Assemblyman Daniel Hutchison (D-Gloucester Township) will not seek re-election to a third term in 2027, citing his transition from running a law firm to becoming the full-time Gloucester Township Solicitor and his teenage son’s battle with skull-based brain cancer.
The lawmaker’s son was diagnosed during the 2025 campaign, and chose last year that this would be his last term in the Assembly. Hutchison decided to announce his decision today after POLITICO wrote a story about his solicitor post and congratulated him for securing “a nice new gig” without knowing of his son’s medical condition.
“Over the past year, however, my family faced an incredibly difficult challenge. While I was running for re-election, my son was battling brain cancer. Watching him face that fight with such courage and strength was both humbling and inspiring,” said Hutchison. “Thankfully, he is doing well today, and we remain deeply grateful for the support, prayers, and kindness so many people showed our family during that time.”
Hutchison said the experience “caused me to reflect deeply on my responsibilities to my family and my professional commitments.”
“Earlier this year, I began making plans to adjust both my career and public service responsibilities,” he stated. “As part of that process, I transitioned away from the day-to-day demands of managing my law practice and accepted the opportunity to serve our community in a different way as Township Solicitor in Gloucester Township.”
Hutchison’s new job pays $175,000 annually. He will walk away from the $82,000-a-year legislative salary at the end of his current term.
Without the demands of a law practice, Hutchison says he can focus more time on his family, “finding the balance that is right for us moving forward.”
“Until my term ends, I will continue to work tirelessly for the people I represent and remain committed to the issues and communities that have entrusted me with this responsibility,” said Hutchison. “Public service has meant a great deal to me, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together.”
Hutchison was elected to the Assembly in 2023 after two incumbents in the 4th legislative district opted not to run for another term. Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Township) instead ran for the Senate when 20-year incumbent Fred Madden (D-Washington Township) decided to retire; Gabriela Mosquera (D-Gloucester Township) chose to leave the Assembly after five terms.
Hutchison and Monroe school board member Codey Miller replaced Moriarty and Mosquera. After redistricting, the 4th was considered to be potentially competitive.
Hutchison, 58, and the father of four, started as a Republican, winning 25% of the vote in a bid to unseat Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) in 2004. He was elected to the Gloucester Township Council in a 2006 non-partisan municipal election; after the township changed to partisan elections, Hutchison switched parties and was re-elected four times as a Democrat.
The 36-year-old Miller was a Monroe councilman from 2015 to 2020 and was elected to the school board in 2022. He served on the Rowan Board of Trustees until taking a full-time position as head of their foundation.
After an expensive race, Hutchison and Miller defeated Republicans Amanda Esposito and Matt Walker.
The two Democrats were re-elected by over 10,000 votes last November.
There is a strong likelihood that Hutchison’s replacement will also come from Gloucester Township, the second-largest municipality in the 4th district.
Hutchison is the first of the 120 legislators up for re-election next year to announce a departure.
