Representative John Allen

John Allen is an American attorney and Democratic Party politician. He assumed office on January 9, 2024, representing the 32nd legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly.

Biography:

• Early Life and Education: Raised in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, Allen attended local public schools. While studying at Rutgers University, he was elected to serve on the board of education of the Old Bridge Township Public Schools. He later graduated from Rutgers Law School.
• Professional Career:
  • Education Law: As an attorney at Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, Allen specialized in education issues, representing school boards across the state.
  • Chief of Staff: Allen served as the chief of staff for Ravinder Bhalla, the mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey.
• Political Journey:
  • In the wake of the 2021 apportionment, the Hudson County Democratic Organization selected Allen and Jessica Ramirez to run for the two Assembly seats in the 32nd district.
  • In the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election, Allen and Ramirez defeated Republican Robert Ramos.
  • Allen was one of 27 members elected for the first time in 2023 to serve in the General Assembly.
• Committees (2024-2025 Legislative Session):
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Housing
  • Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts
• Electoral History:
  • 2023 General Election (32nd Legislative District):
    • Jessica Ramirez (D): 15,197 votes (45.7%)
    • John Allen (D): 14,391 votes (43.3%)
    • Robert Ramos (R): 3,665 votes (11.0%)

John Allen’s journey of public service and leadership began at just 21 years old when he served as the Board of Education President in his hometown of Old Bridge. His commitment to education and community welfare has been evident throughout his career.