Annette Quijano is a Democratic Assemblywoman representing New Jersey's 20th Legislative District since her appointment in 2008. Born on July 4, 1962, in New Jersey to Puerto Rican parents, she is the first woman and first Latina to represent the district. A champion for middle-class families, seniors, veterans, women, children, and workers, she holds key leadership roles including Speaker Pro Tempore , Majority Conference Leader , and Deputy Majority Leader . She serves on committees such as Commerce and Economic Development, Consumer Affairs, Education, Housing, and Labor, and is a member of the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus and Disability Caucus.

Notable achievements include chairing the Assembly Judiciary Committee , where she advanced landmark laws removing the statute of limitations on sexual assault, expanding driver's licenses to all eligible residents, improving gun safety, and protecting LGBTQIA+ rights. She sponsored or cosponsored 133 bills that became law in that session, prime sponsoring nine, such as providing unemployment benefits to striking workers, expanding paid family leave, preventing wage theft, and the Thomas P. Canzanella Twenty-First Century First Responders Act. Earlier, she chaired the Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee . Her early advocacy began as a teen organizing against the elimination of Spanish-language programming, leading to her election as the youngest board member and vice president of the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Management from Rutgers University; Juris Doctor from Rutgers School of Law-Newark. Admitted to the bars in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Completed clerkships at Essex County Superior Court, the Governor's Office, and NJ Department of the Public Advocate.
• Political Experience: Assistant Governor’s Counsel for Governors Codey, McGreevey, and Corzine; member of the 1992 NJ Congressional Redistricting Commission and board member for Legal Services-Elizabeth. Sworn into the Assembly on September 25, 2008, to fill a vacancy, followed by election wins in special and full terms. Previously served as municipal prosecutor.