John V. Azzariti Jr. was born on February 1, 1966, and is a lifelong resident of Bergen County, New Jersey. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and economics from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio in 1988 and received his medical doctorate from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–New Jersey Medical School in 1992. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at New York University Medical Center in 1996.

Azzariti has practiced anesthesiology at The Valley Hospital in northern New Jersey since 1996, serving as associate director of the hospital's anesthesiology department and president of his anesthesiology group, Bergen Anesthesia Group, P.C. He serves on the board of directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and its House of Delegates, the organization's legislative arm. He is a past president of the New Jersey State Society of Anesthesiologists, where he continues to serve on the executive committee.

Azzariti entered local politics in Saddle River, where he served on the borough's Board of Health from 2009 to 2018 and on the Zoning Board of Adjustment in 2018. He was elected to the Saddle River Borough Council in 2019 and served until 2023.

In 2021, when Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi announced she would leave her Assembly seat to run for the State Senate seat vacated by the death of Gerald Cardinale, Azzariti sought the Republican nomination to succeed her. He had Schepisi's support but lost the GOP convention to DeAnne DeFuccio. When DeFuccio announced in 2023 that she would not seek re-election, Azzariti again sought the seat with Schepisi's backing. He won the Republican convention in March 2023, defeating former Bergen County Freeholder Todd Caliguire. He and incumbent Assemblyman Robert Auth defeated Democrats Damon J. Englese and John F. Vitale in the November 2023 general election. Azzariti was sworn into office on January 9, 2024, as one of 27 first-time members elected that year—more than one-third of the Assembly seats.

He was re-elected in November 2025 alongside Robert Auth in a tight race, holding the Republican seats in the 39th District.

Political Career

• New Jersey General Assemblyman, District 39 (2024–present); current term ends January 12, 2028; re-elected 2025

• Saddle River Borough Council (2019–2023)

• Saddle River Board of Health (2009–2018)

• Saddle River Zoning Board of Adjustment (2018)

Key Policy Areas

• Health policy and medical professional regulation

• Aging and human services

• Public safety and criminal justice

• Motor vehicle theft and joyriding penalties

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Sponsored legislation increasing penalties for unlawful taking of motor vehicles (joyriding)

• Served as past president of New Jersey State Society of Anesthesiologists

• Served on American Society of Anesthesiologists board of directors and House of Delegates

• Won 2023 Republican convention with Holly Schepisi's backing after previous unsuccessful bid in 2021

• Re-elected in 2025 in competitive district race

Education

• B.A., Chemistry and Economics, Case Western Reserve University (1988)

• M.D., University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–New Jersey Medical School (1992)

• Residency in Anesthesiology, New York University Medical Center (1996)

Personal

• Birth date: February 1, 1966 (age 60 as of 2026)

• Residence: Saddle River, New Jersey

• Spouse: Married

• Children: One son

• Profession: Physician Anesthesiologist, Bergen Anesthesia Group, P.C.; Associate Director of Anesthesiology, The Valley Hospital