Christopher Bateman

Christopher "Kip" Bateman (born October 9, 1957 in Somerville, New Jersey) is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 16th Legislative District.

He was born on October 9, 1957, in Somerville, New Jersey to Raymond Bateman, who represented the 16th District in the New Jersey Senate in the 1960s and 1970s, and was the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 1977. Bateman received a B.A. in 1980 from Ithaca College in Political Science and History and was awarded a J.D. in 1987 from the Seton Hall University School of Law. He lives in the Neshanic Station section of Branchburg Township, and is married with four children: Chris, Joe, Stephanie, and Katie.

Bateman served on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1988 to 1994 and as its Director in 1992. He served on the Branchburg Township Committee from 1983 to 1988 and was its Mayor in 1986. Bateman was appointed to the Task Force to Study Homeowner Associations from 1996 to 1997 and the Delaware and Raritan Transportation Safety Study Commission from 1995 to 1996.

Bateman served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1994 to 2008, where he was the Assembly's Assistant Republican Leader from 2004 to 2005, was the Assistant Republican Whip from 2002 to 2003, the Majority Whip in 1996 and was the Assistant Majority Whip from 1994 to 1995. Bateman served in the Assembly on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and the Legislative Services Commission.

In the 2007 legislative elections, Bateman won the state Senate seat of retiring Senator Walter J. Kavanaugh. Prior to the 2011 redistricting, the 16th district consisted of most of Somerset County. Following the 2011 redistricting, a portion of Hunterdon County was added, towns in northern and eastern parts of Somerset were removed, and the more liberal towns of Princeton and South Brunswick were added. He fended off a challenge by Democrat Maureen Vella by defeating her by 9 points in 2011. His 2013 election winning margin was larger as he defeated Christian Mastondrea by 20 points. During the 2019 budget fight, Democrats defied Governor Phil Murphy and passed a budget without his proposed millionaire's tax. Bateman was one of six Republicans to vote for the budget.

Committees

• Environment and Energy
• Judiciary

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 other representatives from the 16th District for the 2016-2017 Legislative Session are:

• Senator Kip Bateman (R),
• Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D), and
• Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D)

Senate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Kip Bateman (Incumbent)	32,229	50.4	9.9
	Democratic	Laurie Poppe	31,655	49.6	9.9
Total votes			63,884	100.0

Assembly

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Kip Bateman	40,097	32.2	6.3
	Republican	Pete Biondi	39,710	31.8	7.2
	Democratic	Michael Goldberg	22,569	18.1	0.3
	Democratic	Charles Eader	22,336	17.9	N/A
Total votes			124,712	100.0

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Pete Biondi	26,211	39.0	6.4
	Republican	Kip Bateman	25,849	38.5	4.7
	Democratic	Robert Mack	11,938	17.8	0.5
	Green	Jane Hunter	3,219	4.8	N/A
Total votes			67,217	100.0

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Kip Bateman	24,646	31.2	0.6
	Republican	Peter J. Biondi	23,789	30.2	0.2
	Democratic	Mike Alper	15,393	19.5	2.0
	Democratic	Donald Rudy	15,060	19.1	2.3
Total votes			78,888	100.0

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Kip Bateman	43,458	31.8	3.1
	Republican	Peter J. Biondi	41,008	30.0	1.4
	Democratic	Amedeo D’Adamo, Jr.	23,920	17.5	1.3
	Democratic	Harold Weber	22,921	16.8	0.6
	Conservative	Robert Kowal	2,758	2.0	1.4
	Conservative	Howard Manella	2,432	1.8	1.3
Total votes			136,497	100.0

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Kip Bateman	22,406	28.7	3.3
	Republican	Walter J. Kavanaugh	22,359	28.6	2.7
	Democratic	Joseph Tricarico, Jr	14,683	18.8	0.0
	Democratic	Mitchell E. Ignatoff, Jr	13,553	17.4	0.6
	Conservative	Robert Kowal	2,635	3.4	N/A
	Conservative	Harry Boeselager	2,449	3.1	N/A
Total votes			78,085	100.0

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Christopher “Kip” Bateman	44,646	32.0	1.7
	Republican	Walter J. Kavanaugh	43,703	31.3	4.2
	Democratic	Karen Carroll	26,268	18.8	3.1
	Democratic	Amedeo F. D’Adamo, Jr.	23,438	16.8	1.7
	Initiative and Referendum	James N. Carides	1,510	1.1	N/A
Total votes			139,565	100.0