Overview

Michael L. Testa, Jr., represents New Jersey's 1st Legislative District in the State Senate, which encompasses parts of Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. First elected in a 2019 special election to fill the vacancy created by Jeff Van Drew's election to the US House of Representatives, Testa assumed office on December 5, 2019. He currently serves as Republican Whip.

Testa is an attorney and partner at the law firm Testa, Heck, Testa & White, P.A., admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 2001. He has served as Chairman of the Cumberland County Republican Organization since 2014. He previously chaired the Vineland Downtown Improvement District (2006–2008) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties, and served as board president of the Vineland Regional Dance Company.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Testa worked with 1st District Assemblymen Erik Simonsen and Antwan McClellan to assist nearly 4,000 district residents with unemployment benefits. He introduced legislation to limit executive orders to 14 days without legislative extension, and successfully challenged the state's $9.9 billion borrowing plan, resulting in a Supreme Court ruling limiting borrowing to $4.5 billion.

Political Career

Chair, Cumberland County Republican Organization (2014–present)

New Jersey State Senate, 1st District (2019–present)

Republican Whip, New Jersey Senate (2024–present)

Key Policy Areas

Executive order limitations and legislative oversight

State budget and appropriations

Election integrity and voter fraud prevention

Unemployment assistance and constituent services

Judiciary and legal procedure

Public education funding

Notable Actions / Initiatives

Assisted nearly 4,000 residents with unemployment benefits during COVID-19 pandemic

Introduced legislation (S-2482) to limit gubernatorial executive orders to 14 days without legislative extension

Successfully challenged Governor Murphy's $9.9 billion borrowing plan; NJ Supreme Court limited borrowing to $4.5 billion

Authored election integrity legislative package including voter fraud task force and automatic voter registration suspension provisions

Challenged Murphy's Vote-by-Mail executive order in court as unconstitutional

Education

Villanova University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Juris Doctor

Temple University Beasley School of Law, Master of Laws in Trial Advocacy

Personal

Birth date: May 1, 1976

Residence: Vineland, New Jersey