Dawn Marie Addiego

Dawn Marie Addiego (born October 20, 1962) is an American politician who represented the New Jersey's 8th legislative district in the New Jersey Senate from 2010 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the General Assembly from January 8, 2008 to November 22, 2010 as a Republican (before changing parties). On November 15, 2010, after Phil Haines was confirmed to serve on the New Jersey Superior Court for Burlington County, that county's Republican committee (of which she was still a member) nominated and appointed Addiego to fill Haines' vacant seat for the remainder of his unexpired term.

Early life Addiego graduated from Villanova University with a bachelor's degree in accounting. She earned a J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 1987.

New Jersey Assembly While in the Assembly, Addigeo served as the Assistant Republican Whip after taking office in 2008. She also served on the Appropriations Committee and the Higher Education Committee.

In 2011, the two legislators proposed that the 10% pay cut that they took should be extended to other state legislative, judicial and executive branch employees, including the Governor.

Addiego was a vocal opponent of Governor Jon Corzine's Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) plan to require towns to build a government-set number of affordable housing units. She argued that "COAH's new regulations will drive up property taxes, destroy open space and discourage economic development."

New Jersey Senate Addiego won her first full term in the New Jersey Senate in November 2011, running unopposed after prospective Democratic Party candidate Carl Lewis was knocked off the ballot because he didn't meet the state's residency requirement. Addiego was re-elected in 2013 and 2017.

Committees Community and Urban Affairs Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Labor Budget and Appropriations

Votes on Key Issues In 2012, Addiego voted against legalizing marriage for same-sex couples In 2017, Addiego voted to increase the New Jersey gas tax by 23 cents In 2018, Addiego voted against a bill requiring New Jersey employers to provide earned sick leave to their employees In 2019, Addiego came out against the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey

Party switch On January 28, 2019, Addiego switched political affiliation to the Democratic Party. After Addiego's party switch, 8th District Assemblyman Joe Howarth had allegedly tried to switch his party from Republican to Democrat, and Republican leaders were unable to contact Howarth for two days. The Burlington County Republican Committee subsequently dropped their support for Howarth and endorsed Burlington County Sheriff Jean Stanfield for his seat in the Assembly. Ultimately, Stanfield and incumbent Republican Assemblyman Ryan Peters defeated Howarth in the primary and won the general election.

In 2021, Addiego ran for reelection to the Senate as a Democrat. She was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and despite having a fundraising advantage, narrowly lost to Stanfield in the general election. Addiego later became Superintendent of Elections for Burlington County in late January 2022.

Election history New Jersey Senate

New Jersey General Assembly

Burlington County Commissioner