1997 New Jersey Senate election

1997 New Jersey Senate elections
← 1993 November 4, 1997 2001 →
All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Donald DiFrancesco John A. Lynch Jr.
(retired)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 22nd 17th
Last election 24 16
Seats won 24 16
Seat change Steady Steady
Results by district
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain
Senate President before election

Donald DiFrancesco
Republican

Elected Senate President

Donald DiFrancesco
Republican

The 1993 New Jersey State Senate elections were held on November 4.

The election took place alongside Christine Todd Whitman's re-election as Governor over Senator Jim McGreevey. Republicans defended the large majority they gained in the 1991 landslide elections.

Four seats changed hands with no impact on the overall balance of power. Republicans Anthony R. Bucco and Diane Allen unseated incumbent Gordon MacInnes and gained the seat of retiring Senator Jack Casey, respectively. Democrats Shirley Turner and Garry Furnari unseated incumbent Republicans Dick LaRossa and John P. Scott, respectively. One Senator, Republican Joseph Bubba, lost a primary. His challenger, Norman M. Robertson, held the seat for the Republicans. This remains the last time that Republicans won a Senate majority.

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

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Democratic

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Republican

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Summary of results by State Senate district

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District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
1st Legislative District James Cafiero Rep James Cafiero Rep
2nd Legislative District William Gormley Rep William Gormley Rep
3rd Legislative District Raymond Zane Dem Raymond Zane Dem
4th Legislative District John Matheussen Rep John Matheussen Rep
5th Legislative District Wayne R. Bryant[a] Dem Wayne R. Bryant Dem
6th Legislative District John Adler Dem John Adler Dem
7th Legislative District Jack Casey Dem Diane Allen Rep
8th Legislative District Martha W. Bark[b] Rep Martha W. Bark Rep
9th Legislative District Leonard T. Connors Rep Leonard T. Connors Rep
10th Legislative District Andrew R. Ciesla Rep Andrew R. Ciesla Rep
11th Legislative District Joseph A. Palaia Rep Joseph A. Palaia Rep
12th Legislative District John O. Bennett Rep John O. Bennett Rep
13th Legislative District Joe Kyrillos Rep Joe Kyrillos Rep
14th Legislative District Peter Inverso Rep Peter Inverso Rep
15th Legislative District Dick LaRossa Rep Shirley Turner Dem
16th Legislative District John H. Ewing Rep Walter J. Kavanaugh Rep
17th Legislative District John A. Lynch Jr. Dem John A. Lynch Jr. Dem
18th Legislative District Jack Sinagra Rep Jack Sinagra Rep
19th Legislative District Jim McGreevey Dem Joe Vitale Dem
20th Legislative District Raymond Lesniak Dem Raymond Lesniak Dem
21st Legislative District C. Louis Bassano Rep C. Louis Bassano Rep
22nd Legislative District Donald DiFrancesco Rep Donald DiFrancesco Rep
23rd Legislative District William E. Schluter Rep William E. Schluter Rep
24th Legislative District Robert Littell Rep Robert Littell Rep
25th Legislative District Gordon MacInnes Dem Anthony Bucco Rep
26th Legislative District Robert Martin Rep Robert Martin Rep
27th Legislative District Richard Codey Dem Richard Codey Dem
28th Legislative District Ronald Rice Dem Ronald Rice Dem
29th Legislative District Wynona Lipman Dem Wynona Lipman Dem
30th Legislative District Robert W. Singer Rep Robert W. Singer Rep
31st Legislative District Edward T. O'Connor Jr. Dem Edward T. O'Connor Jr. Dem
32nd Legislative District Nicholas Sacco Dem Nicholas Sacco Dem
33rd Legislative District Bernard Kenny Dem Bernard Kenny Dem
34th Legislative District Joseph Bubba Rep Norman M. Robertson Rep
35th Legislative District John Girgenti Dem John Girgenti Dem
36th Legislative District John P. Scott Rep Garry Furnari Dem
37th Legislative District Byron Baer Dem Byron Baer Dem
38th Legislative District Louis F. Kosco Rep Louis F. Kosco Rep
39th Legislative District Gerald Cardinale Rep Gerald Cardinale Rep
40th Legislative District Henry McNamara Rep Henry McNamara Rep

Close races

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Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. Legislative District 4, 4.6%
  2. Legislative District 6, 8.0%
  3. Legislative District 7, 9.3%
  4. Legislative District 8, 9.8%
  5. Legislative District 15, 7.8% gain
  6. Legislative District 36, 6.2% gain
  1. ^ Bryant was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Senator Walter Rand, who died on January 6, 1995.
  2. ^ Bark was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Senator C. William Haines, who died on December 18, 1996.

District 1

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James Cafiero (incumbent) 35,573 60.8% Decrease1.2
Democratic John Rauh 21,340 36.5% Steady
Conservative Geraldine Caiafa 1,579 2.7% N/A
Total votes 58,492 100.00%

District 2

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William Gormley (incumbent) 34,814 65.2% Increase3.6
Democratic John R. Piatt 18,569 34.8% Decrease3.6
Total votes 53,383 100.00%

District 3

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Raymond Zane (incumbent) 46,551 84.5% Increase16.9
Conservative Mary A. Whittam 8,121 14.7% N/A
Republican N/A 415 0.8% Decrease31.6
Total votes 55,087 100.00%

District 4

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John J. Matheussen (incumbent) 29,429 50.7% Decrease3.6
Democratic Sean F. Dalton 26,780 46.1% Increase0.4
Conservative Jim Barber 1,872 3.2% N/A
Total votes 58,081 100.00%

District 5

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Wayne R. Bryant (incumbent) 29,809 71.9 Increase3.1
Republican Mel Suplee 11,624 28.1 Decrease3.1
Total votes 41,433 100.00%

District 6

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Adler (incumbent) 34,073 53.0% Decrease6.8
Republican John A. Rocco 28,938 45.0% Increase4.8
Conservative Kenneth L. Mayo 1,257 2.0% N/A
Total votes 64,268 100.00%

District 7

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Diane Allen 30,875 53.7 Increase5.5
Democratic Robert P. Broderick 25,501 44.4 Decrease6.0
Conservative Norman E. Wahner 1,121 1.9 N/A
Total votes 57,497 100.00%

District 8

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Martha W. Bark (incumbent) 34,597 54.9 Decrease6.1
Democratic Marie Hall 28,401 45.1 Increase6.1
Total votes 62,998 100.00%

District 9

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard T. Connors (incumbent) 45,880 60.0 Decrease5.2
Democratic Bill Zimmermann, Jr. 28,508 37.3 Increase2.5
Conservative Leonard P. Marshall 2,139 2.8 N/A
Total votes 76,527 100.00%

District 10

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Andrew R. Ciesla (incumbent) 41,409 60.6 Decrease1.1
Democratic Judith G. Leone 24,217 35.5 Decrease0.3
Libertarian Steve Nagle 1,381 2.0 N/A
Conservative Agnes A. James 1,015 1.5 Decrease1.0
Green Edith Gbur 278 0.4 N/A
Total votes 68,300 100.00%

District 11

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joseph A. Palaia (incumbent) 39,579 66.2 Increase0.6
Democratic Eugene M. LaVergne 18,981 31.7 Increase0.8
Conservative Christian P. Olsen 1,228 2.1 Steady0.0
Total votes 59,788 100.00%

District 12

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1997 general election[1][2][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John O. Bennett (incumbent) 41,171 62.8 Decrease2.2
Democratic George E. Ball 20,289 30.9 Decrease0.4
Conservative John P. Desmond 2,780 4.2 Increase1.8
Natural Law Mary Jo Christian 1,354 2.1 N/A
Total votes 65,594 100.00%

District 13

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joe Kyrillos (incumbent) 36,047 63.2 Decrease0.8
Democratic Mike Caffrey 19,733 34.6 Decrease1.4
Conservative Jerome Bowe 1,299 2.3 N/A
Total votes 57,079 100.00%

District 14

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Peter Inverso (incumbent) 38,195 55.3 Decrease4.5
Democratic Gilbert W. Lugossy 28,866 41.8 Increase1.6
Conservative Joseph Fabrizi 1,997 2.9 N/A
Total votes 69,058 100.00%

District 15

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Shirley Turner 29,995 53.9 Increase6.2
Republican Dick LaRossa (incumbent) 25,630 46.1 Decrease6.2
Total votes 55,625 100.00%

District 16

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Walter J. Kavanaugh 44,171 63.8 Increase2.2
Democratic Mitchell E. Ignatoff 22,545 32.6 Decrease5.8
Conservative Richard C. Martin 2,541 3.7 N/A
Total votes 69,257 100.00%

District 17

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John A. Lynch Jr. (incumbent) 27,748 68.0 Increase11.3
Republican Timothy J. O’Brien 13,061 32.0 Decrease2.2
Total votes 40,809 100.00%

District 18

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jack Sinagra (incumbent) 35,400 58.5 Increase0.3
Democratic Thomas H. Paterniti 25,110 41.5 Increase1.7
Total votes 60,510 100.00%

District 19

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joe Vitale 32,454 60.2 Increase12.6
Republican Stephen A. Mikulak 21,445 39.8 Decrease5.3
Total votes 53,899 100.00%

District 20

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Raymond Lesniak (incumbent) 26,699 69.1 Increase9.2
Republican Gene Andre 11,928 30.9 Decrease9.2
Total votes 38,627 100.00%

District 21

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican C. Louis Bassano (incumbent) 43,997 100.00% Increase35.7
Total votes 43,997 100.00%

District 22

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald DiFrancesco (incumbent) 46,249 67.0 Decrease2.2
Democratic Margaret Ault 20,962 30.4 Decrease0.4
Conservative Frank J. Festa, Jr. 1,778 2.6 N/A
Total votes 68,989 100.00%

District 23

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William E. Schluter (incumbent) 42,221 61.3 Decrease30.4
Democratic Austin “Ken” Kutscher, M.D. 23,094 33.5 N/A
Conservative Michael P. Kelly 2,770 4.0 N/A
Independent Daniel Z. Seyler 762 1.1 N/A
Total votes 68,847 100.00%

District 24

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert Littell (incumbent) 44,342 73.0 Decrease10.3
Democratic John G. Wingler 13,551 22.3 N/A
Conservative Ron Pondiscio 2,868 4.7 N/A
Total votes 60,761 100.00%

District 25

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Anthony R. Bucco 37,048 54.8 Increase5.1
Democratic Gordon MacInnes (incumbent) 29,515 43.7 Decrease6.6
Conservative Joseph Long 1,033 1.5 N/A
Total votes 67,596 100.00%

District 26

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert Martin (incumbent) 43,994 92.6 Increase23.2
Conservative Virginia P. Bauer 3,505 7.4 N/A
Total votes 47,499 100.00%

District 27

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Richard Codey (incumbent) 35,770 79.5 Increase4.4
Republican Richard R. Klattenberg 9,250 20.5 Decrease4.4
Total votes 45,020 100.00%

District 28

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ronald Rice (incumbent) 31,069 100.00% Steady0.0
Total votes 31,069 100.00%

District 29

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Wynona Lipman (incumbent) 27,480 86.7 Decrease13.3
Republican Elaine L. Guarino 4,226 13.3 N/A
Total votes 31,706 100.00%

District 30

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert Singer (incumbent) 27,837 53.7 Decrease12.0
Democratic Kenneth A. Kurtz 20,815 40.2 Increase5.9
Libertarian Bob Mondgock 1,932 3.7 N/A
Conservative Fred Rasiewicz 1,208 2.3 N/A
Total votes 51,792 100.00%

District 31

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Edward T. O'Connor Jr. (incumbent) 30,993 77.6 Increase9.2
Republican Richard Freda 8,935 22.4 Decrease9.2
Total votes 39,928 100.00%

District 32

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1997 general election[1][2][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Nicholas Sacco (incumbent) 29,386 66.7 Increase7.4
Republican John Pluchino 12,541 28.5 Decrease8.2
Politicians Are Crooks Herbert H. Shaw 1,569 3.6 Increase0.8
Conservative Pat Armstrong 532 1.2 Steady0.0
Total votes 44,028 100.00%

District 33

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bernard Kenny (incumbent) 27,914 72.6% Increase9.3
Republican Gerald Spike 10,517 27.4% Decrease8.2
Total votes 38,431 100.00%

District 34

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Republican primary

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1997 Republican primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Norman M. Robertson 6,203 66.0%
Republican Joseph Bubba (incumbent) 3,202 34.0%
Total votes 56,451 100.00%

General election

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Norman M. Robertson 30,450 53.9% Increase1.6
Democratic Joan Waks 26,001 46.1% Decrease1.6
Total votes 56,451 100.00%

District 35

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Girgenti (incumbent) 24,552 69.8 Increase3.3
Republican Brian A. Duncan 10,644 30.2 Decrease1.9
Total votes 35,196 100.00%

District 36

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Garry Furnari 25,844 53.1% Increase6.0
Republican John P. Scott (incumbent) 22,806 46.9% Decrease6.0
Total votes 48,650 100.00%

District 37

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Byron Baer (incumbent) 30,844 59.0 Decrease1.5
Republican Steve Lonegan 20,543 39.3 Increase1.7
Natural Law Helen Hamilton 855 1.6 N/A
Total votes 52,242 100.00%

District 38

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Louis F. Kosco (incumbent) 30,538 55.2% Decrease8.1
Democratic Valerie Huttle 23,350 42.2% Increase5.5
Conservative Denise A. Richardson 1,390 2.5% N/A
Total votes 55,278 100.00%

District 39

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1997 general election[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Gerald Cardinale (incumbent) 46,424 66.3 Increase3.8
Democratic Ilan Plawker 22,466 32.1 Decrease5.4
Conservative Michael W. Koontz 1,166 1.7 N/A
Total votes 70,056 100.00%

District 40

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1997 general election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Henry McNamara (incumbent) 42,751 67.5% Decrease0.2
Democratic Michael Greenspan 20,537 32.5% Increase0.2
Total votes 63,288 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ 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 "Official Results, General Election Returns for the Office of State Senate for Election Held November 4, 1997" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: RESULTS; The Races for New Jersey Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  3. ^ "NJ State Senate 12". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  4. ^ "NJ State Senate 32". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  5. ^ "Primary Election Results for office of State Senate" (PDF).
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