James Cafiero

Following the United States Supreme Court's decision in Reynolds v. Sims and a special constitutional convention, a new legislative district was created in 1967 consisting of Cape May and Cumberland counties.[5] While serving as assistant prosecutor, Cafiero ran for the General Assembly on a victorious Republican ticket with Robert Kay for Senate and James R. Hurley of Millville for Assembly.[5][6] They were re-elected in 1969.[5]

In 1971, Kay lost the support of the Cape May County Republican Party for a second term.[5] Cafiero and Hurley both prepared to run for Senate, while Kay threatened to stand for the nomination without party support. After the Cumberland and Cape May party chairs reached a deal to nominate Cafiero for Senate and Joseph Chinnici as Hurley's running mate for Assembly, Kay withdrew.[5] Cafiero won the general election against former Millville commissioner Paul Porreca by only 916 votes, with the result split along county lines. As a freshman Senator, Cafiero chaired the Appropriations Committee, making him the third most powerful member of the legislature. He was named Senate Minority Leader in 1975, replacing Alfred N. Beadleston.[7][8] He was re-elected easily in 1973 (though Republicans lost the Senate) and 1977 before leaving party leadership in 1978 and stepping down in 1981. He was succeeded by Hurley.[5]

In 1991, Cafiero returned to the Senate after Hurley retired to join the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. He defeated Assemblyman Edward Salmon amid growing opposition to Governor Jim Florio's tax increases. In 1991, he was re-elected by a large margin as part of a Republican wave which retook both houses of the legislature. He won easily in 1993 and 1997 before facing William J. Hughes Jr., the son of U.S. Representative and Ambassador William J. Hughes, in 2001. Cafiero defeated Hughes by just 441 votes, which proved decisive in creating a 20-20 tie in the Senate and a power-sharing arrangement between the Republican and Democratic parties.[5] He retired for a second time in 2003 and was succeeded by Nicholas Asselta, who had considered challenging Cafiero in the primary.[5]

In 1996, Cafiero introduced a bill that would dedicate a portion of the special sales tax collected for the Wildwoods to be used for the construction of a minor league stadium that would have room for 5,000 fans.[9] He served in the Senate on the Judiciary Committee and the Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Committee. Cafiero was Republican Whip from 2002 to 2004.[3]