Editing Plainfield, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
Plainfield is governed under a [[Special charter (New Jersey)|special charter]] granted by the [[New Jersey Legislature]]. The city is one of 11 (of the 564) municipalities statewide governed under a special charter.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=15 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 15. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a seven-member city council, all of whom serve four-year terms in office. The city is divided into four [[Ward (United States)|wards]], with one ward seat up for election each year. There are three at-large seats: one from the First and Fourth Wards; one from the Second and Third Wards; and one from the city as a whole. The three at-large seats and mayoral seat operate in a four-year cycle, with one seat up for election each year.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 98.</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, the Mayor of the City of Plainfield is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Adrian O. Mapp, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025.<ref name="Mayor">[https://www.plainfieldnj.gov/government/mayor/index.php Mayor Adrian O. Mapp], City of Plainfield. Accessed April 18, 2022.</ref> Members of the Plainfield City Council are Council President Steve G. Hockaday (At Large All Wards; D, 2024), Council Vice President Robert K. Graham (Ward 1; D, 2026), Terri Briggs-Jones (Ward 4; D, 2025), Julienne Cherry (At Large Wards 1 and 4; D, 2027), Charles McRae (Ward 3; D, 2024), Darcella Sessomes (Ward 2; D, 2027) and Richard Wyatt (At Large Wards 2 and 3; D, 2026).<ref>[https://www.plainfieldnj.gov/government/elected_officials/index.php City Council], City of Plainfield. Accessed April 19, 2024.</ref><ref name=UnionOfficials>[https://unioncountyvotes.com/elected-officials/ Elected Officials], [[Union County, New Jersey]]. Accessed April 19, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/119032/web.317647/#/summary General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/116135/web.303253/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2021>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/111504/web.278093/#/summary General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Union2020>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/107155/web.262169/#/summary General Election November 3, 2020 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated December 14, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In June 2018, the city council appointed Elton Armady to fill the at-large seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant after Rebecca Williams resigned to take a seat on the Union County [[Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey)|Board of chosen freeholders]].<ref>Biryukov, Nikita. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/union/new-plainfield-councilman-worked-for-green-lautenberg/ "New Plainfield councilman worked for Green, Lautenberg; Elton Armady replaces Rebecca Williams"], New Jersey Globe, June 20, 2018. Accessed May 13, 2020. "Plainfield's new councilman is something of a political veteran, even though his appointment to fill a seat left vacant by former councilwoman Rebecca Williams' ascension to the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Elton Armady, former legislative director to the late Assemblyman Jerry Green, whose death started off the chain of appointments that left the at-large Plainfield council seat vacant, also worked as a capitol hill intern for a number of Democrats, including late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi."</ref> Armady served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Union2018>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/92665/Web02.214799/#/ General Election November 6, 2018 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 8, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2022.</ref>

===Federal, state, and county representation===
Plainfield is located in the 12th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>[https://pub.njleg.gov/publications/pdf/2023-NJ-Leg-District-Map.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 12}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 22}}

{{NJ Union County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 20,722 registered voters in Plainfield, of which 12,078 (58.3% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 947 (4.6% vs. 15.3%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 7,693 (37.1% vs. 42.9%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 4 voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-union-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Union], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref> Among the city's 2010 Census population, 41.6% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 56.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State &ndash; County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202223/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 14,640 votes (93.3% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 909 votes (5.8% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 46 votes (0.3% vs. 0.8%), among the 15,683 ballots cast by the city's 22,555 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.5% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).<ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-union.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201192205/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-union.pdf |date=February 1, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140201191259/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-union.pdf Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 15,280 votes (92.3% vs. 63.1% countywide), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 1,110 votes (6.7% vs. 35.2%) and other candidates with 56 votes (0.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 16,548 ballots cast by the city's 22,516 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.5% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-union.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Union County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 11,508 votes (85.4% vs. 58.3% countywide), ahead of Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 1,773 votes (13.2% vs. 40.3%) and other candidates with 88 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 13,480 ballots cast by the city's 20,445 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.9% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_union_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Union County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref>

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In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2017|2017 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Phil Murphy]] received 6,992 votes (89.5% vs. 65.2% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Kim Guadagno]] with 631 votes (8.1% vs. 32.6%), and other candidates with 189 votes (2.4% vs. 2.1%), among the 8,183 ballots cast by the city's 22,852 registered voters, for a turnout of 35.8%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-general-election-results-governor-union.pdf |title=Governor - Union County |date=December 21, 2017 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=November 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-gen-elect-ballotscast-results-union.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 7, 2017 - General Election Results - Union County|date=December 21, 2017 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=November 23, 2024}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] received 75.9% of the vote (5,757 cast), ahead of Republican [[Chris Christie]] with 22.7% (1,723 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (104 votes), among the 8,174 ballots cast by the city's 21,996 registered voters (590 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.2%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-union.pdf |title=Governor - Union County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-union.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Union County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] received 7,140 ballots cast (81.3% vs. 50.6% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,057 votes (12.0% vs. 41.7%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 355 votes (4.0% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 84 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,786 ballots cast by the city's 21,738 registered voters, yielding a 40.4% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-union.pdf 2009 Governor: Union County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017230050/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-union.pdf |date=October 17, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref>