Chris A. Brown

Christopher A. Brown (born August 3, 1964) is an American Republican Party politician who represented the 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate from January 9, 2018, to July 19, 2021, when he left office to accept a position with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. He previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly from January 10, 2012, to January 9, 2018. He is a veteran of the Gulf War.

Early life Brown was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1964. He earned a B.A. degree from Rutgers University in 1987, and after graduation was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He served in the Army during the Gulf War, attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge for his service in the ground offensive in Iraq. He received a J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law in 1991. In 1991–1992, Brown interned with L. Anthony Gibson, Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division of the New Jersey Superior Court for Atlantic and Cape May Counties. In 1992–1993, he clerked for Superior Court Judge Charles R. Previti. He is board certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a civil trial attorney and has been admitted to the bar in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Brown is a resident of Ventnor City, New Jersey with his wife Christine, married 1993, and their three children.

New Jersey Assembly In 2011, Brown ran as a Republican for the General Assembly representing the 2nd District, filling the seat of Vincent J. Polistina, who left the Assembly in an unsuccessful bid for the New Jersey Senate, running against incumbent Jim Whelan. Brown and his running mate John F. Amodeo defeated the Democratic candidates, Alisa Cooper and Damon Tyner. He was sworn in on January 10, 2012. In the Assembly he served as Assistant Republican Leader from January 12, 2016, to January 9, 2018.

Committees Consumer Affairs Tourism and the Arts Regulatory Oversight In one of the most expensive of the 120 legislative races in the 2017 election, in which $4.6 million was spent, Brown defeated Bell by a 54%-46% margin, taking a Senate seat that had been held by Democrats since 2008 and giving the Republicans their only Senate seat that changed parties, in an election that had many major victories for the Democratic Party across the state. In the Senate, Brown served as Deputy Conference Leader since January 9, 2018. On February 18, 2021, Brown announced he would not run for reelection, stating "while holding elective office is something I do, it’s not who I am". On July 19, 2021, Brown resigned from office when Governor Phil Murphy appointed Brown to an advisory role in the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, specifically advising on Atlantic City. Brown's Senate seat was filled by Vincent J. Pollistina.

Committees Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Payment Higher Education State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation

Electoral history

New Jersey Senate

Assembly Brown was elected to the Assembly in 2011 Brown was re-elected in 2013, then again in 2015.