1977 New Jersey Senate election
The 1977 New Jersey State Senate election coincided with Brendan Byrne's re-election to a second term as Governor of New Jersey.
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All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate 21 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results by district Democratic hold Democratic gain Republican hold Republican gain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The election coincided with Governor Brendan Byrne's re-election over Senator Raymond Bateman. Byrne narrowly survived a primary election which eliminated seven incumbent Democratic Senators. Despite the intra-party division and early polls indicating Byrne was an underdog in the general election, Byrne survived and the Democrats preserved their large majority in the Senate, losing just one seat on aggregate.[1] This is the last time Democrats held a veto-proof majority in the chamber.
Democrats chose Joseph P. Merlino as the Senate President and Carmen Orechio as Majority Leader; Republicans named Garrett Hagedorn as Minority Leader.[2]
Contents Incumbents not running • Summary of results By District: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 |
Incumbents not running for re-election edit
Democratic edit
- John A. Lynch Sr. (District 17)
- Alexander J. Menza (District 20) (ran for U.S. Senator)
- Raymond Garramone (District 39) (ran for Governor)
Republican edit
- Alfred N. Beadleston (District 11)
- Raymond Bateman (District 16) (ran for Governor)
- Frank Davenport (District 35)
Summary of results by district edit
- ^ Errichetti, who was also mayor of Camden, was chosen to succeed Senator John J. Horn in 1976. Horn joined Governor Byrne's cabinet as Commissioner of Labor and Industry.
- ^ Senator Anne Clark Martindell resigned on May 17 to join the Jimmy Carter administration.
Close races edit
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
- District 27, 1.8%
- District 20, 1.6%
- District 6, 4.2%
- District 39, 5.6%
- District 23, 8.6%
- District 10, 9.5%
Incumbents defeated edit
In primary elections edit
Democratic edit
- District 2: Joseph McGahn (Atlantic) lost party support to Steven P. Perskie, an Assemblyman from Atlantic County.[3][4][5]
- District 6: Alene Ammond (Camden) lost the primary to Victor Pachter.[6]
- District 7: Edward J. Hughes (Burlington) lost the primary to Charles B. Yates.[6]
- District 19: John Fay (Middlesex) lost the primary to Laurence Weiss.[6]
- District 21: Thomas Dunn (Union) lost party support to John Gregorio, an Assemblyman from Union County and mayor of Linden.[3][7][5]
- District 31: James P. Dugan (Hudson) lost the primary to Wally Sheil, the President of Hudson County Community College.[6][8]
- District 32: Joseph W. Tumulty (Hudson) lost the primary to David Friedland, a former Assemblyman from Hudson County.[6][9]
In general elections edit
Democratic edit
- District 10: Herbert Buehler (Monmouth) lost to Republican Brian Kennedy, a former Assemblyman from Monmouth County.[10]
- District 23: Stephen Wiley (Morris) lost to Republican John H. Dorsey, an Assemblyman from Morris County.[10][11]
Independent edit
- District 2: After losing the Democratic primary, Senator Joseph McGahn ran as an independent in the general election; he finished third behind Perskie and Republican F. Frederick Perone.
- District 21: After losing the Democratic primary, Senator Thomas Dunn ran as an independent in the general election; he finished second behind Gregorio.
- District 30: Anthony Imperiale (Essex) was defeated by Democrat Frank E. Rodgers, the mayor of Harrison.[12]
Open seats edit
Democratic holds edit
- District 17: John A. Lynch Sr. (Middlesex) retired. Speaker of the Assembly William J. Hamilton won the open seat.
- District 20: Alexander J. Menza (Union) retired to run for U.S. Senator. Union Township councilman Anthony E. Russo won the open seat.
- District 39: Raymond Garramone (Bergen) retired to run for Governor. Former Bergen County Freeholder Frank Herbert won the open seat.
Democratic gains edit
- District 35: Republican Frank Davenport did not seek re-election. Frank X. Graves Jr., the mayor of Paterson, defeated former Assemblyman Alfred Fontanella.[13]
Republican holds edit
- District 11: Alfred N. Beadleston (Monmouth) retired. Former Monmouth County Surrogate S. Thomas Gagliano won the open seat.
- District 17: Raymond Bateman (Somserset) retired to run for Governor. Assemblyman John H. Ewing won the open seat.
Republican gains edit
- District 6: Alene Ammond (Camden) lost the Democratic primary to Victor Pachter; Pachter lost the general election to Republican Lee Laskin, a former Assemblyman.[6][14]
- District 14: Anne Clark Martindell (Mercer) was appointed U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand in May, leaving her seat vacant; Republican Walter E. Foran, an Assemblyman from Hunterdon County, won the open seat.
District 1 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | James Cafiero (incumbent) | 35,416 | 62.0% | 3.7 | |
Democratic | Frank Kneiser | 21,702 | 38.0% | 3.7 | |
Total votes | 57,118 | 100.00% |
District 2 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Steven P. Perskie | 31,712 | 47.9% | 7.2 | |
Republican | F. Frederick Perone | 20,160 | 30.5% | 14.4 | |
Re-Elect, Experience, Integrity | Joseph McGahn (incumbent) | 14,288 | 21.6% | N/A | |
Total votes | 66,160 | 100.00% |
District 3 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Raymond Zane (incumbent) | 37,199 | 65.8% | 14.1 | |
Republican | Robert C. Hendrickson, Jr. | 19,328 | 34.2% | 14.1 | |
Total votes | 56,527 | 100.00% |
District 4 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph A. Maressa (incumbent) | 35,736 | 65.0% | 1.2 | |
Republican | Walter C. Gebelein | 19,248 | 35.0% | 1.2 | |
Total votes | 54,984 | 100.00% |
District 5 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Angelo Errichetti (incumbent) | 27,352 | 69.4% | 9.1 | |
Republican | Ernest J. Merlino | 12,078 | 30.6% | 6.2 | |
Total votes | 39,430 | 100.00% |
District 6 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lee B. Laskin | 29,823 | 52.1 | 5.3 | |
Democratic | Victor Pachter | 27,449 | 47.9 | 5.3 | |
Total votes | 57,272 | 100.00% |
District 7 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Charles B. Yates | 30,793 | 59.5% | 1.6 | |
Republican | Michael J. Conda | 20,971 | 40.5% | 1.1 | |
Total votes | 51,764 | 100.00% |
District 8 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Barry T. Parker (incumbent) | 30,042 | 55.4% | 2.6 | |
Democratic | Charles H. Ryan | 24,168 | 44.6% | 2.6 | |
Total votes | 54,210 | 100.00% |
District 9 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John F. Russo (incumbent) | 53,309 | 63.7% | 9.2 | |
Republican | James J. Mancini | 28,673 | 34.3% | 11.2 | |
Libertarian | Leonard T. Flynn | 1,153 | 1.4% | N/A | |
Independent | Donald Knause | 494 | 0.6% | N/A | |
Total votes | 83,629 | 100.00% |
District 10 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian T. Kennedy | 29,059 | 54.3% | 9.4 | |
Democratic | Herbert J. Buehler (incumbent) | 23,990 | 44.8% | 10.3 | |
Let's Work Together | Franco DiDomenica | 502 | 0.9% | N/A | |
Total votes | 53,551 | 100.00% |
District 11 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | S. Thomas Gagliano | 30,452 | 54.5% | 0.4 | |
Democratic | Arthur Goldzweig | 24,398 | 43.7% | 2.2 | |
Libertarian | Anne Caroline Riecker | 567 | 1.0% | N/A | |
Independent | Joseph Rembisz, Jr. | 477 | 0.9% | N/A | |
Total votes | 55,894 | 100.00% |
District 12 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Eugene J. Bedell (incumbent) | 28,391 | 53.6% | 5.2 | |
Republican | Joseph Azzolina | 21,877 | 41.3% | 6.1 | |
Independent | Eileen Lloyd | 2,435 | 4.6% | N/A | |
Libertarian | Jack Moyers | 261 | 0.5% | N/A | |
Total votes | 52,964 | 100.00% |
District 13 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph P. Merlino (incumbent) | 33,757 | 69.6% | 4.8 | |
Republican | Harry L. Dearden | 14,776 | 30.4% | 4.8 | |
Total votes | 48,533 | 100.00% |
District 14 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Walter E. Foran (incumbent) | 33,556 | 56.8% | 8.3 | |
Democratic | Peter J. Bearse | 25,504 | 43.2% | 8.3 | |
Total votes | 59,060 | 100.00% |
District 15 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Wayne Dumont (incumbent) | 35,268 | 60.7% | 5.7 | |
Democratic | Joseph J. Keslo | 22,815 | 39.3% | 5.7 | |
Total votes | 58,083 | 100.00% |
District 16 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John H. Ewing | 38,772 | 65.2% | 1.2 | |
Democratic | Kenneth L. Hetrick | 20,654 | 34.8% | 1.2 | |
Total votes | 59,426 | 100.00% |
District 17 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | William J. Hamilton, Jr. | 26,343 | 59.7% | 11.0 | |
Republican | Peter J. Selesky | 16,183 | 36.7% | 8.3 | |
Independent Candidate | Walter Jinotti | 985 | 2.2% | N/A | |
Repeal Income Tax | Edward J. McGlynn | 638 | 1.4% | N/A | |
Total votes | 44,149 | 100.00% |
District 18 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bernard J. Dwyer (incumbent) | 34,144 | 57.6% | 5.6 | |
Republican | S. Elliott Mayo | 23,803 | 40.2% | 3.4 | |
Independent | Edward R. Gavarny | 1,281 | 2.2% | N/A | |
Total votes | 59,228 | 100.00% |
District 19 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Laurence S. Weiss | 30,474 | 65.9% | 12.7 | |
Republican | Raymond J. Freid | 15,390 | 33.3% | 11.9 | |
U.S. Labor | Michael R. Leppig | 396 | 0.9% | N/A | |
Total votes | 46,260 | 100.00% |
District 20 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Anthony E. Russo | 30,057 | 50.8 | 5.5 | |
Republican | Frank X. McDermott | 29,067 | 49.2 | 6.0 | |
Total votes | 59,124 | 100.00% |
District 21 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John T. Gregorio | 20,255 | 46.9% | 15.8 | |
Re-elect Experience, Courage | Thomas G. Dunn (incumbent) | 13,932 | 32.2% | N/A | |
Republican | Robert T. Walsh | 8,005 | 18.5% | 16.0 | |
Repeal Income Tax | Rocco J. Gallo | 1,023 | 2.4% | N/A | |
Total votes | 43,215 | 100.00% |
District 22 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Peter McDonough (incumbent) | 28,669 | 55.2% | 2.9 | |
Democratic | Harry P. Pappas | 22,032 | 42.5% | 5.2 | |
An Independent Choice | John J. Carone | 1,198 | 2.3% | N/A | |
Total votes | 51,899 | 100.00% |
District 23 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John H. Dorsey | 30,882 | 54.3% | 7.4 | |
Democratic | Stephen B. Wiley (incumbent) | 25,981 | 45.7% | 7.4 | |
Total votes | 56,863 | 100.0 |
District 24 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | James P. Vreeland | 34,694 | 67.1% | 14.5 | |
Democratic | Norma K. Herzfeld | 17,036 | 32.9% | 14.5 | |
Total votes | 51,730 | 100.00% |
District 25 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | James Wallwork | 35,517 | 60.6% | 6.4 | |
Democratic | Lewis J. Paper | 23,096 | 39.4% | 6.4 | |
Total votes | 58,613 | 100.00% |
District 26 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Frank J. Dodd | 27,293 | 75.0% | 0.1 | |
Republican | Nancy Jane Schron | 8,847 | 24.3% | 0.6 | |
Libertarian | Kenneth R. Kaplan | 250 | 0.7% | N/A | |
Total votes | 36,390 | 100.00% |
District 27 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Carmen A. Orechio | 25,773 | 50.9% | 2.2 | |
Republican | John N. Dennis | 24,855 | 49.1% | 2.2 | |
Total votes | 50,628 | 100.00% |
District 28 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Martin L. Greenberg | 16,986 | 57.8% | 2.5 | |
Republican | James A. Pindar | 11,399 | 38.8% | 2.0 | |
Income Tax Referendum | Nicholas T. Fernicola | 770 | 2.6% | N/A | |
Jobs, Equality, Peace | Charles E. Cascone | 234 | 0.8% | N/A | |
Total votes | 29,389 | 100.00% |
District 29 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Wynona Lipman | 16,037 | 90.6% | 6.8 | |
Republican | Manuel Angel Colon | 1,658 | 9.4% | 6.8 | |
Total votes | 17,695 | 100.00% |
District 30 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Frank E. Rodgers | 20,081 | 48.0% | 11.6 | |
Anti-Tax Candidate | Anthony Imperiale | 14,771 | 35.3% | 14.0 | |
Republican | Harry J. Romeo | 6,946 | 16.6% | 2.4 | |
Total votes | 41,798 | 100.00% |
District 31 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Wally Sheil | 26,872 | 70.6% | 8.9 | |
Republican | Edward T. Magee | 11,191 | 29.4% | 8.9 | |
Total votes | 38,063 | 100.00% |
District 32 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | David Friedland | 26,813 | 67.5% | 7.2 | |
Republican | Joseph W. Gallagher | 11,817 | 29.8% | 6.9 | |
Politicians Are Crooks | Herbert H. Shaw | 1,082 | 2.7% | N/A | |
Total votes | 39,712 | '100.00%' |
District 33 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | William Musto | 25,270 | 71.8% | 6.2 | |
Republican | Michael A. Litzas | 7,244 | 20.6% | 1.4 | |
Repeal Income Tax | William J. Meehan | 1,719 | 4.9% | N/A | |
For The People | Eulalio Jose Negrin | 966 | 2.7% | N/A | |
Total votes | 35,199 | '100.00%' |
District 34 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph Hirkala | 28,628 | 69.6% | 5.7 | |
Republican | Herman Schmidt | 12,484 | 30.4% | 5.7 | |
Total votes | 41,112 | 100.00 |
District 35 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Frank X. Graves Jr. | 17,005 | 56.2% | 6.3 | |
Republican | Alfred E. Fontanella | 12,193 | 40.3% | 9.8 | |
Tax Revolt Independent | Joseph S. Long | 547 | 1.8% | N/A | |
Independent Progressive Conservative | Roy L. Ward | 500 | 1.7% | N/A | |
Total votes | 30,245 | '100.00%' |
District 36 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Anthony Scardino | 31,466 | 63.9% | 1.9 | |
Republican | Harold A. Pareti | 17,805 | 36.1% | 0.7 | |
Total votes | 49,271 | 100.00% |
District 37 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Matthew Feldman (incumbent) | 31,945 | 59.0% | 0.4 | |
Republican | William C. Clark | 21,723 | 40.1% | 0.7 | |
Communist | Magnus Nelson | 492 | 0.9% | N/A | |
Total votes | 54,160 | '100.00%' |
District 38 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Skevin (incumbent) | 24,629 | 56.1% | 1.5 | |
Republican | Frank A. Buono, Jr. | 19,289 | 43.9% | 1.5 | |
Total votes | 43,918 | '100.00%' |
District 39 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Frank Herbert | 28,658 | 52.8% | 1.5 | |
Republican | John W. Markert | 25,582 | 47.2% | 1.5 | |
Total votes | 54,240 | 100.00% |
District 40 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Garrett W. Hagedorn (incumbent) | 29,689 | 57.8% | 1.6 | |
Democratic | Anthony D. Andora | 21,009 | 40.9% | 2.9 | |
Independent Middle America | Victor E. Virgens | 664 | 1.3% | N/A | |
Total votes | 51,362 | '100.00%' |
References edit
- ^ Fitzgerald's New Jersey Legislative Manual. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1976.
- ^ Fitzgerald's New Jersey Legislative Manual. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1978.
- ^ a b "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ Janson, Donald (March 5, 1977). "Perskie Likely to Oppose mcgahn in Senate Race". New York Times.
- ^ a b "Our Campaigns".
- ^ a b c d e f "Results of the Primary Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ NARVAEZ, ALFONSO A. (October 17, 1977). "Democrats Running Strong in Campaigns in 13th, 17th and 21st Districts". New York Times.
- ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ a b "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ NARVAEZ, ALFONSO A. (October 10, 1977). "G.O.P. Expected to Maintain Strength In Morris, Union and Essex Counties". New York Times.
- ^ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "Results of the General Election Held November 8, 1977" (PDF). Retrieved June 26, 2021.
- ^ "Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1977. p. 9. Retrieved July 26, 2015.