Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker will be joined by State Senate candidate Laurie Poppe and Assembly candidate Roy Freiman in the 2017 race to represent Legislative District 16, it has been announced. Mr. Zwicker defeated Republican Assemblywoman Donna Simon in 2015.

Mr. Freiman is a former executive at Prudential Financial. Ms. Poppe is a lawyer and social worker. Both candidates live in Hillsborough. 

On the Republican slate is Senator Kip Bateman, and Ms. Simon is running for Assembly again. Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire is also a candidate for Assembly.

“Two years ago I promised to be an independent voice in Trenton — to make decisions based on evidence, not ideology,” Mr. Zwicker, a scientist at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, is quoted in a press release from the Princeton Community Democratic Organization. “I stayed true to that promise, putting the interests of the 16th Legislative District and New Jersey ahead of politics. I am working with legislators from both sides of the aisle to expand our innovation economy, make college more affordable, and hold the line on taxes.”

Mr. Freiman comented, “As a businessman, I know the most important factor in succeeding is to provide solutions to customers’ issues. I also know that collaboration is the key to finding the best solutions. Yelling at people who disagree with you doesn’t work. New Jersey faces many challenges, from our broken pension system to an economy that is still struggling to produce the good jobs and the careers our state needs to grow. I will use the principles of collaboration to get to the right solutions in the legislature. Working with Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, we will team up to grow our economy and put the interests of Central Jersey above partisan politics.”

Ms. Poppe said, “We need leaders in Trenton who are willing to stand up for what’s right instead of putting special interests ahead of the people they’re supposed to represent. I work with New Jersey families every day, so I know the challenges that hardworking people in our state face, and my experience in collaborative law has taught me how to balance competing interests while moving toward common goals.”

The 16th district includes Princeton, South Brunswick, Delaware Township, Flemington Borough, Readington Township. Stockton Borough, Branchburg Township, Hillsborough Township, Manville Borough, Millstone Borough, Montgomery Township, Rocky Hill Borough and Somerville Borough.