session begins".
Harrell, Jeff.. (April 9, 2003). "Secession wave gathers strength: Montclairites start petition drive to leave county". The Montclair Times.
(November 3, 2021). "Bramnick, Matsikoudis, Muñoz win in the 21st district - New Jersey Globe".
"Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick". New Jersey Assembly Republicans.
"The Courier-News 20 Nov 1984, page Page 7".
"The Courier-News 07 Aug 1991, page Page 19".
"Mr. Brammick, Mrs. Lund Join '98 GOP Ticket".
"The Courier-News 03 Jun 1998, page Page 16".
"The Courier-News 04 Nov 1998, page Page 20".
[http://www.jonbramnick.com/attorney-profiles/jon-m-bramnick/ Jon M. Bramnick Profile], Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan. Accessed November 23, 2016.
[http://unioncountygop.org/leadership/ Leadership] {{Webarchive. link. (November 24, 2016 , Union County Republican Committee. Accessed November 23, 2016.)
(February 20, 2003). "Union bloc backs Bramnick over Barry in 21st - Westfield GOP chairman wins district convention for state Assembly seat". New Jersey Hills Media Group.
Pizarro, Max. [http://www.politickernj.com/bramnick-whip-9319 "Bramnick in as whip"], [http://www.politickernj.com/about-politickernj-com-5633 PolitickerNJ.com], June 11, 2007. Retrieved on June 13, 2009.
(January 17, 2012). "New Jersey GOP Elects Bramnick New Majority Leader - CBS New York".
[http://www.wclgop.com/Bramnick.htm The 2015 Lincoln Award Presented to New Jersey Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick], Woodcliff Lake republican Club. Accessed November 23, 2016.
[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/433/senator-bramnick Senator Jon M. Bramnick (R)], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 23, 2024.
[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/constitution New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 28, 2022.
[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster?district=21 Legislative Roster for District 21], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 23, 2024.
Friedman, Matt. [https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/27/anti-trump-state-sen-jon-bramnick-launches-gubernatorial-bid-00138070 "Anti-Trump NJ state Sen. Jon Bramnick launches bid for governor"], [[Politico]], January 27, 2024. Accessed January 28, 2024. "New Jersey state Sen. Jon Bramnick, a proud moderate who moonlights as a stand-up comic, became the first Republican to formally announce his candidacy for governor on Saturday."
[[David Wildstein. Wildstein, David]]. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/bramnick-joins-race-for-n-j-governor/ "Bramnick joins race for N.J. governor"], New Jersey Globe, January 27, 2024. Accessed January 28, 2024. "Jon Bramnick, a moderate state senator with a penchant for lower taxes and more civility in politics – and a fierce critic of former President Donald Trump — announced today that he will seek the Republican nomination for governor of New Jersey in 2025 with a message that 'hateful rhetoric is a threat to our democracy and a terrible message to our children.'"
"GOP voters pick ex-assemblyman as nominee for New Jersey governor".
Stile, Charles. "In a Trump-dominated GOP, a Jersey moderate won't run for governor {{!}} Stile".
Wildstein, David. (2023-11-08). "After winning re-election, Bramnick throws a punch at Spadea".
"POLITICO Pro".
"Trump 'hurt the GOP brand': N.J. state senator explains strategy to woo voters".
(7 April 2025). "An anti-Trump Republican for governor tries to defy gravity in New Jersey's primary". POLITICO.
(2009-06-30). "Bramnick and the moderate LG option".
Symons, Michael. (2022-06-28). "What NJ is doing to protect out-of-state women seeking abortion".
Fox, Joey. (2022-01-18). "Who were the holdouts on the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act?".
(2024-01-27). "Republican Jon Bramnick launches long-expected gubernatorial campaign".
Friedman, Matt. (2020-10-23). "'I'm going to do what's right': Bramnick criticism of Trump could hurt his statewide prospects".
(2022-09-15). "In a post - Trump era, a Governor Jon Bramnick could Dislodge the NJGOP from the Cult of Maga".
Hefler, Jan. (2016-10-17). "NJ legislators get a whiff of Colorado's pot industry: "We want to do it right.'".
Trevelise, Steve. (2018-07-25). "Jon Bramnick opens up on Murphy, marijuana".
Trevelise, Steve. (2019-03-26). "Bramnick, 'marijuana no votes were hard, not shaky'".
"NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} New Jersey".
"NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} New Jersey".
"NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} New Jersey".
Wildstein, David. (2019-08-09). "Bramnick claims Democrats are lying about his record on guns".
Katz, Matt. (2013-07-03). "Democrats to Christie: Untie Republicans' hands on gay marriage".
"On Gay Marriage, NJ State Senate President Sweeney Vows Override of Christie's Veto {{!}} WNYC {{!}} New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News".
McArdle, Kevin. (2012-02-16). "Gay Marriage Bill Expected To Pass Today, Governor Christie Vows Veto [AUDIO]".
"NJTV News {{!}} Bramnick Says Christie Is Smart to Drop Appeal".
"New Jersey S3416 {{!}} 2020-2021 {{!}} Regular Session".
Bell, Deborah. (November 13, 2013). "Assembly Republican Leader Promises Laughs for Sandy Relief". Patch Media Group.
(April 12, 2015). "Assemblyman O'Bramnick? - The Auditor".
"Jon Bramnick Knows Why People Don't Like You".
(December 6, 2023). "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election". [[Secretary of State of New Jersey]].
(November 30, 2021). "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/02/2021 Election". [[Secretary of State of New Jersey]].
(April 11, 2019). "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For PRIMARY ELECTION 06/04/2019 Election". [[Secretary of State of New Jersey]].
"2017-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf". New Jersey Secretary of State.
"2015-official-ge-results-nj-general-assembly.pdf". New Jersey Secretary of State.
"2013-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf". New Jersey Secretary of State.
"2011-official-gen-elect-gen-assembly-results-121411.pdf". New Jersey Secretary of State.
"2009-official-gen-elect-gen-assembly-tallies-120109.pdf". New Jersey Secretary of State.
"2007-official-general-election-tallies(ga)-12.12.07.pdf". New Jersey Secretary of State.
"05831236.pdf". New Jersey Secretary of State.
"2003g_a_candidate_tally.pdf". New Jersey Secretary of State.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::