Marisa Sweeney

Marisa Sweeney
Member of the
New Jersey General Assembly
from the 25th district
Assumed office
January 13, 2026
Serving with Aura K. Dunn
Preceded byChristian Barranco
Personal details
PartyDemocratic
Alma materMontclair State University
Northeastern University
University of North Florida
WebsiteLegislative webpage

Marisa Sweeney is an American Democratic Party politician who has represented the 25th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly since taking office in January 2026.

Career

Raised in Brick Township, New Jersey,[1] Sweeney graduated from Montclair State University with a bachelor's degree in nutrition and food science, earned a master's at Northeastern University and received a doctorate in clinical nutrition at the University of North Florida.[2]

She is a dietitian and yoga teacher, and had served as president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and had testified before the legislature in Trenton regarding issues related to health. She was a member of the Morristown Planning Board.[1]

New Jersey General Assembly

Sweeney first announced her campaign for the General Assembly in early 2025, with the support of gubernatorial candidate Steven Fulop.[3] She won the June Democratic nomination unopposed, alongside Steve Pylypchuk.[4] Sweeney was elected in the general election making her the first Democrat to hold the seat since the district was established in 1974. She unseated incumbent Republican Christian Barranco, who conceded the race on November 6.[5] Sweeney received a total of 49,918 votes, making her the highest vote-getter in the race.[6]

Committee assignments

Committee assignments for the 2026–2027 Legislative Session are:[7]

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Health
  • Labor

25th District

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.[8] The representatives from the 25th District for the 2026–2027 Legislative Session are:[9]

Electoral history

New Jersey Assembly

25th legislative district general election, 2025[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marisa Sweeney 49,918 25.6%
Republican Aura K. Dunn (incumbent) 49,088 25.2%
Republican Christian Barranco (incumbent) 48,125 24.7%
Democratic Steve Pylypchuk 47,723 24.5%
Total votes 194,854 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ a b DiFilippo, Dana. "Meet Marisa Sweeney, a Morris County Democrat who flipped a GOP Assembly seat", New Jersey Monitor, December 1, 2025. Accessed February 14, 2026. "Sweeney, who grew up in Brick and graduated from Montclair State University, isn’t a total political rookie. She serves on Morristown’s planning board and has testified and lobbied on various health bills in Trenton in her role as a former board member and president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics."
  2. ^ "Marisa Sweeney Sworn into New Jersey General Assembly", New Jersey Assembly Democrats, January 14, 2026. Accessed February 14, 2026. "Assemblywoman Sweeney received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Nutrition and Food Science at Montclair State University, her Master’s degree from Northeastern University and her Doctor of Clinical Nutrition from the University of North Florida."
  3. ^ Wildstein, David (February 11, 2025). "Fulop adds Assembly candidates in 14th, 10th and 25th districts". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  4. ^ Wildstein, David (March 17, 2025). "Morris Dems appear to let Fulop pick 25th district Assembly candidates". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  5. ^ Wildstein, David (November 6, 2025). "Democrat Marisa Sweeney wins Assembly seat in 25th district". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  6. ^ a b 25th Legislative District 2025 Election Information, New Jersey Department of State, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 14, 2026.
  7. ^ Assemblywoman Marisa Sweeney (D), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 23, 2024.
  8. ^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed May 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Legislative Roster for District 25, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 14, 2026.