Erik K. Simonsen (born 1968 or 1969) is an American musician and Republican Party politician who has represented the 1st Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 14, 2020, after defeating incumbent Assemblymen R. Bruce Land and Matthew W. Milam in the 2019 general election. Simonsen served as Mayor of Lower Township from 2016 until 2020.

Simonsen is the athletic director at Lower Cape May Regional High School.

New Jersey Assembly

Simonsen ran as a team with Mike Testa for Senate and Antwan McClellan for Assembly. During the campaign, the team made immigration and taxes a key part of their campaign. He, alongside Testa and McClellan, ousted the 1st District's legislators, Senator Bob Andrzejczak, Assemblymen R. Bruce Land and Matthew W. Milam. Their victories were the only gains Republicans made in the 2019 New Jersey elections.

Tenure

Simonsen was sworn into office on January 14, 2020, when the 219th New Jersey Legislature convened.

Committee assignments

  • Community Development and Affairs
  • Education
  • State and Local Government
  • Joint Committee on the Public Schools

District 1

New Jersey Legislative District 1

New Jersey's 1st Legislative District encompasses parts of Atlantic County, Cumberland County, and all of Cape May County. 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 1st District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:

Electoral history

General Assembly

1st Legislative District General Election, 2023
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanErik Simonsen (incumbent)27,97631.8
RepublicanAntwan McClellan (incumbent)27,60331.3
DemocraticDamita White-Morris16,25718.5
DemocraticEddie L. Bonner16,22818.4
Total votes88,064100.0
Republican hold
1st legislative district general election, 2021
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanErik Simonsen (incumbent)40,80331.61%
RepublicanAntwan McClellan (incumbent)40,40531.30%
DemocraticJohn P. Capizola Jr.23,81818.45%
DemocraticJulia L. Hankerson23,05517.86%
LibertarianMichael Gallo5890.46%
LibertarianJacob Selwood3990.31%
Total votes129,069100.00
Republican hold
2019 New Jersey General Assembly election for the 1st Legislative District
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanErik Simonsen27,30427.15%
RepublicanAntwan McClellan26,26426.11%
DemocraticBruce Land (Incumbent)23,77823.64%
DemocraticMatthew W. Milam (Incumbent)23,23423.10%
Total votes100,508100.0%

Lower Township Council

2016 Lower Township election for Mayor
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanErik Simonsen7,10498.52%
2013 Lower Township special election for the 3rd ward
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanErik Simonsen1,39061.67%
IndependentGlenn Douglass47320.98%
IndependentThomas F. Will32914.60%
IndependentGeorge F. Doherty592.62%
Total votes2,25199.87%
2010 Lower Township election for the 2nd ward
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanErik Simonsen1,40198.66%

External links