Eric Houghtaling (born September 5, 1954) is an American Democratic politician who represented the 11th Legislative District in the

New Jersey General Assembly The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for ...

from 2016 to 2022, which covers portions of Monmouth County. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Houghtaling served as an elected official in

Neptune Township, New Jersey Neptune Township is a township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the township's population was 28,061, an increase of 126 from the 2010 census enumeration of 27,935, in turn an increase of 245 (+ ...

Early life

Houghtaling was born in

. He is currently a resident of Neptune. Houghtaling works as an electrician and member of the

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is a labor union that represents approximately 775,000 workers and retirees in the electrical industry in the United States, Canada, Guam, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands; ...

. Houghtaling and his wife, Linda, have three children and seven grandchildren. Houghtaling served on the Neptune Township Council from 2011 to 2015, and later became Mayor of Neptune Township in 2013.

New Jersey Assembly

Houghtaling was elected to the General Assembly alongside running mate

Joann Downey Joann Kagan Downey (born October 31, 1966) is an American Democratic Party politician who represented the 11th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2016 to 2022. Early life Downey was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Sh ...

in November 2015, defeating

Mary Pat Angelini Mary Pat Angelini (born December 8, 1954) is an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly for the 11th legislative district from 2008 to 2016. Education Angelini graduated with a Bachelor of Social Wo ...

and

Caroline Casagrande Caroline Casagrande (born November 21, 1976) is a former American government official and political appointee in the administration of President Donald J. Trump who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs at the U.S. ...

. Houghtaling and Downey's victory was considered to be an unexpected upset. Houghtaling was sworn into office on January 12, 2016. Houghtaling has worked to increase public awareness of Pancreatic Cancer and introduced legislation, which was later signed into law, designating November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in New Jersey. In July 2018 Houghtaling and fellow Assemblywoman

accused fellow Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso of violating the Truth-In-Caller ID while sending out robocalls. In 2021, Houghtaling and Downey narrowly lost their reelection bids in an upset to Republican candidates Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner.

Committees

*Agriculture and Natural Resources *Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations *Labor *Telecommunications and Utilities

Electoral history

Assembly

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Houghtaling, Eric 1954 births Living people International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers people Mayors of places in New Jersey Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly People from Neptune Township, New Jersey Politicians from Monmouth County, New Jersey 21st-century American politicians