John F. McKeon

John F. McKeon (born June 3, 1958) is an American Democratic Party politician who represents the 27th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate, which primarily covers the western portion of Essex County. McKeon previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2002 to 2024, where he was Assistant Majority Whip (2004–05), Assistant Majority Leader (2006–07), Majority Whip (2008–09), Deputy Speaker (2010–11) and was the Parliamentarian from 2022 to 2024.

Early life and education McKeon was born June 3, 1958, in Montclair, New Jersey, the oldest of four children, born to John F. McKeon Jr. (1925–2002) and Anita (née Monzo). He is of Irish and Italian descent. McKeon was raised in Orange and West Orange, New Jersey. He is a graduate of West Orange Mountain High School.

He is a senior partner at Hardin, Kundla, McKeon, Poletto and Polifroni, a law firm in Springfield Township. He is married to Ann Mader McKeon, also an attorney at the same firm, and has three daughters.

Political career McKeon had served on the Township of West Orange Council from 1992 to 1998 as the Mayor of West Orange from 1998 to 2010. On July 1, 2010, Robert Parisi took over the mayoral position.

On August 14, 2023 State Senator and former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey announced he would be retiring from the New Jersey State Senate at the end of his current term. McKeon was subsequently chosen as the new Democratic State Senate nominee for the newly redrawn state legislative district 27; he ultimately won the general election.

New Jersey General Assembly During his first term in the Legislature, McKeon was the prime sponsor of the Assembly version of the laws requiring school districts to adopt anti-harassment policies, strengthening school bus driver background checks and revising the State's laws concerning the release of wild animals, and was a prime sponsor of the Patients First Medical Malpractice Insurance reform legislation.

New Jersey Senate Following the 2021 reapportionment, all of the municipalities in Morris County were removed from the district, while the Passaic County municipality of Clifton was shifted from its longtime home in the 34th district. In the June 2023 Democratic primary, the first held under the 2021 reapportionment, incumbent Senator Richard Codey defeated incumbent 34th district Senator Nia Gill, though Codey announced in August that he would retire at the end of the term. McKeon was selected to replace Codey on the November ballot. McKeon defeated Republican Michael D. Byrne in the 2023 New Jersey Senate election.

Committees Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are: State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation (as vice-chair) Environment and Energy

District 27 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 27th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are: Senator John F. McKeon (D) Assemblyman Rosy Bagolie (D) Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)

Electoral history Senate

General Assembly

Personal life McKeon is married to Ann C. Mader, who is also an attorney. They have three daughters: Lacey Ann (McKeon) Rockefeller (born 1988); Melissa McKeon (born 1990) and Jaclyn McKeon (born 1993).