Politics & Government

Bramnick Elected to Number Two Assembly Post

Westfield assemblyman to lead GOP conference

Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) was elected to be the Republican conference leader of the General Assembly during a meeting of the Republican conference on Thursday.

This post moves Bramnick to the number two slot in the Assembly Republican conference, behind Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris County). Bramnick has been serving as the minority whip, the number three postition in the conference. He will officially assume the conference leader's post in January when the next Legislature is sworn in on Jan. 12. He succeeds Assemblyman Peter Biondi (R-Somerset County) in the post.

Bramnick's election as conference leader means Westfield will control two of the top Republican slots in the Legislature. State Sen. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) currently serves as the Senate minority leader and is a potential candidate for Senate president in January.

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There is a possibility of Bramnick moving up to the top GOP slot in the Assembly. According to PolitickerNJ, DeCroce is under consideration by Gov.-Elect Chris Christie for a cabinet position, which would open up the minority leader's post. Bramnick and Biondi are considered potential candidates.

According to a press release from Bramnick's office, as conference leader he will be responsible for chairing meetings of the Republican conference. Bramnick was reelected Tuesday to his fourth full term in the Legislature. He also served an 11-month unexpired term in 2003 following the elevation of Kean to the Senate.

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Bramnick has been considering a rising star in the GOP caucus and state Republican politics. He was considered for the lieutenant governor position by  Christie. Lt. Gov.-Elect Kim Guadagno, the Monmouth County sheriff, was picked by Christie for the post.


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