1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results Byrne: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Bateman: 50-60% | |||||||||||||||||
|
Elections in New Jersey |
---|
The 1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1977. Incumbent Democrat Brendan Byrne defeated Republican nominee Raymond Bateman with 55.71% of the vote. As of 2022, this is the last time the counties of Hunterdon and Warren were carried by a Democratic gubernatorial candidate.[1] This would also be the last time New Jersey would reelect a Democratic Governor until Phil Murphy won reelection in 2021.
As of 2022, this is the most recent New Jersey gubernatorial election in which both major party candidates are now deceased.
Primary elections[]
Primary elections were held on June 7, 1977.[2]
Democratic primary[]
Candidates[]
- Brendan Byrne, incumbent Governor
- Ralph DeRose, former State Senator from Essex County
- James Florio, U.S. Representative from Cherry Hill
- A. Howard Freund
- Raymond Garramone, State Senator from Haworth
- Joseph A. Hoffman, former Department of Labor and Industry commissioner
- Paul T. Jordan, Mayor of Jersey City
- George Koukos
- Robert A. Roe, U.S. Representative from Wayne
- Melvin M. Whaley
- Emery J. Zold
Results[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Brendan Byrne (incumbent) | 175,448 | 30.30 | |
Democratic | Robert A. Roe | 134,116 | 23.16 | |
Democratic | Ralph DeRose | 99,948 | 17.26 | |
Democratic | James Florio | 87,743 | 15.15 | |
Democratic | Joseph A. Hoffman | 58,835 | 10.16 | |
Democratic | Raymond Garramone | 6,602 | 1.14 | |
Democratic | A. Howard Freund | 6,205 | 1.07 | |
Democratic | Paul T. Jordan (withdrew) | 2,996 | 0.52 | |
Democratic | Emery J. Zold | 2,934 | 0.51 | |
Democratic | George Koukos | 2,889 | 0.50 | |
Democratic | Melvin M. Whaley | 1,282 | 0.22 | |
Total votes | 578,998 | 100.00 |
Republican primary[]
Candidates[]
- Raymond Bateman, State Senator from Branchburg Township
- Thomas Kean, State Assemblyman from Livingston
- C. Robert Sarcone, former State Senator from Essex County
- William A. Angus Jr., former Mayor of Moorestown
Results[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Raymond Bateman | 196,592 | 54.70 | |
Republican | Thomas Kean | 129,982 | 36.17 | |
Republican | C. Robert Sarcone | 20,961 | 5.81 | |
Republican | William A. Angus Jr. | 11,954 | 3.33 | |
Total votes | 359,389 | 100.00 |
General election[]
Candidates[]
- Raymond Bateman (Republican)
- Brendan Byrne (Democratic)
- John F. Donato (Axe The Tax)
- Francis W. Flowers (Declare Your Independence)
- Bill Gahres (Right to Die)
- Robert Ganteaume (Grass Roots)
- Jasper C. Gould (Independent)
- Chester Grabowski (Independents for All)
- Leif O. Johnson (Labor)
- Jules Levin (Socialist Labor)
- Angelo S. Massaro (People's Choice)
- Richard D. McAleer (Anti-Income Tax)
- Chauncey E. McSpiritt (Cheap, Chauncey, Upstart)
- Frank J. Primich (Libertarian)
- Paul B. Rizzo (Independent)
- William Zsidisin (One For All)
Withdrew[]
- Anthony Imperiale (Independent)
Polling[]
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Brendan Byrne (D) |
Raymond Bateman (R) |
Anthony Imperiale (I) |
Others | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rutgers/Eagleton | July 18–29, 1977 | 1004 A | 37% | 47% | — | 1% | 15% |
35% | 41% | 11% | 1% | 11% | |||
Rutgers/Eagleton | September 20–27, 1977 | 844 RV | 39% | 46% | — | 1% | 13% |
38% | 42% | 8% | 0% | 12% | |||
New York Times/WCBS-TV[3] | October 15–19, 1977 | 1,416 RV | 40% | 40% | — | — | 20% |
? LV | 43% | 43% | — | — | 14% | ||
Rutgers/Eagleton | Oct. 24–Nov. 1, 1977 | 1,027 RV | 44% | 36% | — | 2% | 18% |
? LV | 50% | 40% | — | 1% | 9% |
Results[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Brendan Byrne (incumbent) | 1,184,564 | 55.71% | 10.96 | |
Republican | Raymond Bateman | 888,880 | 41.81% | 9.96 | |
Independent | Francis W. Flowers | 8,677 | 0.41% | N/A | |
Independent | Chester Grabowski | 8,494 | 0.40% | N/A | |
Libertarian | Frank J. Primich | 5,674 | 0.27% | 0.12 | |
Independent | Chauncey E. McSpiritt | 4,464 | 0.21% | N/A | |
Independent | Paul B. Rizzo | 3,691 | 0.17% | N/A | |
Independent | Richard D. McAleer | 3,688 | 0.17% | N/A | |
Independent | John F. Donato | 3,189 | 0.15% | N/A | |
Independent | Angelo S. Massaro | 3,031 | 0.14% | 0.05 | |
Independent | William Zsidisin | 2,974 | 0.14% | N/A | |
Socialist Labor | Julius Levin | 2,276 | 0.11% | 0.09 | |
Independent | Jasper C. Gould | 2,248 | 0.11% | N/A | |
Independent | Leif O. Johnson | 1,601 | 0.08% | N/A | |
Independent | Robert Ganteaume | 1,480 | % | N/A | |
Independent | Bill Gahres | 1,333 | % | N/A | |
Majority | 295,684 | 13.90 | |||
Turnout | 2,126,264 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing |
References[]
- ^ "One-Term and Done: The Curse that the Next Dem Governor Would Face". Insider NJ. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- ^ a b c "Candidates for the Office of Governor - State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1977. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. (26 Oct 1977). "Byrne and Bateman in Virtual Tie In Governorship Race, Poll Finds". The New York Times. p. 61. Retrieved 21 Aug 2021.
- ^ "Votes Cast for the Office of Governor of the State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1977. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
Categories:
- New Jersey gubernatorial elections
- 1977 United States gubernatorial elections
- 1977 New Jersey elections
- November 1977 events in the United States