Senator Joseph Cryan Contact information

Joseph P. Cryan, born on September 1, 1961, in East Orange, New Jersey, is an American Democratic Party politician. He has been serving in the New Jersey Senate since 2018, representing the 20th Legislative District. Before his tenure in the Senate, he served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2002 to 2015, also representing the 20th Legislative District.

During his time in the New Jersey General Assembly, Cryan held the position of Majority Leader from January 12, 2010, until January 10, 2012. He also served as the Assembly’s Deputy Majority Leader from 2006 to 2010, and was Assistant Majority Leader from 2004 to 2005. He was a member of the Human Services Committee and the Law and Public Safety Committee.

In 2017, Cryan ran for the New Jersey Senate and won. He was sworn into office on January 9, 2018. In the 2023 general election, Cryan ran for re-election and won, securing his position in the Senate until his current term ends on January 11, 2028.

Cryan was born and raised as a Roman Catholic. His father, John F. Cryan, an immigrant from County Roscommon, Ireland, was elected to the General Assembly and served as Sheriff of Essex County. Cryan’s father had been charged in Federal court with racketeering and corruption, though the charges were dismissed due to prosecutorial mistakes.

Cryan earned his B.A. in business administration from Belmont Abbey College in 1983. His professional experience includes working as undersheriff for the Union County Sheriff’s Office, as manager and owner of Cryan’s Restaurant, and as operation’s manager for ITT Avionics.

As of the 2020 Census, New Jersey state senators represented an average of 232,362 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 220,188 residents. The 20th Legislative District of New Jersey, which Cryan represents, is one of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature. Each district has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.