Carmen Theresa Morales (born October 13, 1977) is an American Democratic Party politician serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 34th legislative district, having taken office on January 9, 2024.
She is employed by the Essex County Schools of Technology as director of curriculum and instruction, Public or Party Service and has been a trustee of Essex County College from 2017 to 2023.
[1][2] 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.