Stephen Sweeney on Civil Rights

	Stephen Sweeney on Civil Rights

Replace civil unions with same-sex marriage

Excerpts from legislation: The "Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act" would recognize same-sex marriage. Same-sex civil unions would no longer be permitted, and all previously sanctioned civil unions would be deemed to be marriages. Religious organizations are not required to solemnize or provide goods or services for any marriage in violation of their religious beliefs.
Excerpts from veto message: Neither the US Constitution nor the NJ State Constitution contain a right to same-sex marriage. In 2006, the NJ Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples must be afforded the same rights and benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. Civil unions grant all the same rights and benefits. I encourage that the Legislature trust the people of NJ to vote on the question of same-sex marriage, and then amend the State Constitution.
Legislative Outcome:Sweeney was primary sponsor and voted YEA; bill passed House 42-33-4; bill passed Senate 24-16-0; Governor vetoed.
Source: New Jersey legislative voting records: S1&A1 , Feb 13, 2012

Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
Click here for a summary of all issue stances of Stephen Sweeney.
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Click here for issue positions of other NJ politicians.
Click here for NJ primary archives.
Click here for NJ secondary archives.
Other governors on Civil Rights: Stephen Sweeney on other issues:
NJ Gubernatorial:
Doug Steinhardt
Hirsh Singh
NJ Senatorial:
Andy Kim
Cory Booker
Curtis Bashaw
George Helmy
Hirsh Singh
Rik Mehta
Robert Menendez
Stuart Meissner
Tammy Murphy
Gubernatorial races 2025:
New Jersey Governor:
Democratic primary June 10, 2025:
Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark (2014-present)
Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City (2013-present)
Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. NJ-5 (since 2017)
Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Rep. NJ-11 (since 2019)
Stephen Sweeney, N.J.Senate President (2010-2022)

Republican primary June 10, 2025:
Jon Bramnick, State Senator (since 2022); Minority Leader (2012-2022)
Jack Ciattarelli, State Assemblyman (2011-2018), governor nominee (2021)
Edward Durr, State Senator 3rd district (2022-2024); withdrew

Virginia Governor:
Democratic primary June 17 cancelled:
Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025
Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.)

Republican primary June 17 cancelled:
Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025
Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot
Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent
Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited
Mayoral races 2025:
NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:

Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council
Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021.
Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4:
Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent
Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney
Curtis Sliwa, Republican; CEO of the Guardian Angels

Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)
Non-partisan general election Nov. 4:
Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education
Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997)
Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004)
James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017)
Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023)

Oakland CA Mayor
Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025:
Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025)
Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election
Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024
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[Title9]

Page last updated: Jun 01, 2025; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org

Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights. Click here for a summary of all issue stances of Stephen Sweeney. Click here for a Wikipedia profile of Stephen Sweeney. Click here for a Ballotpedia profile of Stephen Sweeney. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Stephen Sweeney. Click here for issue positions of other NJ politicians. Click here for NJ primary archives. Click here for NJ secondary archives.
*Other governors on Civil Rights:*			*Stephen Sweeney on other issues:*
*NJ Gubernatorial:* Doug Steinhardt Hirsh Singh *NJ Senatorial:* Andy Kim Cory Booker Curtis Bashaw George Helmy Hirsh Singh Rik Mehta Robert Menendez Stuart Meissner Tammy Murphy	*Gubernatorial races 2025:* *New Jersey Governor:* Democratic primary June 10, 2025: Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark (2014-present) Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City (2013-present) Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. NJ-5 (since 2017) Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Rep. NJ-11 (since 2019) Stephen Sweeney, N.J.Senate President (2010-2022) Republican primary June 10, 2025: Jon Bramnick, State Senator (since 2022); Minority Leader (2012-2022) Jack Ciattarelli, State Assemblyman (2011-2018), governor nominee (2021) Edward Durr, State Senator 3rd district (2022-2024); withdrew *Virginia Governor:* Democratic primary June 17 cancelled: Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025 Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.) Republican primary June 17 cancelled: Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025 Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited	*Mayoral races 2025:* *NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:* Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021. Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4: Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Sliwa, Republican; CEO of the Guardian Angels *Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)* Non-partisan general election Nov. 4: Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997) Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004) James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017) Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023) *Oakland CA Mayor* Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025: Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025) Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]