Senate President
legislative
Election dateNovember 3, 1981
CountryNew Jersey
Election name1981 New Jersey Senate elections
Majority seats21
Seats for electionAll 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate
Previous year1977
Previous election1977 New Jersey State Senate election
Next year1983
Next election1983 New Jersey State Senate election
Ongoingno
Party 1Democratic Party (United States)
Leader 1Carmen A. Orechio
Leaders seat 113th (Nutley)
Leader since 1January 10, 1978
Last election 127
Seats before 124
Seats 122
Seat change 12
Party 2Republican Party (United States)
Leader 2Garrett Hagedorn
(stepped down)
Leaders seat 240th (Midland Park)
Leader since 2January 10, 1978
Last election 213
Seats before 213
Seats 218
Seat change 25
Before partyDemocratic Party (United States)
Before electionJoseph P. Merlino
After electionCarmen Orechio
After partyDemocratic Party (United States)
Popular vote 11,083,244
Popular vote 21,069,236
Percentage 150.1%
Percentage 249.5%

The 1981 New Jersey Senate elections were held on November 3. The New Jersey legislature reapportioned 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. The election coincided with a tightly contested gubernatorial election between Thomas Kean and James Florio. Republicans gained five seats, narrowing the Democratic majority to 22–18. Democrats flipped districts 10, 14, and 15, while Republicans flipped districts 9, 12, 13, 21, 26, 34, 38, and 39.

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]

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

Democratic

Republican

Summary of results by State Senate district

DistrictIncumbentPartyElected SenatorParty
1st Legislative DistrictJames CafieroRepJames R. HurleyRep
2nd Legislative DistrictSteven P. PerskieDemSteven P. PerskieDem
3rd Legislative DistrictRaymond ZaneDemRaymond ZaneDem
4th Legislative DistrictJoseph A. MaressaDemDaniel DaltonDem
5th Legislative DistrictVacant[a]Walter RandDem
6th Legislative DistrictLee LaskinRepLee LaskinRep
7th Legislative DistrictCharles B. YatesDemHerman T. CostelloDem
8th Legislative DistrictBarry T. ParkerRepH. James SaxtonRep
9th Legislative DistrictJohn F. Russo[b]DemLeonard T. ConnorsRep
10th Legislative DistrictBrian T. Kennedy[c]RepJohn F. RussoDem
11th Legislative DistrictS. Thomas Gagliano[d]RepBrian T. KennedyRep
12th Legislative DistrictEugene Bedell[e]DemS. Thomas GaglianoRep
13th Legislative DistrictJoseph P. Merlino[f]DemJohn P. GallagherRep
14th Legislative DistrictWalter E. Foran[g]RepFrancis J. McManimonDem
15th Legislative DistrictWayne Dumont[h]RepGerald R. StockmanDem
16th Legislative DistrictJohn H. EwingRepJohn H. EwingRep
17th Legislative DistrictWilliam J. HamiltonDemJohn A. Lynch Jr.Dem
18th Legislative DistrictVacant[i]James BornheimerDem
19th Legislative DistrictLaurence WeissDemLaurence WeissDem
20th Legislative DistrictAnthony E. Russo[j]DemJohn GregorioDem
21st Legislative DistrictJohn Gregorio[k]DemC. Louis BassanoRep
22nd Legislative DistrictDonald DiFrancescoRepDonald DiFrancescoRep
23rd Legislative DistrictJohn H. Dorsey[l]RepWalter E. ForanRep
24th Legislative DistrictJames P. Vreeland[m]RepWayne DumontRep
25th Legislative DistrictJames WallworkRepJohn H. DorseyRep
26th Legislative DistrictFrank J. DoddDemJames P. VreelandRep
27th Legislative DistrictCarmen Orechio[n]DemRichard CodeyDem
28th Legislative DistrictJohn P. CaufieldDemJohn P. CaufieldDem
29th Legislative DistrictWynona LipmanDemWynona LipmanDem
30th Legislative DistrictFrank E. Rodgers[o]DemCarmen OrechioDem
31st Legislative DistrictWally SheilDemEdward T. O'Connor Jr.Dem
32nd Legislative DistrictJames A. GaldieriDemFrank E. RodgersDem
33rd Legislative DistrictWilliam MustoDemWilliam MustoDem
34th Legislative DistrictJoseph Hirkala[p]DemJoseph BubbaRep
35th Legislative DistrictFrank X. Graves Jr.DemFrank X. Graves Jr.Dem
36th Legislative DistrictVacant[q]Joseph HirkalaDem
37th Legislative DistrictMatthew FeldmanDemMatthew FeldmanDem
38th Legislative DistrictJohn SkevinDemJohn PaolellaRep
39th Legislative DistrictFrank HerbertDemGerald CardinaleRep
40th Legislative DistrictGarrett W. HagedornRepGarrett HagedornRep
  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 15th district.
  7. ^ Redistricted to 23rd district.
  8. ^ Redistricted to 24th district.
  9. ^ The seat had been vacant since Bernard J. Dwyer resigned to take his seat in the United States House of Representatives.
  10. ^ Redistricted to 21st district.
  11. ^ Redistricted to 20th district.
  12. ^ Redistricted to 25th district.
  13. ^ Redistricted to 26th district.
  14. ^ Redistricted to 30th district.
  15. ^ Redistricted to 32nd district.
  16. ^ Redistricted to 36th district.
  17. ^ This seat had been vacant since the resignation of Anthony Scardino to join the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission.
  18. ^ Senator Dumont previously served in the Senate from 1952 to 1966 but gave up his seat for one term in order to run for Governor in 1965.

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 30, 1.7%
  2. District 33, 3.2%
  3. District 2, 3.4%
  4. District 21, 3.8% gain
  5. District 18, 4.2%
  6. District 38, 4.5% gain
  7. District 20, 4.6%
  8. District 34, 5.4% gain
  9. District 1, 7.6%

District 1

The first district consisted of all of Cape May County and the Cumberland municipalities of Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, Upper Deerfield, Deerfield, and Maurice River. Prior to redistricting, it had contained all of Cumberland County.

Incumbent Senator James Cafiero retired.

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

General election

Candidates

District 2

The second district consisted of Atlantic County except for the municipalities of Folsom, Buena, and Buena Vista, which were removed in redistricting. Redistricting also removed Bass River and Washington in Burlington County and Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor in Ocean County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Richard "Reds" Lavin, labor organizer and state government liaison for the Atlantic City Department of Parks and Public Property (The Alternative)[3]
  • Steven Perskie, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Endorsed By Atlantic County Democratic Convention)

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

Candidates

District 3

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Raymond Zane, incumbent Senator (Regular Democratic Organization)

Republican primary

Candidates

  • D. Paul McMahon Jr., owner of a Woodbury electrical contracting firm[4]

General election

Candidates

  • D. Paul McMahon Jr., owner of a Woodbury electrical contracting firm (Republican)[4]
  • Raymond Zane, incumbent Senator (Democratic)

District 4

Democratic primary

Candidates

This primary was a rematch of the 1979 Assembly election, in which Dalton and running mate Dennis L. Riley, who ran with the support of Congressman Jim Florio, unseated Gewertz and Francis J. Gorman, who had the support of Camden mayor and State Senator Angelo Errichetti.[5] Each candidate had the support of their respective county party; Dalton in Camden and Gewertz in Gloucester.[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Connie B. Roggio, Gloucester Township councilwoman (Regular Republican Organization)[6]
  • Frank B. Smith (Organization of Regular Republicans)

General election

Candidates

District 5

Democratic primary

Candidates

Unlike the neighboring fourth district, both Assemblymen Rand and Schuck were considered allies of Errichetti and shared a legislative office. Their friendly relations were maintained throughout a "kid-gloves" campaign, despite the close margin.[6]

Ultimately, Florio struck an alliance with Rand which propelled him over the top as Florio ran up large numbers in the gubernatorial race.[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

  • John H. Lyons Jr. (Regular Republican Organization of Camden County)

General election

Candidates

District 6

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • James Greenberg (Regular Democratic Organization)

General election

Candidates

  • James Greenberg (Democratic)
  • Lee Laskin, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Republican)

District 7

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Michael J. Conda (Regular Republican Organization)

General election

Candidates

District 8

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Raymond J. Storck (Regular Democratic Organization)

General election

Candidates

District 9

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Wesley K. Bell, former mayor of Stafford Township and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1978 (Official Regular Democrat Organization)

General election

Candidates

District 10

All of the new tenth district had previously been contained within the boundaries of the ninth district in Ocean County. It consisted of Lakewood, Brick, and Toms River, and the shore towns of Lavallette, Mantoloking, Bay Head, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Ocean Gate, Point Pleasant Beach, and Point Pleasant.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

Candidates

District 11

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • George Callas (Regular Democratic Organization of Monmouth County)

General election

Candidates

  • George Callas (Democratic)
  • Stan Johnson (Citizens)
  • Brian T. Kennedy, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Republican)

District 12

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Roger J. Kane (Regular Democratic Organization of Monmouth County)

General election

Candidates

District 13

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Eugene J. Bedell, incumbent Senator since 1974 (Regular Democratic Organization of Monmouth County)

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

Candidates

District 14

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Thomas Colitsas

General election

Candidates

District 15

Incumbent Senator Joseph Merlino, who had been redistricted from the 13th district, opted to run for Governor of New Jersey.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Sollami had the support of county party chair and power broker Richard J. Coffee.[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

Candidates

District 16

Republican primary

Candidates

  • John H. Ewing, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Somerset County Republican Organization)

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • John F. Guerrera (Regular Democratic Organization)

General election

Candidates

  • John H. Ewing, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Republican)
  • John F. Guerrera (Regular Democratic Organization)

District 17

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Donald J. Douglas (Middlesex County Republican Organization, Inc.)
  • John Giammarco (Middlesex County Regular Republican Organization)

General election

Candidates

District 18

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Joseph M. Cooperstein (Middlesex County Republican Organization, Inc.)
  • Peter Garibaldi, former Assemblyman from Monroe Township (Middlesex County Regular Republican Organization)

General election

Candidates

District 19

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Edmund S. Kaboski (Middlesex County Republican Organization, Inc.)

General election

Candidates

  • Edmund S. Kaboski (Republican)
  • Laurence S. Weiss, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Democratic)

District 20

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • John T. Gregorio, incumbent Senator since 1978 and mayor of Linden (Regular Democratic Organization of Union County)

Republican primary

Candidates

  • John Fenick (Regular Organization Republican of Union County)

General election

Candidates

District 21

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • C. Louis Bassano, Assemblyman from Union Township (Regular Organization Republican of Union County)

General election

Candidates

District 22

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Anthony J. Crincoli (Regular Republican Party)
  • Donald DiFrancesco, incumbent Senator since 1979 (Regular Organization Republican of Union County)

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Frank Fiorito (Democratic Party—Organization)

General election

Candidates

District 23

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Walter Foran, incumbent Senator since 1977 (Regular Republican Organization)

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Samuel J. Gugliemini (Regular Democratic Organization)

General election

Candidates

  • Walter Foran, incumbent Senator since 1977 (Republican)
  • Samuel J. Gugliemini (Democratic)

District 24

Republican primary

Candidates

The campaign between Albanese and Dumont was possibly the most bitter in the state. Dumont had supported Albanese in his short-lived campaign for governor, only for Albanese to withdraw from that race and challenge Dumont.[6]

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Edward Gaffney (Regular Democratic Party Organization)

General election

Candidates

  • Wayne Dumont, incumbent Senator since 1968[r] (Republican)
  • Edward Gaffney (Democratic)

District 25

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Horace Chamberlain (Democrat)

General election

Candidates

  • Horace Chamberlain (Democratic)
  • John H. Dorsey, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Republican)

District 26

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Benjamin Steltzer (Regular Democrat)

General election

Candidates

  • Benjamin Steltzer (Democratic)
  • James P. Vreeland, incumbent Senator since 1974 (Republican)

District 27

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • James J. Brown ("Think" Democratic)
  • Richard Codey, Assemblyman from Orange (Democratic Party Organization)
  • Gayle Brody Rosen

General election

Candidates

District 28

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • John P. Caufield, incumbent Senator since 1979 (Democratic Party—Organization)

General election

Candidates

  • John P. Caufield, incumbent Senator since 1979 (Democratic)
  • Herta B. Tully (Republican)

District 29

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Wynona Lipman, incumbent Senator since 1972 (Democratic Party—Organization)

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Louis J. Smith (Essex Republican Party Organization)

General election

Candidates

  • Wynona Lipman, incumbent Senator since 1972 (Democratic)
  • Louis J. Smith (Republican)

District 30

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • John I. Crecco (Essex Republican Party Organization)

General election

Candidates

  • John I. Crecco (Republican)
  • Arthur Kinoy (Citizens)
  • Carmen Orechio, incumbent Senator since 1974 and mayor of Nutley (Democratic)

District 31

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Jean C. Lane (Regular Republican Organization)

General election

Candidates

District 32

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Joseph F. Ward (Regular Republican Organization)

General election

Candidates

References

  1. ^ Tinney, Kathleen (1 Nov 2012). "Joseph A. Maressa, 89, former state Senator". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 26 Jun 2021.
  2. ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. (7 June 1981). "A NEW LOOK FOR THE LEGISLATURE". The New York Times. p. NJ1.
  3. ^ Prendergast, Frank J. (13 May 1981). "Lavin Criticizes Perskie". Press of Atlantic City. p. 40. Retrieved 4 Aug 2023.
  4. ^ Micko, Lillian (27 Oct 1981). "Money becomes main issue in 3rd district race". Courier-Post. p. 6. Retrieved 4 Aug 2023.
  5. ^ Staff. "County Voters Shun Primary - Heavily", Asbury Park Press, June 6, 1979. Accessed September 15, 2016. "Elsewhere in the state, candidates running on a ticket fielded by Florio won the Democratic nominations in two Camden County Assembly districts over an opposing ticket backed by Errichetti.... Four-term Assemblymen Kenneth Gewertz and Francis Gorman were upset by Florio's team of Daniel Dalton and Dennis Riley in the fourth district, which takes in parts of Gloucester and Burlington counties as well as part of Camden."
  6. ^ "One incumbent fails to hold Senate seat". The Daily Register. Associated Press. 3 Jun 1981. p. 9. Retrieved 4 Aug 2023.