This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2021) |
The 1985 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1985.
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All 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly 41 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The elections coincided with Governor Tom Kean's landslide re-election. The result was a historic victory for Kean's Republican Party, which gained 14 seats to retake the majority in the Assembly. As of 2024, this remains the only election since 1973 in which Republicans won any seats in the Senate or Assembly from Hudson County, where they carried four of six seats.
Incumbents not running for re-election • Summary of races • District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 |
Incumbents not running for re-election edit
Democratic edit
- Thomas W. Long (District 20)
- Nicholas LaRocca (District 33)
Republican edit
Every Republican incumbent ran for re-election.
Summary of races edit
Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.
- ^ Colburn won a September 1984 special to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Robert J. Meyer, who died of a heart attack.
- ^ Shinn won a special election in February 1985 to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman C. William Haines, who had been elevated to the Senate.
- ^ Rod was elected as a Republican in 1983, but switched parties on August 27, shortly before the election.
- ^ Perun switched parties on March 14.
- ^ Genova won a March 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Edward K. Gill, who died of heart disease.
- ^ Martin won a January 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Dean Gallo, who resigned to join the U.S. House of Representatives.
- ^ Randall won a March 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman John W. Markert.
District 1 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joseph W. Chinnici | 35,610 | 33.7 | 5.5 | |
Republican | Guy F. Muziani | 33,978 | 32.1 | 6.0 | |
Democratic | Raymond A. Batten | 18,794 | 17.8 | 8.0 | |
Democratic | Peter L. Amico | 17,407 | 16.5 | 3.4 | |
Total votes | '105,789' | '100.0' |
District 2 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | J. Edward Kline | 32,092 | 34.1 | 5.6 | |
Republican | Dolores G. Cooper | 27,395 | 29.1 | 2.0 | |
Democratic | Joel Jacovitz | 19,899 | 21.2 | 1.0 | |
Democratic | Lillian E. Bryant | 14,634 | 15.6 | 4.8 | |
Total votes | '94,020' | '100.0' |
District 3 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jack Collins | 27,514 | 26.2 | 3.3 | |
Republican | Gary W. Stuhltrager | 27,032 | 25.7 | 3.5 | |
Democratic | Martin A. Herman | 25,699 | 24.5 | 3.7 | |
Democratic | Thomas A. Pankok | 24,796 | 23.6 | 3.1 | |
Total votes | '105,041' | '100.0' |
District 4 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Anthony S. Marsella | 23,162 | 27.3 | 3.4 | |
Democratic | Dennis L. Riley | 22,703 | 26.8 | 3.4 | |
Republican | Frank F. Senatore | 19,621 | 23.1 | 2.8 | |
Republican | William F. Thomson | 19,307 | 22.8 | 3.9 | |
Total votes | '84,793' | '100.0' |
District 5 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Francis J. Gorman | 22,828 | 30.9 | 2.8 | |
Democratic | Wayne R. Bryant | 22,691 | 30.7 | 3.6 | |
Republican | Charles E. Brimm | 14,514 | 19.6 | 3.3 | |
Republican | William M. Terrell | 13,872 | 18.8 | 3.2 | |
Total votes | '73,905' | '100.0' |
District 6 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John A. Rocco | 32,812 | 32.7 | 4.9 | |
Republican | Thomas J. Shusted | 31,679 | 31.6 | 3.9 | |
Democratic | Carl B. Viniar | 18,425 | 18.4 | 4.8 | |
Democratic | Harry Benn | 17,382 | 17.3 | 4.0 | |
Total votes | '100,298' | '100.0' |
District 7 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Barbara Faith Kalik | 26,452 | 29.4 | 1.3 | |
Democratic | Thomas P. Foy | 25,217 | 28.0 | 1.8 | |
Republican | Renee L. Borstad | 19,318 | 21.4 | 0.3 | |
Republican | Charles J. Ansert | 19,096 | 21.2 | 2.9 | |
Total votes | '90,083' | '100.0' |
District 8 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Harold L. Colburn, Jr. | 29,150 | 34.8 | 3.8 | |
Republican | Robert C. Shinn, Jr. | 29,085 | 34.7 | 3.2 | |
Democratic | Claire B. Cohen | 12,971 | 15.5 | 3.6 | |
Democratic | Harrison B. Slack | 12,285 | 14.7 | 3.7 | |
Socialist Labor | Bernardo S. Doganiero | 189 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Socialist Labor | Paul Ferguson | 170 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Total votes | '83,850' | '100.0' |
District 9 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John T. Hendrickson Jr. (incumbent) | 39,031 | 32.4 | 0.9 | |
Republican | Jeffrey Moran | 37,877 | 31.4 | 1.2 | |
Democratic | Jorge A. Rod (incumbent) | 23,470 | 19.5 | 0.4 ( 10.7) | |
Democratic | Warren E. Hickman | 19,420 | 16.1 | 2.2 | |
"Time for Change" | Paul David Hedrich | 708 | 0.6 | N/A | |
Total votes | '120,506' | '100.0' |
District 10 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Paul Doyle (incumbent) | 30,055 | 25.9 | 3.3 | |
Republican | Robert Singer | 29,621 | 25.5 | 1.9 | |
Republican | Roden S. Lightbody | 28,179 | 24.2 | 3.5 | |
Democratic | Marlene Lynch Ford (incumbent) | 28,159 | 24.2 | 1.5 | |
Libertarian | Wallace Gluck | 217 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Total votes | '116,231' | '100.0' |
District 11 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joseph A. Palaia | 35,629 | 34.4 | 5.1 | |
Republican | Anthony M. “Doc” Villane | 35,291 | 34.1 | 4.9 | |
Democratic | Craig Alan Frankel | 16,298 | 15.8 | 5.0 | |
Democratic | Daniel P. Jacobson | 16,242 | 15.7 | 5.1 | |
Total votes | '103,460' | '100.0' |
District 12 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John O. Bennett | 33,205 | 32.5 | 2.6 | |
Republican | Marie Sheehan Muhler | 32,346 | 31.6 | 2.0 | |
Democratic | Donald M. Lomurro | 18,584 | 18.2 | 2.3 | |
Democratic | Michael L. Detzky | 18,129 | 17.7 | 2.3 | |
Total votes | '102,264' | '100.0' |
District 13 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joseph Azzolina | 26,565 | 26.3 | 2.5 | |
Republican | Joann H. Smith | 25,970 | 25.7 | 4.1 | |
Democratic | William E. Flynn | 24,418 | 24.2 | 3.6 | |
Democratic | Jacqueline Walker | 24,058 | 23.8 | 3.0 | |
Total votes | '101,011' | '100.0' |
District 14 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph L. Bocchini, Jr. | 28,476 | 26.5 | 2.0 | |
Republican | John K. Rafferty | 27,960 | 26.1 | 3.8 | |
Democratic | Joseph D. Patero | 26,707 | 24.9 | 3.2 | |
Republican | Thomas Colitsas | 24,189 | 22.5 | 1.4 | |
Total votes | '107,332' | '100.0' |
District 15 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John S. Watson | 25,173 | 28.2 | 3.0 | |
Democratic | Gerald S. Naples | 24,893 | 27.9 | 3.0 | |
Republican | Barbara Marrow | 19,818 | 22.2 | 3.0 | |
Republican | Mary Ann McKee | 19,413 | 21.7 | 3.0 | |
Total votes | '89,297' | '100.0' |
District 16 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Walter J. Kavanaugh | 37,577 | 38.9 | 4.5 | |
Republican | John S. Penn | 35,258 | 36.5 | 5.5 | |
Democratic | William R. Norris II | 11,884 | 12.3 | 4.8 | |
Democratic | Frank M. Reskin | 11,596 | 12.0 | 4.3 | |
Libertarian | Stephen Friedlander | 363 | 0.4 | 0.8 | |
Total votes | '96,678' | '100.0' |
District 17 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | David C. Schwartz | 21,174 | 28.1 | 4.4 | |
Democratic | Bob Smith | 19,556 | 26.0 | 6.1 | |
Republican | Angela L. Perun | 19,104 | 25.4 | 7.4 ( 6.7) | |
Republican | Francis J. Coury | 15,503 | 20.6 | 4.1 | |
Total votes | '75,337' | '100.0' |
District 18 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Thomas H. Paterniti | 30,169 | 26.7 | 1.8 | |
Democratic | Frank M. Pelly | 29,490 | 26.1 | 2.2 | |
Republican | S. Elliott Mayo | 27,101 | 24.0 | 2.1 | |
Republican | Michael Leibowitz | 26,280 | 23.2 | 1.9 | |
Total votes | 113,040 | 100.0 |
District 19 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | George J. Otlowski | 26,187 | 26.7 | 3.3 | |
Democratic | Alan J. Karcher | 24,803 | 25.3 | 2.8 | |
Republican | Emery Z. Toth | 23,673 | 24.1 | 2.8 | |
Republican | Robert De Santis | 23,544 | 24.0 | 3.4 | |
Total votes | '98,207' | '100.0' |
District 20 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Thomas J. Deverin | 19,892 | 25.5 | 9.4 | |
Democratic | George Hudak | 18,085 | 23.1 | 11.7 | |
Republican | Michael A. Posnock | 14,617 | 18.7 | 3.3 | |
Republican | Alice A. Holzapfel | 13,134 | 16.8 | 1.8 | |
Experienced-Competent-Courageous | Tom Dunn | 10,174 | 13.0 | N/A | |
"Inflation Fighting Housewife" | Rose Zeidwerg Monyek | 2,240 | 2.9 | N/A | |
Total votes | '78,142' | '100.0' |
District 21 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Chuck Hardwick | 36,474 | 32.9 | 5.9 | |
Republican | Peter J. Genova | 34,625 | 31.2 | 5.2 | |
Democratic | Andrew K. Ruotolo, Jr. | 20,526 | 18.5 | 5.3 | |
Democratic | Livio Mancino | 18,408 | 16.6 | 6.6 | |
Independent | Fred Palensar III | 818 | 0.7 | N/A | |
Total votes | '110,851' | '100.0' |
District 22 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Maureen Ogden | 39,939 | 36.1 | 2.4 | |
Republican | Bob Franks | 39,284 | 35.5 | 2.4 | |
Democratic | John F. Tully, Jr. | 15,729 | 14.2 | 2.6 | |
Democratic | Florence Martone | 15,650 | 14.1 | 2.2 | |
Total votes | '110,602' | '100.0' |
District 23 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Richard A. Zimmer | 34,051 | 44.0 | 9.4 | |
Republican | Karl Weidel | 32,587 | 42.1 | 7.8 | |
Democratic | Richard C. Allen | 10,774 | 13.9 | 3.3 | |
Total votes | '77,412' | '100.0' |
District 24 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert E. Littell | 30,616 | 37.3 | 1.3 | |
Republican | Garabed “Chuck” Haytaian | 29,094 | 35.4 | 0.7 | |
Democratic | Robert T. Davis | 12,806 | 15.6 | 0.4 | |
Democratic | John P. Kilroy, Jr. | 9,617 | 11.7 | 2.3 | |
Total votes | '82,133' | '100.0' |
District 25 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rodney P. Frelinghuysen | 31,695 | 37.1 | 5.4 | |
Republican | Arthur R. Albohn | 29,043 | 34.0 | 4.6 | |
Democratic | Donald Cresitello | 12,652 | 14.8 | 4.9 | |
Democratic | Carl A. Mottey | 11,955 | 14.0 | 5.2 | |
Total votes | 85,345 | 100.0 |
District 26 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert J. Martin | 31,943 | 37.6 | 1.4 | |
Republican | Ralph A. Loveys | 31,898 | 37.5 | 4.7 | |
Democratic | Claude C. Post | 10,697 | 12.6 | 3.0 | |
Democratic | Joseph V. Vender | 10,425 | 12.3 | 3.1 | |
Total votes | '84,963' | '100.0' |
District 27 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Harry A. McEnroe | 20,780 | 31.5 | 5.4 | |
Democratic | Mildred Barry Garvin | 20,680 | 31.3 | 5.1 | |
Republican | Jean Brozyna | 12,345 | 18.7 | 4.9 | |
Republican | Chandler Dennis | 12,167 | 18.4 | 5.4 | |
Total votes | '65,972' | '100.0' |
District 28 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Michael F. Adubato | 12,495 | 30.4 | 4.1 | |
Democratic | James Zangari | 12,092 | 29.4 | 3.0 | |
Republican | Joe Imperiale | 8,604 | 20.9 | 8.3 | |
Republican | Jose Linares | 7,896 | 19.2 | 8.5 | |
Total votes | '41,087' | '100.0' |
District 29 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Willie B. Brown | 12,736 | 35.2 | 7.1 | |
Democratic | Eugene H. Thompson | 12,224 | 33.7 | 7.9 | |
Republican | Della Moses Walker | 5,852 | 16.2 | 7.6 | |
Republican | Kurt A. Culbreath | 5,420 | 15.0 | 7.5 | |
Total votes | '36,232' | '100.0' |
District 30 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John V. Kelly | 30,820 | 28.3 | 3.1 | |
Republican | Marion Crecco | 28,268 | 26.0 | 8.4 | |
Democratic | Stephen N. Adubato, Jr. | 25,505 | 23.4 | 3.2 | |
Democratic | Buddy Fortunato | 24,290 | 22.3 | 6.0 | |
Total votes | '108,883' | '100.0' |
District 31 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph V. Doria, Jr. | 25,613 | 31.8 | 8.6 | |
Democratic | Joseph Charles, Jr. | 24,612 | 30.6 | 8.8 | |
Republican | Nat S. Amadeo | 15,380 | 19.1 | 9.1 | |
Republican | Bruce M. Shipitofsky | 14,942 | 18.6 | 9.5 | |
Total votes | 80,547 | 100.0 |
District 32 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Frank J. Gargiulo | 25,179 | 27.1 | 10.4 | |
Republican | Charles J. Catrillo | 24,798 | 26.7 | 10.4 | |
Democratic | Paul Cuprowski | 21,018 | 22.7 | 9.4 | |
Democratic | Anthony P. Vainieri | 19,977 | 21.5 | 10.0 | |
Politicians Are Crooks | Edith M. Shaw | 896 | 1.0 | 0.8 | |
Politicians Are Crooks | Herbert H. Shaw | 877 | 0.9 | 0.7 | |
Total votes | '92,745' | '100.0' |
District 33 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ronald A. Dario | 20,422 | 27.9 | 10.0 | |
Republican | Jose O. Arango | 19,748 | 26.9 | 9.7 | |
Democratic | Robert A. Ranieri | 17,443 | 23.8 | 8.9 | |
Democratic | Mario R. Hernandez | 15,671 | 21.4 | 10.8 | |
Total votes | '73,284' | '100.0' |
District 34 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Gerald H. Zecker | 32,025 | 32.3 | 6.1 | |
Republican | Newton E. Miller | 31,791 | 32.1 | 5.4 | |
Democratic | Joseph F. Palumbo | 17,784 | 18.0 | 5.5 | |
Democratic | Elisa Leib | 17,411 | 17.6 | 4.1 | |
Total votes | '99,011' | '100.0' |
District 35 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John A. Girgenti | 18,634 | 30.2 | 7.4 | |
Democratic | Vincent “Ozzie” Pellecchia | 16,204 | 26.3 | 8.8 | |
Republican | Walter W. Porter, Jr. | 13,538 | 21.9 | 8.0 | |
Republican | Kenneth Van Rye | 13,352 | 21.6 | 8.2 | |
Total votes | '61,728' | '100.0' |
District 36 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Kathleen A. Donovan | 24,775 | 27.4 | 7.4 | |
Republican | Paul DiGaetano | 24,555 | 27.2 | 7.5 | |
Democratic | Robert P. Hollenbeck | 21,295 | 23.6 | 7.5 | |
Democratic | Richard F. Visotcky | 19,764 | 21.9 | 7.2 | |
Total votes | '90,389' | '100.0' |
District 37 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | D. Bennett Mazur | 27,376 | 27.0 | 3.9 | |
Democratic | Byron Baer | 27,335 | 26.9 | 4.5 | |
Republican | Nicholas Corbiscello | 24,300 | 23.9 | 5.0 | |
Republican | Martin Katz | 22,453 | 22.1 | 3.4 | |
Total votes | '101,464' | '100.0' |
District 38 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | William P. Schuber | 29,606 | 30.8 | 3.9 | |
Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 29,096 | 30.2 | 3.1 | |
Democratic | Thomas K. Hynes | 19,033 | 19.8 | 3.9 | |
Democratic | David S. Turetsky | 18,190 | 18.9 | 3.5 | |
Libertarian | Richard Kraus | 313 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Total votes | '96,238' | '100.0' |
District 39 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Elizabeth E. Randall | 35,172 | 33.3 | 4.4 | |
Republican | John E. Rooney | 33,358 | 31.6 | 2.9 | |
Democratic | Joseph A. Ferriero | 18,714 | 17.7 | 4.2 | |
Democratic | Fay Yeager | 18,257 | 17.3 | 3.2 | |
Total votes | 105,501 | 100.0 |
District 40 edit
General election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Walter M. D. Kern, Jr. | 36,476 | 35.9 | 1.3 | |
Republican | Nicholas R. Felice | 36,369 | 35.8 | 1.9 | |
Democratic | Judy Miller | 14,590 | 14.4 | 1.6 | |
Democratic | Carmine J. Cicchino | 14,050 | 13.8 | 1.7 | |
Total votes | '101,485' | '100.0' |