Shirley Kersey Turner (born July 3, 1941) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 1998, where she represents the 15th Legislative District.
Shirley Turner | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the New Jersey Senate | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Sandra Bolden Cunningham |
| In office January 8, 2002 – January 12, 2010 Serving with Joseph A. Palaia (2002–2004) | |
| Preceded by | Joseph A. Palaia |
| Succeeded by | Nia Gill |
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 15th district | |
| Assumed office January 13, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Dick LaRossa |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 15th district | |
| In office January 11, 1994 – January 13, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | John W. Hartmann John Watson |
| Succeeded by | Bonnie Watson Coleman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 3, 1941 Dover, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Donald Turner (died 2024) |
| Education | College of New Jersey (BA) Rider University (MA) Rutgers University–New Brunswick |
| Website | State Senate website |
Early life
editTurner was born in Dover, New Jersey, and graduated from Dover High School in 1960.[1] She received a B.A. from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) in Education and an M.A. from Rider College in Guidance and Counseling, and has done postgraduate work in education at Rutgers University.[2]
Turner resides in the Lawrenceville section of Lawrence Township.[3] Before entering state politics, Senator Turner served on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1983 to 1986, where she served as Freeholder Vice President.[2] Before being elected to the State Senate, Turner served in New Jersey's lower house, the General Assembly, from 1994 to 1998.[2]
New Jersey Senate
editIn the 1997 general election, Turner defeated incumbent Republican Dick LaRossa, making him the only Republican Senator to lose his seat.[4] Turner was Senate President Pro Tempore, a position which she has held since 2004 to 2010. She serves in the Senate on the Education Committee (as Chair) and as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.[2] In a 2010 vote on same sex marriage, Turner was one of six Democrats to vote against the bill to legalize it. However, in a 2012 vote on a similar bill, she supported the measure (which would be vetoed by Governor Chris Christie).[5]
Committees
editCommittee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[2]
- Education (as vice-chair)
- Economic Growth (as vice-chair)
- State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation
District 15
editEach 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 15th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[7]
- Senator Shirley Turner (D)
- Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)
- Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli (D)
Election history
editSenate
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner (incumbent) | 27,760 | 73.2 | |
| Republican | Roger R. Locandro | 10,173 | 26.8 | |
| Total votes | 37,933 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner (incumbent) | 38,627 | 72.18 | |
| Republican | Susan Gaul | 14,886 | 27.82 | |
| Total votes | 53,513 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner | 36,624 | 74.0 |  10.7
| |
| Republican | Lee Eric Newton | 12,839 | 26.0 |  10.7
| |
| Total votes | '49,463' | '100.0' | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley Turner (incumbent) | 30,250 | 63.3 | |
| Republican | Donald J. Cox | 17,507 | 36.7 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner (incumbent) | 21,512 | 66.4 | |
| Republican | Donald J. Cox | 10,900 | 33.6 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner (incumbent) | 20,100 | 62.8 | |
| Republican | Bob Martin | 11,924 | 37.2 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner | 24,053 | 67.4 | 1.7
| |
| Republican | Calvin O. Iszard | 11,638 | 32.6 | 2.9
| |
| Total votes | '35,691' | '100.0' | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner | 32,289 | 69.1 | |
| Republican | Norbert E. Donelly | 13,871 | 29.7 | |
| Libertarian | Thomas D. Abrams | 563 | 1.2 | |
| Total votes | 46,723 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner | 29,995 | 53.9 | 6.2
| |
| Republican | Dick LaRossa | 25,630 | 46.1 | 6.2
| |
| Total votes | '55,625' | '100.0' | |||
Assembly
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner | 20,681 | 28.2 | 2.5
| |
| Democratic | Reed Gusciora | 19,294 | 26.3 | 2.6
| |
| Republican | Joe Constance | 15,319 | 20.9 | 2.6
| |
| Republican | Gloria S. Teti | 14,675 | 20.0 | 1.0
| |
| Conservative | George E. Borchers | 1,131 | 1.5 | N/A | |
| Libertarian | Robert D. Figueroa | 1,105 | 1.5 | N/A | |
| Conservative | Beverly Kidder | 1,029 | 1.4 | N/A | |
| Total votes | '73,234' | '100.0' | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shirley K. Turner | 25,759 | 25.7 | 4.4
| |
| Democratic | Joseph Yuhas | 23,714 | 23.7 | 4.2
| |
| Republican | John Hartmann | 23,495 | 23.5 | 1.7
| |
| Republican | Donald C. Addison, Jr. | 19,062 | 19.0 | 2.2
| |
| Independent | Carl J. Mayer | 6,531 | 6.5 | N/A | |
| For the People | Tony Belardo | 1,361 | 1.4 | N/A | |
| Constitutional Enforcer | Clinton C. Barlow | 235 | 0.2 | N/A | |
| Total votes | '100,157' | '100.0' | |||
References
edit- ^ Hall of Fame, Dover High School. Accessed March 21, 2022. "Senator Shirley (Kersey) Turner Class of 1960
- ^ a b c d e Senator Shirley K. Turner (D), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 22, 2024.
- ^ Senator Shirley K. Turner, Project Vote Smart. Accessed October 22, 2007.
- ^ via Associated Press. "Election '97 / Two Incumbents From Each Party Lose In Senate", The Press of Atlantic City, November 5, 1997. Accessed June 24, 2010.
- ^ Duffy, Erin (February 19, 2012). "Turner flip-flops on gay marriage". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
- ^ Legislative Roster for District 15, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 28, 2022.
- ^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate for GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 06/08/2021 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "2017-official-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ "Official List Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2015 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 4, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- ^ Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011, p. 15. Accessed February 4, 2012.
- ^ Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2007 General Election[permanent dead link], New Jersey Department of State, December 3, 2007, p. 15. Accessed February 4, 2012.
- ^ "2003g_s_candidate_tally.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ "2001-general-elect-state-senate-tallies.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ "1997-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ "Official List, General Election Results for the Office of General Assembly for Election Held November 7, 1995" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ "NJ General Assembly 15". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "1993-general-election-results-state-sen-gen-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
External links
edit- Senator Turner's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
- Senator Shirley K. Turner[permanent dead link], Project Vote Smart