Annette Quijano is an attorney and politician who has represented the 20th Legislative District since 2008, becoming the first woman and first Latina to represent the district. A native of New Jersey and daughter of Puerto Rican parents, she has built a legislative career focusing on consumer protection, housing policy, and judicial reform.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Quijano served as Chief of Staff to State Senator Raymond Lesniak from 1992 to 1994. She also served as Assistant Counsel to Governors James E. McGreevey, Richard J. Codey, and Jon S. Corzine. Her professional experience includes work as a compliance manager for Prudential/Aetna U.S. Healthcare and as a civil attorney.

Political Career

• Chief of Staff to Senator Raymond Lesniak (1992–1994)
• Assistant Counsel to Union County
• Assistant Counsel to Governors McGreevey, Codey, and Corzine
• Member, New Jersey General Assembly, District 20 (September 25, 2008–present)
• Chair, Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee (2011–2018)
• Chair, Assembly Judiciary Committee (2018–2023)
• Deputy Majority Leader (prior to 2025)
• Speaker Pro Tempore, New Jersey General Assembly (January 30, 2025–present)
• Member, Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee (Vice-Chair, 2024–2025)
• Member, Assembly Housing Committee (2024–2025)

Key Policy Areas

• Consumer affairs and protection
• Housing and tenant rights
• Judiciary and legal reform
• Homeland security and emergency preparedness
• Labor and workforce development
• LGBTQIA+ rights and gun safety

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Sponsored legislation removing the statute of limitations on sexual assault
• Authored laws allowing all eligible New Jersey residents to obtain driver's licenses regardless of immigration status
• Sponsored successful legislation allowing striking workers to receive unemployment benefits
• Prime sponsor of bill designating Streptomyces griseus as New Jersey State Microbe (2017), recognizing Rutgers University's contribution to antibiotic development
• Sponsored legislation expanding paid family leave and preventing wage theft
• Served as Chair of National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators Housing Task Force

Education

• Rutgers University – Bachelor of Science in Management
• Rutgers School of Law–Newark – Juris Doctor (1991)
• Clerkships: New Jersey Superior Court (Newark), Office of the Governor's Counsel, New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate
• Bar admissions: New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Personal

• Birth date: July 4, 1962
• Residence: Elizabeth, New Jersey
• Other: Recipient of Excellence in State Government Leadership Award and Women of Excellence in Government Award; former adjunct professor at Kean University