Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (born July 26, 1971) is an American social worker and Democratic Party politician who has represented the 15th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2018, and is now in her fourth term. She served in the Assembly as the Deputy Majority Leader from 2020 to 2021, and has been the Constituent Outreach Chair, Chair of the Education Committee, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Schools, and Vice Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Previously, she was a member of the Trenton City Council from 2010 to 2018, during which time she ultimately served as Council President.

Reynolds-Jackson entered the 2026 Democratic primary for New Jersey's 12th congressional district, coming in fifth and losing to crisis doctor Adam Hamawy.

Early life Reynolds-Jackson is a lifelong Trenton, New Jersey, resident, the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran father and a mother who was a typist in the Attorney General's office. She attended Trenton Central High School. She graduated from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) with a bachelor's degree in Sociology, and from Central Michigan University with a Master of Science in administration.

Reynolds-Jackson has worked for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in its Division of Housing, and for the Mercer County Board of Social Services as a social worker.

Trenton City Council (2010–18) First elected to the Trenton City Council in 2010, as the first Black woman to represent Trenton's East Ward Council, Reynolds-Jackson was re-elected to a second term in office to represent the ward for a four-year term running from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2018, after she received 42% of the votes cast in the ward while she was one of three candidates running for the seat. She ultimately became Council President.

In January 2018, New Jersey Assemblywoman Elizabeth Maher Muoio, representing the 15th Legislative District, was nominated by Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy to serve as the Treasurer of New Jersey. She resigned from the Assembly effective January 15, 2018, to begin work in the executive branch; her resignation came less than a week after she was sworn into office.

Reynolds-Jackson was chosen at a February 10, 2018, Democratic county convention from Mercer County and Hunterdon County to succeed Muoioas as New Jersey Assemblywoman until a November 2018 special election. In the second round of voting in the general election for the New Jersey Assembly, Reynolds-Jackson received a majority of the votes cast by committee members, defeating Mercer County Freeholder Anthony Verrelli. She served in the Assembly as the Deputy Majority Leader from 2020 to 2021, and has been the Constituent Outreach Chair since 2022.

In January 2024, during a debate on a bill to increase legislators' salaries, Assemblyman Brian Bergen asserted that legislators were "doing quite well" based on the cars with Assembly member license plates he saw in the New Jersey State House parking lot, to which Reynolds-Jackson responded that she drives a 2007 Toyota Camry.

Committee assignments As of 2026, she served as Assembly Chair of the Education Committee, Constituent Outreach Chair, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Schools, and Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee. The representatives from the 15th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session were: Senator Shirley Turner (D) Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D) Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli (D)

2026 U.S. House of Representatives New Jersey Democratic primary Reynolds-Jackson entered the 2026 Democratic primary for New Jersey's 12th congressional district to succeed Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, after Watson Coleman announced her retirement.

Reynolds-Jackson has focused on her desire to improve healthcare access, affordability, public education, and criminal justice reform, and spotlighted her legislative experience. She has also been endorsed by local officials Dan Benson, Mercer County Executive (2024–present) and Reed Gusciora, mayor of Trenton (2018–present). In addition, she has been endorsed by the Mercer County Democratic Committee.

Reynolds-Jackson came fifth in the final results with 8.9% of the vote, with the primary's winner being crisis actor Adam Hamawy with 28.1%.

Electoral history