1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election

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For related races, see 1977 United States gubernatorial elections.
1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election
← 1973 November 8, 1977 1981 →
  Brendan Byrne (NJ).png No image.svg
Nominee Brendan Byrne Raymond Bateman
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,184,564 888,880
Percentage 55.7% 41.8%
1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Byrne:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Bateman:      50-60%
Governor before election

Brendan Byrne
Democratic

Elected Governor

Brendan Byrne
Democratic

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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[]

Democratic primary results[2]
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[]

Republican Party primary results[2]
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[]

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1977[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Brendan Byrne (incumbent) 1,184,564 55.71% Decrease10.96
Republican Raymond Bateman 888,880 41.81% Increase 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% Increase 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% Increase 0.05
Independent William Zsidisin 2,974 0.14% N/A
Socialist Labor Julius Levin 2,276 0.11% Decrease 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[]

  1. ^ "One-Term and Done: The Curse that the Next Dem Governor Would Face". Insider NJ. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
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