Proposal to Rename Delaware Bay to “New Jersey Bay”

A New Jersey lawmaker has introduced a bill seeking to rename the historic Delaware Bay to “New Jersey Bay.” This idea was reportedly inspired by actions taken by former President Trump to change the names of various locations.

The legislation, proposed by Republican state Senator Michael Testa on Thursday, aims to instruct state agencies to refer to the bay as “New Jersey Bay” across all official documents, signs, websites, and related materials. The move is intended to update designations and notify federal agencies accordingly.

Testa expressed his thoughts on the matter, stating, “I’m focusing on the robust fisheries—both commercial and recreational—in New Jersey. It’s time to reconsider how we name the bay where we fish.” His remarks reflect a perspective that suggests there’s been a long-standing debate over the bay’s name.

Historically, the bay is named after Thomas West, who governed the Virginia colony in 1610. The bay has been significant for tourism and commercial travel in New Jersey for centuries.

Testa, a well-known supporter of Trump, remarked in a social media post, “Make New Jersey great again!” He added that they plan to advocate for the bill further on Friday.

This proposal emerges about six months after Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The suggestion has even sparked conversations about potentially renaming Long Island Sound to “Connecticut Sound.”

Connecticut’s Governor Ned Lamont had also shared his thoughts, hinting that as changes occur, it might be an appropriate time to rethink naming conventions. He tagged New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a related post regarding the renaming of the sound.

Additionally, in another bill introduced this week, Testa proposed that New Jersey should reclaim certain coastal lands in Salem County, further emphasizing his focus on state identity and land use.