Doug Steinhardt

Steinhardt was born in Belvidere, New Jersey and received his undergraduate degree in history from the Gettysburg College in 1991.{{cite web |title=Doug Steinhardt |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Doug_Steinhardt |website=ballotpedia.org |publisher=Ballotpedia |access-date=31 January 2024}} He was also a four-year member of the Gettysburg NCAA Division III football team, as well as a brother of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After completing his undergraduate studies he enrolled in Widener University Commonwealth Law School where he earned his J.D. in 1994. During law school he served as the associate editor of the Law Review.{{cite web |title=Douglas J. Steinhardt |url=https://www.floriolaw.com/attorney/douglas-j-steinhardt/ |website=Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Cappelli LLC |accessdate=26 November 2019}}

After law school Steinhardt returned to New Jersey to begin his law career in his father's law office in Belvidere, New Jersey. In 2005 he helped form the Law Firm of Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, LLC, by becoming the third named partner in the law firm that is headed by former New Jersey Governor James Florio.{{cite news|last1=Buffer|first1=Michaek|title=Lopat mayor's law job raises eyebrows but not objections|agency=The Express Times|date=September 6, 2005}}

In 2015, Steinhardt was inducted into the Warren County, New Jersey Hall of Fame, joining his mother Therese, a nurse and nurse educator, who was inducted in 2013.{{cite web| url = http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/index.ssf/2015/08/warren_county_2015_hall_of_fam.html| title = Warren County 2015 Hall of Fame inductees announced - lehighvalleylive.com| date = 2 August 2015}}

In his first run for public office, Steinhardt was elected Mayor of Lopatcong Township in 1999, beating Democratic incumbent William Baker by twelve votes.{{Cite web |url=http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/1999NovElection.html |title=County of Warren, NJ - All about Warren County...Institutions of Learning |access-date=2017-11-27 |archive-date=2017-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118193750/http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/1999NovElection.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Steinhardt takes office in Lopatcong|last1=Rose|first1=Christian|date=January 6, 2000|agency=The Express Times}} He ran on controlling development, and challenged Baker to debates, which Baker declined to participate in.{{cite news|title=Lopat hopefuls tout ideas -- The township mayor stresses service, the challenger extols a fresh outlook.|last1=Rose|first1=Christian|date=October 20, 1999|agency=The Express Times}} In his reelection campaign in 2002, he again defeated Baker, this time with 80% of the vote.{{Cite web |url=http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/general_election_results_11_5_2002.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-11-27 |archive-date=2017-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209001714/http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/general_election_results_11_5_2002.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|last1=Danzis|first1=David|title=Steinhardt to lead NJGOP during 'tumultuous times'|url=http://www.njherald.com/20171128/steinhardt-to-lead-njgop-during-tumultuous-times#//|accessdate=12 December 2017|agency=New Jersey Herald}} He ran and won with no opposition for the next three elections.{{Cite web |url=http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/general_election_results_11_8_2005.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-11-27 |archive-date=2017-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209001801/http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/general_election_results_11_8_2005.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/Election_Results_final_November_2008.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-11-27 |archive-date=2017-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209001558/http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/Election_Results_final_November_2008.pdf |url-status=dead }}http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/2011_General_Official.pdf. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209001454/http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/2011_General_Official.pdf |date=2017-12-09 }}{{Better source needed|date=November 2017}} He declined to run for a sixth term in 2014 and was succeeded by Tom McKay.{{Cite web |url=http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/2014_General_Final_Summary_with_Write_ins.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-11-27 |archive-date=2017-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209001518/http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/2014_General_Final_Summary_with_Write_ins.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Better source needed|date=November 2017}}

Steinhardt was elected chairman of the Warren County Republican Committee on January 31, 2004, to fill the unexpired term of the outgoing chair who resigned to focus on private sector opportunities. He ran on the idea of promoting inclusion among Republican committee members, some of whom often complained about a lack of communications within the county committee. He defeated his opponent by a 2–1 margin among elected members of the committee{{cite news|last1=Bortz|first1=Greg|title=Lopatcong mayor wins fight for GOP seat|agency=The Express Times|date=February 1, 2004}} According to the Express Times his leadership style and ability to bring various factions of the party together made it so that he ran unopposed for a full term six months later.{{cite news|last1=Blok|first1=Katherine|title=GOP boss gets credit for unity Warren's party chairman re-elected for full term|agency=The Express Times|date=June 20, 2004}}

After his first election as the county committee chair, Steinhardt ran unopposed and won every two years, except for 2012. In that year, Steinhardt faced opposition because he had lost his Lopatcong committee seat, though only by five votes. Steinhardt defeated a committeeperson from Greenwich Township who challenged his position in a 92–35 vote.{{Cite news|url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/express-times/index.ssf/2012/06/douglas_steinhardt_reelected_h.html|title=Douglas Steinhardt re-elected head of Warren County GOP, despite opposition|last=Molnar|first=Phillip|date=June 16, 2012|work=The Express-Times|access-date=November 27, 2017|language=en-US}}

He was initially nominated by Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and Republican primary nominee to be the chairman of the New Jersey State Republican Committee in June 2017{{cite web| url = https://www.insidernj.com/steinhardt-lead-state-gop/| title = Steinhardt to Lead State GOP - Insider NJ| date = 9 June 2017}} but a last-minute appointment by the then governor of his wife to a position with the parole board caused concern for the Lieutenant Governor.{{cite web| url = http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/06/expected_nj_gop_chair_withdraws_after_christie_nam.html| title = Guadagno's pick for GOP chair pulled after Christie names his wife to parole board - nj.com| date = 14 June 2017}} Steinhardt withdrew his candidacy and was replaced by Michael B. Lavery.{{cite web| url = https://www.insidernj.com/steinhardt-state-gop-chairman-mike-lavery/| title = Steinhardt Out as State GOP Chairman; Mike Lavery In - Insider NJ| date = 13 June 2017}} Six months later in November 2017, after the Democratic victory in the ensuing gubernatorial election, Lavery resigned and Steinhardt was named chairman.{{cite web| url = https://www.insidernj.com/steinhardt-wins-unanimous-support-lead-njgop/| title = Steinhardt Wins Unanimous Support to Lead the NJGOP - Insider NJ| date = 21 November 2017}}

Steinhardt resigned as chairman in December 2020 and launched a bid for Governor of New Jersey in the Republican primary. He positioned himself as a staunch supporter of outgoing president Donald Trump.{{cite web| url = https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/doug-steinhardt-will-run-for-governor-against-phil-murphy/| title = Doug Steinhardt will run for governor against Phil Murphy - New Jersey Globe| date = 10 December 2020}} However, he withdrew from the race on January 11, 2021, shortly after the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.{{cite web| url = https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/13/capitol-insurrection-gop-candidacy-458882| title = Capitol insurrection may have claimed its first GOP candidacy - POLITICO| website = Politico| date = 13 January 2021}}

In September 2022, following the announcement that longtime state senator Michael J. Doherty would retire to seek the Warren County Surrogate's Office, Steinhardt announced that he would run in a special election convention for Doherty's vacated senate seat representing the 23rd legislative district.Wildstein, David. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/legislature/steinhardt-locks-up-key-endorsements-to-secure-state-senate-seat/ "Steinhardt locks up key endorsements to secure State Senate seat"], New Jersey Globe, September 1, 2022. Accessed September 29, 2022. "Former GOP State Chairman Doug Steinhardt appears to have lined up enough support to win the 23rd district State Senate seat after receiving endorsements from key Republican officials, including the man he wants to succeed, State Senator Michael Doherty (R-Oxford)."

Steinhardt was elected to the seat unopposed on December 10, 2022, at a special convention.{{cite web | url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/legislature/steinhardt-wins-senate-seat-by-acclamation/ | title=Steinhardt wins Senate seat by acclamation | date=10 December 2022 }} He was sworn into office on December 19, 2022. He was re-elected in 2023.

{{Election box begin no change

|title = 23rd Legislative District Senate General Election, 2023{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2023/2023-official-general-results-state-senate.pdf|website=New Jersey Department of State|title=Official List, Candidates for State Senate for GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election|date=December 6, 2023|access-date=December 6, 2023}}

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{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Douglas Steinhardt (incumbent)

| votes = 31,066

| percentage = 57.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Denise King

| votes = 22,790

| percentage = 42.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 53,856

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Steinhardt's committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/456/senator-steinhardt Senator Douglas J. Steinhardt (R)], New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 23, 2024.

• Budget and Appropriations
• Labor

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.[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/constitution New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II], New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022. The representatives from the 23rd District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster?district=23 Legislative Roster for District 23], New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 23, 2024.

• Senator Doug Steinhardt (R)
• Assemblyman John DiMaio (R)
• Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R)

As a youth, Steinhardt earned the Eagle Scout award. He was on the Board of Directors of the Central New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts of America as of 2011.{{cite web| url = http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2011/03/doug_steinhardt_is_honorary_ch.html| title = Doug Steinhardt is honorary chair of Warren County Community College comedy event fundraiser - nj.com| date = 2 March 2011}}

In January 2017 Steinhardt co-founded and co-chairs the Warren County Addiction Awareness Task Force to address the spiraling heroin and opioid epidemics.

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Category:1968 births

Category:Candidates in the 2021 United States elections

Category:Chairmen of the New Jersey Republican State Committee

Category:Gettysburg College alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of places in New Jersey

Category:New Jersey Republicans

Category:People from Belvidere, New Jersey

Category:People from Lopatcong Township, New Jersey

Category:Politicians from Warren County, New Jersey

Category:Republican Party New Jersey state senators

Category:Widener University Commonwealth Law School alumni

Category:21st-century mayors of places in New Jersey

Category:21st-century members of the New Jersey Legislature