Assemblyman-elect Donald Norcross (D-Camden) is set to go to the State Senate in January, when Dana Redd resigns her Senate seat to become the new Mayor of Camden.  Norcross' ascension to the Senate comes as no great surprise; he has been widely expected to get the seat.  Camden City Councilman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson is likely to get Norcross' Assembly seat.

Redd must leave the Senate before she takes her oath of office on January 1.  The Democratic County Committee in the fifth legislative district must hold a special election convention between January 8 and February 11 to fill her seat.  If he's picked before January 12, he'll go directly to the Senate without ever serving in the lower house.  Wilson won't take his Assembly seat until after the Assembly reorganizes for the next session; state law requires special election conventions to be held no less than seven and no more than 35 days after the vacancy occurs.  And the seat cannot become vacant until the start of the new session.

Norcross became an Assembly candidate in September after Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) decided not to seek re-election to a thirteenth term.  He is the South Jersey AFL-CIO President, the Camden County Democratic Co-Chairman, and the brother of Democratic powerbroker George Norcross.  He has already set fundraising records for a first-term legislative candidate.

Camden City Councilman Angel Fuentes will take his seat in the State Assembly on January 12.  He will replace Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), who also did not run for re-election.