The Third Legislative District is in the southwest corner of New Jersey. It includes all of Salem County (known as "The Garden Spot of the Garden State"), part of Gloucester County, and part of Cumberland County. 48% of the registered voters are in Gloucester County, 31% in Salem, and 21% in Cumberland (based on 2005 statistics). North Jersey residents may think of it as Exits One and Two on the New Jersey Turnpike. Much of the district remains rural, but suburban development is increasingly taking over the farmland, especially in Gloucester County. The geography includes significant wetlands and marshes along the Delaware River.

The Census 2000 State Legislative District Summary File (see factfinder.census.gov) reports a 2000 population of 209,230. Compared to the average for all of New Jersey, the district has less expensive houses ($109,100 vs. $170,800) and lower income ($47,535 vs. $55,146). 1.7% of the employed civilians 16 years or older are employed in agriculture/forestry/fishing/hunting, which is the highest of any New Jersey district. 15.6% of workers are in manufacturing. On the other hand, only 16.8% of those 25 or older have a bachelor's degree (or higher), well below New Jersey's 29.8% average. Only 3.7% of the population is foreign born, the lowest of any New Jersey district, and only 8.3% speak a language other than English at home. The population is 79.0% white, 15.3% black, and only 0.8% Asian, in contrast to New Jersey's overall values of 72.6, 13.6, and 5.7%. Latinos make up 5.7% of the population, again below New Jersey's 13.3%, at least in 2000. 7.1% of the population was below the poverty line in 1999.

This overall demographic picture of this district -- more whites, fewer immigrants, rural, less education -- suggests a more culturally conservative district but with "blue collar" economic concerns. In fact, Democrats (25.5% of registered voters) outnumber Republicans (17.3%), but as usual in New Jersey, unaffiliated voters are a majority. The district is represented by three Democrats. Gloucester County is dominated by Democrats, and Salem County has been trending Democratic in recent freeholder elections.

The full list of towns is Alloway Township, Bridgeton City, Carneys Point Township, Clayton Borough, Commercial Township, Deerfield Township, Downe Township, East Greenwich Township, Elk Township, Elmer Borough, Elsinboro Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township (Cumberland), Greenwich Township (Gloucester), Harrison Township, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Logan Township, Lower Alloways Creek Township, Mannington Township, Mantua Township, National Park Borough, Oldmans Township, Paulsboro Borough, Penns Grove Borough, Pennsville Township, Pilesgrove Township, Pittsgrove Township, Quinton Township, Salem City, Shiloh Borough, South Harrison Township, Stow Creek Township, Swedesboro Borough, Upper Deerfield Township, Upper Pittsgrove Township, Wenonah Borough, West Deptford Township, Woodstown Borough, and Woolwich Township.

Unusual businesses or features that may make news are the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Power Reactors, the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Commodore Barry Bridge, Cowtown Rodeo, and the proposed LNG terminal in Logan Township. Only 1.6% of the population uses public transportation to get to work, which reflects the fact that there are only bus routes available. There is a railroad between Salem and Swedesboro, but it is used only for raw materials and freight for local businesses. Democrats have supported this railroad, arguing that it is necessary to hold on to jobs.

The state senator since 2002 is Stephen Sweeney. He is also a Gloucester County freeholder since 1997 and a business represenative for Ironworkers Union Local 399. He defeated longtime senator Raymond Zane, who had switched to the Republican party, in what politicsnj.com ranked the second of the 2001 Best Campaigns. Sweeney is a childhood friend of political boss George Norcross, and the district is said to be under Norcross's influence by the Courier Post. In any case, Sweeney has often made headlines reflecting the differing political perspective of South Jersey. In 2004, Sweeney held up the Highlands Bill. In 2006, he attacked the pay and benefits of the public worker unions as out of line with private sector benefits, and he proposed a 15% cut, leading the unions to label him a rat. Eventually national labor unions met with Sweeney to pressure him to make peace and avoid damaging Bob Menendez's senate run. In 2007, he initially supported county school administration and suggested Gloucester County might serve as the test case, but reversed himself after public criticism at a school board meeting. Sweeney is chair of the Labor Committee, Vice Chair of Environment, and a member of Budget and Appropriations.

The two members of the Assembly are John J. Burzichelli and Douglas H. Fisher, both first elected in 2002. Burzichelli is also mayor of Paulsboro in Gloucester County. In 2006, he was Co-Chair of JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM AND CITIZENS PROPERTY TAX CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. He is Deputy Speaker, Chair of Commerce and Economic Development, and a member of Budget, Homeland Security and State Preparedness, and Legislative Services Commission. Fisher is Assistant Majority Whip, Chair of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chair of Intergovernmental Relations Commission, and a member of Regulated Professions and Independent Authorities.