Don Guardian is a Republican Assembly Member representing New Jersey's 2nd Legislative District, which includes shore towns, mainland suburbs, and Pinelands communities of Atlantic County. He has served in the Assembly since 2022, currently in his second term, and holds positions as assistant Republican whip since January 2024, and member of committees including Tourism, Gaming & the Arts, Labor, and Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations. Notable achievements include being elected the first Republican mayor of Atlantic City in nearly 25 years in a heavily Democratic city, where he focused on cutting wasteful spending, trimming government, and diversifying the economy amid financial challenges; prior roles as Toms River Township business administrator and executive with the Claridge Casino Hotel and Casino Reinvestment Development Authority's Special Improvement District. He is known as one of the legislature's most moderate Republicans with strong ties to Democratic leaders, recently winning a close re-election in 2025 by about 700 votes and planning to run again in 2027. An Eagle Scout born to Croatian immigrants and raised in Hudson and Bergen Counties, he resides in Atlantic City with his husband, Louis Fatato, and is involved in Rotary International, Metropolitan Business and Citizens Association, Atlantic County Improvement Authority, and NAACP.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in history from Upsala College in East Orange.
• Early Career: Worked with Boy Scouts of America ; Claridge Casino Hotel executive ; ran Casino Reinvestment Development Authority's Special Improvement District ; Toms River Township business administrator.
• Political Experience: Mayor of Atlantic City ; elected to New Jersey Assembly District 2 ; assistant Republican whip .