Al Barlas Explained

Al Barlas (born June 21, 1981) is an American Republican Party politician serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 40th legislative district, having taken office on January 9, 2024.

Biography

A resident of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, 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. He served as the Republican chair of the New Jersey Apportionment Commission.^[1]

A Muslim American who was born in Pakistan, Barlas announced in June 2016 that he still supported Donald Trump's candidacy in the 2016 United States presidential election, despite Trump's criticism of Islam and Muslims after the Orlando nightclub shooting that took place in the preceding days.^[2]

New Jersey General Assembly

In the wake of the 2021 apportionment, with several municipalities in Essex County added to the district, Barlas gained support from Republican leaders for the second Assembly seat that had been held by Kevin J. Rooney.^[3] Barlas and incumbent Christopher DePhillips defeated Democrats Giovanna Irizarry and Jennifer Marrinan in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.^{[4] [5]} 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.^[6]

Committees

Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:^[7]

• Budget
• Community Development and Women's Affairs
• Labor

District 40

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.^[8] The representatives from the 40th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:^[9]

(R)

• Assemblyman Al Barlas

(R)(R)

Notes and References

1. https://www.njspotlightnews.org/special-report/nj-elections-legislature-district-40-senate-assembly/ Election profile: 40th Legislative District
2. Alfaro, Alyana. "Muslim Essex County GOP Chairman Stands by Trump Despite Islam Comments; Al Barlas is the Essex County Republican chairman. He is a Muslim American who immigrated to the United States from Pakistan.", New York Observer, June 14, 2016. Accessed January 11, 2024. "Following Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando where a possibly self-radicalized Muslim American opened fire on a crowded dance floor, the presumptive Republican nominee took to the media to harden his already controversial stance on Muslims.... However, despite Barlas' personal beliefs and clear distance from Trump on Islam, the chairman said that he believes Trump is still the right person to become the next president."
3. [David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]
4. Connolly, Julio. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
5. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2023/2023-official-general-results-general-assembly.pdf Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023
6. [David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]
7. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/494/assemblyman-barlas Assemblyman Al Barlas (R)
8. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/constitution New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II
9. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster?district=40 Legislative Roster for District 40