The state senator and legislators came to Princeton on Sunday night to ask for endorsements of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, but found out earlier in the day they were no longer in the district.
”It’s very, very strange. I came here tonight to ask for your endorsement,” said state Sen. Shirley K. Turner, who represents the 15th District, Princeton’s current. “But then, like life, something happens along the way. I found out that we’re no longer in your district.”
Come January, the Princetons will be in the 16th district. With the new legislative lines drawn, Mercer County has three districts: 14th, 15th and 16th. Polictical analysts say the new map leans toward the Democrats statewide.
Ms. Turner, who has been representing the Princetons for more than 18 years in various capacities, says it’s a “severe blow” to the 15th District.
”They were the heart and soul of the 15th district, they had so much compassion for those that are downtrodden or not as well-off as they are.”
The new lines are forcing some politicians to choose: love of politics or love of residence.
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, a Democrat who moved from Princeton Borough to Princeton Township in March, is now packing his bags to move over the legislative border to stay with his 15th District.
Mr. Gusciora doesn’t even have to unpack the boxes from the move to his current home, which he closed on March 15.
”I’ve lived in a condo on Maclean Street for the last 10 years,” he said. “I did look at some Trenton properties, but was pleased to find a value in Princeton,” he said. “It’s the rough and tumble of politics,” having to move.
Shuffling the districts has shuffled the party strongholds. The Princetons now move from the blue 15th to the red 16th district.
District 16 is a “pretty solid Republican district,” and it would be “an expensive proposition to run” there and gain name recognition almost overnight with the primaries only a few months away.
”A Democrat could win in the 16th district, but it would take a lot of resources and energy,” he said.
”I put my house on the market (Sunday). I’ve represented the district for 16 years,” and it would be hard to start over in the new 16th district with only one community remaining intact from the former 15th.
”I think there has always been an affinity between Princeton and Trenton being in the same district … we’ve always prided ourselves on progressive politics,” he said. “The most disheartening is now there is a spilt between Trenton and Princeton,” which have been aligned practically since Gen. George Washington marched through Princeton.
Meanwhile, county Republicans are excited about the opportunities the shuffling could create.
”We’re very excited,” said Dave Fried, mayor of Robbinsville and Mercer County Republican co-chair. “This is going to create some interesting opportunities. The 14th District is going to be very competitive this year. We have a lot of interest in the 15th District. I think the Republicans in Princeton are excited, it allows them representation they never had before. Although I don’t think the Assemblyman shares the enthusiasm.”
Local Republicans have different opinions of the new legislative divisions.
”The redistricting exercise that has been conducted is a farce,” said Dudley Sipprelle, chair of the Princeton Borough Republican committee. “You have five Democrats and five Republicans drawing a map of the world they would like to see and you have a tie breaker appointed by the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court who is an appointee of the former governor, who is a Democrat. So we have a Democrat appointing a Democrat appointing a Democrat. The outcome was preordained.”
”I would think Republicans in Princeton and across the state would be disappointed, the map is not competitive,” said Mr. Sipprelle, who has been involved in local politics since 2005 and testified before the redistricting board in Trenton. “This is how the Democratic machine regards Princeton, they just kicked them into a Republican majority legislative district because they are so sure that the majority of Princetonians are yellow-dog Democrats.”
Mr. Sipprelle does not see Princeton Republicans putting forth a candidate for the open assembly seat, since it just joined the district.
”Right now we’re thinking about the local elections,” he said. “I’m sure there will be a lot of qualified candidates in the 16th district.”
Exchanging West Windsor for Princeton in the 15th District makes the new 15th District marginally more competitive, said Mr. Sipprelle. Republican Assembly candidates in West Windsor only lost the last election by four percentage points, whereas in Princeton, it was more than 20 points.
With the shuffling, the Princetons will no longer be represented by Sen. Turner, Assemblyman Gusciora and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Princeton could be represented by 16th district Sen. Christopher Bateman and Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi if they are re-elected in November. Sixteenth District Assemblywoman Denise M. Coyle has been moved to the 21st District, leaving a vacancy on the 16th District Assembly ticket.
”I am very sorry that we cannot have the Princetons in the 15th legislative district,” said Elizabeth Muoio, Mercer County Democratic chairwoman. “You have a history of being strong Democratic supporters for as long as anyone can remember. I think 16th is something we can make a difference in and we’re going to work for that.”
With the Princetons moving in the 16th, some liberal voices will join the conservative district. “That clearly will affect the landscape,” said Ms. Muoio.
”We have a bond with our fellow communities in Mercer County, with a lot of shared values and interests, so at the state legislative level, we won’t have that bond anymore, so there’s sadness in that change,” said Dan Preston, chair of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization. “But there could be new friends up north we don’t know about yet. We have to make the best of the situation is the bottom line and if we can turn a red district to purple to blue, that is our goal for the coming years.”
The 16th used to be quite conservative, and in the redistricting process, some of the more Democratic towns were added to the mix, with the 43,000 resident South Brunswick. “South Brunswick is a large town and they have a democratic mayor and that will give us some opportunities,” she said. “The 16th has become less conservative than it was with this and there’s some opportunities there in the coming years.”
”I’m with most of you in a new legislative district, I’m not happy about it,” said Brian Hughes, Mercer County executive and Princeton Township resident, speaking at the Princeton Community Democratic Organization endorsement meeting on Sunday night. “I don’t even know who all my legislators are, but we’ll get to know them slowly but surely.”

