# Daniel R. Benson

Daniel R. Benson (born November 22, 1975) is an American Democratic Party politician who is the current Mercer County Executive and a former member of the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 14th Legislative District. Benson, who previously served on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders, replaced Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein, after she was elected to the New Jersey Senate in a special election. He was sworn in on January 10, 2011, to fill Greenstein's vacant Assembly seat.

## Early life and education

Benson received a B.S degree from Georgetown University, studying physics and government, and a Master of Public Policy degree from Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, studying science and technology policy. He was elected to the Hamilton Township Council in 2002, becoming the youngest elected councilman in township history. He served on the council until 2005, when he gave up his seat to run for the New Jersey General Assembly. Benson lost the Assembly race, finishing behind the incumbents, Republican Bill Baroni and Democrat Linda R. Greenstein.

## Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders

In 2008, Benson was appointed to a seat on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders by county Democrats, replacing Elizabeth Maher Muoio who took on a county job. He won a special election in November 2008 to complete the remainder of Muoio's term and was re-elected to a full three-year term in 2009.

## New Jersey Assembly

When Assemblywoman Greenstein won a special election to fill the remainder of Baroni's Senate term in November 2010, Benson ran for the vacant Assembly seat. On January 8, 2011, Benson was selected by a Democratic convention of Mercer and Middlesex counties (the counties that compose the 14th District) to replace Greenstein. He was sworn in on January 10, 2011. He resigned on December 31, 2023, after being elected Mercer County Executive, allowing his successor Tennille McCoy to take office early.

### Committees

* Transportation and Independent Authorities
* Budget
* Health and Senior Services

### District 14

Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The representatives from the 14th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:
* Senator Linda R. Greenstein (D)
* Assemblyman Daniel R. Benson (D)
* Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D)

## Electoral history
### New Jersey Assembly

New Jersey general election, 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Wayne DeAngelo | 35,596 | 30.0 | 0.2 |
| | Democratic | Daniel R. Benson | 35,088 | 29.6 | 0.9 |
| | Republican | Kristian Stout | 24,725 | 20.9 | 1.3 |
| | Republican | Steven Uccio | 23,106 | 19.5 | 0.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '118,515' | '100.0' | |
New Jersey general election, 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Wayne DeAngelo | 22,319 | 30.2 | 3.2 |
| | Democratic | Daniel R. Benson | 21,187 | 28.7 | 2.7 |
| | Republican | David C. Jones | 14,474 | 19.6 | 4.0 |
| | Republican | Philip R. Kaufman | 13,937 | 18.9 | 3.1 |
| | Green | Joann Cousin | 1,028 | 1.4 | N/A |
| | Green | Steven Welzer | 957 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '73,902' | '100.0' | |
New Jersey general election, 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Wayne DeAngelo | 32,048 | 27.0 | 2.0 |
| | Democratic | Daniel R. Benson | 30,992 | 26.0 | 2.0 |
| | Republican | Steve Cook | 28,135 | 23.6 | 2.7 |
| | Republican | Ronald Haas | 26,233 | 22.0 | 1.2 |
| | Libertarian | Sean O’Connor | 898 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Steven Uccio | 779 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '119,085' | '100.0' | |
New Jersey general election, 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wayne DeAngelo | 26,626 | 29.0 |
| | Democratic | Daniel R. Benson | 25,662 | 28.0 |
| | Republican | Sheree McGowan | 19,135 | 20.9 |
| | Republican | Wayne Wittman | 19,100 | 20.8 |
| | Green | Steven Welzer | 1,189 | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 91,712 | 100.0 |
New Jersey general election, 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bill Baroni | 37,241 | 27.7 | 0.2 |
| | Democratic | Linda R. Greenstein | 35,816 | 26.7 | 1.2 |
| | Democratic | Daniel R. Benson | 29,914 | 22.3 | 0.2 |
| | Republican | Michael D. Paquette | 29,899 | 22.3 | 2.2 |
| | Libertarian | William Hunsicker | 725 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Jason M. Scheurer | 714 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '134,309' | '100.0' | |