New Jersey Senator Pushes to Rename Delaware Bay as The Bay of New Jersey

In a bold move echoing President Donald Trump’s recent renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, New Jersey state Sen. Michael Testa, a Republican from Cape May County, has introduced legislation to rebrand the Delaware Bay as The Bay of New Jersey. The proposal, unveiled on Thursday, aims to cement New Jersey’s identity over the vital waterway, which supports the state’s thriving fishing, tourism, and commerce industries.

Testa’s bill would mandate state agencies to update publications, signage, and websites with the new name and notify federal authorities of the change. The Delaware Bay, named in 1610 after Thomas West, the third baron de la Warr, has long been a shared resource between New Jersey and Delaware. Yet, Testa argues it’s time for New Jersey to claim its stake. “We’ve got a robust fishing industry, both commercial and recreational,” he said, emphasizing the bay’s economic significance to the state.

This move follows Trump’s January executive order renaming part of the Gulf of Mexico, a decision that sparked international chatter and even prompted Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont to jokingly propose renaming Long Island Sound to the Connecticut Sound. Testa’s legislation, however, is no jest—it’s a serious bid to boost state pride and economic branding. He even took to X, declaring, “It’s time to Make New Jersey Great Again!”

Interestingly, Testa isn’t stopping at the bay. Another bill he introduced this week seeks to reclaim a slice of Salem County’s shore, long claimed by Delaware in a historic border agreement. These moves signal a broader push to assert New Jersey’s territorial and cultural dominance in the region.

While the Delaware Bay’s name has stood for over four centuries, Testa’s proposal reflects a growing trend of symbolic rebranding in American politics. Whether this will inspire unity or spark a neighborly feud with Delaware remains to be seen.