Linda Greenstein
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 14th district
Assumed office
December 6, 2010
Preceded byTom Goodwin
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 14th district
In office
January 11, 2000 – December 6, 2010
Preceded byPaul Kramer
Barbara Wright
Succeeded byDaniel R. Benson
Personal details
Born (1950-06-07) June 7, 1950
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMichael Greenstein (d. 2017)
Children1
ResidencePlainsboro Township, New Jersey
Alma materVassar College (AB)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)
Georgetown University (JD)
WebsiteLegislative Website

Linda R. Greenstein (born June 7, 1950) is an American attorney and politician who has served since 2010 as a member of the New Jersey Senate representing the 14th legislative district.[1] She previously served in the General Assembly from 2000 to 2010.

Early life and education

Greenstein was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Queens. She received an A.B. from Vassar College in Psychology in 1971, an M.A. in 1974 from Johns Hopkins University and was awarded a J.D. in 1984 from the Georgetown University Law Center.[2][3]

Career

Early career

She was a Clinical Associate Professor at the Seton Hall University School of Law, where she supervised the Disability Law Clinic. She has served as a Deputy Attorney General in Trenton and as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia.

Greenstein served on the Plainsboro Township Committee from 1995 to 2000 and on the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District's Board of Education from 1992 to 1994.[3] Prior to her election to the General Assembly, she was a Senior Staff Attorney at the Community Health Law Project and supervised the Public Interest Legal Clinic at Montclair State University.

New Jersey Assembly

In the 1999 Assembly election, Republican incumbents Paul Kramer and Barbara Wright were narrowly defeated by Democrats Greenstein and Gary Guear, with the incumbents losing votes in Hamilton Township, where Democrat Glen Gilmore won the race for mayor. The two gains were among the three Republicans seats Democrats picked up in the Assembly in the 1999 elections, though the Republicans retained their majority.[4] She served in the Assembly for five terms from 2000 through 2010. She was the Assembly's Assistant Majority Leader from 2002, and the Deputy Speaker from 2006 to 2010. Greenstein served in the Assembly on the Judiciary Committee (as Chair) and the Health and Senior Services Committee. Greenstein was reelected in 2007 while participating in the New Jersey Clean Elections public funding program. During this campaign, Greenstein faced radio attack ads from a national third-party conservative group with ties to President George W. Bush.[5]

2008 presidential campaign

In 2008, Greenstein initially attempted to serve as a delegate for the Hillary Clinton campaign, but the Clinton campaign declined to nominate her.[6] Greenstein endorsed Barack Obama's presidential campaign prior to the 2008 Iowa caucus.[7] Greenstein worked as a campaign surrogate prior to the June primary and served as an Obama delegate to 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.[6][8]

New Jersey Senate

In the 2010 special Senate election to fill the remainder of Bill Baroni's term, Greenstein ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. She defeated appointed incumbent Senator Tom Goodwin, one of her opponents from the 2009 Assembly race.[9]

In 2011, Greenstein was re-elected over challenger Richard Kanka, father of murder victim Megan Kanka and driver behind Megan's Law.[10]

In 2013, Greenstein faced former State Senator Peter Inverso, who represented the district from 1992 to 2008. Greenstein was re-elected to a second full term by 1,484 votes, the closest Senate margin in New Jersey that year.[11]

In 2017, her opponent was Hamilton Township Councilwoman Ileana Schirmer.[12] Greenstein defeated Schirmer 56.3% to 43.7%.[13]

Committees

  • Law and Public Safety
  • Environment and Energy
  • Joint Committee on the Public Schools
  • Budget and Appropriations
  • Labor
  • Intergovernmental Relations Commission
  • Legislative Services Commission

District 14

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 14th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:[14]

2014 congressional election

In 2014, 12th congressional district Representative Rush D. Holt, Jr. announced his retirement from Congress. Greenstein announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for the seat the same day of Holt's announcement.[15]

Of the four counties in the district, she only received the county committee endorsement from her home county of Middlesex.[16] After Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman received the Mercer County endorsement on March 22, Greenstein was recorded telling local county Democratic leaders, "I hate everybody in here. Everybody in here is my enemy – except for the people from Hamilton. The rest of you are my enemies." Her campaign responded to the leak with a statement saying, "This thinly veiled attempt at intimidation from unnamed party bosses unfortunately reeks of the kind of sexism successful women have had to contend with throughout history." Mercer County Democratic Party chairwoman Elizabeth Maher Muoio refuted this claim, saying "Clearly, the results were not what she had hoped for, but to blame them on sexism or on a closed process is deceptive, untrue and insulting."[17]

In the Democratic primary held on June 3, Watson Coleman defeated Greenstein, Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula and scientist Andrew Zwicker.[18]

Personal life

She is a resident of Plainsboro Township, and had one son Evan, with her husband Michael Greenstein.[19][20] Michael Greenstein died on November 1, 2017.[21]

Electoral history

United States House of Representatives

2014 Democratic Primary - United States House of Representatives 12th District[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bonnie Watson Coleman 15,603 43.0
Democratic Linda Greenstein 10,089 27.8
Democratic Upendra J. Chivukula 7,890 21.8
Democratic Andrew Zwicker 2,668 7.4

New Jersey Senate

New Jersey general election, 2017[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 34,474 56.5 Increase 6.1
Republican Ileana Schirmer 26,548 43.5 Decrease 4.5
Total votes '61,022' '100.0'
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein (incumbent) 31,387 50.4% Decrease 4.9
Republican Peter A. Inverso 29,903 48.0% Increase 3.3
Libertarian Don Dezarn 1,014 1.6% N/A
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein (incumbent) 26,206 55.3
Republican Richard J. Kanka 21,176 44.7
Democratic hold
New Jersey State Senate Special elections, 2010[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 36,411 53.8
Republican Tom Goodwin (incumbent) 31,311 46.2
Democratic gain from Republican

New Jersey Assembly

New Jersey general election, 2009[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 37,958 28.2 Increase 1.1
Democratic Wayne DeAngelo 35,791 26.6 Increase 2.6
Republican Rob Calabro 30,479 22.6 Decrease 0.7
Republican William T. Harvey, Jr. 29,530 21.9 Decrease 0.8
Modern Whig Gene L. Baldassari 859 0.6 N/A
Total votes '134,617' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2007[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 28,266 27.1 Increase 0.4
Democratic Wayne P. DeAngelo 25,119 24.0 Increase 1.7
Republican Thomas Goodwin 24,298 23.3 Decrease 4.4
Republican Adam Bushman 23,711 22.7 Increase 0.4
Libertarian Jason M. Scheurer 1,775 1.7 Increase 1.2
Libertarian Ray F. Cragle 1,308 1.3 Increase 0.8
Total votes '104,477' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2005[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Baroni 37,241 27.7 Decrease 0.2
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 35,816 26.7 Increase 1.2
Democratic Daniel R. Benson 29,914 22.3 Increase 0.2
Republican Michael D. Paquette 29,899 22.3 Decrease 2.2
Libertarian William Hunsicker 725 0.5 N/A
Libertarian Jason M. Scheurer 714 0.5 N/A
Total votes '134,309' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2003[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Baroni 27,181 27.9 Increase 4.7
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 24,752 25.5 Decrease 2.0
Republican Sidna B. Mitchell 23,872 24.5 Increase 1.5
Democratic Gary Guear 21,448 22.1 Decrease 4.2
Total votes '97,253' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2001[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 32,878 27.5
Democratic Gary Guear 31,469 26.3
Republican Barbara Wright 27,803 23.2
Republican Paul Kramer 27,563 23.0
Total votes 119,713 100.0
New Jersey general election, 1999[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 25,219 25.4 Increase 2.3
Democratic Gary Guear 25,214 25.4 Increase 2.6
Republican Paul R. Kramer 24,769 25.0 Decrease 1.2
Republican Barbara W. Wright 23,981 24.2 Decrease 1.8
Total votes '99,183' '100.0'

References

  1. ↑ "Linda Greenstein tops Tom Goodwin; 1st woman to hold NJ's Mercer-Middlesex 14th Legislative District seat". The Trentonian. November 3, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  2. ↑ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 2004 Edition, p. 265. Lawyers Diary and Manual, LLC., 2004. ISBN 9781577411871. Accessed September 25, 2019. "Assemblywoman Greenstein was born June 7, 1950, in Brooklyn, N.Y. She attended public elementary school in Brooklyn and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Queens, N.Y."
  3. 1 2 Senator Greenstein's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 27, 2022.
  4. ↑ Peterson, Iver. "On Politics; Making Headway, Democrats Look Toward Two Big Ones", The New York Times, November 7, 1999. Accessed June 8, 2010.
  5. ↑ Our View. "Scrapped for now". (September 11, 2008). The Press of Atlantic City, p. 36
  6. 1 2 Wildstein, David (February 24, 2020). "A guide to how N.J. Democrats pick their national convention delegates". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  7. ↑ Malwitz, Rich. "Local Politicians embraced Obama early on". (January 30, 2008). Asbury Park Press, p. 20
  8. ↑ Pizarro, Max (January 27, 2008). "As Clinton's machine kicks in, Obama team dispatches "Truth Squad"". Observer. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  9. ↑ Duffy, Erin (December 7, 2010). "Leaving Assembly, Plainsboro's Greenstein is sworn into state Senate". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  10. ↑ DeMarco, Megan (November 8, 2011). "Greenstein fends off challenge from Kanka in N.J. District 14 election". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  11. ↑ Davis, Mike (November 14, 2013). "Former Sen. Peter Inverso won't seek recount in 14th District election loss to Sen. Linda Greenstein". The Times. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  12. ↑ "In Swing NJ 14th, Linda Greenstein Faces Top GOP Recruit Ileana Schirmer". Observer.com. March 9, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Unofficial List Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2017 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 8, 2017. p. 14. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  14. ↑ Legislative Roster for District 14, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
  15. ↑ Isherwood, Darryl (February 18, 2014). "State Sen. Linda Greenstein will seek Congressional seat". NJ.com. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  16. ↑ Nurin, Tara (May 30, 2014). "Four Jostle for Position in NJ's Most-Watched Congressional Primary". NJ Spotlight. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  17. ↑ Nuzzi, Olivia (May 15, 2014). "New Jersey Democrat's Epic Freakout". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  18. ↑ Johnson, Brent (June 3, 2014). "12th congressional district: Watson Coleman beats Greenstein for Democratic nod". NJ Advance Media. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  19. ↑ Assembly Member Linda R. Greenstein, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 10, 2007.
  20. ↑ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey - Two Hundred and Eleventh Legislature (First Session) (PDF). Skinder-Strauss Associates. 2004. pp. 264–265. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  21. ↑ Alfaro, Alyana (November 1, 2017). "Michael Greenstein, Husband of State Senator, Passes Away". Observer. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Official List Candidates for House of Representatives For PRIMARY ELECTION 06/03/2014 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. August 6, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  23. ↑ "2017-official-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  24. ↑ Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For General Election 11/05/2013 Election Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State, December 4, 2013. Accessed December 31, 2014.
  25. ↑ Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election Archived 2012-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed June 22, 2012.
  26. ↑ "New Jersey Department of State - Division of Elections". Archived from the original on December 20, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011. "New Jersey Senate, (retrieved on 12/12/11).
  27. ↑ "2009-official-gen-elect-gen-assembly-tallies-120109.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 4, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  28. ↑ "2007-official-general-election-tallies(ga)-12.12.07.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  29. ↑ "05831236.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  30. ↑ "2003g_a_candidate_tally.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  31. ↑ "2001-general-elect-gen-assembly-tallies.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  32. ↑ "1999-general-elect-gen-assembly-candidate-tallies.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
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