Ed Rodriguez

*New Jersey State Assemblyman, District 20 *

Ed Rodriguez is a Democrat representing the 20th Legislative District in New Jersey, serving in the General Assembly since 2026. He lives on Christine Street in Elizabeth, the city where he has spent most of his life. Rodriguez is the first Hispanic man to represent Elizabeth in the legislature.

Before entering elected office, Rodriguez had an extensive background in public service. He served as Director of Planning & Community Development for the City of Elizabeth for over ten years, overseeing seven divisions. During his tenure, he achieved significant results in urban development and community improvement, including reducing abandoned properties from 487 to just 9, leading the development of over 400 affordable housing units, and overseeing the development of a million square feet of warehouse space. He also modernized city operations by digitizing all property records and creating an online permitting system. Additionally, Rodriguez worked with and funded hundreds of local nonprofits through the Community Development Block Grant program.

Earlier in his career, Rodriguez served as a law clerk for the Honorable Esther Suarez in Passaic County.

Rodriguez has two sons and is described as someone who believes progress requires people to actively engage and work toward solutions. He won his Assembly seat in the heavily Democratic 20th district, defeating Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados by 98 votes in the primary election.

Education

Rodriguez holds three advanced degrees:

• Bachelor's degree in Economics from Rutgers University
• Juris Doctor in Tax Law from Rutgers Law School
• Master of Business Administration in Accounting from NYU Stern School of Business

He is also a New Jersey Certified Municipal Finance Officer.

Political Experience

Rodriguez's political career includes his work in municipal government in Elizabeth and his current service in the New Jersey General Assembly. He serves on the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and the Public Safety Committee in the Assembly.