1991 New Jersey General Assembly election
The 1991 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1991.
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All 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly 41 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in New Jersey |
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The elections took place midway through Jim Florio's term as Governor of New Jersey. As in the State Senate elections, the Republican Party won a historic landslide, gaining 21 seats to win control of both chambers of the state legislature. As of 2023, the Republican Assembly majority of 58 seats is the largest for either party since 1973.
Incumbents not running for re-election • Summary of races • District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 |
Background
Redistricting
As required, the New Jersey legislature redistricted its state legislative districts in advance of the 1991 election. Redistricting was on balance considered to have favored Republicans.[1]
Tax increase
A centerpiece of the Florio administration's legislative agenda was the passage of a $2.8 billion tax increase. Republicans centered their 1991 campaign on opposition to the increase, as did even some incumbent Democrats, such as Senator Paul Contillo.[1]
According to the Florio administration, the tax increase was designed to aid blue-collar workers, who were "also the people most upset by enactment of the taxes."[1]
Gun control
Another major legislative achievement of the Florio administration was a strict gun control measure. The bill's passage led the National Rifle Association of America to spend nearly $250,000 in the 1991 elections targeting candidates in both parties who had voted in favor of the bill and supporting those who pledged to repeal it.[2]
Incumbents not running for re-election
Democratic
- Anthony S. Marsella (District 4) (ran for State Senate)
- John Paul Doyle (District 10) (ran for State Senate)
- David C. Schwartz (District 17)
- Jim McGreevey (District 19) (lost party support, ran for Mayor of Woodbridge[3])
- Michael F. Adubato (District 28)
- Bob Menendez (District 31) (ran for State Senate)
- Joseph Mecca (District 34) (ran for State Senate)
- John Girgenti (District 35) (ran for State Senate)
Additionally, several Democrats resigned their seats late in the 1991 campaign to join the Florio administration, including Joseph D. Patero, Edward H. Salmon, Frank M. Pelly.
Republican
- Dolores Cooper (District 2) (ran for State Senate as independent, but dropped out[2])
- Joe Kyrillos (District 13) (ran for State Senate)
- Chuck Hardwick (District 21)
- Bill Schluter (District 23) (redistricted to District 24, ran for State Senate)
- Louis F. Kosco (District 38) (ran for State Senate)
Summary of races
Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Batten was appointed in after Assemblyman Edward H. Salmon resigned in April 1991 to join the Board of Public Utilities.
- Roberts won a July 1991 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Francis J. Gorman, who resigned due to poor health.
- Solomon was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Thomas J. Shusted, who resigned to become Camden County counsel.
- Casey was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Thomas P. Foy, who had resigned to take a seat in the State Senate.
- Cantu was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Assembylman Joseph D. Patero, who resigned in August 1991 to join the Department of Labor.
- Baker was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Frank M. Pelly, who resigned in July 1991 to become executive director of the New Jersey Lottery.
- Redistricted to District 19.
- Redistricted to District 21.
- Redistricted to District 24.
- Redistricted to District 24.
- Garrett was appointed to the seat in November 1990 to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Robert E. Littell, who resigned to join the State Senate.
- Redistricted to District 23.
- Redistricted to District 28.
- Redistricted to District 36.
- Redistricted to District 34.
- Catania won a 1990 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman John Girgenti, who resigned to join the State Senate.
- Redistricted to District 38.
- Vandervalk was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Assemblywoman Elizabeth Randall, who resigned in January 1991 to become Bergen County counsel.
District 1
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Frank A. LoBiondo (incumbent) | 32,063 | 31.7% | |
Republican | John C. Gibson | 28,402 | 28.1% | |
Democratic | Jennifer R. Lookabaugh | 20,872 | 20.6% | |
Democratic | Raymond A. Batten (incumbent) | 19,803 | 19.6% | |
Total votes | 101,140 | 100.0 |
District 2
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John F. Gaffney | 21,833 | 26.5% | |
Republican | Fredrick P. Nickles | 20,948 | 25.4% | |
Democratic | Fred Scerni (incumbent) | 20,503 | 24.9% | |
Democratic | Tom Foley | 19,095 | 23.2% | |
Total votes | 82,379 | 100.0 |
District 3
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jack Collins (incumbent) | 30,117 | 29.4% | |
Republican | Gary W. Stuhltrager (incumbent) | 29,314 | 28.6% | |
Democratic | Benjamin W. Timberman | 20,241 | 19.8% | |
Democratic | Nancy L. Sungenis | 20,147 | 19.7% | |
Populist | James H. Orr Jr. | 1,354 | 1.3% | |
Populist | Albert S. Fogg, III | 1,302 | 1.3% | |
Total votes | 102,475 | 100.0 |
District 4
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mary Virginia "Ginny" Weber | 21,262 | 26.2% | |
Republican | George F. Geist | 20,455 | 25.2% | |
Democratic | Ann A. Mullen (incumbent) | 20,143 | 24.8% | |
Democratic | Timothy D. Scaffidi | 19,285 | 23.8% | |
Total votes | 81,145 | 100.0 |
District 5
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Wayne R. Bryant (incumbent) | 24,592 | 32.3% | |
Democratic | Joe Roberts (incumbent) | 24,322 | 31.9% | |
Republican | Walter Jost | 14,124 | 18.5% | |
Republican | Rev. John Randall | 13,197 | 17.3% | |
Total votes | 76,235 | 100.0 |
District 6
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John A. Rocco (incumbent) | 31,533 | 28.5% | |
Republican | Lee A. Solomon (incumbent) | 31,095 | 28.1% | |
Democratic | Lewis “Robbie” Friedner | 24,231 | 21.9% | |
Democratic | Dr. Leonard P. Krivy | 23,920 | 21.6% | |
Total votes | 110,779 | 100.0 |
District 7
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Priscilla B. Anderson | 25,989 | 26.2% | |
Republican | Jose F. Sosa | 25,925 | 26.1% | |
Democratic | Barbara Faith Kalik (incumbent) | 23,953 | 24.2% | |
Democratic | John “Jack” Casey (incumbent) | 23,307 | 23.5% | |
Total votes | 99,174 | 100.0 |
District 8
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert C. Shinn (incumbent) | 27,834 | 32.5% | |
Republican | Harold L. Colburn (incumbent) | 27,631 | 32.3% | |
Democratic | James S. Brophy | 15,374 | 18.0% | |
Democratic | Arthur J. Zeichner | 14,726 | 17.2% | |
Total votes | 85,565 | 100.0 |
District 9
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Christopher J. Connors (incumbent) | 41,977 | 34.7% | |
Republican | Jeffrey W. Moran (incumbent) | 41,928 | 34.6% | |
Democratic | Len Morano | 18,821 | 15.5% | |
Democratic | Edward W. Frydendahl Jr. | 18,388 | 15.2% | |
Total votes | 121,114 | 100.0 |
District 10
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Virginia “Ginny” Haines | 35,093 | 31.6% | |
Republican | David W. Wolfe | 34,368 | 30.9% | |
Democratic | Marlene Lynch Ford (incumbent) | 21,384 | 19.2% | |
Democratic | Paul C. Brush | 20,311 | 18.3% | |
Total votes | 111,156 | 100.0 |
District 11
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Tom Smith | 27,024 | 25.5% | |
Republican | Steve Corodemus | 26,966 | 25.4% | |
Democratic | John A. Villapiano (incumbent) | 23,703 | 22.4% | |
Democratic | Daniel P. Jacobson (incumbent) | 21,864 | 20.6% | |
Truth in Government | James W. Manning | 3,750 | 3.5% | |
I Represent You | Robert J. Furlong, Sr. | 2,653 | 2.5% | |
Total votes | 105,960 | 100.0 |
District 12
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Michael J. Arnone (incumbent) | 33,772 | 32.0% | |
Republican | Clare M. Farragher (incumbent) | 33,657 | 31.9% | |
Democratic | Michael A. Ferguson | 17,168 | 16.3% | |
Democratic | Arnold Bellush | 16,625 | 15.8% | |
Accountable Independent | James H. Dorn | 1,867 | 1.8% | |
Libertarian | Virginia A. Flynn | 1,396 | 1.3% | |
Libertarian | Donald W. Jamison | 971 | 0.9% | |
Total votes | 105,456 | 100.0 |
District 13
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. (incumbent) | 31,934 | 27.9% | ||
Republican | Joann H. Smith (incumbent) | 30,259 | 26.4% | ||
Democratic | Richard A. Cooper | 26,391 | 23.0% | ||
Democratic | Irvin B. Beaver | 25,700 | 22.4% | ||
Libertarian | Claudia Montelione | 345 | 0.3% | ||
Total votes | '114,629' | '100.0' |
District 14
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Paul Kramer | 31,944 | 29.1% | ||
Republican | Barbara Wright | 29,655 | 27.0% | ||
Democratic | Anthony J. “Skip” Cimino (incumbent) | 21,537 | 19.6% | ||
Democratic | Peter A. Cantu (incumbent) | 18,168 | 16.6% | ||
Regular Independent Organization | Kevin John Meara | 5,145 | 4.7% | ||
Senior Power | Paul Rizzo | 3,231 | 2.9% | ||
Total votes | 109,680 | 100.0 |
District 15
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John Hartmann | 22,091 | 25.2% | |
Democratic | John S. Watson (incumbent) | 18,713 | 21.33% | |
Republican | Channell Wilkins | 18,578 | 21.18% | |
Democratic | Gerard S. Naples (incumbent) | 17,081 | 19.5% | |
Making Government Work | Steven Schlossstein | 5,148 | 5.9% | |
Making Government Work | W. Oliver “Bucky” Leggett | 4,655 | 5.3% | |
Coalition of One | Robert Gunderman | 1,448 | 1.7% | |
Total votes | 87,714 | 100.0 |
District 16
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Walter J. Kavanaugh (incumbent) | 33,849 | 35.5% | |
Republican | John S. Penn (incumbent) | 32,108 | 33.7% | |
Democratic | James C. Walker | 14,940 | 15.7% | |
Democratic | Julia Pepe Cino | 14,365 | 15.1% | |
Total votes | 95,262 | 100.0 |
District 17
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Smith (incumbent) | 17,206 | 26.1% | |
Democratic | Jerry Green | 16,449 | 24.9% | |
Republican | Barbara “Bobbie” Weigel | 15,165 | 23.0% | |
Republican | Frank A. Santoro | 14,827 | 22.5% | |
Equal Justice Committee | Moses Williams | 818 | 1.2% | |
Populist | Al Olszewski | 759 | 1.2% | |
The People's Voice | Joseph S. Ginn | 728 | 1.1% | |
Total votes | 65,952 | 100.0 |
District 18
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Harriet Derman | 30,946 | 29.6% | |
Republican | Jeff Warsh | 29,631 | 28.4% | |
Democratic | George A. Spadoro (incumbent) | 22,132 | 21.2% | |
Democratic | Michael Baker (incumbent) | 21,674 | 20.8% | |
Total votes | 104,383 | 100.0 |
District 19
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Stephen A. Mikulak | 24,761 | 27.8% | |
Republican | Ernest L. Oros | 23,908 | 26.8% | |
Democratic | Thomas J. Deverin | 20,673 | 23.2% | |
Democratic | Jay Ziznewski | 19,774 | 22.2% | |
Total votes | 89,116 | 100.0 |
District 20
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | George Hudak (incumbent) | 15,032 | 26.7% | |
Democratic | Tom Dunn | 14,442 | 25.7% | |
Republican | Richard E. Hunt | 13,555 | 24.1% | |
Republican | Philip G. Gentile | 13,188 | 23.5% | |
Total votes | 56,217 | 100.0 |
District 21
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Maureen Ogden (incumbent) | 34,282 | 32.4% | |
Republican | Monroe Jay Lustbader | 33,914 | 32.1% | |
Democratic | Neil M. Cohen (incumbent) | 20,460 | 19.3% | |
Democratic | Frank Covello | 15,928 | 15.1% | |
Populist | Bill Ciccone | 1,212 | 1.1% | |
Total votes | 105,796 | 100.0 |
District 22
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bob Franks (incumbent) | 37,087 | 37.9% | |
Republican | Richard H. Bagger | 36,704 | 37.5% | |
Democratic | Edward Kahn | 12,241 | 12.5% | |
Democratic | Richard Kress | 11,900 | 12.2% | |
Total votes | 97,932 | 100.0 |
District 23
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Garabed “Chuck” Haytaian (incumbent) | 31,372 | 32.8% | |
Republican | Leonard Lance | 28,879 | 30.2% | |
Democratic | Rosemarie A. Albanese | 14,621 | 15.3% | |
Democratic | Diane Bowman | 12,278 | 12.8% | |
Citizen Not Politician | Charles D. Meyer | 5,163 | 5.4% | |
Reduce Insurance Rates | Frederick P. Cook | 2,373 | 2.5% | |
Populist | Joseph J. Notarangelo | 919 | 1.0% | |
Total votes | 95,605 | 100.0 |
District 24
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | E. Scott Garrett (incumbent) | 31,174 | 39.6% | |
Republican | Dick Kamin (incumbent) | 30,944 | 39.3% | |
Democratic | Michael J. Larose | 13,106 | 16.7% | |
Populist | Stuart Bacha | 1,957 | 2.5% | |
Populist | Compton C. Pakenham | 1,523 | 1.9% | |
Total votes | 78,704 | 100.0 |
District 25
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (incumbent) | 31,792 | 37.2% | |
Republican | Arthur R. Albohn (incumbent) | 29,461 | 34.5% | |
Democratic | Ann Avram Huber | 12,822 | 15.0% | |
Democratic | Marc N. Pindus | 11,405 | 13.3% | |
Total votes | 85,480 | 100.0 |
District 26
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert J. Martin (incumbent) | 32,337 | 37.6% | |
Republican | Alex DeCroce (incumbent) | 32,303 | 37.6% | |
Democratic | Patricia Pilson Scott | 10,363 | 12.1% | |
Democratic | Jerry Vitiello | 9,809 | 11.4% | |
Populist | Richard Hrazanek | 1,078 | 1.3% | |
Total votes | 85,890 | 100.0 |
District 27
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Stephanie R. Bush | 18,308 | 38.0% | |
Democratic | Robert L. Brown | 17,614 | 36.6% | |
Republican | Dorcas O’Neal-Williams | 9,976 | 20.7% | |
Direct Representative | Daniel L. Tindall Jr. | 2,247 | 4.7% | |
Total votes | 48,145 | 100.0 |
District 28
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Harry McEnroe (incumbent) | 14,892 | 33.3% | |
Democratic | James Zangari (incumbent) | 14,470 | 32.4% | |
Republican | Phyllis C. Cedola | 6,933 | 15.5% | |
Republican | Consiglia Amato-DeMeo | 6,903 | 15.5% | |
Socialist Workers | Al Duncan | 762 | 1.7% | |
Socialist Workers | Marlene Karen Kopperud | 694 | 1.6% | |
Total votes | 44,654 | 100.0 |
District 29
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Willie B. Brown (incumbent) | 12,519 | 36.4% | |
Democratic | Jackie R. Mattison | 11,687 | 34.0% | |
Republican | Janie R. Thomas | 4,008 | 11.7% | |
Republican | Kurt A. Culbreath | 3,799 | 11.1% | |
Proven Leadership | Delores W. Battle | 1,720 | 5.0% | |
Socialist Workers | Don Mackle | 362 | 1.1% | |
Socialist Workers | Jason Redrup | 274 | 0.8% | |
Total votes | 34,369 | 100.0 |
District 30
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert W. Singer | 27,704 | 34.6% | |
Republican | Melvin Cottrell | 26,553 | 33.1% | |
Democratic | Ralph Adinolfe | 13,070 | 16.3% | |
Democratic | Michael G. Tamn | 12,804 | 16.0% | |
Total votes | 80,131 | 100.0 |
District 31
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph V. Doria Jr. (incumbent) | 17,189 | 28.8% | |
Democratic | Joseph Charles Jr. (incumbent) | 17,047 | 28.5% | |
Republican | Michael D. Webb | 12,881 | 21.6% | |
Republican | James Patrick White | 12,596 | 21.1% | |
Total votes | 59,713 | 100.0 |
District 32
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Anthony Impreveduto (incumbent) | 20,911 | 29.0% | |
Democratic | David Kronick (incumbent) | 19,764 | 27.5% | |
Republican | Robert MacMillan | 14,536 | 20.2% | |
Republican | Gaston Delgado | 14,145 | 19.6% | |
Politicians Are Crooks | Edith M. Shaw | 1,360 | 1.9% | |
Politicians Are Crooks | Vivian L. Shaw | 1,278 | 1.8% | |
Total votes | 71,994 | 100.0 |
District 33
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bernard F. Kenny Jr. (incumbent) | 18,522 | 34.5% | |
Democratic | Louis A. Romano | 18,220 | 33.9% | |
Republican | Antonio Miguelez | 8,558 | 15.9% | |
Republican | A. Lazaro Guas | 8,435 | 15.7% | |
Total votes | 53,735 | 100.0 |
District 34
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Gerald H. Zecker (incumbent) | 32,153 | 34.3% | |
Republican | Marion Crecco (incumbent) | 32,014 | 34.1% | |
Democratic | Sabina O’Brien | 14,914 | 15.9% | |
Democratic | Victor Rabbat | 14,791 | 15.8% | |
Total votes | 93,872 | 100.0 |
District 35
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | William J. Pascrell Jr. (incumbent) | 17,394 | 28.8% | |
Republican | Frank Catania (incumbent) | 14,894 | 24.7% | |
Democratic | Eli M. Burgos | 14,266 | 23.6% | |
Republican | Martin G. Barnes | 13,848 | 22.9% | |
Total votes | 60,402 | 100.0 |
District 36
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John V. Kelly | 24,356 | 30.1% | |
Republican | Paul DiGaetano | 23,819 | 29.5% | |
Democratic | Alfred R. Restaino | 16,366 | 20.2% | |
Democratic | Louis J. Gill (incumbent) | 16,310 | 20.2% | |
Total votes | 80,851 | 100.0 |
District 37
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | D. Bennett Mazur (incumbent) | 23,456 | 26.1% | |
Democratic | Byron Baer (incumbent) | 23,308 | 25.9% | |
Republican | John R. Smith | 20,601 | 22.9% | |
Republican | Harvey Salb | 19,955 | 22.2% | |
Independent Party | Joseph Marino | 1,417 | 1.6% | |
Independent Party | John Gramuglia | 1,270 | 1.4% | |
Total votes | 90,007 | 100.0 |
District 38
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Patrick J. Roma (incumbent) | 31,958 | 32.0% | |
Republican | Rose Marie Heck (incumbent) | 28,552 | 28.6% | |
Democratic | Frank Biasco | 19,816 | 19.9% | |
Democratic | Thomas J. Duch | 19,398 | 19.5% | |
Total votes | 99,724 | 100.0 |
District 39
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Charlotte Vandervalk (incumbent) | 40,864 | 41.7% | |
Republican | John E. Rooney (incumbent) | 37,573 | 38.3% | |
Democratic | Andrew Vaccaro | 16,609 | 17.0% | |
Populist | Patricia Rainsford | 1,498 | 1.5% | |
Populist | Robert Reiss | 1,440 | 1.5% | |
Total votes | 97,984 | 100.0 |
District 40
General election
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Nicholas R. Felice (incumbent) | 36,573 | 38.3% | |
Republican | David C. Russo (incumbent) | 35,650 | 37.4% | |
Democratic | William J. Branagh | 11,741 | 12.3% | |
Democratic | Martin Etler | 11,459 | 12.0% | |
Total votes | 95,423 | 100.0 |
Notes
References
- Sullivan, Joseph F. (November 1, 1991). "Focus Is on a Few Close Races for New Jersey Legislature". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014.
- King, Wayne (August 23, 1992). "N.R.A. Is Politically Armed and, to Florio, Dangerous". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015.
- Halbfinger, David M. (November 1, 2001). "A Political Rise Built on Discipline; Under McGreevey's Self-Deprecation, The Heart of a True Political Animal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015.
- "Official Results, General Election, November 5, 1991" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2015.