Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker narrowly beat incumbent Donna Simon in the 16th District
MONTGOMERY -- Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-Somerset) will be in Montgomery on Wednesday for the grand opening of his district office.
Zwicker, who narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Donna Simon in the November election, became the first Democrat to hold a legislative seat in the 16th district, which was redrawn in 2011 to include South Brunswick and Princeton.
N.J. Dems pick up new Assembly seat as Republican concedes
His office is located at 23 Orchard Road, Suite 170 in Montgomery.
"I am honored and humbled that the people of the 16th Legislative District have placed their trust in me," Zwicker said. "I've quickly gotten up to speed, hired staff and opened my district office in Montgomery Township."
On election night, Zwicker initially conceded defeat after the Associated Press declared that Simon and her running mate, Assemblyman Jack Ciatarelli, had won re-election.
But the AP announced just after midnight that Zwicker led by 29 votes. His lead increased to 78 after provisional ballots were counted in the days after.
The final count showed Zwicker with 16,308 votes and Simon with 16,230.
Zwicker, who lives in South Brunswick, is a physicist and head of science education at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. He previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2014 to replace former U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th Dist.).
The 16th District covers Delaware Township, Flemington, Readington, Raritan Township and Stockton in Hunterdon County; Princeton in Mercer County; South Brunswick in Middlesex County; and Branchburg, Hillsborough, Manville, Millstone, Montgomery, Rocky Hill and Somerville in Somerset County.
Wednesday's grand opening will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Light food and refreshments will be served.
Those interested in going should RSVP by noon on Tuesday to AsmZwicker@njleg.org or call 609-454-3147.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.