Jeanine Pirro 1986 Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidacy Where did she run for lieutenant governor? In 1975, Carl Vergari appointed Pirro to the position of Assistant District Attorney of Westchester County, where she began her career by writing appeals What did she do next? Many people praised Pirro for her passion as Domestic Violence Bureau Chief, but she attracted increasing criticism from colleagues due her What was the criticism for? her attention-grabbing behavior and violations of tradition. On multiple occasions, Chief District Attorney Vergari spoke to Pirro concerning her violation of office policy. When did she start to campaign? In November 1993, Pirro was elected Westchester County District Attorney; she was the first woman to hold that position. How long did she hold that office? She was re-elected in 1997 and 2001. On May 23, 2005, Pirro announced that she would not seek re-election to a fourth term as Westchester County District Attorney.
Why did she not seek re-election?
Why did lieutenant governor Jeanine Pirro not seek re-election?
In 1975, Carl Vergari appointed Pirro to the position of Assistant District Attorney of Westchester County, where she began her career by writing appeals and handling minor cases. In 1977, Pirro approached Vergari and requested that he apply for a federal grant for local district attorney's offices to establish bureaus that specialized in domestic violence. She hoped that Vergari would take advantage of potential funding as well as a 1977 change in New York law that moved many domestic violence cases from family court to criminal court. Vergari agreed to apply, and his office became one of four in the nation to win the grant. In 1978, he appointed Pirro to be the first chief of the new Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Bureau. Pirro was known to be an aggressive bureau chief. Due to possible coercion, she had a strict policy against dropping cases at a victim's request. Many people praised Pirro for her passion as Domestic Violence Bureau Chief, but she attracted increasing criticism from colleagues due her attention-grabbing behavior and violations of tradition. On multiple occasions, Chief District Attorney Vergari spoke to Pirro concerning her violation of office policy. She had issued press releases with her own name--and not Vergari's--on top. The relationship between Pirro and Vergari disintegrated in the late 1980s, after Pirro claimed sole responsibility for the establishment of the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Bureau. On June 1, 1990, just five months prior to Pirro's first appearance on the ballot for County Court Judge, she attracted widespread attention and some criticism for rushing to conduct a bedside arraignment of Maria Amaya at the Intensive Care Unit of United Hospital in Port Chester. Amaya had been charged with four counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of her four children. She was a 36-year-old immigrant from El Salvador who had a history of being hospitalized for mental issues. Amaya had killed the four children and attempted suicide after believing that they were being corrupted by drugs and sex. Vergari had served as district attorney for Pirro's entire tenure as an assistant district attorney and her time on the bench. In 1999, he critiqued Pirro as "bright and capable" and someone who "plays hardball seeking publicity" but is also "very self-centered in everything she does". During a 1986 abortive campaign for lieutenant governor, Pirro claimed to have never lost a case in "about 50 trials". This number was disputed when presented in 2005 to colleagues, who said that the real number of trials personally handled by Pirro "wasn't more than 10". Pirro's then-spokesman, Anne Marie Corbalis, contended only that Pirro had a "100% felony conviction rate" as an Assistant District Attorney. In November 1993, Pirro was elected Westchester County District Attorney; she was the first woman to hold that position. She was re-elected in 1997 and 2001. On May 23, 2005, Pirro announced that she would not seek re-election to a fourth term as Westchester County District Attorney. On December 31, 1993--within hours of Pirro's midnight inauguration as District Attorney--Scripps newspaper heiress Anne Scripps Douglas was savagely bludgeoned in the head with a skull hammer by her estranged husband, Scott Douglas (who subsequently committed suicide by jumping off the Tappan Zee Bridge), as she slept in their Bronxville home. By the time police arrived, Scott Douglas had fled the scene, and Anne Scripps Douglas died in hospital on January 6. Pirro, already known as a passionate prosecutor of domestic violence cases, was a frequent presence in the media during the period between the murder and when Scott Douglas's body washed ashore in Riverdale in early March 1994. This increase in Pirro's national profile led to her surfacing as a frequent guest on network and cable television news in June 1994, when O.J. Simpson was arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, appearing frequently as a talking head for Nightline, Larry King Live, and Geraldo. Within months of taking office, Pirro undertook a costly renovation to the district attorney's facilities and expanded to an additional floor of the county courthouse. The largest expenses were a new kitchenette and a media room, costing $20,000, to assist Pirro's growing profile; additional expenditures also came to remodel her personal office with mahogany. Pirro was the first female president of the New York State District Attorneys Association. Also while district attorney, she was appointed by then Governor George Pataki to chair the New York State Commission on Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. Its report and recommendations resulted in legislation passing that enhanced protections of, and safeguards for, the victims of domestic abuse. Pirro made her biggest procedural mistake as district attorney when she repeatedly refused to reopen the murder case of Jeffrey Deskovic. In 1990, Deskovic was falsely convicted of killing a 15-year-old girl and spent 16 years in prison before he was exonerated by DNA evidence. On May 26, 1986, Pirro, then an assistant district attorney, was announced as the running mate of Westchester County Executive and presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee Andrew O'Rourke at a press conference in Manhattan's Roosevelt Hotel. Pirro was selected by O'Rourke and New York State Republican Committee Chairman Anthony J. Colavita after nearly a dozen individuals declined the position, including Erie County Executive Ed Rutkowski, Hempstead Presiding Supervisor Thomas Gulotta, and the Executives of Broome and Oneida Counties. Colavita, who said at the press conference that he "had so many say 'no' to me (during the lieutenant governor search), it doesn't hurt anymore", pointed to Pirro's prosecutorial experience, ability to effectively use crime as an issue, Italian married name, youth, and status as a woman when asked about her strengths as a candidate. Pirro's selection frustrated many New York Republicans, with Assembly Minority Leader Clarence D. Rappleyea Jr. traveling on May 27 from Albany to the first night of the State Republican Committee's Nominating Convention in Syracuse, to tell O'Rourke and Cloavita that his conference was concerned by Pirro's lack of political experience or statewide stature. Many Republicans also worried that if Pirro were nominated, their ticket would be too geographically dominated by downstate and the suburbs, with O'Rourke, like Pirro, being from Westchester, and the presumptive nominees for attorney general, Peter King and United States Senate, Alfonse D'Amato both hailing from Nassau County. On May 28, just one day prior to the scheduled vote for the lieutenant gubernatorial nomination at the state party convention in Syracuse, Pirro announced her withdrawal from the race, saying that her husband could not disclose his legal clients or the couple's business interests (later revealed to have been her husband's partial ownership of a Connecticut carting company with alleged mafia connections), and that many of his clients did business with the state, which would make it "virtually impossible" for her to serve as Lieutenant Governor. Pirro had privately informed O'Rourke and Cloavita of her decision during the evening of May 27, and the two were generally supportive, telling the press that her departure had nothing to do with Rappleyea's intervention. Pirro was replaced just six hours after her announcement by Michael Kavanagh, the District Attorney of Ulster County. CANNOTANSWER
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Jeanine Ferris Pirro (born June 2, 1951) is an American conservative television host and author, and a former New York State judge, prosecutor, and politician. Pirro was the host of Fox News Channel's Justice with Judge Jeanine until 2022 when she became a co-host of The Five. She was a frequent contributor to NBC News, including regular appearances on The Today Show. She was also the first female judge elected in Westchester County, New York.

Pirro was elected the first female district attorney of Westchester County. As district attorney, Pirro gained visibility in cases of domestic abuse and crimes against the elderly. Pirro briefly sought the Republican nomination for United States Senate to run against Hillary Clinton in 2006, but dropped out to accept the nomination for New York Attorney General; she lost the general election to Democrat Andrew Cuomo. In 2018, she wrote the book Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy.

She has been named a defendant in a 2021 lawsuit by the company Smartmatic, in relation to false claims of election fraud in the 2020 United States presidential election.

Early life
Jeanine Ferris was born and raised in Elmira, New York, the daughter of Lebanese-American parents. Her father was a mobile-home salesman, and her mother was a department-store model who spent much of her childhood in Beirut. Her parents were Maronite Catholics. Pirro knew she wanted to be an attorney from the age of six.

She graduated from Notre Dame High School in Elmira in three years, interning in the Chemung County District Attorney's office during her time in high school. Pirro then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University at Buffalo. She received her J.D. degree at Albany Law School of Union University in 1975, where she was an editor of the law review.

Westchester County law career

Assistant District Attorney
In 1975, District Attorney Carl Vergari appointed Pirro to the position of Assistant District Attorney of Westchester County in New York State, where she began her career by writing appeals and handling minor cases. In 1977, Pirro approached Vergari and requested that he apply for a federal grant for local district attorney's offices to establish bureaus that specialized in domestic violence. She hoped that Vergari would take advantage of potential funding, as well as a 1977 change in New York law that moved many domestic violence cases from family court to criminal court. Vergari agreed to apply for the grant, and his office became one of four in the nation to win the grant. In 1978, he appointed Pirro to be the first chief of the new Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Bureau. Pirro was known to be an aggressive bureau chief. Due to possible coercion, she had a strict policy against dropping cases at a victim's request.

Many people praised Pirro for her passion as Domestic Violence Bureau Chief, but she attracted increasing criticism from some colleagues for what they considered her  "attention-grabbing" behavior and violations of tradition. On multiple occasions, Chief District Attorney Vergari spoke to Pirro concerning her violation of office policy. She had issued press releases with her own name—and not Vergari's—on top. The relationship between Pirro and Vergari disintegrated in the late 1980s, after Pirro claimed sole responsibility for the establishment of the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Bureau.

On June 1, 1990, just five months prior to Pirro's first appearance on the ballot for County Court Judge, she attracted widespread attention for rushing to conduct a bedside investigation of Maria Amaya at the Intensive Care Unit of United Hospital in Port Chester. Amaya had been charged with four counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of her four children. She was a 36-year-old immigrant from El Salvador who had a history of being hospitalized for mental issues. Amaya had killed the four children and attempted suicide, believing that they were being corrupted by drugs and sex.

Vergari had served as district attorney for Pirro's entire tenure as an assistant district attorney and her time on the bench. In 1999, he critiqued Pirro as "bright and capable" and someone who "plays hardball seeking publicity," but who was also "very self-centered in everything she does." While recognized for her prosecution of domestic violence, she was criticized for her relative prosecutorial absence in bringing charges involving major public corruption or organized crime. These criticisms intensified when Pirro's husband was later convicted of several felonies tied to organized crime, including tax evasion and conspiracy. "One would have to believe that there's no organized crime in Westchester County, not a single corrupt official, and every union in this county is as clean as the driven snow," according to William I. Aronwald, who headed the Federal Organized Crime Strike Force during the 1970s and who was targeted for assassination by Colombo crime family head Carmine Persico.

During a 1986 abortive campaign for Lieutenant Governor of New York, Pirro boasted to have never lost a case in "about 50 trials." This number was disputed when presented in 2005 to colleagues, who said that the real number of trials personally handled by Pirro "wasn't more than 10." Pirro's then-spokesman, Anne Marie Corbalis, contended only that Pirro had a "100% felony conviction rate" as an Assistant District Attorney.

Court Judge
Pirro left the District Attorney's office after her November 1990 election as a judge of the Westchester County Court. She had successfully run on the Republican and Conservative party lines against Democratic nominee and New Castle Town Justice Lawrence D. Lenihan and Right to Life Party nominee August C. Nimphius, Jr. When she was sworn in on January 1, 1991, Pirro became Westchester County's first female judge. She was a judge for two years.

District Attorney
In November 1993, Pirro was elected Westchester County District Attorney; she was the first woman to hold that position. She was re-elected in 1997 and 2001. On May 23, 2005, Pirro announced that she would not seek re-election to a fourth term as Westchester County District Attorney.

On December 31, 1993—within hours of Pirro's midnight inauguration as District Attorney—Scripps newspaper heiress Anne Scripps Douglas was savagely bludgeoned in the head with a hammer by her estranged husband, Scott Douglas, as she slept in their Bronxville, New York, home. By the time police arrived, Scott Douglas had fled the scene. Anne Scripps Douglas died in the hospital on January 6. Scott Douglas subsequently committed suicide by jumping off the Tappan Zee Bridge. Pirro, already known as a passionate prosecutor of domestic violence cases, was a frequent presence in the media during the period between the murder and when Scott Douglas's body washed ashore in Riverdale in early March 1994. This increase in Pirro's national profile led to her surfacing as a frequent contributor on network and cable television news in June 1994, when O.J. Simpson was arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, appearing frequently as an analyst on Nightline, Larry King Live, and Geraldo.

Within months of taking office, Pirro undertook a costly renovation to the district attorney's facilities and expanded to an additional floor of the county courthouse. The largest expenses were a new kitchenette and a media room, costing $20,000, to assist Pirro's growing profile; additional expenditures were made to remodel her personal office with mahogany.

Pirro was the first female president of the New York State District Attorneys Association. Also while district attorney, she was appointed by then-Governor George Pataki to chair the New York State Commission on Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. Its report and recommendations resulted in legislation passing that enhanced protections of, and safeguards for, the victims of domestic abuse.

During her tenure as district attorney, she repeatedly refused to reopen the case of the murder of Angela Correa by Jeffrey Deskovic. In 1990, Deskovic was falsely convicted of killing the then-15-year-old Correa, and spent 16 years in prison before he was exonerated by DNA evidence; the real killer eventually confessed to the crime. Deskovic later won a $41.6 million lawsuit against Daniel Stephens and Westchester County for his wrongful conviction.

Statewide political career

1986 Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidacy 
On May 26, 1986, Pirro, then an assistant district attorney, was announced as the running mate of Westchester County Executive and presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee Andrew O'Rourke. Pirro was selected by O'Rourke and New York State Republican Committee Chairman Anthony J. Colavita after nearly a dozen individuals declined the position, including Erie County Executive Ed Rutkowski, Hempstead Presiding Supervisor Thomas Gulotta, and the Executives of Broome and Oneida Counties.
Colavita, who said at the press conference that he "had so many say 'no' to me (during the lieutenant governor search), it doesn't hurt anymore," pointed to Pirro's prosecutorial experience, ability to effectively use crime as an issue, Italian married name, youth, and status as a woman when asked about her strengths as a candidate.

Pirro's selection frustrated many New York Republicans, with Assembly Minority Leader Clarence D. Rappleyea Jr. traveling on May 27 from Albany to the first night of the State Republican Committee's Nominating Convention in Syracuse, to tell O'Rourke and Colavita that his conference was concerned by Pirro's lack of political experience or statewide stature. Many Republicans also worried that if Pirro were nominated, their ticket would be too geographically dominated by downstate and the suburbs, with O'Rourke, like Pirro, being from Westchester, and the presumptive nominees for attorney general, Peter King and United States Senate, Alfonse D'Amato both hailing from Nassau County.

On May 28, just one day prior to the scheduled vote for the lieutenant gubernatorial nomination at the state party convention in Syracuse, Pirro announced her withdrawal from the race, saying that her husband could not disclose his legal clients or the couple's business interests (later revealed to have been her husband's partial ownership of a Connecticut garbage hauling company with alleged mafia connections),<ref name=garbage>She's a Politician. He Avoided Attention. Not Anymore, New York Times, Joseph Berger, April 17, 1997. Retrieved December 18, 2019.</ref> and that many of his clients did business with the state, which would make it "virtually impossible" for her to serve as Lieutenant Governor. Pirro had privately informed O'Rourke and Colavita of her decision during the evening of May 27, and the two were generally supportive, telling the press that her departure had nothing to do with Rappleyea's intervention. Pirro was replaced just six hours after her announcement by Michael Kavanagh, the District Attorney of Ulster County.

2006 U.S. Senate campaign
On August 10, 2005, Pirro announced that she would seek the Republican nomination to challenge first-term incumbent senator Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, in the 2006 election for U.S. Senator from New York. Other Republicans who announced campaigns for the nomination were John Spencer, a former mayor of Yonkers, William Brenner, an attorney in Sullivan County, and attorney Edward Cox, the son-in-law of former president Richard Nixon. In a widely publicized moment when she was declaring her candidacy, Pirro misplaced page 10 of her speech and went silent for 32 seconds, something that was widely considered to have damaged her campaign before it even started.

During an appearance at the Crime Victims Resource Center, Pirro described herself this way: "I am red on fiscal policy. I am conservative and I support the Bush tax cut... I have broad blue stripes when it comes to social issues... I am a woman who is a moderate in New York." Republican governor George Pataki's endorsement of Pirro caused Cox to withdraw from the race, leaving Pirro as the likely nominee. Donors to Pirro's political campaign included designer Tommy Hilfiger (also a native of Elmira) and Donald Trump, as well as contractors and real estate executives who had done business with her husband. Trump spoke highly of her husband at the time, saying: "Al has a good sense of the law and what's practical and a lot of common sense."

On December 21, 2005, Pirro dropped out of the Senate race after continuing pressure from party chiefs. This decision was reached after a lagging fundraising effort, and polls that showed she would be easily defeated by Clinton (a Quinnipiac University poll forecast Pirro would lose to Clinton 62 percent to 30 percent). In a statement, she said, "I have decided that my law enforcement background better qualifies me for a race for New York State attorney general than a race for the United States Senate." Spencer was eventually chosen as the Republican Party's nominee for the U.S. Senate.

During her four-month campaign, the Pirro campaign racked up $600,000 in debt to campaign vendors. By 2019, debts to vendors remained unpaid.

2006 State Attorney General campaign

On May 31, 2006, Pirro was unopposed for the nomination and became the Republican Party's official candidate for Attorney General of New York by acclamation at the state GOP convention. She also received the nominations of the New York Conservative and Independence Parties. Pirro lost the general election to the Democratic nominee, former Clinton Housing and Urban Development Secretary and future Governor Andrew Cuomo 58%–39%.

Books
Pirro is the author of six books, two of which are crime novels. Her first book was 2003's To Punish and Protect: A DA's Fight Against a System That Coddles Criminals. It was followed in 2004 by To Punish and Protect: Against a System That Coddles Criminals.

In 2012, Pirro's first fiction book, Sly Fox: A Dani Fox Novel, was released as a crime and legal thriller, followed in 2014 by the second novel in the series, Clever Fox: A Dani Fox Novel.

Her book Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy (2018) is a look inside the Presidency of Donald Trump, as well as the politics surrounding the anti-Trump movement. Radicals, Resistance, and Revenge: The Left's Plot to Remake America (2019) is described as "the latest chapter in the unfolding liberal attack on our most basic values." Her book Don't Lie to Me: and Stop Trying to Steal Our Freedom was published on September 23, 2020.

Media career
Pirro has been a regular contributor to the syndicated morning talk show The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. She has been a guest analyst on Today, Fox NY Good Day New York. She is a Fox News legal analyst appearing on various shows, and has guest-hosted shows such as Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show, and Geraldo at Large. She was a frequent guest on Fox's late-night satire show Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld.

In 2003, Pirro released the nonfiction book To Punish and Protect, describing life inside the criminal justice system. In 2012, with the assistance of author Pete Earley, Pirro wrote the novel Sly Fox based on her own experiences as a 25-year-old assistant district attorney in Westchester. Pirro appears in the HBO six-part serial The Jinx, recounting her perspective on the 1983 disappearance of Kathie Durst, a high-profile case for which she was the investigating attorney. Pirro was the host of the American reality prime time court show You the Jury, canceled after two episodes.

Judge Jeanine Pirro on The CW
On May 5, 2008, The CW Television Network announced that Pirro would host a weekday television show to be named Judge Jeanine Pirro, part of the network's CW Daytime lineup, with two episodes airing daily. The show was distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television, and was carried by default on all CW affiliate stations.Judge Jeanine Pirro was cleared for a second season beginning in fall 2009. Unlike its first season, the second season, which began in the fall of 2009, was not exclusive to CW affiliates. In 2010 the show was nominated for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program at the 37th Daytime Emmy Awards, and in 2011 it won that category at the 38th Daytime Emmy Awards. In September 2011 the show was canceled due to low ratings.

Justice with Judge Jeanine on Fox News

Pirro is the host of Fox News' Justice with Judge Jeanine, which premiered in January 2011. The program airs on weekends and focuses on the big legal stories of the week.

In 2014, Pirro claimed ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was "released by Obama in 2009". However, Baghdadi was held in custody until 2004, when he was released under the Bush administration.

In March 2019, on her show Justice with Judge Jeanine Pirro criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar for questioning the loyalty of American Jews to the US, by rhetorically asking if Omar's Muslim faith meant she was more loyal to Sharia law than the US constitution. She said: "Omar wears a hijab which according to the Quran 33:59 tells women to cover so they won't get molested. Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law, which in itself is antithetical to the United States constitution?" Fox News strongly condemned Pirro's statement. Pirro later clarified her remarks, stating that she did not mean to insist that Representative Omar was anti-American because of her faith, saying that she intended to start a discussion. On March 16 2019, Fox News decided not to air her show replacing it with a rebroadcast of a Scandalous episode in its time slot. CNN reported on March 17 that Pirro had been suspended by Fox News, and President Trump wrote on Twitter: "Bring back @JudgeJeanine Pirro. Stop working soooo hard on being politically correct, which will only bring you down, and continue to fight for our Country." Justice with Judge Jeanine resumed airing on March 30, 2019.

In March 2020, she hosted the show from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She did not appear on air for the first 15 minutes citing "technical difficulties", with Jackie Ibañez covering for her, and when Pirro finally appeared, she was in a disheveled state, slurring her speech, causing widespread speculation that she was inebriated. After one commercial break, she was even seen putting aside a drink with a straw.

After the 2020 United States presidential election, Pirro was an outspoken proponent on her program of baseless allegations involving voting machine fraud that allegedly stole the election from Donald Trump. Hosts Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo also promoted falsehoods on their programs. Smartmatic, a voting machine company that had been baselessly accused of conspiring with competitor Dominion Voting Systems to rig the election, sent Fox News a letter in December 2020 demanding retractions that "must be published on multiple occasions" so as to "match the attention and audience targeted with the original defamatory publications." The three programs each ran the same video segment refuting the baseless allegations days later, though none of the three hosts personally issued retractions.

On January 12, 2022, it was announced that Pirro would be a permanent co-host on The Five starting January 24, and ending Justice.

Political positions

Trump administration
Pirro supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race, while also noting that she was "infuriated" by some of his behaviors. After the release of the Access Hollywood tape, Pirro defended Trump, stating "I have been involved in a million situations with him and his children. He has always been a gentleman."

After Trump's election, Pirro was known for delivering fiery defenses of the president. The Washington Post described her show as "almost universally positive about Trump," and Politico described her coverage of Trump as "gushing." According to Politico, "From the outset of the administration, she has used her TV platform to hammer the president's critics and to ding his allies, including Sessions, as insufficiently loyal."

In her televised programs and in private meetings with Trump at the White House, Pirro  "steadfastly encouraged Trump to press harder on his agenda of disruption and provocation." In 2017, Pirro called for the arrest of individuals who cooperated with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election in favor of Trump. Pirro called for government agencies to be "cleansed" of critics of the president; she called for Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe and Peter Strzok to be arrested, and appeared to suggest that Mueller, former FBI director James B. Comey, and Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr all be arrested as well. Pirro's comments were part of a broader push by Trump's allies in the media to delegitimize the Mueller probe and other investigations into Trump and his administration.

In February 2018, after two senior Trump administration officials resigned due to domestic abuse allegations, Pirro suggested that Barack Obama's policies were to blame for the two domestic abuse scandals. In May 2018, Pirro said that Trump had "fulfilled" a "biblical prophecy" by moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

In June 2018, Pirro said Trump's pardon of conservative activist Dinesh D'Souza, who was convicted of 'illegal campaign contributions' to a college friend, to whom he received support, was "fantastic news", as she believes D'Souza was singled out for prosecution for his politics by the FBI for having produced two political documentary movies:  'Hillary's America' and 'Obama's America'. Later that month, Politico reported that Pirro had, since late 2016, repeatedly told the Trump administration about her interest in becoming the Attorney General. On her show, Pirro had referred to Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, as "the most dangerous man in America."

In July 2018, after Trump was widely criticized, including by numerous prominent conservatives, for refusing to condemn Russian interference in the 2016 election, because it would have gained little leeway, while standing on stage with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Pirro defended Trump. Pirro said, "What was he supposed to do, take a gun out and shoot Putin?"

That same month, Trump posed with Pirro and her new book, Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy, in the Oval Office. That Trump would promote the book of a pro-Trump advocate raised questions about potential ethics violations. Washington Post book critic Carlos Lozada described the book as a "sycophantic" and "gushing" pro-Trump book. PolitiFact found that Pirro's assertion in the book that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had announced in February 2018 that "the Russia collusion investigation is over" was false; Rosenstein never said it and the progression of the Russia probe since February 2018 demonstrated otherwise.

In September 2018, while Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh faced scrutiny over sexual assault allegations, Pirro referred to the Democratic Party as "demon-rats".

On January 12, 2019, while on Fox, Pirro took a call on-air from Trump in which he spoke for 20 minutes, claiming his former attorney Michael Cohen fabricated stories to reduce the length of his expected sentence. Trump conjectured Cohen said, "I have an idea, I'll give you some information on the president," and he continued, "Well, there is no information." "He should give information maybe on his father-in-law, because that's the one that people want to look at." Pirro asked the name of Cohen's father-in-law, but Trump replied, though regarding the affairs of a private citizen, "I don't know, but you'll find out, and you'll look into it because nobody knows what's going on over there." The father-in-law, Fima Shusterman, owned condos both at Trump Tower and another in a Trump development near Miami.

In November 2019, she described Trump as "almost superhuman". In December 2019, she suggested that Trump had made it possible for people to say "Merry Christmas" again.

In February 2020, Pirro predicted that the impeachment of Donald Trump would be so unpopular that Democrats would lose their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2020 elections (which ultimately did not occur); Politico named Pirro's prediction one of "the most audacious, confident and spectacularly incorrect prognostications about the year".

Health care
Describing her own political positions in 2005, Pirro said, "I'm Republican red on fiscal policy with conservative beliefs on making tax cuts permanent, but I've got broad blue stripes on the social issues," during her campaign for the US Senate in New York. Her positions were described as politically moderate during her Senate run. Pirro supported a woman's right to an abortion, including U.S. taxpayer funding of abortion through Medicaid, in 2005, though she has been opposed to late-term abortions.

LGBT rights
On the topic of LGBT rights, Pirro actively supported the passing of a New York hate crimes law which covered sexual orientation as a protected class in 2000. She was outspoken in her support for anti-discrimination protections for gays and lesbians during her 2006 campaign for State Attorney General. Pirro supported civil unions for same-sex couples. She also received an endorsement from the Log Cabin Republicans. She did not support marriage equality, however; Pirro opposed attempts to amend the Constitution in order to ban same-sex marriage, claiming: "Make no mistake, if it does become the law of this state, I will fight to defend it". Eight years later, she had William Owens, a representative of the National Organization for Marriage and opponent of same-sex marriage, to interview, on her program.

Benghazi
In 2014, Pirro called for the impeachment of Barack Obama  over the 2012 Benghazi attack.

Second Amendment
Of gun ownership, Pirro commented in December 2015: 

Personal life
Pirro has two children with her former spouse Albert. Following their marriage, they moved to Harrison, New York, where Pirro began working as assistant district attorney and her husband began work as a lobbyist. Later in their marriage, but before their children were born, Albert was accused of fathering a daughter by a Florida woman he termed as extortionate and mentally unstable. After his denials and extensive court proceedings, DNA testing confirmed him as the father and he was ordered to begin child support payments in 1998.

Following her tenure as D.A. and judge, Pirro returned to the private sector and began a new career as a TV personality and commentator. In 1997, People magazine named her one of its "50 Most Beautiful People".

On February 23, 1999, Pirro's husband was indicted by the office of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York on one count of conspiracy, four counts of tax evasion, and 28 counts of filing a false tax return for hiding over $1 million in personal income as business expenses between 1988 and 1997. That day, Pirro appeared with her husband at a press conference in response to the charges, criticizing the investigation as "invasive and hostile." New York Governor George Pataki released a statement saying that the Pirros had been personal friends for "a long time," and that he and his wife "wished them well." With the trial beginning on May 15, 2000, and closing arguments given on June 19, 2000, the jury found Pirro's husband guilty on June 23, 2000, on 23 of the charges brought against him and not guilty of 10. In November 2000, he was sentenced to 29 months in federal prison, but received some leniency in exchange for waiving his right to appeal. He served 17 months in prison, being released early for good behavior and participating in an alcoholism treatment program. In the midst of the trial, Jeanine Pirro had attacked the prosecution for bringing up matters which involved her, calling it a "desperate attempt by them to bring me into this wherever they can." Albert Pirro was pardoned by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2021, shortly before Trump left office.

As a result of their "tumultuous" relationship, Pirro and her husband separated in 2007, with their divorce being finalized in 2013.

In November 2017, Pirro was charged with speeding for driving 119 miles per hour in upstate New York.

In March 2019, Pirro was suspended by Fox News following a commentary questioning Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's patriotism. Pirro returned to the air after two weeks.

In July 2019, Pirro was named to the board of directors of the cannabis company HeavenlyRx, which manufactures CBD products.  Said Pirro: "My interest in CBD stems from a curiosity after hearing people say how much they benefited from CBD.... Initially a skeptic, I now understand there are tremendous benefits outside the assembly line of traditional medical and pharmaceutical dictates".

Pirro revealed in her 2018 book, Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy'', that she was diagnosed with cancer in 2012. She is a practicing Catholic.

Lawsuit

On February 4, 2021, Pirro was named in the complaint "Smartmatic Files $2.7 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against Fox Corporation" The complaint states that "Fox News’ disinformation campaign had a direct and harmful impact on Smartmatic’s ability to conduct business in the United States and around the world". Smartmatic claims that Fox News Network, Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro, Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell were primary sources of false information which were repeated by other media outlets, journalists, bloggers and influencers the world over.

See also
 New Yorkers in journalism

Notes

References

External links

 
 
  
 
 

1951 births
Living people
Albany Law School alumni
American politicians of Lebanese descent
American women lawyers
American critics of Islam
Businesspeople in the cannabis industry
Fox News people
LGBT rights activists from the United States
New York (state) lawyers
New York (state) Republicans
New York (state) state court judges
Politicians from Elmira, New York
Television judges
University at Buffalo alumni
Westchester county district attorneys
Politicians from Westchester County, New York
Women in New York (state) politics
American gun rights activists
21st-century American women
The 2022 Ottawa municipal election is scheduled to be held on Monday, October 24, 2022 to elect a mayor, city councillors, and trustees to the English and French public school boards and the English and French Catholic school boards in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This election will be the first since the 1997 municipal election that an incumbent mayor or its equivalent did not run for re-election. Nominations will open on May 2 and close on August 19.

Background

Incumbents not running for re-election

Mayoral candidates

Declared intention to run

Bob Chiarelli
Declared intention on December 10th. Former Mayor (2001–2006), former provincial cabinet minister under Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne, former MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean (2010–2018) and Ottawa West (1987–1997). Second cousin to incumbent city councillor for College Ward Rick Chiarelli.

Diane Deans
Declared intention on December 10th. City councillor for Gloucester-Southgate Ward (1994–present).

Catherine McKenney
Declared intention on December 10th. City councillor for Somerset Ward (2014–present).

Expressed interest

 Mathieu Fleury, incumbent city councillor for Rideau-Vanier (2010–present)

Declined

 Bryan Brulotte, CEO and chair of employment firm MaxSys Staffing and Consulting (1993–present), deputy chief of staff to Paul Dick (1993), Progressive Conservative candidate for Lanark-Carleton in 2000
 Lisa MacLeod, incumbent MPP for Nepean and provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport; former Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women's Issues (2018–2019)
 Catherine McKenna, former MP for Ottawa Centre (2015–2021), former federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change (2015-2019) and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities (2019–2021)
 Shawn Menard, incumbent city councilor for Capital Ward, former manager of government relations for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (Running for re-election)
 Jim Watson, incumbent Mayor; former MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean (2003–2010), former provincial cabinet minister under Dalton McGuinty, former city councillor for Capital Ward (1991–1997)

Endorsements

City Council

Orléans East-Cumberland Ward
Incumbent city councillor Matthew Luloff was elected in 2018 with 23.76% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Orléans West-Innes Ward
Incumbent city councillor Laura Dudas was elected in 2018 with 41.37% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Barrhaven West Ward
Incumbent city councillor Jan Harder was re-elected in 2018 with 74.27% of the vote. She has announced she will not be seeking re-election.

Kanata North Ward
Incumbent city councillor Cathy Curry was appointed to the seat on November 10, 2021 after her predecessor, Jenna Sudds, was elected as Member of Parliament for Kanata—Carleton on September 20, 2021. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

West Carleton-March Ward
Incumbent city councillor Eli El-Chantiry was re-elected in 2018 with 65.90% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Stittsville Ward
Incumbent city councillor Glen Gower was elected in 2018 with 57.86% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Bay Ward
Incumbent city councillor Theresa Kavanagh was elected in 2018 with 55.17% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

College Ward
Incumbent city councillor Rick Chiarelli was re-elected in 2018 with 46.79% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Knoxdale-Merivale Ward
Incumbent city councillor Keith Egli was re-elected in 2018 with 63.12% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Gloucester-Southgate Ward
Incumbent city councillor Diane Deans was re-elected in 2018 with 74.27% of the vote. She has announced she will not be seeking re-election in order to run for Mayor.

Beacon Hill-Cyrville Ward
Incumbent city councillor Tim Tierney was re-elected in 2018 with 81.34% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Rideau-Vanier Ward
Incumbent city councillor Mathieu Fleury was re-elected in 2018 with 68.08% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward
Incumbent city councillor Rawlson King was elected to the seat in a by-election on April 15, 2019, after his predecessor, Tobi Nussbaum, resigned to accept an appointment to become the CEO of the National Capital Commission on January 26, 2019. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Somerset Ward
Incumbent city councillor Catherine McKenney was re-elected in 2018 with 76.66% of the vote. They are not seeking re-election in order to run for Mayor. They have endorsed Ariel Troster to succeed them.

Declared intention to run
Ariel Troster, communications professional.

Kitchissippi Ward
Incumbent city councillor Jeff Leiper was re-elected in 2018 with 85.28% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

River Ward
Incumbent city councillor Riley Brockington was re-elected in 2018 with 54.50% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Capital Ward
Incumbent city councillor Shawn Menard was elected in 2018 with 28.12% of the vote. He intends to seek re-election.

Declared intention to run
Shawn Menard, incumbent city councillor

Alta Vista Ward
Incumbent city councillor Jean Cloutier was re-elected in 2018 with 32.81% of the vote. He is not seeking re-election.

Orléans South-Navan Ward
Incumbent city councillor Catherine Kitts was elected to the seat in a by-election on October 5, 2020, after her predecessor, Stephen Blais, was elected as Member of Provincial Parliament for Orléans on February 27, 2020. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Osgoode Ward
Incumbent city councillor George Darouze was re-elected in 2018 with 54.86% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Rideau-Jock Ward
Incumbent city councillor Scott Moffatt was re-elected in 2018 with 55.81% of the vote. He is not seeking re-election.

Riverside South-Findlay Creek Ward
Incumbent city councillor Carol Anne Meehan was elected in 2018 with 42.55% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Kanata South Ward
Incumbent city councillor Allan Hubley was re-elected in 2018 with 45.53% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Barrhaven East Ward
The Barrhaven East Ward was newly created for the 2022 election following redistricting.

School Boards

Ottawa Catholic School Board

Zone 1
John Curry was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. Curry passed away on February 5, 2022, leaving the seat vacant.

Zone 2
Incumbent trustee Sandra Moore was re-elected in 2018 with 69.53% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 3
Incumbent trustee Brian Coburn was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 4
Incumbent trustee Spencer Warren was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 5
Incumbent trustee Joanne MacEwan was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 6
Incumbent trustee Glen Armstrong was elected in 2018 with 54.59% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 7
Incumbent trustee Jeremy Wittet was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 8
Incumbent trustee Mark D. Mullan was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 9
Incumbent trustee Sandra Moore was elected in 2018 with 82.92% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 10
Incumbent trustee Cindy Simpson was appointed to the seat on February 12, 2019, after her predecessor, Thérèse Maloney-Cousineau, passed away on January 11, 2019. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

Zone 1
Incumbent trustee Lynn Scott was re-elected in 2018 with 64.84% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 2
Incumbent trustee Christine Boothby was re-elected in 2018 with 66.34% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 3
Incumbent trustee Donna Blackburn was re-elected in 2018 with 66.34% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 4
Incumbent trustee Wendy Hough was elected in 2018 with 66.65% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 5
Incumbent trustee Rob Campbell was elected in 2018 with 65.08% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 6
Incumbent trustee Chris Ellis was re-elected in 2018 with 48.28% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 7
Incumbent trustee Jennifer Jennekens was elected in 2018 with 52.74% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 8
Incumbent trustee Keith Perry was elected in 2018 with 55.13% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 9
Incumbent trustee Lyra Evans was elected in 2018 with 55.33% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 10
Incumbent trustee Justine Bell was appointed to the seat on February 12, 2020, after her predecessor, Erica Braunovan, resigned on December 4, 2019. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 11
Incumbent trustee Mark Fisher was re-elected in 2018 with 50.42% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 12
Incumbent trustee Sandra Schwartz was re-elected in 2018 with 74.31% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est
The Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE)'s boundaries for Zones 1, 2, and 3 are outside of Ottawa, and are thus not included on this list.

Zone 4
Incumbent trustee Jolène Savoie-Day was elected in 2018 with 66.80% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 5
Incumbent trustee Chad Mariage was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 6
Incumbent trustee Valérie Assoi was elected by acclamation in 2018. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 7
Incumbent trustee Robert Rainboth was elected by acclamation in 2018. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 8
Incumbent trustee Dan Boudria was re-elected in 2018 with 79.15% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 9
Incumbent trustee Johanne Lacombe was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 10
Incumbent trustee Monique Briand was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 11
Incumbent trustee André Thibodeau was elected by acclamation in 2018. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario
The Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO)'s boundaries for Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are outside of Ottawa, and are thus not included on this list.

Zone 6
Incumbent trustee Roda Muse was elected by acclamation in 2018. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 7
Incumbent trustee Denis M. Chartrand was re-elected in 2018 with 73.79% of the vote. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 8
Incumbent trustee Marc Roy was re-elected by acclamation in 2018. He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 9
Incumbent trustee Marielle Godbout was re-elected in 2018 with 79.34% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 10
Incumbent trustee Warsama Abdourahman Aden was appointed to the seat on September 23, 2020, after his predecessor, Lucille Collard, was elected as Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier on February 27, 2020.  He has not indicated if he will seek re-election or not.

Zone 11
Incumbent trustee Jacinthe Marcil was elected in 2018 with 43.87% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Zone 12
Incumbent trustee Samia Ouled Ali was elected in 2018 with 50.99% of the vote. She has not indicated if she will seek re-election or not.

Notes

References

External links 

 Ottawa City Hall election resources

Municipal elections in Ottawa
Ottawa Essex County is New Jersey's largest county and its county seat, Newark, is New Jersey's largest city.  Essex has been predominantly Democratic since the early 1970s.  Essex was a politically competitive (swing) county for decades before that.

Essex County Executive
In November 1977, Essex County voters approved a referendum to change the form of government and establish a new position of Essex County Executive.

1978-1987: Peter Shapiro (Democrat), Elected 1978.  Re-elected 1982.  Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey, 1985.  Defeated for re-election, 1986.

1987-1991: Nicholas R. Amato (Republican), Elected 1986.  Did not seek re-election in 1990.

1991-1994: Thomas D’Allesio (Democrat), Elected 1990.  Resigned in 1994 following his conviction on federal extortion charges.

1995-2003:  James W. Treffinger (Republican), Elected 1994.  Re-elected 1998.  Sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator in 2000 and 2002.  Did not seek re-election in 2002.

2003-date: Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (Democrat), Elected 2002.  Re-elected 2006, 2010 and 2014.

Essex County Sheriff
The Sheriff is an elected countywide position, the top law enforcement officer in the county, established by the New Jersey Constitution.

1968-1971: Ralph D'Ambola (Republican), Elected 1967.  Did not seek re-election in 1970.

1971-1980: John F. Cryan (Democrat), Elected 1967.  Re-elected in 1970, 1973 and 1976.  Defeated for re-election in 1979.

1980-1983: Chuck Cummings (Republican), Elected 1979.  Defeated for re-election in 1982.

1982-1991: Thomas J. D'Alessio (Democrat), Elected 1982.  Re-elected in 1985 and 1988.  Resigned in January 1991 following his election as Essex County Executive.

1991-date: Armando Fountoura (Democrat), Elected 1991.  Re-elected 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2012.

Essex County Clerk
The Essex County Clerk is a constitutional office elected to a five-year term.

2006-date: Christopher J. Durkin (Democrat), Elected 2005, Re-elected 2010.

1996-2006: Patrick J. McNally, (Democrat) Elected 1995, Re-elected 2000.  Did not seek re-election in 2005.

1991-1996: Patricia McGarry Drake (Democrat), Elected 1990.  Defeated for re-election in the 1995 Democratic Primary.

1961-1991: Nicholas V. Caputo (Democrat), Elected 1960, Re-elected 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985.

1956-1961: Anthony Giuliano (Republican), Elected 1955.  Did not seek re-election in 1960, but instead ran for Register of Deeds and Mortgages.

1936-1956: Russell Gates, Republican, Elected 1935, Re-elected 1940, 1945, and 1950.  Did not seek re-election in 1955.

Essex County Surrogate
The Surrogate is an elected countywide position with a five-year term and acts essentially as the County Probate Court Judge.

1971: Thomas R. Farley (Republican), Appointed 1971.  Defeated for a full five-year term by Nicholas R. Amato.

1971-1986: Nicholas R. Amato (Democrat), Elected 1971, Re-elected in 1976 and 1981.  Amato switched parties and ran for re-election as a Republican in 1986 after Essex Democrats, at the urging of County Executive Peter Shapiro, denied him the organization line in the primary; he later switched races and defeated Shapiro in the County Executive race.  Amato resigned as Surrogate to run for County Executive.

1987-1988: Earl Harris (Republican), Elected 1986.  Died in office in 1988.  Harris was a longtime Newark City Council President who joined the Republican ticket in 1986 to run with Amato.  He defeated East Orange attorney Daniel Williams.

1988-90: Bob Cottle (Republican), Acting Surrogate following Harris' death.  Defeated in General Election for full term in 1990.

1990-1993: Thomas P. Giblin (Democrat), Elected 1990.  Resigned to seek the Democratic nomination for Essex County Executive.

1996-2012: Joseph P. Brennan, Jr. (Democrat), Elected 1996, Re-elected 2001 and 2006.

2012-date: Theodore N. Stevens II (Democrat), Elected in 2011.

Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages
The Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages is an elected countywide position with a five-year term.  Only Essex and Hudson still directly elect County Registers; the other counties have eliminated the post.

2015-date: Dana Rone (Democrat), Elected 2014.  Rone is a former Newark City Councilwoman.  She defeated Republican James Boydston with 74.4% of the vote.

2013-2014: William Narvaez (Democrat), became Acting Register following Thigpen's death and served until Rone took the oath of office in January 2015.

2010-2013: Philip Thigpen (Democrat), elected 2009.  Thigpen, the Essex County Democratic Chairman, became the replacement candidate for Register after the winner of the 2009 primary, Dwight C. Brown, died after the Democratic primary at age 62.  Thigpen defeated Republican Terriann Moore-Abrams by a 69%-28% margin.

1995-2010: Carole A. Graves (Democrat), elected 1999, Re-elected 2004.  Graves was the former President of the  Newark Teachers Union.  She was not a candidate for re-election in 2010.

1975-1995: Larrie W. Stalks (Democrat), Elected 1974, Re-elected 1979, 1984, 1989 and 1994.  She was not a candidate for re-election in 1999. She defeated Republican John Taliaferro in 1974, and just narrowly won in 1979 against Republican Hymen B. Mintz. a former Assemblyman who had served as County Register from 1970 to 1975; Mintz had run on a single platform of eliminating the office.

1970-1975: Hymen B. Mintz (Republican), Elected 1969.  Did not seek re-election in 1974.

1968-1970: Vacant

1960-1968: Madaline A. Williams (Democrat), Elected 1960, Re-elected 1965.  Died in office in 1968.

1955-1960: Abbie W. Magee (Republican), Elected 1955.

Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman
1953-1968: Dennis F. Carey; 1968-1978: Harry Lerner; 1978-1979: May Maher; 1979-1980: Horace Gausepohl; 1980-1992: Raymond M. Durkin; 1992-1993: Thomas J. D'Alessio; 1993-2002: Thomas P. Giblin; 2002-2004: Donald M. Payne; 2004-2013: Philip Thigpen; 2013-date: LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.

Essex County Republican Committee Chairman
1971-1973: George M. Wallhauser, Jr.; 1973-1977: Frederic Remington; 1977-1982: John Renna; 1982-1983: James Piro; 1983-1986: Michael D. Francis; 1986-1996: John Renna; 1996-1999: Jeanne Parke; 1999-2011: Kevin J. O'Toole; 2011-date: Al Barlas.

Congressmen from Essex County

10th District of New Jersey
2012-date: Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Democrat), Elected 2012, Re-elected 2014.  Payne was serving as an Essex County Freeholder and Newark City Councilman when he won a 2012 Special Election following the death of his father.

1989-2012: Donald M. Payne (Democrat), Elected 1988, Re-elected 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. Died in office in 2012.
1949-1989: Peter W. Rodino (Democrat), Elected 1948, Re-elected 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1986.  Did not seek re-election to a 21st term in 1988.  Rodino's predecessor, Republican Fred A. Hartley, Jr., was from Hudson County (Kearny).

11th District of New Jersey
1963-1985: Joseph Minish (Democrat), Elected 1962, Re-elected 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1982.  Defeated for re-election in 1984 by Assembly Minority Leader Dean Gallo, a Republican from Morris County (Parsippany).

1949-1963: Hugh Joseph Addonizio (Democrat), Elected 1948, Re-elected 1950, 1952, 1954, 1958 and 1960.  Did not seek re-election in 1962, but instead ran for Mayor of Newark.

1943-1949: Frank Sundstrom (Republican), Elected 1942, Re-elected 1944 and 1946.  Defeated for re-election by Addonizio.

1939-1943: Albert L. Vreeland (Republican), Elected 1938, Re-elected 1940.  Did not seek re-election in 1942 but instead enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II.

1937-1939: Edward L. O'Neill (Democrat), Elected 1936.  Defeated for re-election in 1938 by Vreeland.

1931-1937: Peter Angelo Cavicchia (Republican), Elected 1930, Re-elected 1932 and 1934.  Defeated for re-election in 1936 by O'Neill.

12th District of New Jersey
1965-1966: Paul J. Krebs (Democrat), Elected 1964.  Did not seek re-election in 1966 after his district was eliminated in redistricting.

1959-1965: George M. Wallhauser (Republican), Elected in 1958, Re-elected in 1960 and 1962.  Did not seek re-election in 1964.

1939-1959: Robert W. Kean, (Republican), Elected 1938, Re-elected 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1956.  Did not seek re-election in 1958, but instead was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator.

1937-1939: Frank William Towey, Jr. (Democrat), Elected 1936.  Defeated for re-election in 1938 by Kean.

1915-1937: Frederick R. Lehlbach (Republican), Elected 1914, Re-elected 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1932 and 1934.  Defeated for re-election in 1936 by Towey.

State Senators from Essex County

1926-1965 Elections
Until 1965, Essex County had one State Senator, elected in countywide elections:

1927-1935: Joseph G. Wolber (Republican), Elected 1926.  Re-elected 1929 and 1932.  Did not seek re-election in 1935 following his appointment as a New Jersey Circuit Court Judge.

1936-1938: Lester H. Clee (Republican), Elected 1935. Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey, 1937.  Did not seek re-election in 1938.

1939-1941: Homer C. Zink (Republican), Elected 1938.  Elected by the Legislature to serve as New Jersey State Controller in 1941.

1942-1947: Roy V. Wright (Republican), Elected 1941.  Re-elected 1944.  Did not seek re-election in 1947.

1948-53: Alfred C. Clapp (Republican), Elected 1947.  Re-elected 1951.  Resigned in 1953 to become a Superior Court Judge.

1953-55: Marc Anton (Republican), Elected 1953 (Special Election).  Defeated for re-election, 1955.

1956-64: Donal C. Fox (Democrat), Elected 1955.  Re-elected 1959.  Did not seek re-election, 1963.

1964-66: C. Robert Sarcone (Republican).  Elected 1963.  Defeated for re-election, 1965.

1965 Elections
The U.S. Supreme Court, in Reynolds v. Sims (more commonly known as One Man, One Vote), required redistricting by state legislatures for congressional districts to keep represented populations equal, as well as requiring both houses of state legislatures to have districts drawn that contained roughly equal populations, and to perform redistricting when needed.  Because of its population, Essex County went from one State Senate seat to four.  In 1965, all four Essex Senators were elected countywide At-Large for a two-year term:

1966-1968: Nicholas T. Fernicola (Democrat), Elected 1965. Defeated for re-election, 1967.

1966-1968: Maclyn S. Goldman (Democrat), Elected 1965. Defeated for re-election, 1967.

1966-1968: John J. Giblin (Democrat), Elected 1965. Defeated for re-election, 1967.

1966-1968: Hutchins F. Inge (Democrat), Elected 1965. Defeated for re-election, 1967.

1967 Elections
As New Jersey adjusted to One Man, One Vote, the state reapportioned the State Senate again for the 1967 elections.  Essex County went from four State Senate seats to six.  In 1967, all six Essex Senators were elected countywide At-Large for four-year terms:

1968-1982: James Wallwork (Republican), Elected 1967.  Re-elected 1971, 1973 and 1977.  Did not seek re-election in 1981, but instead sought the Republican nomination for Governor.

1968-1974: Michael Giuliano (Republican), Elected 1967.  Re-elected 1971.  Defeated for re-election, 1973.

1968-1971: David Dowd (Republican), Elected 1967.  Resigned in 1971 to become General Counsel to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

1968-1972: Alexander Matturri (Republican), Elected 1967.  Candidate for Mayor of Newark, 1970.  Did not seek re-election in 1971.

1968-1972: Milton Waldor (Republican), Elected 1967.  Defeated for re-election, 1971.

1968-1972: Gerardo Del Tufo (Republican), Elected 1967.  Did not seek re-election in 1971, but instead was elected to the Essex County Board of Freeholders.

1971 Elections
A Special Election was held in November 1971 to fill the unexpired term of Senator David Dowd (Republican), who had resigned to become General Counsel of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.  The seat was won by Democrat Charles B. DeMarco, who served in the Senate from November 1971 to January 1972.

Essex County lost one State Senate seat following Reapportionment for the 1971 General Election, going from six seats to five seats.  In 1971, all five Essex Senators were elected countywide At-Large for two-year terms.

Republican Senators James Wallwork and Michael Giuliano were re-elected.  Waldor was defeated, and Democrats picked up the open seats being vacated by Matturri and Dowd.

1972-1999: Wynona Lipman (Democrat), Elected 1971.  Re-elected 1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1993 and 1997.  Died in office, 1999.

1972-1974: Ralph DeRose (Democrat), Elected 1971.  Did not seek re-election in 1973, but instead sought the Democratic nomination for Governor.

1972-1982: Frank J. Dodd (Democrat), Elected 1971.  Re-elected 1973 and 1977.  Did not seek re-election in 1981, but instead sought the Democratic nomination for Governor.

1973 Elections
For the first time, the state was to be divided into 40 legislative districts, with each district electing one State Senator and two members of the General Assembly.  The districts were drawn first to achieve a population balance (districts were drawn to be within +/- 4% of each other), and then to be as geographically compact as possible.  Many districts included parts of several counties. Some districts had more than one incumbent.

Essex County was part of five legislative Districts:

District 25
The predominantly Essex County-based 25th District included parts of suburban Western Essex County, as well as two towns in Morris County and Wayne in Passaic County.  Wallwork (R-Short Hills) was the incumbent Senator.  He was re-elected over Roseland Councilman Joel Wasserman.

District 26
The all-Essex 26th District included East Orange, West Orange, and Orange.  Dodd (D-West Orange) was the incumbent Senator.  He was re-elected.

District 27
The all-Essex 27th District was based in northeastern Essex County and included Montclair, Bloomfield and Nutley.  The incumbent Senator was Giuliano (R-Bloomfield).  He was defeated for re-election by Democrat Carmen Orechio, the Mayor of Nutley.

District 28
The all-Essex 28th District included part of Newark (West Ward), and Irvington and South Orange.  The incumbent was DeRose (D-South Orange), who gave up his Senate seat to run for Governor.  The winner of the open seat was Democrat Martin L. Greenberg.

District 29
The all-Essex 29th District was entirely in the City of Newark.  Lipman (D-Newark) was the incumbent Senator.  (Lipman had been a resident of Montclair, but moved to Newark to run in District 29.)  She was re-elected.

District 30
The 30th District included part of Newark (North Ward) and Belleville, and the Hudson County towns of Harrison and Kearny.  There was no incumbent Senator.  The winner of the open seat was Assemblyman Anthony Imperiale, who ran as an Independent.

1977 Elections
Districts remained the same for the 1977 elections.  All incumbents sought re-election.

District 25
Wallwork was re-elected against Democrat Lewis J. Paper.

District 26
Dodd was re-elected against Republican Nancy Jane Schron, the former East Orange City Council President.

District 27
Orechio was re-elected against Republican Assemblyman John N. Dennis.

District 28
Greenberg was re-elected against Republican James A. Pindar, a Roman Catholic Priest and a Professor of Communications at Seton Hall University.

District 29
Lipman was re-elected against Republican Manuel Angel Colon.

District 30
Imperiale was defeated in his bid for re-election to a second term in the Senate by Democrat Frank X. Rodgers, the longtime Mayor of Harrison, New Jersey.

1979 Special Election

District 28
Greenberg resigned from the Senate to return to his law practice and represent the new Golden Nugget Casino in Atlantic City. A special election was won by John Caufield, a Democrat and the Newark Fire Director.

1981 Elections
The New Jersey Legislature faced redistricting following the 1980 census.  Two Senators ran for Governor, and two others sought re-election.  Wallwork sought the Republican nomination for Governor and his old 25th district as eliminated.  Some of the West Essex towns went into the 22nd district, which was shared with Union County, and others went to the 34th district, which was predominantly Passaic County.

District 27
District 27, with some changes, was essentially the old 26th.  Dodd gave up his Senate seat to seek the Democratic nomination for Governor.  He was replaced by Assemblyman Richard Codey.

District 28
Caufield was re-elected.

District 29
Lipman was re-elected.

District 30
District 30, with some changes, resembled the old 27th district.  Orechio was re-elected narrowly against Bloomfield Councilman John Crecco.

1983 Elections
Districts remained the same for the 1983 elections.  All incumbents sought re-election.

District 27
Codey was re-elected.

District 28
Caufield was re-elected.

District 29
Lipman was re-elected.

District 30
Orechio was re-elected after an aggressive challenge from Republican Ralph J. Salerno.

1979 Special Election

District 28
Caufield died in office in 1986.  Newark West Ward Councilman Ronald Rice won a special election to the State Senate.

1987 Elections
Districts remained the same for the 1987 elections.  All incumbents sought re-election.

District 27
Codey was re-elected.

District 28
Rice was re-elected.

District 29
Lipman was re-elected.

District 30
Orechio was re-elected.

1991 Elections
The New Jersey Legislature faced redistricting following the 1990 census.  The Union County-based District 21 took on several West Essex towns, extending from Union Township to Cedar Grove. The 30th district was eliminated and most of the towns were reapportioned to the Passaic County-based 34th district and the Bergen County-based 36th district.  Orechio was placed in the same district as another Democratic Senator, Gabriel Ambrosio, and chose not to seek re-election after 18 years in the Senate.

District 27
Codey was re-elected.

District 28
Rice was re-elected.

District 29
Lipman was re-elected.

1993 Elections
Districts remained the same for the 1993 elections.  All incumbents sought re-election.

District 27
Codey was re-elected.

District 28
Rice was re-elected.

District 29
Lipman was re-elected.

1997 Elections
Districts remained the same for the 1997 elections.  All incumbents sought re-election.

District 27
Codey was re-elected.

District 28
Rice was re-elected.

District 29
Lipman was re-elected.

District 36
Republican John P. Scott of Bergen County unseated Democratic Senator Gabriel Ambrosio, also of Bergen County, in 1991.  Scott was re-elected in 1993.  In 1997, Scott lost his Senate seat to an Essex County Democrat, Garry Furnari, the Mayor of Nutley.

1999 Special Election

District 29
Lipman died in office.  Newark Mayor Sharpe James won a special election convention to replace her in the New Jersey State Senate.

2001 Special Election

District 21
Republican State Senator C. Louis Bassano of Union County resigned from the Senate in 2001 to take a job at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. An Essex County Republican, Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole of Cedar Grove, won a Special Election Convention to fill the remainder of Bassano's term.

2001 Elections
The New Jersey Legislature faced redistricting following the 2000 census.

District 27
Codey was re-elected in a new district that lost East Orange but picked up suburban West Essex towns.

District 28
Rice was re-elected in a new district that added Bloomfield.  He defeated Republican Assemblywoman Marion Crecco.

District 29
James was re-elected.

District 34
The new 34th district went from Leans Republican to Safe Democratic by removing GOP towns like Wayne in Passaic County and replacing them with two Democratic Essex strongholds, East Orange and Montclair.  The incumbent Republican Senator, Norman Robertson, lost to Assemblywoman Nia Gill, a Democrat from Montclair.

District 40
O'Toole's Essex-Union 21st district was eliminated; O'Toole's hometown, Cedar Grove, was added to the Bergen/Passaic 40th district.  Instead of running for re-election to the State Senate, O'Toole returned to the Assembly.

Mayor of Newark
Newark is New Jersey's largest city.  Mayors are elected for four-year terms in May non-partisan elections.

1953-1962: Leo P. Carlin, Elected 1953, under Newark's old Commissioner form of government.  Elected in 1954 as the first Mayor of Newark to be directly elected by voters.  Re-elected in 1958.

1962-1970: Hugh Joseph Addonizio, Elected 1962, Re-elected 1966. Addonizio gave up his seat in Congress after seven terms to challenge Mayor Leo Carlin in 1962.

1970-1986: Kenneth A. Gibson, Elected 1970, Re-elected 1974, 1978 and 1982.  Gibson defeated Addonizio in a runoff election, 54,892 (55.88%)	 to 43,339 (44.12%), becoming Newark's first Black Mayor.  Re-elected in 1974 against State Sen. Anthony Imperiale, 42,870 (54.30%) to 34,502 (43.70%).  He was unopposed in 1978; in 1982, he defeated City Council President Earl Harris, 20,682 (40.68%)	to 16,988 (33.42%).

1986-2006: Sharpe James, Elected 1986, Re-elected 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002.  James defeated Gibson, 27,459 (55.57%)	 to 19,894 (40.26%).  In his final campaign, he defeated City Councilman Cory Booker, 28,363 (52.95%) to 24,869 (46.42%).  He was not a candidate for re-election in 2006.

2006-2013: Cory Booker, Elected 2006, Re-elected 2010.

2013-2014: Luis Quintana.  As City Council President, he succeeded to the mayoralty after Booker resigned to take his seat in the U.S. Senate. He was not a candidate for Mayor in 2014.

2014-date: Ras Baraka, Elected 2014.

Mayor of East Orange
East Orange is New Jersey's 10th largest city.  Mayors are elected for four-year terms in November partisan elections held in gubernatorial years.  Because East Orange is so overwhelmingly Democratic, the June primary is tantamount to election.

2014-date: Lester M. Taylor, Elected 2014, defeating Bowser in the Democratic Primary; 
1994-2014: Robert L. Bowser; 1990-1994: Cardell Cooper; 1986-1990: John C. Hatcher, Jr.; 1978-1986: Thomas H. Cooke, Jr.;
1970-1978: William Stanford Hart, Sr.; 1958-1970: James W. Kelly, Jr.; 1952-1958: William M. McConnell; 1918-1952: Charles Henry Martens; 1914-1918: Julian Arthur Gregory; 1911-1914: Worrall Frederick Mountain; 1905-1911: William Cardwell; 1899-1905: Edward Everett Bruen.

Mayor of Irvington
Irvington is an urban city in Essex County that adjoins Newark with a population of 53,926.  Mayors are elected in May non-partisan elections held in even-numbered non-presidential years for a four-year term.

1938-1938: Percy H. Miller, Jr.
1974-1982: Robert H. Miller, Elected 1974, Re-elected 1978.  Did not seek re-election in 1982.
1994-2002: Sara Bost, Elected 1994, Re-elected 1998.  Did not seek re-election following 2002 federal corruption indictment.
2002-2014: Wayne Smith, Elected 2002, Re-elected 2006 and 2010.
2014-date: Tony Vauss.  Defeated Smith in 2014.

Mayor of Nutley
Nutley is a municipality in Northeastern Essex County.  Nutley elects five Commissioners in May non-partisan elections held in presidential years for a four-year term.  Traditionally the top vote getter is the Mayor.

List of Mayors of Nutley, New Jersey

References

Essex County, New Jersey
Politics of the New York metropolitan area