New Jersey’s Legislative District 8 has long been a Republican fortress, but is it now a competitive one for the upcoming election? National issues as well as local ones may compel voters to think long and hard about their choices and serve as a wakeup call for the divided incumbents. In 2023, a crack in the Republican wall appeared when Andrea Katz (above, left, with Mikie Sherrill) was able to narrowly defeat Assemblyman Brandon Umba who, along with Assemblyman Michael Torrissi, had previously won the 2021 election that brought Republican Jack Ciattarelli within a hand’s-width of displacing Governor Phil Murphy in Trenton.

The incumbent, Torrissi, is seeking re-election with Umba as his running-mate, looking to retake the

seat from Assemblywoman Katz, who is running with fellow Democrat Anthony Angelozzi.

A Sept. 25th Emerson College Poll showed Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli closing the gap with U.S. Rep. Sherrill, with the two candidates essentially tied. Although Democrats by and large weathered the Red Wave of 2024, Republicans enjoyed a boost of voter confidence when it came time to decide between Vice President Kamala Harris and President Donald Trump. It forced a re-thinking of messaging as well as policy strategies for those political office-seekers either defending or challenging in this year’s race.

Insider NJ spoke with the Republican and Democratic campaigns in Legislative District 8 to see how they are responding to the demands and expectations of the voters they seek to represent.

Unsurprisingly, at the top of everyone’s list of concerns is affordability in the Garden State.

“From the very beginning of this race, the number one issue we’ve heard at the doors is affordability,” the Katz-Angelozzi campaign told Insider NJ. “Everything voters talk about comes back to that—whether it’s property taxes, the cost of groceries, rising utility and insurance bills, or the price of child care. It’s hands down the top concern on voters’ minds.”

The Republicans added that other concerns in addition to affordability are in the thoughts of their constituents. Law and order among them, Assemblyman Torrissi said. “Whether it’s crime in our neighborhoods, drugs on our streets, or reckless policies coming out of Trenton, people want to feel safe again. Voters bring it up all the time. They’re tired of soft-on-crime laws and want leaders who back law enforcement and enforce the rules.”

Umba added that education concerns are another priority. “Parents and grandparents across LD-8 are talking to me about school quality, curriculum transparency, and keeping politics out of the classroom. They want safe, strong schools that prepare kids for real life — not political agendas. It’s deeply personal for many families.”

Torrissi, when asked how the Republican effort would unseat Katz and repel Angelozzi at the ballot box described their approach. “We’re showing up, and we’re listening. Voters know who’s fighting for them. We’re focused on real issues, not headlines or gimmicks. Katz may have squeezed by last time, but this year, voters are watching closely, and they’re ready to bring back strong, local Republican leadership that gets things done.”

“We’ve made it a point to knock on doors, talk to voters, and hear what’s on their minds — not just during campaign season, but year-round,” Umba said. “That’s the difference. We’re not just reacting to a campaign playbook; we’re building trust in the community, one conversation at a time. That’s how we win — by being present and consistent.”

For the Democrats, Katz’ 2023 win was a historic breakthrough in the ruby red district. There had not been a Democratic assemblymember since 1974 when John Sweeney was elected alongside Republican State Senator Barry Parker and Republican Assemblyman Clifford Snedeker. Two other exceptions, Assemblyman Francis Bodine and State Senator Dawn Marie Addiego had both been Republicans serving multiple terms before switching parties. Neither returned to their offices. Katz is looking to defend her seat and expand on her 2023 Democratic victory with Angelozzi.

“Our campaign is built on direct voter contact and a clear message that connects with people,” the Democrats said. “We’re making it known that we are the candidates who will fight for you and for South Jersey’s fair share. That means lowering costs for families, standing up to price-gouging utility and insurance companies, bringing critical funding to our communities, and going to Trenton to fight for our local interests—not special interests.”

Two years is not a long time in most contexts, but in politics, one assembly term can be a political eternity—especially during a period of uncertainty and tension. With Governor Phil Murphy coasting on the last few months of his administration, and a Trump administration shaking the news cycle daily, 2023 and 2025 are, indeed, different realms in which to operate.

What has changed during that time and how has that affected LD-8 voters’ choices? Insider NJ asked the teams.

“Since 2023,” the Democrats said, “Assemblywoman Katz has been a powerful voice in Trenton, working to deliver real results for our district—protecting critical school funding, expanding pre-K and full-day kindergarten. She’s fought to hold utility companies accountable, cap rates, and expand local energy production. She has also worked with the business community to streamline permitting and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for critical infrastructure projects. Her running mate, Anthony Angelozzi, a Hammonton teacher and union leader, came within just 443 votes of winning in 2023. Over the past two years, he’s worked to build strong name recognition and has been tireless on the doors. Together, they’re the ticket that will fight for South Jersey families, invest in our communities, small businesses, and farms, and ensure our kids have access to top-quality education and the skills they need to compete in the global economy.”

Republican Assemblyman Torrissi was straight to the point about what has changed. “People are fed up. Trenton’s spending is out of control, and folks in LD-8 see the price tag at the gas pump, at the grocery store, and on their tax bill. Voter energy is different this year. We’re not just running on what we stand against — we’re running on a record of fighting for affordability, safety, and South Jersey jobs.”

“People feel the weight of higher costs more now than ever,” former assemblyman Umba said. “Last year, frustration was bubbling under the surface. This year, it’s boiling over. And beyond that, voters know who’s been listening. I’ve been in every part of the district, from farmers in Southampton to small business owners in Mount Holly. They know we’re fighting for them.”

Amid the complexities of a state-level or district-level campaign, some factors seem to define a race. The campaigns offered their insights into what they believe those factors to be.

“Democrats shut down clean, affordable alternative energy sources,” Torrissi said, “and now all of us are

paying 20% more on our energy bills because of their bad decisions. As a member of the Assembly Republican Energy Affordability Task Force, I’ve been out there pushing for real solutions to bring down energy costs, tap into alternative energy sources, and have introduced legislation that will stop the state from taking choice out of the hands of our residents on what type of energy and appliances we use in our everyday lives.”

Umba took aim at his opponent’s record. “Few issues impact our communities more directly than the disastrous school funding formula that Andrea Katz advocated for – it’s taken millions of dollars away from our South Jersey school districts and led to huge property tax hikes on our families, and it’s a disgrace. As a taxpayer, I’m disappointed; as a dad, I’m furious. When I get back to Trenton, I will be relentless in fighting to overturn the S2 school funding formula and bringing fairness to how we fund our schools in New Jersey so that South Jersey stops getting shafted, our kids and teachers get the funding they deserve, and our taxpayers get the tax relief they desperately need.”

“The defining factor in this race is trust,” the Democratic campaign said, “voters want to know if their representatives truly have their backs and will fight for the issues that matter most in their communities. Right now, people see the wealthiest getting all the tax breaks and opportunities, while working families, small businesses, and farmers—the backbone of our district—struggle to keep up. We’re making it clear that this is the ticket that will stand up to corporate special interests and fight every day for South Jersey families.”

Ultimately, the voters will decide and the consequences will prove whether the Democratic incursion into the solidly-red district is a sign of a legitimate shift among voter confidence, or if 2023 was an anomaly that served to remind the GOP that their support is not a given.