1981 New Jersey State Senate election

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1981 New Jersey Senate elections
← 1977 November 3, 1981 1983 →
All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Carmen A. Orechio Garrett Hagedorn
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 13th 40th
Last election 27 13
Seats before 24 13
Seats won 22 18
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 5
1981 New Jersey State Senate election.svg
Results by district
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain
Senate President before election

Joseph P. Merlino
Democratic

Elected Senate President

Carmen Orechio
Democratic

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The 1981 New Jersey State Senate elections were held on November 3.

The election coincided with a tightly contested gubernatorial election between Thomas Kean and James Florio. Republicans gained five seats, narrowing the Democratic majority to four.

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

Background[]

Redistricting[]

1974–82
1982–1992
New Jersey Legislature before (left) and after (right) the 1981 redistricting

As required, the New Jersey legislature redistricted its state legislative districts in advance of the 1981 election. The new districts resulted in many Senators running for re-election in newly re-numbered districts.

ABSCAM scandal[]

Main article: Abscam

A Federal Bureau of Investigation investigation resulted in the retirements of Senators Joseph A. Maressa and Angelo Errichetti, both of whom accepted bribes from the FBI under the guise of Arab oil sheikhs. Errichetti was convicted; Maressa was not prosecuted but opted to retire.[1]

Incumbents not running for re-election[]

Democratic[]

  • Joseph A. Maressa (District 4)[1]
  • Angelo Errichetti (District 5)[2]
  • Charles B. Yates (District 7)[2]
  • Joseph P. Merlino (District 13) (ran for Governor)[2]
  • William J. Hamilton (District 17)[2]
  • Frank J. Dodd (District 26)[2]
  • James A. Galdieri (District 32)

Republican[]

Summary of results by State Senate district[]

District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
1st Legislative District James Cafiero Rep James R. Hurley Rep
2nd Legislative District Steven P. Perskie Dem Steven P. Perskie Dem
3rd Legislative District Raymond Zane Dem Raymond Zane Dem
4th Legislative District Joseph A. Maressa Dem Daniel Dalton Dem
5th Legislative District Vacant[a] Walter Rand Dem
6th Legislative District Lee Laskin Rep Lee Laskin Rep
7th Legislative District Charles B. Yates Dem Herman T. Costello Dem
8th Legislative District Barry T. Parker Rep H. James Saxton Rep
9th Legislative District John F. Russo[b] Dem Leonard T. Connors Rep
10th Legislative District Brian T. Kennedy[c] Rep John F. Russo Dem
11th Legislative District S. Thomas Gagliano[d] Rep Brian T. Kennedy Rep
12th Legislative District Eugene Bedell[e] Dem S. Thomas Gagliano Rep
13th Legislative District Joseph P. Merlino Dem John P. Gallagher Rep
14th Legislative District Walter E. Foran[f] Rep Francis J. McManimon Dem
15th Legislative District Wayne Dumont[g] Rep Gerald R. Stockman Dem
16th Legislative District John H. Ewing Rep John H. Ewing Rep
17th Legislative District William J. Hamilton Dem John A. Lynch Jr. Dem
18th Legislative District Vacant[h] James Bornheimer Dem
19th Legislative District Laurence Weiss Dem Laurence Weiss Dem
20th Legislative District Anthony E. Russo[i] Dem John Gregorio Dem
21st Legislative District John Gregorio[j] Dem C. Louis Bassano Rep
22nd Legislative District Donald DiFrancesco Rep Donald DiFrancesco Rep
23rd Legislative District John H. Dorsey[k] Rep Walter E. Foran Rep
24th Legislative District James P. Vreeland[l] Rep Wayne Dumont Rep
25th Legislative District James Wallwork Rep John H. Dorsey Rep
26th Legislative District Frank J. Dodd Dem James P. Vreeland Rep
27th Legislative District Carmen Orechio[m] Dem Richard Codey Dem
28th Legislative District John P. Caufield Dem John P. Caufield Dem
29th Legislative District Wynona Lipman Dem Wynona Lipman Dem
30th Legislative District Frank E. Rodgers[n] Dem Carmen Orechio Dem
31st Legislative District Wally Sheil Dem Edward T. O'Connor Jr. Dem
32nd Legislative District James A. Galdieri Dem Frank E. Rodgers Dem
33rd Legislative District William Musto Dem William Musto Dem
34th Legislative District Joseph Hirkala[o] Dem Joseph Bubba Rep
35th Legislative District Frank X. Graves Jr. Dem Frank X. Graves Jr. Dem
36th Legislative District Vacant[p] Joseph Hirkala Dem
37th Legislative District Matthew Feldman Dem Matthew Feldman Dem
38th Legislative District John Skevin Dem John Paolella Rep
39th Legislative District Frank Herbert Dem Gerald Cardinale Rep
40th Legislative District Garrett W. Hagedorn Rep Garrett Hagedorn Rep
  1. ^ The seat was left vacant by the expulsion of Angelo Errichetti following his conviction for federal bribery charges.
  2. ^ Redistricted to 10th district.
  3. ^ Redistricted to 11th district.
  4. ^ Redistricted to 12th district.
  5. ^ Redistrict to 13th district.
  6. ^ Redistricted to 23rd district.
  7. ^ Redistricted to 24th district.
  8. ^ The seat had been vacant since Bernard J. Dwyer resigned to take his seat in the United States House of Representatives.
  9. ^ Redistricted to 21st district.
  10. ^ Redistricted to 20th district.
  11. ^ Redistricted to 25th district.
  12. ^ Redistricted to 26th district.
  13. ^ Redistricted to 30th district.
  14. ^ Redistricted to 32nd district.
  15. ^ Redistricted to 36th district.
  16. ^ This seat had been vacant since the resignation of Anthony Scardino to join the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission.

District 1[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James R. Hurley 32,443 53.8
Democratic Edward H. Salmon 27,862 46.2
Total votes 60,305 100.0

District 2[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steven P. Perskie 29,843 51.7
Republican Joseph L. McGahn 27,890 48.3
Total votes 57,733 100.0

District 3[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raymond J. Zane 37,613 63.2
Republican D. Paul McMahon, Jr. 21,903 36.8
Total votes 59,516 100.0

District 4[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daniel J. Dalton 32,386 63.3
Republican Frank B. Smith 18,755 36.7
Total votes 51,141 100.0

District 5[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walter Rand 32,866 72.0
Republican John H. Lyons, Jr. 12,800 28.0
Total votes 45,666 100.0

District 6[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lee B. Laskin 36,279 56.7
Democratic James Greenberg 27,735 43.3
Total votes 64,014 100.0

District 7[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herman T. Costello 31,172 57.1
Republican Michael J. Conda 23,391 42.9
Total votes 54,563 100.0

District 8[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican H. James Saxton 33,132 65.7
Democratic Raymond J. Storck 17,314 34.3
Total votes 50,446 100.0

District 9[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leonard T. Connors, Jr. 40,656 64.4
Democratic Wesley K. Bell 22,441 35.6
Total votes 63,097 100.0

District 10[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John F. Russo 38,166 58.6
Republican Hazel S. Gluck 26,933 41.4
Total votes 65,099 100.0

District 11[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian T. Kennedy 32,063 57.8
Democratic George Callas 22,807 41.1
Citizens Stan Johnson 574 1.0
Total votes 55,444 100.0

District 12[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican S. Thomas Gagliano 33,521 59.1
Democratic Roger J. Kane 23,169 40.9
Total votes 56,690 100.0

District 13[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John P. Gallagher 27,988 51.6
Democratic Eugene J. Bedell 26,268 48.4
Total votes 54,256 100.0

District 14[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Francis J. McManimon 31,742 57.7
Republican Thomas Colitsas 23,296 42.3
Total votes 55,038 100.0

District 15[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerald R. Stockman 30,243 56.4
Republican Carmen J. Armenti 23,410 43.6
Total votes 53,653 100.0

District 16[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John H. Ewing 38,026 65.5
Democratic John F. Guerrera 20,068 34.5
Total votes 58,094 100.0

District 17[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. Lynch 25,761 60.6
Republican Donald J. Douglas 15,280 35.9
Citizens Paul Lennon 1,484 3.5
Total votes 42,525 100.0

District 18[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Bornheimer 31,383 52.1
Republican Peter P. Garibaldi 28,853 47.9
Total votes 60,236 100.0

District 19[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Laurence S. Weiss 31,446 60.4
Republican Edmund S. Kaboski 20,582 39.6
Total votes 52,028 100.0

District 20[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John T. Gregorio 25,340 52.3
Republican John Fenick 23,087 47.7
Total votes 48,427 100.0

District 21[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican C. Louis Bassano 36,957 51.9
Democratic Anthony E. Russo 34,252 48.1
Total votes 71,209 100.0

District 22[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donald T. DiFrancesco 46,330 67.9
Democratic Frank Fiorito 21,876 32.1
Total votes 68,206 100.0

District 23[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Walter E. Foran 37,494 75.1
Democratic Samuel J. Gugliemini 12,431 24.9
Total votes 49,925 100.0

District 24[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wayne Dumont, Jr. 37,467 77.4
Democratic Edward Gaffney 10,953 22.6
Total votes 48,420 100.0

District 25[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John H. Dorsey 36,433 68.0
Democratic Horace Chamberlain 17,137 32.0
Total votes 53,570 100.0

District 26[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James P. Vreeland 38,141 69.9
Democratic Benjamin Steltzer 16,414 30.1
Total votes 54,555 100.0

District 27[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard J. Codey 30,403 73.9
Republican Richard E. Koehler 10,737 26.1
Total votes 41,140 100.0

District 28[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John P. Caufield 20,786 75.0
Republican Herta B. Tully 6,913 25.0
Total votes 27,699 100.0

District 29[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wynona M. Lipman 23,598 88.3
Republican Louis J. Smith 3,125 11.7
Total votes 26,723 100.0

District 30[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carmen A. Orechio 30,990 49.4
Republican John I. Crecco 29,930 47.7
Citizens Arthur Kinoy 1,765 2.8
Total votes 62,685 100.0

District 31[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward T. O'Connor, Jr. 37,863 75.4
Republican Jean C. Lane 12,348 24.6
Total votes 50,211 100.0

District 32[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank E. Rodgers 34,150 63.4
Republican Joseph F. Ward 18,551 34.4
Politicians Are Crooks Herbert H. Shaw 1,171 2.2
Total votes 53,872 100.0

District 33[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William V. Musto 24,012 62.0
Republican Ralph A. Montanez 14,707 38.0
Total votes 38,719 100.0

District 34[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph Bubba 31,044 52.7
Democratic William J. Bate 27,843 47.3
Total votes 58,887 100.0

District 35[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank X. Graves Jr. 28,439 74.6
Republican Frank E. Gorman 9,693 25.4
Total votes 38,132 100.0

District 36[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph Hirkala 30,422 55.4
Republican Philip R. Gervato 23,049 42.0
Bergen Home Rule Edna M. Perrotta 1,395 2.5
Total votes 54,866 100.0

District 37[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Feldman 39,299 61.7
Republican Barbara L. deMare 24,416 38.3
Total votes 63,715 100.0

District 38[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John B. Paolella 30,670 51.0
Democratic John M. Skevin 27,968 46.5
Citizens For Progress Bernard J. Focarino 1,473 2.5
Total votes 60,111 100.0

District 39[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerald Cardinale 38,929 58.2
Democratic Francis X. Herbert 27,948 41.8
Total votes 66,877 100.0

District 40[]

1981 general election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garrett W. Hagedorn 42,014 66.8
Democratic Mitchell Kahn 20,835 33.2
Total votes 62,849 100.0

References[]

  1. ^ a b Tinney, Kathleen (1 Nov 2012). "Joseph A. Maressa, 89, former state Senator". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 26 Jun 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Sullivan, Joseph F. (7 June 1981). "A NEW LOOK FOR THE LEGISLATURE". The New York Times. p. NJ1.
  3. ^ 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 an "Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly" (PDF). Retrieved 26 June 2021.
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