Craig J. Coughlin is a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, representing District 19. He assumed office in 2010. His current term ends on January 11, 2028. Coughlin was born in 1958. He received a bachelor's degree from St. John's University and a J.D. from St. John's Law School. After graduating law school, he served on the South Amboy Public Schools Board of Education from 1983-1987 and the South Amboy City Council from 1987-1993. After working as an attorney in private practice, Coughlin served as a municipal court judge for the Township of Edison from 2005-2009. In 2009, John O'Leary, the Democratic candidate for the 19th Assembly district, withdrew from the race. Coughlin won the nomination to replace him at a special convention and was elected that November. Coughlin served as the chamber's deputy parliamentarian from 2014 to 2015, and served as the chamber's parliamentarian from 2016 to 2017. In 2017, Coughlin was elected speaker of the Assembly, succeeding Vincent Prieto. NJ.com's Brent Johnson wrote, "Prieto..sought a third term as Assembly speaker. But he has clashed repeatedly with fellow Democrats over the last two years.. Coughlin formed an alliance with powerful south Jersey and Essex County voting blocs to wrest the position away from Prieto." After being sworn-in, Coughlin said of his role, "I will always look for collaboration with the Senate and with our governor, but inevitably there will be times when the Assembly must set its own course..I will not be afraid to chart that path when it is necessary." In 2024, Coughlin became the first New Jersey Assembly member to serve four terms as Speaker. Democrats had trifecta control during Coughlin's first four terms.
