Al Barlas | |
|---|---|
| Member of theNew Jersey General Assembly from the40th district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2024 Serving with Christopher DePhillips | |
| Preceded by | Kevin J. Rooney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1981-06-21)June 21, 1981 (age 44) |
| Party | Republican |
| Website | Legislative webpage |
Al Barlas (born June 21, 1981) is an American politician serving as a member of theNew Jersey General Assembly for the40th legislative district since 2024. He previously served as chair of theEssex CountyRepublican Party.
A resident ofCedar Grove, New Jersey,[1] Barlas is employed as co-administrator and director of marketing for the New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund and has been the chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee since 2011.[2] He served as the Republican chair of theNew Jersey Apportionment Commission.[1]
AMuslim American who was born inPakistan, Barlas announced in June 2016 that he still supportedDonald Trump's candidacy in the2016 United States presidential election, despite Trump's criticism of Islam and Muslims after theOrlando nightclub shooting that took place in the preceding days.[3]
In the wake of the2021 apportionment, with several municipalities inEssex County added to the district, Barlas gained support from Republican leaders for the second Assembly seat that had been held byKevin J. Rooney.[4] Barlas and incumbentChristopher DePhillips defeated Democrats Giovanna Irizarry and Jennifer Marrinan in the2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.[5][6] Barlas was one of 27 members elected for the first time in 2023 to serve in the General Assembly, more than one-third of the seats.[7]
Committee assignments for the2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[2]
Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in theNew Jersey Senate and two members in theNew Jersey General Assembly.[8] The representatives from the 40th District for the2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Christopher P. DePhillips (incumbent) | 28,601 | 27.9 | |
| Republican | Al Barlas | 27,638 | 27.0 | |
| Democratic | Jennifer Marrinan | 23,202 | 22.7 | |
| Democratic | Giovanna Irizarry | 22,952 | 22.4 | |
| Total votes | 102,393 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Republicanhold | ||||
Incumbent GOP Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips, a Wyckoff attorney and the vice president of a consulting and systems company, is running with Al Barlas, a Cedar Grove man who served as the Republican chairman of the New Jersey Legislative Apportionment Commission.