Verlina Reynolds-Jackson was born on July 26, 1971, in Trenton, New Jersey. She graduated from Trenton Central High School and earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) in 1994. She subsequently obtained a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and holds certification as a New Jersey Municipal Finance Officer.
Reynolds-Jackson began her career as a social worker, serving at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Division of Housing and the Mercer County Board of Social Services. Her commitment to public service led her to electoral politics in 2010 when she was elected to represent Trenton's East Ward on the City Council, becoming the first African American female to hold that position. She was re-elected in 2014 with 42% of the vote in a three-candidate race and served as Council Vice-President from October 2014 until her resignation in February 2018. She completed seven and a half years on the council.
In January 2018, Assemblywoman Elizabeth Maher Muoio resigned from the New Jersey General Assembly to accept Governor Philip D. Murphy's nomination as State Treasurer. Reynolds-Jackson was selected by Democratic county committee members from Mercer and Hunterdon counties at a February 10, 2018 convention to fill the vacancy. She defeated Mercer County Freeholder Anthony Verrelli in the second round of voting and was sworn into office on February 15, 2018.
She has been re-elected continuously since 2018 and is currently serving her fourth term in the Assembly. She served as Deputy Majority Leader from 2020 to 2021 and has been Constituent Outreach Chair since 2022. She currently serves as Vice-Chairwoman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Schools, and Vice Chair of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus.
In 2025, Reynolds-Jackson announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District, seeking to succeed retiring incumbent Bonnie Watson Coleman. She secured the Mercer County Democratic Committee endorsement on February 26, 2026, clearing the field on the first ballot. The 12th District Democratic primary on June 2, 2026, features thirteen candidates, with Ballotpedia identifying the race as a 2026 battleground election.
Political Career
• Candidate for U.S. House, NJ-12 (2026); Democratic primary June 2, 2026; Mercer County Democratic Committee endorsement secured February 26, 2026
• New Jersey General Assemblywoman, District 15 (2018–present); current term ends January 11, 2028; re-elected 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025
• Constituent Outreach Chair, New Jersey General Assembly (2022–present)
• Deputy Majority Leader, New Jersey General Assembly (2020–2021)
• Vice-Chairwoman, Assembly Appropriations Committee (2024–present)
• Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Public Schools (2024–present)
• Vice Chair, New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus (2024–present)
• Trenton City Council, East Ward (2010–2018); first African American female elected to seat; Council Vice-President (2014–2018)
Key Policy Areas
• Voting rights and election administration reform
• Affordability and cost-of-living relief
• Paid family leave and workers' rights
• Medical debt relief and healthcare access
• Immigrant protections and due process
• Criminal justice reform and juvenile justice
• Public education funding and student success
• Minority, women, and veteran-owned business development
Notable Actions / Initiatives
• Prime sponsor of John Lewis Empowerment Act of New Jersey, establishing statewide voting rights protections and language access requirements
• Prime sponsor of Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act, prohibiting medical creditors from reporting patient debt to consumer reporting agencies
• Authored legislation expanding New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit eligibility
• Authored legislation granting employees reinstatement rights after taking family temporary disability leave or unpaid family leave
• Sponsored legislation requiring law enforcement officers to reveal facial identity during certain public interactions and present identification prior to arrest or detention
• Authored Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youth Programs to assist juvenile reintegration
• Prime sponsor of Heritage Trail bill (P.L. 2022, c. 102), signed into law by Governor Murphy
• Sponsored Assembly Bill 4454 (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.36a), requiring diversity and inclusion curriculum in K-12 schools
Education
• B.A., Sociology, Trenton State College/The College of New Jersey (1994)
• M.S., Administration, Central Michigan University
• Certified Municipal Finance Officer, State of New Jersey
Personal
• Birth date: July 26, 1971 (age 54 as of 2025)
• Residence: Trenton, New Jersey
• Spouse: Lorenzo Jackson
• Profession: Social worker; adjunct professor of Public Policy, Saint Peter's University
