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Vin Gopal

Democratic Party

Position

New Jersey State Senate, 11th Legislative District

Background

Vin Gopal is a Democratic member of the New Jersey Senate representing the 11th Legislative District, which encompasses 19 municipalities in Monmouth County. The district's most populous communities include Howell Township, Freehold Township, Long Branch, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, and Tinton Falls. Gopal assumed office on January 9, 2018, and was re-elected in 2021 and 2023. He currently serves as Senate Majority Whip and chairs the Senate Education Committee.

Born in Neptune Township on May 18, 1985, Gopal grew up in Freehold Township and graduated from Ranney School in 2003. He holds a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University. Before entering the legislature, he built and sold several small businesses and worked as a business consultant. He served as president of the Hazlet Township Business Owners Association from 2010 to 2013 and on the board of directors of the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce. At age 24, he was elected chairman of the Monmouth County Democratic Organization, a post he held from 2012 to 2017, during which Democrats flipped mayoral seats in Matawan, Atlantic Highlands, Howell Township, Oceanport, and Shrewsbury Township.

Gopal's 2017 election to the State Senate was described by NJ.com as "perhaps the biggest upset of the night," unseating Republican incumbent Jennifer Beck by 4,158 votes in a district that had trended Republican. In 2021, he was the only Democratic state legislator to win in a district carried by Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli. In 2023, he won re-election with more than 60% of the vote, carrying 17 of 19 towns. In June 2025, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill named Gopal chairman of her gubernatorial campaign.

Political Career

• Chairman, Monmouth County Democratic Organization (2012–2017)

• New Jersey State Senate, District 11 (2018–present)

• Senate Majority Conference Leader (2018–2021)

• Chair, Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (2019–2022)

• Chair, Senate Education Committee (2022–present)

• Senate Majority Whip (2025–present)

• Chair, Bipartisan Legislative Manufacturing Caucus

• Chair, Mikie Sherrill for Governor campaign (2025)

Key Policy Areas

• Education funding and school district consolidation

• Manufacturing and economic development

• Veterans' affairs and military welfare

• Environmental protection and animal welfare

• Reproductive healthcare access

• Transportation and infrastructure

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Elected in 2017 as the first Indian-American to serve in the New Jersey State Senate, unseating a Republican incumbent in a district considered one of the state's most politically competitive.

• Named by POLITICO as New Jersey's most prolific lawmaker in 2016 and 2017 for primary sponsorship of more bills signed into law than any other legislator during those sessions.

• Sponsored the 2023 law banning gestation crates for pigs, legislation that had been vetoed by Governor Chris Christie in 2013.

• Sponsored the 2018 law banning smoking on New Jersey beaches.

• Championed legislation expanding New Jersey's film tax credits, which contributed to Netflix establishing a production presence in the state.

• Served as lead architect of Mikie Sherrill's 2025 gubernatorial campaign, which resulted in a 13-point victory and coattails that elected five new Democratic Assembly members.

Education

• B.A., Pennsylvania State University

• M.P.A., Rutgers UniversityBirth date: May 18, 1985 Residence: Long Branch, New Jersey

Personal

• Birth date: May 18, 1985

• Residence: Long Branch, New Jersey

Stats

Democratic Party