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Dave Bailey

Dave Bailey is a first-term Assemblyman representing Legislative District 3, which includes Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland Counties. Born and raised in Salem County, he serves on the Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee as well as the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee. Bailey is the CEO of Ranch Hope, a faith-based nonprofit serving youth and families, and has spent his professional life advocating for mental health and educational services.

He holds degrees in Justice Administration and Non-Profit Management and has served on numerous boards supporting children, healthcare, and community development. As an Assemblyman, he has sponsored a variety of bills, including those focused on tiny home development, student loan relief, school services, and environmental regulations—though no formal campaign platform has been presented to explain his current agenda.

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Rating Explanation

Dave Bailey

Assemblyman Dave Bailey does not appear to have a dedicated campaign website or centralized source of information for voters to reference. While basic profiles exist on the NJ Legislature website and the Assembly Democrats site, these offer limited insight into his current campaign intentions or platform.

He has not responded to direct outreach via the contact information provided to the county clerk and has not participated in any structured voter information efforts like interviews or questionnaires. No upcoming or recent public events have been broadly advertised, though he was briefly spotted at Deerfield Day last year and expressed a friendly attitude toward civic engagement and public access to information.

Issue-based messaging specific to this election is not available. While Bailey has sponsored legislation during his time in the Assembly, it’s unclear whether any particular bills reflect a present-day agenda. Without direct statements or an updated public-facing platform, voters are left to speculate.

While Assemblyman Bailey does hold office and may be working behind the scenes, we encourage greater proactive transparency to ensure voters are not expected to rely solely on past impressions or scattered official profiles to determine where he stands.

Note: While this is technically still the primary phase, both parties are running unopposed slates, meaning all four current candidates are expected to advance to the general election. This creates a valuable opportunity for candidates to begin clearly communicating their platforms early, giving voters more time to learn and engage. We encourage all candidates to take advantage of this head start by providing accessible, detailed information about their agendas and priorities.

For these reasons, Bailey receives a below average to average rating for transparency and accessibility.

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Heather Simmons

Running for:
State Assembly - Legislative District 3
Incumbent
Challenger

Websites

This election is on June 10th, 2025

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Transparency/Accessibility Rating: Low to Below Average

Agenda

Assemblyman Dave Bailey does not currently present a public campaign platform on a campaign website, nor has he responded to outreach with specifics about his legislative priorities moving forward. That said, we can look to the bills he has sponsored in the Assembly as indicators of potential areas of focus.

Bailey has put forward legislation addressing school and youth services, housing innovation, healthcare, mental health, energy policy, infrastructure, and environmental concerns. These include bills supporting school breakfast programs, student loan tax relief, the creation of a tiny home pilot program, improved ADA access, rural health initiatives, and transparency in the use of artificial intelligence.

While this legislation may suggest areas of concern or interest, it is not a substitute for a candidate’s direct explanation of their goals or priorities. Without a publicly stated platform or participation in voter education efforts, we are left to infer rather than understand with clarity.

Background and Experience

Assemblyman Dave Bailey, Jr. is currently serving his first term in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing parts of Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland Counties. A lifelong resident of Salem County, Bailey brings a strong focus on rural issues such as access to healthcare, public transportation, and services for youth and families.

Professionally, Bailey serves as CEO of Ranch Hope, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting at-risk youth. His background includes decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, policy advocacy, and community service. He has held roles on various regional boards, including the New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth and Families, and the Salem County Chamber of Commerce.

Bailey holds a B.S. in Administration of Justice from Penn State and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Eastern University. In his first term as Assemblyman, he has sponsored a wide range of legislation, with particular attention to education, infrastructure, mental health, and utility oversight.