The election coincided with Governor Brendan Byrne's re-election over Senator Raymond Bateman. Byrne narrowly survived a primary election which eliminated seven incumbent Democratic Senators. Despite the intra-party division and early polls indicating Byrne was an underdog in the general election, Byrne survived and the Democrats preserved their large majority in the Senate, losing just one seat on aggregate.[1] This is the last time Democrats held a veto-proof majority in the chamber.
District 2: After losing the Democratic primary, Senator Joseph McGahn ran as an independent in the general election; he finished third behind Perskie and Republican F. Frederick Perone.
District 21: After losing the Democratic primary, Senator Thomas Dunn ran as an independent in the general election; he finished second behind Gregorio.
District 6: Alene Ammond (Camden) lost the Democratic primary to Victor Pachter; Pachter lost the general election to Republican Lee Laskin, a former Assemblyman.[6][14]
District 14: Anne Clark Martindell (Mercer) was appointed U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand in May, leaving her seat vacant; Republican Walter E. Foran, an Assemblyman from Hunterdon County, won the open seat.
^"Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1977. p. 9. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
April 12, 2024
1977, jersey, senate, election, 1977, jersey, state, senate, election, coincided, with, brendan, byrne, election, second, term, governor, jersey, 1977, jersey, state, senate, elections, 1973, november, 1977, 1981, seats, jersey, state, senate21, seats, needed,. The 1977 New Jersey State Senate election coincided with Brendan Byrne s re election to a second term as Governor of New Jersey 1977 New Jersey State Senate elections 1973 November 8 1977 1981 All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate21 seats needed for a majority Majority party Minority party Third party Leader Matthew Feldman James CafieroParty Democratic Republican IndependentLeader s seat 37th 1stLast election 29 10 1Seats before 28 10 1Seats won 27 13 0Seat change 1 3 1Results by district Democratic hold Democratic gain Republican hold Republican gainSenate President before electionMatthew FeldmanDemocratic Elected Senate President Joseph P MerlinoDemocraticThe election coincided with Governor Brendan Byrne s re election over Senator Raymond Bateman Byrne narrowly survived a primary election which eliminated seven incumbent Democratic Senators Despite the intra party division and early polls indicating Byrne was an underdog in the general election Byrne survived and the Democrats preserved their large majority in the Senate losing just one seat on aggregate 1 This is the last time Democrats held a veto proof majority in the chamber Democrats chose Joseph P Merlino as the Senate President and Carmen Orechio as Majority Leader Republicans named Garrett Hagedorn as Minority Leader 2 ContentsIncumbents not running Summary of resultsBy 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 40Incumbents not running for re election editDemocratic edit John A Lynch Sr District 17 Alexander J Menza District 20 ran for U S Senator Raymond Garramone District 39 ran for Governor Republican edit Alfred N Beadleston District 11 Raymond Bateman District 16 ran for Governor Frank Davenport District 35 Summary of results by district editDistrict Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party1st Legislative District James Cafiero Rep James Cafiero Rep2nd Legislative District Joseph McGahn Dem Steven P Perskie Dem3rd Legislative District Raymond Zane Dem Raymond Zane Dem4th Legislative District Joseph A Maressa Dem Joseph A Maressa Dem5th Legislative District Angelo Errichetti a Dem Angelo Errichetti Dem6th Legislative District Alene Ammond Dem Lee B Laskin Rep7th Legislative District Edward J Hughes Dem Charles B Yates Dem8th Legislative District Barry T Parker Rep Barry T Parker Rep9th Legislative District John F Russo Dem John F Russo Dem10th Legislative District Herbert J Buehler Dem Brian T Kennedy Rep11th Legislative District Alfred N Beadleston Rep S Thomas Gagliano Rep12th Legislative District Eugene J Bedell Dem Eugene J Bedell Dem13th Legislative District Joseph P Merlino Dem Joseph P Merlino Dem14th Legislative District Vacant b Walter E Foran Rep15th Legislative District Wayne Dumont Rep Wayne Dumont Rep16th Legislative District Raymond Bateman Rep John H Ewing Rep17th Legislative District John A Lynch Sr Dem William J Hamilton Dem18th Legislative District Bernard Dwyer Dem Bernard Dwyer Dem19th Legislative District John Fay Dem Laurence Weiss Dem20th Legislative District Alexander J Menza Dem Anthony E Russo Dem21st Legislative District Thomas G Dunn Dem John Gregorio Dem22nd Legislative District Peter J McDonough Rep Peter J McDonough Rep23rd Legislative District Stephen B Wiley Dem John H Dorsey Rep24th Legislative District James P Vreeland Rep James P Vreeland Rep25th Legislative District James Wallwork Rep James Wallwork Rep26th Legislative District Frank J Dodd Dem Frank J Dodd Dem27th Legislative District Carmen Orechio Dem Carmen Orechio Dem28th Legislative District Martin L Greenberg Dem Martin L Greenberg Dem29th Legislative District Wynona Lipman Dem Wynona Lipman Dem30th Legislative District Anthony Imperiale Ind Frank E Rodgers Dem31st Legislative District James P Dugan Dem Wally Sheil Dem32nd Legislative District Joseph W Tumulty Dem David Friedland Dem33rd Legislative District William Musto Dem William Musto Dem34th Legislative District Joseph Hirkala Dem Joseph Hirkala Dem35th Legislative District Frank Davenport Rep Frank X Graves Jr Dem36th Legislative District Anthony Scardino Dem Anthony Scardino Dem37th Legislative District Matthew Feldman Dem Matthew Feldman Dem38th Legislative District John Skevin Dem John Skevin Dem39th Legislative District Raymond Garramone Dem Frank Herbert Dem40th Legislative District Garrett Hagedorn Rep Garrett Hagedorn Rep Errichetti who was also mayor of Camden was chosen to succeed Senator John J Horn in 1976 Horn joined Governor Byrne s cabinet as Commissioner of Labor and Industry Senator Anne Clark Martindell resigned on May 17 to join the Jimmy Carter administration Close races edit Seats where the margin of victory was under 10 District 27 1 8 District 20 1 6 District 6 4 2 District 39 5 6 District 23 8 6 District 10 9 5 Incumbents defeated editIn primary elections edit Democratic edit District 2 Joseph McGahn Atlantic lost party support to Steven P Perskie an Assemblyman from Atlantic County 3 4 5 District 6 Alene Ammond Camden lost the primary to Victor Pachter 6 District 7 Edward J Hughes Burlington lost the primary to Charles B Yates 6 District 19 John Fay Middlesex lost the primary to Laurence Weiss 6 District 21 Thomas Dunn Union lost party support to John Gregorio an Assemblyman from Union County and mayor of Linden 3 7 5 District 31 James P Dugan Hudson lost the primary to Wally Sheil the President of Hudson County Community College 6 8 District 32 Joseph W Tumulty Hudson lost the primary to David Friedland a former Assemblyman from Hudson County 6 9 In general elections edit Democratic edit District 10 Herbert Buehler Monmouth lost to Republican Brian Kennedy a former Assemblyman from Monmouth County 10 District 23 Stephen Wiley Morris lost to Republican John H Dorsey an Assemblyman from Morris County 10 11 Independent edit District 2 After losing the Democratic primary Senator Joseph McGahn ran as an independent in the general election he finished third behind Perskie and Republican F Frederick Perone District 21 After losing the Democratic primary Senator Thomas Dunn ran as an independent in the general election he finished second behind Gregorio District 30 Anthony Imperiale Essex was defeated by Democrat Frank E Rodgers the mayor of Harrison 12 Open seats editDemocratic holds edit District 17 John A Lynch Sr Middlesex retired Speaker of the Assembly William J Hamilton won the open seat District 20 Alexander J Menza Union retired to run for U S Senator Union Township councilman Anthony E Russo won the open seat District 39 Raymond Garramone Bergen retired to run for Governor Former Bergen County Freeholder Frank Herbert won the open seat Democratic gains edit District 35 Republican Frank Davenport did not seek re election Frank X Graves Jr the mayor of Paterson defeated former Assemblyman Alfred Fontanella 13 Republican holds edit District 11 Alfred N Beadleston Monmouth retired Former Monmouth County Surrogate S Thomas Gagliano won the open seat District 17 Raymond Bateman Somserset retired to run for Governor Assemblyman John H Ewing won the open seat Republican gains edit District 6 Alene Ammond Camden lost the Democratic primary to Victor Pachter Pachter lost the general election to Republican Lee Laskin a former Assemblyman 6 14 District 14 Anne Clark Martindell Mercer was appointed U S Ambassador to New Zealand in May leaving her seat vacant Republican Walter E Foran an Assemblyman from Hunterdon County won the open seat District 1 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican James Cafiero incumbent 35 416 62 0 nbsp 3 7Democratic Frank Kneiser 21 702 38 0 nbsp 3 7Total votes 57 118 100 00 District 2 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Steven P Perskie 31 712 47 9 nbsp 7 2Republican F Frederick Perone 20 160 30 5 nbsp 14 4Re Elect Experience Integrity Joseph McGahn incumbent 14 288 21 6 N ATotal votes 66 160 100 00 District 3 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Raymond Zane incumbent 37 199 65 8 nbsp 14 1Republican Robert C Hendrickson Jr 19 328 34 2 nbsp 14 1Total votes 56 527 100 00 District 4 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Joseph A Maressa incumbent 35 736 65 0 nbsp 1 2Republican Walter C Gebelein 19 248 35 0 nbsp 1 2Total votes 54 984 100 00 District 5 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Angelo Errichetti incumbent 27 352 69 4 nbsp 9 1Republican Ernest J Merlino 12 078 30 6 nbsp 6 2Total votes 39 430 100 00 District 6 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican Lee B Laskin 29 823 52 1 nbsp 5 3Democratic Victor Pachter 27 449 47 9 nbsp 5 3Total votes 57 272 100 00 District 7 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Charles B Yates 30 793 59 5 nbsp 1 6Republican Michael J Conda 20 971 40 5 nbsp 1 1Total votes 51 764 100 00 District 8 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican Barry T Parker incumbent 30 042 55 4 nbsp 2 6Democratic Charles H Ryan 24 168 44 6 nbsp 2 6Total votes 54 210 100 00 District 9 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic John F Russo incumbent 53 309 63 7 nbsp 9 2Republican James J Mancini 28 673 34 3 nbsp 11 2Libertarian Leonard T Flynn 1 153 1 4 N AIndependent Donald Knause 494 0 6 N ATotal votes 83 629 100 00 District 10 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican Brian T Kennedy 29 059 54 3 nbsp 9 4Democratic Herbert J Buehler incumbent 23 990 44 8 nbsp 10 3Let s Work Together Franco DiDomenica 502 0 9 N ATotal votes 53 551 100 00 District 11 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican S Thomas Gagliano 30 452 54 5 nbsp 0 4Democratic Arthur Goldzweig 24 398 43 7 nbsp 2 2Libertarian Anne Caroline Riecker 567 1 0 N AIndependent Joseph Rembisz Jr 477 0 9 N ATotal votes 55 894 100 00 District 12 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Eugene J Bedell incumbent 28 391 53 6 nbsp 5 2Republican Joseph Azzolina 21 877 41 3 nbsp 6 1Independent Eileen Lloyd 2 435 4 6 N ALibertarian Jack Moyers 261 0 5 N ATotal votes 52 964 100 00 District 13 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Joseph P Merlino incumbent 33 757 69 6 nbsp 4 8Republican Harry L Dearden 14 776 30 4 nbsp 4 8Total votes 48 533 100 00 District 14 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican Walter E Foran incumbent 33 556 56 8 nbsp 8 3Democratic Peter J Bearse 25 504 43 2 nbsp 8 3Total votes 59 060 100 00 District 15 editNew Jersey general election 1977 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican Wayne Dumont incumbent 35 268 60 7 nbsp 5 7Democratic Joseph J Keslo 22 815 39 3 nbsp 5 7Total votes 58 083 100 00 District 16 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican John H Ewing 38 772 65 2 nbsp 1 2Democratic Kenneth L Hetrick 20 654 34 8 nbsp 1 2Total votes 59 426 100 00 District 17 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic William J Hamilton Jr 26 343 59 7 nbsp 11 0Republican Peter J Selesky 16 183 36 7 nbsp 8 3Independent Candidate Walter Jinotti 985 2 2 N ARepeal Income Tax Edward J McGlynn 638 1 4 N ATotal votes 44 149 100 00 District 18 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bernard J Dwyer incumbent 34 144 57 6 nbsp 5 6Republican S Elliott Mayo 23 803 40 2 nbsp 3 4Independent Edward R Gavarny 1 281 2 2 N ATotal votes 59 228 100 00 District 19 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Laurence S Weiss 30 474 65 9 nbsp 12 7Republican Raymond J Freid 15 390 33 3 nbsp 11 9U S Labor Michael R Leppig 396 0 9 N ATotal votes 46 260 100 00 District 20 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Anthony E Russo 30 057 50 8 nbsp 5 5Republican Frank X McDermott 29 067 49 2 nbsp 6 0Total votes 59 124 100 00 District 21 edit1977 general election 16 Party Candidate Votes Democratic John T Gregorio 20 255 46 9 nbsp 15 8Re elect Experience Courage Thomas G Dunn incumbent 13 932 32 2 N ARepublican Robert T Walsh 8 005 18 5 nbsp 16 0Repeal Income Tax Rocco J Gallo 1 023 2 4 N ATotal votes 43 215 100 00 District 22 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican Peter McDonough incumbent 28 669 55 2 nbsp 2 9Democratic Harry P Pappas 22 032 42 5 nbsp 5 2An Independent Choice John J Carone 1 198 2 3 N ATotal votes 51 899 100 00 District 23 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican John H Dorsey 30 882 54 3 nbsp 7 4Democratic Stephen B Wiley incumbent 25 981 45 7 nbsp 7 4Total votes 56 863 100 0District 24 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican James P Vreeland 34 694 67 1 nbsp 14 5Democratic Norma K Herzfeld 17 036 32 9 nbsp 14 5Total votes 51 730 100 00 District 25 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican James Wallwork 35 517 60 6 nbsp 6 4Democratic Lewis J Paper 23 096 39 4 nbsp 6 4Total votes 58 613 100 00 District 26 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Frank J Dodd 27 293 75 0 nbsp 0 1Republican Nancy Jane Schron 8 847 24 3 nbsp 0 6Libertarian Kenneth R Kaplan 250 0 7 N ATotal votes 36 390 100 00 District 27 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Carmen A Orechio 25 773 50 9 nbsp 2 2Republican John N Dennis 24 855 49 1 nbsp 2 2Total votes 50 628 100 00 District 28 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Martin L Greenberg 16 986 57 8 nbsp 2 5Republican James A Pindar 11 399 38 8 nbsp 2 0Income Tax Referendum Nicholas T Fernicola 770 2 6 N AJobs Equality Peace Charles E Cascone 234 0 8 N ATotal votes 29 389 100 00 District 29 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Wynona Lipman 16 037 90 6 nbsp 6 8Republican Manuel Angel Colon 1 658 9 4 nbsp 6 8Total votes 17 695 100 00 District 30 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Frank E Rodgers 20 081 48 0 nbsp 11 6Anti Tax Candidate Anthony Imperiale 14 771 35 3 nbsp 14 0Republican Harry J Romeo 6 946 16 6 nbsp 2 4Total votes 41 798 100 00 District 31 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Wally Sheil 26 872 70 6 nbsp 8 9Republican Edward T Magee 11 191 29 4 nbsp 8 9Total votes 38 063 100 00 District 32 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic David Friedland 26 813 67 5 nbsp 7 2Republican Joseph W Gallagher 11 817 29 8 nbsp 6 9Politicians Are Crooks Herbert H Shaw 1 082 2 7 N ATotal votes 39 712 100 00 District 33 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic William Musto 25 270 71 8 nbsp 6 2Republican Michael A Litzas 7 244 20 6 nbsp 1 4Repeal Income Tax William J Meehan 1 719 4 9 N AFor The People Eulalio Jose Negrin 966 2 7 N ATotal votes 35 199 100 00 District 34 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Joseph Hirkala 28 628 69 6 nbsp 5 7Republican Herman Schmidt 12 484 30 4 nbsp 5 7Total votes 41 112 100 00District 35 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Frank X Graves Jr 17 005 56 2 nbsp 6 3Republican Alfred E Fontanella 12 193 40 3 nbsp 9 8Tax Revolt Independent Joseph S Long 547 1 8 N AIndependent Progressive Conservative Roy L Ward 500 1 7 N ATotal votes 30 245 100 00 District 36 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Anthony Scardino 31 466 63 9 nbsp 1 9Republican Harold A Pareti 17 805 36 1 nbsp 0 7Total votes 49 271 100 00 District 37 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Matthew Feldman incumbent 31 945 59 0 nbsp 0 4Republican William C Clark 21 723 40 1 nbsp 0 7Communist Magnus Nelson 492 0 9 N ATotal votes 54 160 100 00 District 38 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic John Skevin incumbent 24 629 56 1 nbsp 1 5Republican Frank A Buono Jr 19 289 43 9 nbsp 1 5Total votes 43 918 100 00 District 39 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Frank Herbert 28 658 52 8 nbsp 1 5Republican John W Markert 25 582 47 2 nbsp 1 5Total votes 54 240 100 00 District 40 edit1977 general election 15 Party Candidate Votes Republican Garrett W Hagedorn incumbent 29 689 57 8 nbsp 1 6Democratic Anthony D Andora 21 009 40 9 nbsp 2 9Independent Middle America Victor E Virgens 664 1 3 N ATotal votes 51 362 100 00 References edit Fitzgerald s New Jersey Legislative Manual Joseph J Gribbons 1976 Fitzgerald s New Jersey Legislative Manual Joseph J Gribbons 1978 a b Results of the General Election PDF New Jersey Division of Elections State of New Jersey Retrieved December 4 2014 Janson Donald March 5 1977 Perskie Likely to Oppose mcgahn in Senate Race New York Times a b Our Campaigns a b c d e f Results of the Primary Election PDF New Jersey Division of Elections State of New Jersey Retrieved December 4 2014 NARVAEZ ALFONSO A October 17 1977 Democrats Running Strong in Campaigns in 13th 17th and 21st Districts New York Times Our Campaigns Retrieved December 4 2014 Our Campaigns Retrieved December 4 2014 a b Results of the General Election PDF New Jersey Division of Elections State of New Jersey Retrieved December 4 2014 NARVAEZ ALFONSO A October 10 1977 G O P Expected to Maintain Strength In Morris Union and Essex Counties New York Times Results of the General Election PDF New Jersey Division of Elections State of New Jersey Retrieved December 4 2014 Our Campaigns Retrieved December 4 2014 Our Campaigns Retrieved December 4 2014 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 Results of the General Election Held November 8 1977 PDF Retrieved June 26 2021 Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly PDF Secretary of State of New Jersey 1977 p 9 Retrieved July 26 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1977 New Jersey Senate election amp oldid 1183480301, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
