John F. McKeon is a Democratic member of the New Jersey Senate representing the 27th Legislative District, which encompasses municipalities in Essex and Passaic counties. The district's most populous communities include West Orange, Montclair, Livingston, and Clifton. McKeon assumed office on January 9, 2024, following his election in November 2023.

Born on June 3, 1958, in Montclair, McKeon was raised in Orange and West Orange and graduated from West Orange Mountain High School. He earned a B.A. in history from Muhlenberg College in 1980 and a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1983, where he received the Peter Rodino Law Society Outstanding Student Award. He served as a judicial clerk to Joseph M. Thuring of the Superior Court in Hudson County and as legislative counsel to Senator Richard Codey.

McKeon is a senior partner at Hardin, Kundla, McKeon, Poletto and Polifroni, a law firm in Springfield Township. He served on the West Orange Township Council from 1992 to 1998 and as mayor of West Orange from 1998 to 2010. From 2002 until 2010 he simultaneously held his Assembly seat and the mayoralty under a grandfather clause in New Jersey's dual-office-holding law. He was elected to the General Assembly in 2001 and served 11 terms from 2002 to 2024, holding leadership posts including Assistant Majority Whip, Assistant Majority Leader, Majority Whip, Deputy Speaker, and Parliamentarian. In August 2023, following Senator Richard Codey's announcement that he would retire at the end of his term, McKeon was selected as the Democratic nominee for Senate and won the general election.

Political Career

• Member, West Orange Township Council (1992–1998)
• Mayor, West Orange (1998–2010)
• New Jersey General Assembly, District 27 (2002–2024)
• Assistant Majority Whip (2004–2005)
• Assistant Majority Leader (2006–2007)
• Majority Whip (2008–2009)
• Deputy Speaker (2010–2011)
• Parliamentarian (2022–2024)
• New Jersey State Senate, District 27 (2024–present)

Key Policy Areas

• Environmental protection and clean energy
• Healthcare and insurance marketplace regulation
• Judiciary and legal reform
• State government and historic preservation
• Municipal governance and land use

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Authored the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act in 2004, safeguarding thousands of acres in the Highlands Region.
• Was a primary sponsor of the Global Warming Response Act and the Clean Renewable Energy Bill, which catalyzed New Jersey's offshore wind program and established community solar pilot programs.
• Served as prime sponsor of the Patients First Medical Malpractice Insurance reform legislation and laws requiring school districts to adopt anti-harassment policies and strengthen school bus driver background checks.
• Held the dual position of Assemblyman and mayor of West Orange from 2002 to 2010 under a grandfather clause in state law.
• Selected to succeed 16-term Senator Richard Codey in 2023, winning election to the Senate after Codey's retirement following 50 years in the legislature.

Education

• B.A., History, Muhlenberg College (1980)
• J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law (1983)

Personal

• Birth date: June 3, 1958

• Residence: West Orange