In the wake of the 2021 apportionment, the reconfiguration of municipalities in the district and the incumbent Assembly members in those districts choosing to retire or run for other elective office, the Essex County Democratic Organization chose newcomers Morales and Michael Venezia to run for the two Assembly seats.[3] Morales and Venezia defeated Republicans Clenard H. Childress Jr. and James McGuire in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.[4][5] Marenco was one of 27 members elected for the first time in 2023 to serve in the General Assembly, more than one-third of the seats.[6]
^Election profile: 34th Legislative District, NJ Spotlight News. Accessed January 10, 2024. "For the two open Assembly slots, the Essex County Democrats have chosen Carmen Morales, principal of Newark Tech High School and a resident of Belleville, and Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia."
^Wildstein, David. "Venezia, Morales are likely Democratic Assembly candidates in the 34th district", New Jersey Globe, February 24, 2023. "Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia and Carmen T. Morales, the principal of Newark Tech High School, have emerged as the leading contenders for two open State Assembly seats in the newly-drawn 34th district after an Essex Democratic screening committee, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. Venezia and Morales would replace Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) and Ralph Caputo (D-Nutley). Timberlake is running for the State Senate, and Caputo plans to resign after Senate confirms him to a seat on the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Board of Directors."
^Wildstein, David. "37 new lawmakers take office at noon", New Jersey Globe, January 9, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2024. "The 221st New Jersey Legislature begins today, with 37 new lawmakers – nearly one-third of the legislature – being sworn in at noon. That number includes ten new Senators and 27 new members of the General Assembly."