Here’s why we are excited to endorse Jessica Ramirez for LD32 Assembly:

Candidate order: The bill to reform New Jersey’s primary ballots (A5116) moves New Jersey closer to fair primaries by eliminating the county line ballot and instituting an office block ballot design. However, candidate order for the primary ballot will still be determined by the County Clerk or Municipal Clerk drawing names out of a bin. This provides an advantage for the candidate drawn in first position and has resulted in some clerks drawing the party endorsed candidates for first position a statistically improbable number of times. I support the following reform that would ensure a more fair candidate order on the ballot:
Requiring that the order of candidates for each office on a primary ballot be determined by a computerized random draw rather than a human draw.

Comment: I was one of only two Democrats in New Jersey’s Legislature to vote “No” on A5116. While I think our current ballot design is certainly better than using the infamous county line, there are still aspects of the ballot that may sway a voter’s decision unfairly. I am wholly in support of ensuring that we fight for free and fair elections, and that includes fair ballot design.

However, I have heard from County officials that rotating the order of candidates by voting precinct would be a logistical nightmare. There are over 100 voter precincts in Jersey City alone; this would require over 100 different sample ballots to be designed and mailed, aside from ensuring that these ballots are accurately deployed on Election Day. Additionally, rotating precincts may not actually create a fairer process – some precincts may have less R’s than D’s (and vice versa) or less registered voters. What if, in a Democratic Primary, Candidate A gets the top ballot position in all the heavy-D precincts, and Candidate B gets the top ballot position in a precinct with more R’s registered – or less voters registered altogether? I support randomizing the ballot position, but I think the idea of randomizing by district is easier said than done in practice.

Slogans: I support prohibiting the use of slogans to express party endorsements on primary election ballots. New Jersey is the only state that allows primary candidates to use slogans to indicate endorsements.

Comment: I oppose anything that skews voters to make decisions based on ballot design. I am utilizing a slogan, as all of my opponents are utilizing a slogan, and not utilizing one would put me at a disadvantage. However, in subsequent elections, I would support removing slogans.

Voter access: I support adopting parts of H.R.1 in New Jersey in order to increase voter participation, ensure access to the ballot box, and strengthen elections, including specifically same day registration, early voting and a paper trail for machine voting that enables verification.

Comment: I support expanding our laws to include elements of H.R.1, including broader access to early voting and a verifiable paper trail for machine voting. I am a cosponsor of A2311, which establishes pilot program to provide for same-day voter registration on election day in certain years. These changes would increase transparency and accessibility while protecting against voter suppression.

Ethics reform: I support ethics reforms that would require broader disclosure of financial information and the release of income taxes by candidates for county-level and state-level public office, as a means of transparency.

Comment: Transparency is fundamental to earning public trust. As both an attorney and legislator, I believe that the public has the right to know where a candidate’s financial interests lie. Requiring the disclosure of income taxes and expanding financial transparency for candidates and officeholders will reduce undue influence and restore faith in our institutions.

Campaign funding: I support the public funding of campaigns for all state-level elected offices (i.e., the state legislature and gubernatorial elections).

Comment: I strongly support public financing for campaigns. I’ve seen firsthand how working-class and minority candidates are often shut out of the process due to lack of access to wealthy donors. Public funding creates a level playing field, ensuring that elections are decided by people—not by the size of a candidate’s bank account. I worked my way through college and law school while raising my son, and I understand the barriers that prevent everyday people from running for office.

Redistricting: I support placing a nonpartisan commission in charge of the legislative redistricting process.

Comment: Legislative districts should be drawn based on the principle of fair representation—not political expedience. I support the creation of a nonpartisan redistricting commission to prevent gerrymandering and ensure that every New Jerseyan has a voice, regardless of their ZIP code. As a legislator representing one of the most diverse districts in New Jersey, I know how critical it is for our legislative map to reflect the true composition of our communities.

Public Advocate: I support passing legislation to reinstate the statewide Office of the Public Advocate that was eliminated in 2010.

Comment: I fully support reinstating the Office of the Public Advocate and have requested to be co-prime sponsor of A5280, which would reestablish this essential watchdog agency. The Public Advocate plays a crucial role in giving voice to the voiceless—particularly vulnerable groups like seniors, low-income residents, and individuals with disabilities.

As an attorney representing injured workers and survivors of sexual assault, I know that too many residents face systemic barriers to justice. A strong Public Advocate would give them a powerful ally, and I hope to see this office reinstated.

Posting of state bills: I support requiring that bills be posted in written form at least 72 hours prior to committee discussion or vote, and that budget bills be posted at least 5 business days in advance of discussion or vote, to improve transparency in the legislative process.

Comment: I feel my constituents’ frustration when bills are rushed through committees, and transparency in the legislative process is non-negotiable. We should make these bills publicly available sooner so that residents AND legislators have time to read and dissect the issues that will be impacting them firsthand. Posting bills 72 hours in advance (or five days for budget bills) would allow for meaningful public engagement and informed debate.

State legislative meetings: I support making all committee meetings accessible to the public for attendance and testimony by online means (e.g., via zoom) and streaming of voting sessions to increase availability and transparency of government.

Comment: I strongly support expanded remote access for legislative proceedings. Committee meetings and voting sessions are currently streamed, however, most committee meetings contain only an audio stream with no closed captioning. This makes it impossible for deaf and hard-of-hearing constituents to view these streams at all. In addition, as it stands now, folks cannot participate from home. This again imposes an undue burden on our working class constituents, single parents, and anyone else who cannot make the drive down to Trenton in the middle of the day.

I understand the struggle of balancing work, childcare, and civic engagement. I believe we must remove barriers—not create them. Remote participation ensures working families, seniors, and people with disabilities can have their voices heard, and I am fully in support of this idea.

Full time legislature: I support making the state legislature full-time and prohibiting the simultaneous holding of other paid positions, so as to eliminate conflicts of interest and sources of influence and pressure on state legislators.

Comment: The legislature is already largely a full-time commitment. I often tell people that I have two full-time jobs – my job as an attorney and my job as a Legislator – because it is true. However, I do not agree that we should not be allowed to hold other paid positions. As a single mother, I would not be able to survive in my district on just a legislator salary. Barring legislators from holding other paid positions requires them to be independently wealthy or have a support system of wealth. Not everyone has this, and this would result in only wealthy legislators being able to hold office. I come from a working-class background, and it is important to me that our Legislature represents the rich diversity that makes New Jersey great – this includes class diversity. Requiring legislators to be independently wealthy would only deepen the class divide in our politics, and silence the voices of those who come from backgrounds like mine.

In addition, I am the only Spanish-speaking attorney at my firm who specializes in representing survivors of sexual violence. If I had to step down from my position, then my clients who are in the middle of cases would lose the only attorney at the firm that can get them justice. New Jersey would have one less bilingual attorney representing survivors and injured workers. I love my job, and there is no better feeling than getting justice for someone who has been so deeply wronged. While there are some bad actors, I do not think that all legislators should have to step down from good work that they do because of those bad actors. Instead, we need to do better at holding those bad actors accountable.

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More information about Jessica Ramirez:

Email: team@ramirezandsalehforassembly.com
Phone number: (908) 601-6275
Campaign website: ‪ramirezandsalehforassembly.com
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/ramirezandsalehforld32; Instagram handle: @ramirezandsaleh
Party affiliation: Democratic party

Date of Birth: 10/20/1975
Current Occupation: Attorney
Education: B.A. in Political Science, Stockton University
J.D., Seton Hall Law School
Public/party service: I served on the New Jersey Ethics Committee and served as an Eminent Domain Commissioner for the State of N.J.