[6] Codey left the funeral trade to try his hand in politics in 1973 when he was first elected to the State Assembly, with Eldridge Hawkins as his running mate.

Political observers speculated that Codey could be tapped to fill the candidate's slot should Menendez decide to withdraw from the race.

[12] The representatives from the 27th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:[13] Following Governor Christine Todd Whitman's resignation in 2001 to become head of the EPA, Codey was one of three different senate presidents (along with Donald DiFrancesco and John O. Bennett, as well as Attorney General John Farmer) to serve as acting governor within the one-year period between Whitman's resignation and Jim McGreevey's inauguration in January 2002.

As attorney general, Farmer then served as acting governor for ninety minutes, until the election of Bennett and Codey as co-presidents of the senate.

After taking over in 2004 Codey became popular with many New Jersey residents and reportedly considered a run for a full four-year term.

On June 6, 2005, Codey announced revised nutrition guidelines for all state funded public and private schools, eliminating soda, candy, and other products with sugar as the leading ingredient from cafeteria offerings.

In early 2005, Codey responded in person to New Jersey 101.5 talk radio host Craig Carton, who jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

In July 2005, Codey also defended actress Brooke Shields after she faced criticism for discussing her postpartum depression.

Codey appointed Mary Jane Cooper to be New Jersey's first-ever Inspector General, a position created to root out waste and mismanagement in government.

Codey added $7 million in new funding to agencies devoted to public accountability, per the recommendations that resulted from an audit of state ethics codes that he commissioned.

In March 2005, Codey cracked down on pay to play when he signed a law banning campaign contributions by businesses holding state contracts in several circumstances.

[19] As governor, Codey championed a bill to ban smoking from indoor spaces in the state, more money for stem cell research, increased funding for mental health, and sports.

Codey created a task force to recommend ways to end steroid abuse in high school and college sports in the state.

[23] Shortly before leaving office, Codey signed the first legislative moratorium on capital punishment enacted by any state in the nation.

On April 12, 2007, Codey became Acting Governor of New Jersey when Corzine was incapacitated due to serious injuries suffered in a car accident that day.

[26] In August 2004, just after McGreevey announced his intention to leave the office that November, Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind measured public views of his soon-to-be successor, Richard Codey, president of the New Jersey Senate.

In a study released on August 16, 2004, FDU reported that 68% of New Jersey voters did not recognize Richard Codey's name.

"[30] In a study conducted by FDU's PublicMind on July 21, 2005, results showed that 51% of NJ voters believed the state was on the wrong track.

Dr. Peter J. Woolley, professor of political science and executive director of PublicMind commented: "That's pretty good for New Jersey… Codey's plain spoken approach seems to soften people's views of the state's problems.

"[31] According to a PublicMind poll released September 27, 2005, a total of 21% of New Jersey voters still did not recognize their incumbent governor Richard Codey.

Codey prepared to leave office, making way for newly elected governor Jon Corzine, a FDU PublicMind study released on January 12, 2006, showed that 48% of voters said the state was "on the wrong track" while 34% said it was headed in the right direction.

In a FDU PublicMind Poll released September 27, 2011, voters were asked "If you could pick a Democrat to run against Chris Christie for governor, who would you prefer?"