1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election

• Brendan Byrne, incumbent Governor (Democrats for Byrne)[1]
• Ralph DeRose, former State Senator from Essex County and candidate for Governor in 1973 (This Time, Make the Right Choice)[1]
• James Florio, U.S. Representative from Cherry Hill (Regular Democratic Organization)[1]
• A. Howard Freund, American Party nominee for Governor in 1973 (Democrats Against State Income Tax)[1]
• Raymond Garramone, State Senator from Haworth (Experienced Democrats for Better Government)[1]
• Joseph A. Hoffman, former Commissioner of Labor and Industry (He Can Make New Jersey Work)[1]
• George Koukos (Demand Immediate Repeal of Income Tax)[1]
• Robert A. Roe, U.S. Representative from Wayne (Regular Democratic Party)[1]
• Melvin M. Whaley (Democrat for Change)[1]
• Emery J. Zold (Government For the People: Stop Bossism)[1]

• Paul T. Jordan, Mayor of Jersey City (withdrew following municipal elections)
• Jeffrey Ketterman, former Dean of Seton Hall Law School and aide to Governor Byrne[6]

Byrne's unpopularity, which was particularly strong in blue-collar Democratic areas where opposition to the tax was strongest,[2] prompted a large field of challengers. Early on, there were proposals to remove the incumbent from the race entirely by securing him a federal appointment from President Carter, but these proposals were squashed after Senate President Matthew Feldman, who would have succeeded Byrne, pleaded guilty to commercial bribery.[7]

The first major candidate to enter the race was U.S. Representative Robert A. Roe on February 21. Roe ran as an explicit opponent of the income tax, calling for a state convention to propose at least two alternatives. Roe criticized the general business climate in the state, which he said had resulted in an "absolute decline in manufacturing jobs" and "an endangered capital base."[8]

Another U.S. Representative who stood as a strong challenger was James Florio, a second-term South Jersey who announced his intent to run in January. Before entering the race, Florio publicly claimed he had assurances that the South Jersey counties would back him as a bloc, giving him the leverage necessary to solicit northern support.[9] He formally announced his campaign in March. Despite his earlier opposition to the Byrne plan as a state legislator, Florio surprised observers by claiming there was no need for dramatic reform to the state tax system. He said that it would be difficult to retain the property tax relief and homestead rebate provisions of the Byrne plan without an income tax, and that "there are no glib answers to complex problems like this.”[10]

Former Senator Ralph DeRose entered as a strictly anti-tax candidate, hoping to win on the back of Essex and Hudson counties alone.[5] Joseph A. Hoffman, who had been ousted from Byrne's cabinet as State Commissioner of Labor and Industry the year prior, filled out the main field of challengers.[11]

Raymond Garramone, a State Senator and former mayor of upper-middle class Haworth, announced a "people's campaign" on March 1. He ran as a supporter of the Byrne tax plan and fervent opponent of any effort to extend or raise the sales tax.[12] As the lone candidate from Bergen County, Garramone hoped re-unite the divided Bergen County Democratic organization, which had been unable to settle on any of the candidates already in the race.[13]

Governor Byrne himself only entered the race in late April, prompting the anti-Byrne field to largely focus on his low chances for re-election as a detriment to the party.[7] He admitted that he had nearly decided not to run in January.[4]

The primary campaign focused on two major issues: Byrne's personal qualities, especially his decision to back the income tax, and the state of the New Jersey economy.

Early on, the possibility that Byrne might not run at all encouraged his primary opponents, who attacked his "lack of leadership." In the alternative he did run, they argued he “could only lead the Democratic candidates for the Legislature to a one‐sided disaster.”[10]

A collateral issue in the early campaign was the proposal to route the supersonic airliner Concorde through Newark Liberty Airport. Jersey City mayor Paul T. Jordan opposed the Concorde, claiming it was "a symbol of technology and embodies everything we are presently concerned about in terms of energy consumption and air pollution." However, Jordan sought the endorsement of Newark mayor Kenneth A. Gibson, who wanted the Port Authority to approve test landings.[10] Gibson ultimately backed Byrne for re-nomination, and Jordan dropped out of the race after losing control of the Jersey City party in the mayoral election.[7] The issue faded thereafter.

Byrne's campaign was led by Richard C. Leone, Richard J. Coffee, and David Garth.[4] Byrne ran television ads admitting that his 1973 comments were a mistake; the campaign said that voters responded positively.[4]

In June, six leading candidates (Byrne, Roe, Florio, Garramone, Joseph A. Hoffman and Ralph DeRose) met with reporters and editors of The New York Times in a roundtable discussion. Byrne conceded that the race was a referendum on the income tax and argued his defeat would lead to a 5‐percent increase in the sales tax or a statewide property tax.[11]

DeRose, who Byrne considered his strongest challenger,[11] faced accusations that he was a machine candidate" due to his endorsements from the Essex County chair Harry Lerner and Jersey City mayor-elect Thomas F. X. Smith. "Every other candidate sought Harry Lerner's endorsement, some of them more than once," he said. "I met once with Tommy Smith in a diner when he was looking for an anti‐tax candidate to support. I got his support and gave him mine because we agreed on the issues." He denied giving even "five cents" to Smith's campaign.[11]

Hoffman said that DeRose's plan to abandon the tax in favor of a state tax on 50 percent of the value of new industrial ratables was not feasible, because it would drive down the willingness to host new industry given concerns with pollution and traffic.[11] Florio emphasized his support for President Carter and contrasted Carter's leadership style with Byrne's. Both Florio and Roe cited their experience in Congress and the need to work with national government to solve New Jersey's economic problems.[11] Garramone emphasized that he was from Bergen County, a Republican stronghold at the time.[11]

As the campaign came to a close, it became apparent that Byrne could survive.[5]

Byrne survived the June primary, though with such a small plurality that his victory was blamed primarily on the regionally fractured opposition. Roe was the only challenger to pull votes from throughout the state; the others were largely confined to regional bases: DeRose in Essex and Hudson, Florio in Camden and the surrounding counties, and Hoffman in Middlesex and Monmouth.[4]

At a victory celebration, Byrne said he "fought like hell for this nomination. ... Reports of my death were exaggerated."[4] He framed his victory as a triumph over the county party machines and an affirmation of his efforts against corruption. Exit polling indicated that Byrne won the votes of those who supported the tax or its modification rather than outright repeal, who were a majority of the party.[4]

Nevertheless, more than two-thirds of his party had voted against his nomination, including a majority of those who said they had voted for him in 1973. With no such prospects for the fall, he faced a difficult path to re-election.[4]

• Raymond Bateman, State Senator from Somerville (Regular Republican Party Organization)[1]
• Thomas Kean, State Assemblyman from Livingston (Regular Republican Party)[1]
• C. Robert Sarcone, former State Senator from Essex County (Republican (No State Income Tax))[1]
• William A. Angus Jr., former Mayor of Moorestown (Abolish Tax No T-E Conservative Government)[1]

• Joseph C. Woodcock, former State Senator and Bergen County prosecutor[12] (endorsed Kean)

• Frank X. McDermott, State Senator from Westfield (endorsed Kean)[12]
• James Wallwork, State Senator from Short Hills[12]

During the Republican primary, Senator Ray Bateman, who had supported income‐tax proposals in the past as part of a proposed overhaul of the state tax code but was an adamant opponent of the Byrne plan, promised not to renew the tax and to run the state for four years without the tax if necessary.[2] Both leading candidates were considered moderates.[2]

Bateman was the early favorite; Kean tried to play catch-up by sidelining two strong potential opponents, State Senators Frank X. McDermott, who joined the Kean campaign as chairman, and James Wallwork, who backed out of the race after difficulty fundraising. McDermott's support gave Kean strong backing in Union County, and Wallwork's decision not to run boosted his strength in Essex County. He then hoped to consolidate neighboring Morris County behind him to take on Bateman.[12]

Bateman ran a campaign with establishment party support, including the endorsement of former Governor William T. Cahill. Kean countered this by a direct appeal to the rank-and-file voters through television advertisements.[4]

By primary day, the race was widely rated as a toss-up.[4]

The margin of victory was a surprise, including to Bateman, who remarked to supporters, "I was the world's worst guesser. I thought Tom Kean would have run a lot closer."[4]

• Raymond Bateman, State Senator from Somerville (Republican)
• Brendan Byrne, incumbent Governor (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)

• Anthony Imperiale, State Senator from Newark (Independent)[16]

Bateman was a strong favorite early in the campaign, given his own strong primary showing and Byrne's unpopularity among voters. Early public opinion polling gave Bateman a ten to twelve point lead.[2]

Byrne immediately went on the offensive following the primary, challenging Bateman to a series of debates and attacking his voting record and lack of clear alternative to the income tax. He stood by the tax, pressing Bateman to reveal how he would replace $900 million in state revenue. Without the revenue, Byrne claimed the state would have to reinstate certain business taxes and decrease state education aid, property tax exemptions for the elderly and veterans, and homestead rebates.[2]

Bateman ran a low-key campaign for much of the summer, relying his personal image as "the very model of congeniality and affability," in self-evident contrast with Byrne's image as hard-nosed and icy.[17]

In late September, Bateman unveiled a 11‐point economic program, which called for a selective freeze on state hiring, a series of budget transfers, a tightening of welfare payments and, if necessary, an increase of one cent on the dollar in the 5 percent state sales tax. Bateman said he would seek to replace only $650 million of the income tax revenue and would scrap the homestead rebates, which he called a “revolving‐door gimmick.” The plan was developed by a team that included former U.S. Treasury Secretary William E. Simon.[2] Newspaper editorials denounced the plan as unworkable, and Byrne upped his attacks, calling the plan "dishonest" and a "phony." As summer turned to fall, polling narrowed rapidly.[17]

Bateman stumbled at times by his excessive forthrightness: when a Philadelphia Inquirer editor asked if he could rule out re-imposing the income tax in a hypothetical second term, he refused. At one of the debates, he conceded there would be "tremendous problems" if his plan failed to revive the state economy.[17] As the campaign wore on, Bateman's supposedly greatest strength—his friendly disposition—was turned into a weakness as he refused to respond to Byrne's attacks and became seen as ineffectual. "Toughness is not my style," Bateman admitted.[17]

In October, Bateman attempted to make a late issue of Byrne's nomination of Joseph P. Lordi, a former Essex prosecutor, as head regulator of the new Casino Control Commission. Lordi's law firm once represented a company with ties to organized crime, and Lordi himself was a frequent customer at a restaurant with a mob-connected owner. Byrne knew these facts but did not pass the information on to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which had confirmed Lordi's nomination. Bateman called the handling of the nomination "indefensible" and "typical."[18] In attacking Byrne's supposed immunity to corruption, Bateman hoped to revive his flagging campaign. However, the attack likely backfired, creating backlash among the state's large ethnic Italian community, many of whom resented the criticism of Byrne as a specious attack on Lordi.[18]

Both Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford campaigned in the states for their respective parties. Both this race and the Virginia gubernatorial election were seen as the earliest tests of the Carter administration's political strength and the potential for a Gerald Ford comeback in 1980.[19][20] On a campaign stop in Whippany, Ford mistakenly introduced Bateman as "the next governor of the State of Michigan."[20]

The candidates participated in nine debates[17] and two joint appearances, which became increasingly personally acrimonious. Byrne called Bateman a “liar” and “hypocrite,” prompting Bateman to describe the Governor as a “playboy” and “dilettante” toward the end of the campaign.[2]

In their September 12 debate in Paramus, Byrne proposed the decriminalization of marijuana, while Bateman opposed it.[21]

Ocean and Monmouth counties

On election night, the state was hit with a heavy storm. Byrne's helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at an elementary school en route to his campaign event in West Orange. The Byrne campaign appealed to state Supreme Court Chief Justice Morris Pashman to keep polls open past 8 p.m., but their request was rejected.[2]

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1977[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Brendan Byrne (incumbent)	1,184,564	55.71%	10.96
	Republican	Raymond Bateman	888,880	41.81%	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%	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%	0.05
	Independent	William Zsidisin	2,974	0.14%	N/A
	Socialist Labor	Julius Levin	2,276	0.11%	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