Benjie E. Wimberly

Benjie E. Wimberly (born December 1, 1964) is an American teacher and Democratic Party politician who is the member of the New Jersey Senate from the 35th district since 2025. He previously represented the 35th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2012 to 2025. He was also the head coach of the football team at Hackensack High School and is serving as the recreation director of Paterson.

Education Wimberly graduated from Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, and Virginia State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. He then served as the head coach of the football team at Paterson Catholic High School from 1995 through 2010, when the school ceased operations. He is also serving as Paterson's Recreation Director.

Wimberly won election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2011,

Wimberly considered a run for mayor of Paterson in the 2014 election.

In 2020, he was one of the co-sponsors of Assembly Bill 4454 (now N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.36a) which requires that a curriculum on diversity and inclusion be part of the school curriculum for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

In 2024, following the death of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Wimberly briefly campaigned to be the replacement Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives election for New Jersey's 9th congressional district, but eventually withdrew.

On January 16, 2025, Wimberly was elected to fill the vacant Senate seat held by Nellie Pou, defeating his Assembly running mate Shavonda E. Sumter at a special convention by a 1-vote margin. He will serve until the winner of a November special election is certified.

Committee assignments Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are: Budget (as vice-chair) Higher Education Housing

District 35 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 35th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are: Senator Benjie Wimberly (D) Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz (D) Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter (D)

Electoral history

Personal life Wimberly and his wife, Kimberlyn, have four children.