State Senate District 21

Jon Bramnick

Jon M. Bramnick is serving his fifth term in the New Jersey General Assembly representing Union, Somerset and Morris Counties in the 21st District. Bramnick was elected by his colleagues in January 2012 to serve as the Assembly Minority Leader, making him the highest-ranking member of the Republican Caucus in the Assembly. He previously served as Conference Leader, Republican Whip, and chairman of the Assembly Republican Policy Committee. He also served as a ranking member on the Law and Public Safety and Consumer Affairs Committees and as a member of the State House Commission and the Bipartisan Leadership Committee.

Bramnick grew up in Plainfield and graduated from Plainfield High School. His parents owned Lazaar’s Stationers, their family business in Plainfield, for over 50 years. From 1984 to 1991, he served on the Plainfield City Council. He was an assistant professor of business law at Rider University from 1984 to 1989 and an adjunct professor of business law at Rutgers University from 1989 to 1990, where he won the “Inspirational Professor of the Year” Award.

Bramnick holds the title “Funniest Lawyer in New Jersey” after winning contests sponsored by the bar association at Rascals Comedy Club. He often volunteers his services as a comedic auctioneer on behalf of non-profit organizations.

Bramnick has been honored with the 2011 Legislator of the Year award from the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the 2011 Law and Justice Distinguished Achievement Award from Rider University, the Outstanding Legislator of the Year award from the NJ Society for Environmental & Economic Development, the Legislator of the Year award from the Food Council Committee for Good Government, the 2010 Government Leadership Award from the Advocates for New Jersey History, the 2009 Spirit of the YMCA Award, and the “Guardian of Small Business” Award from the National Federation of Independent Businesses. He was inducted into the Plainfield High School Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011.

Bramnick is a partner in the law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff, based in Scotch Plains. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1978 and the New Jersey Bar in 1984. He is a certified civil trial attorney and a frequent lecturer for both the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and the American Association for Justice. In 2001, he served as President of the Richard J. Hughes Inns of Court, an association of professional attorneys dedicated to teaching young attorneys. In 2007, he was named the “Professional Attorney of the Year” by the Union County Bar Association.

Bramnick holds a B.A. in political science from Syracuse University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also holds a J.D. from Hofstra University’s School of Law. He resides in Westfield with his wife Patricia and has two grown children, Brent and Abigail.