This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2021) |
The 1985 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1985.
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All 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly 41 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The elections coincided with Governor Tom Kean's landslide re-election. The result was a historic victory for Kean's Republican Party, which gained 14 seats to retake the majority in the Assembly. As of 2024, this remains the only election since 1973 in which Republicans won any seats in the Senate or Assembly from Hudson County, where they carried four of six seats.
Incumbents not running for re-election
editDemocratic
edit- Thomas W. Long (District 20)
- Nicholas LaRocca (District 33)
Summary of races
editVoters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.
- ^ Colburn won a September 1984 special to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Robert J. Meyer, who died of a heart attack.
- ^ Shinn won a special election in February 1985 to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman C. William Haines, who had been elevated to the Senate.
- ^ Rod was elected as a Republican in 1983, but switched parties on August 27, shortly before the election.
- ^ Perun switched parties on March 14.
- ^ Genova won a March 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Edward K. Gill, who died of heart disease.
- ^ Martin won a January 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Dean Gallo, who resigned to join the U.S. House of Representatives.
- ^ Randall won a March 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman John W. Markert.
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 |
District 1
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joseph W. Chinnici | 35,610 | 33.7 | 5.5 | |
Republican | Guy F. Muziani | 33,978 | 32.1 | 6.0 | |
Democratic | Raymond A. Batten | 18,794 | 17.8 | 8.0 | |
Democratic | Peter L. Amico | 17,407 | 16.5 | 3.4 | |
Total votes | '105,789' | '100.0' |
District 2
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | J. Edward Kline | 32,092 | 34.1 | 5.6 | |
Republican | Dolores G. Cooper | 27,395 | 29.1 | 2.0 | |
Democratic | Joel Jacovitz | 19,899 | 21.2 | 1.0 | |
Democratic | Lillian E. Bryant | 14,634 | 15.6 | 4.8 | |
Total votes | '94,020' | '100.0' |
District 3
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jack Collins | 27,514 | 26.2 | 3.3 | |
Republican | Gary W. Stuhltrager | 27,032 | 25.7 | 3.5 | |
Democratic | Martin A. Herman | 25,699 | 24.5 | 3.7 | |
Democratic | Thomas A. Pankok | 24,796 | 23.6 | 3.1 | |
Total votes | '105,041' | '100.0' |
District 4
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Anthony S. Marsella | 23,162 | 27.3 | 3.4 | |
Democratic | Dennis L. Riley | 22,703 | 26.8 | 3.4 | |
Republican | Frank F. Senatore | 19,621 | 23.1 | 2.8 | |
Republican | William F. Thomson | 19,307 | 22.8 | 3.9 | |
Total votes | '84,793' | '100.0' |
District 5
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Francis J. Gorman | 22,828 | 30.9 | 2.8 | |
Democratic | Wayne R. Bryant | 22,691 | 30.7 | 3.6 | |
Republican | Charles E. Brimm | 14,514 | 19.6 | 3.3 | |
Republican | William M. Terrell | 13,872 | 18.8 | 3.2 | |
Total votes | '73,905' | '100.0' |
District 6
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John A. Rocco | 32,812 | 32.7 | 4.9 | |
Republican | Thomas J. Shusted | 31,679 | 31.6 | 3.9 | |
Democratic | Carl B. Viniar | 18,425 | 18.4 | 4.8 | |
Democratic | Harry Benn | 17,382 | 17.3 | 4.0 | |
Total votes | '100,298' | '100.0' |
District 7
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Barbara Faith Kalik | 26,452 | 29.4 | 1.3 | |
Democratic | Thomas P. Foy | 25,217 | 28.0 | 1.8 | |
Republican | Renee L. Borstad | 19,318 | 21.4 | 0.3 | |
Republican | Charles J. Ansert | 19,096 | 21.2 | 2.9 | |
Total votes | '90,083' | '100.0' |
District 8
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Harold L. Colburn, Jr. | 29,150 | 34.8 | 3.8 | |
Republican | Robert C. Shinn, Jr. | 29,085 | 34.7 | 3.2 | |
Democratic | Claire B. Cohen | 12,971 | 15.5 | 3.6 | |
Democratic | Harrison B. Slack | 12,285 | 14.7 | 3.7 | |
Socialist Labor | Bernardo S. Doganiero | 189 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Socialist Labor | Paul Ferguson | 170 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Total votes | '83,850' | '100.0' |
District 9
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John T. Hendrickson Jr. (incumbent) | 39,031 | 32.4 | 0.9 | |
Republican | Jeffrey Moran | 37,877 | 31.4 | 1.2 | |
Democratic | Jorge A. Rod (incumbent) | 23,470 | 19.5 | 0.4 ( 10.7) | |
Democratic | Warren E. Hickman | 19,420 | 16.1 | 2.2 | |
"Time for Change" | Paul David Hedrich | 708 | 0.6 | N/A | |
Total votes | '120,506' | '100.0' |
District 10
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Paul Doyle (incumbent) | 30,055 | 25.9 | 3.3 | |
Republican | Robert Singer | 29,621 | 25.5 | 1.9 | |
Republican | Roden S. Lightbody | 28,179 | 24.2 | 3.5 | |
Democratic | Marlene Lynch Ford (incumbent) | 28,159 | 24.2 | 1.5 | |
Libertarian | Wallace Gluck | 217 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Total votes | '116,231' | '100.0' |
District 11
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joseph A. Palaia | 35,629 | 34.4 | 5.1 | |
Republican | Anthony M. “Doc” Villane | 35,291 | 34.1 | 4.9 | |
Democratic | Craig Alan Frankel | 16,298 | 15.8 | 5.0 | |
Democratic | Daniel P. Jacobson | 16,242 | 15.7 | 5.1 | |
Total votes | '103,460' | '100.0' |
District 12
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John O. Bennett | 33,205 | 32.5 | 2.6 | |
Republican | Marie Sheehan Muhler | 32,346 | 31.6 | 2.0 | |
Democratic | Donald M. Lomurro | 18,584 | 18.2 | 2.3 | |
Democratic | Michael L. Detzky | 18,129 | 17.7 | 2.3 | |
Total votes | '102,264' | '100.0' |
District 13
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joseph Azzolina | 26,565 | 26.3 | 2.5 | |
Republican | Joann H. Smith | 25,970 | 25.7 | 4.1 | |
Democratic | William E. Flynn | 24,418 | 24.2 | 3.6 | |
Democratic | Jacqueline Walker | 24,058 | 23.8 | 3.0 | |
Total votes | '101,011' | '100.0' |
District 14
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph L. Bocchini, Jr. | 28,476 | 26.5 | 2.0 | |
Republican | John K. Rafferty | 27,960 | 26.1 | 3.8 | |
Democratic | Joseph D. Patero | 26,707 | 24.9 | 3.2 | |
Republican | Thomas Colitsas | 24,189 | 22.5 | 1.4 | |
Total votes | '107,332' | '100.0' |
District 15
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John S. Watson | 25,173 | 28.2 | 3.0 | |
Democratic | Gerald S. Naples | 24,893 | 27.9 | 3.0 | |
Republican | Barbara Marrow | 19,818 | 22.2 | 3.0 | |
Republican | Mary Ann McKee | 19,413 | 21.7 | 3.0 | |
Total votes | '89,297' | '100.0' |
District 16
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Walter J. Kavanaugh | 37,577 | 38.9 | 4.5 | |
Republican | John S. Penn | 35,258 | 36.5 | 5.5 | |
Democratic | William R. Norris II | 11,884 | 12.3 | 4.8 | |
Democratic | Frank M. Reskin | 11,596 | 12.0 | 4.3 | |
Libertarian | Stephen Friedlander | 363 | 0.4 | 0.8 | |
Total votes | '96,678' | '100.0' |
District 17
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | David C. Schwartz | 21,174 | 28.1 | 4.4 | |
Democratic | Bob Smith | 19,556 | 26.0 | 6.1 | |
Republican | Angela L. Perun | 19,104 | 25.4 | 7.4 ( 6.7) | |
Republican | Francis J. Coury | 15,503 | 20.6 | 4.1 | |
Total votes | '75,337' | '100.0' |
District 18
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Thomas H. Paterniti | 30,169 | 26.7 | 1.8 | |
Democratic | Frank M. Pelly | 29,490 | 26.1 | 2.2 | |
Republican | S. Elliott Mayo | 27,101 | 24.0 | 2.1 | |
Republican | Michael Leibowitz | 26,280 | 23.2 | 1.9 | |
Total votes | 113,040 | 100.0 |
District 19
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | George J. Otlowski | 26,187 | 26.7 | 3.3 | |
Democratic | Alan J. Karcher | 24,803 | 25.3 | 2.8 | |
Republican | Emery Z. Toth | 23,673 | 24.1 | 2.8 | |
Republican | Robert De Santis | 23,544 | 24.0 | 3.4 | |
Total votes | '98,207' | '100.0' |
District 20
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Thomas J. Deverin | 19,892 | 25.5 | 9.4 | |
Democratic | George Hudak | 18,085 | 23.1 | 11.7 | |
Republican | Michael A. Posnock | 14,617 | 18.7 | 3.3 | |
Republican | Alice A. Holzapfel | 13,134 | 16.8 | 1.8 | |
Experienced-Competent-Courageous | Tom Dunn | 10,174 | 13.0 | N/A | |
"Inflation Fighting Housewife" | Rose Zeidwerg Monyek | 2,240 | 2.9 | N/A | |
Total votes | '78,142' | '100.0' |
District 21
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Chuck Hardwick | 36,474 | 32.9 | 5.9 | |
Republican | Peter J. Genova | 34,625 | 31.2 | 5.2 | |
Democratic | Andrew K. Ruotolo, Jr. | 20,526 | 18.5 | 5.3 | |
Democratic | Livio Mancino | 18,408 | 16.6 | 6.6 | |
Independent | Fred Palensar III | 818 | 0.7 | N/A | |
Total votes | '110,851' | '100.0' |
District 22
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Maureen Ogden | 39,939 | 36.1 | 2.4 | |
Republican | Bob Franks | 39,284 | 35.5 | 2.4 | |
Democratic | John F. Tully, Jr. | 15,729 | 14.2 | 2.6 | |
Democratic | Florence Martone | 15,650 | 14.1 | 2.2 | |
Total votes | '110,602' | '100.0' |
District 23
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Richard A. Zimmer | 34,051 | 44.0 | 9.4 | |
Republican | Karl Weidel | 32,587 | 42.1 | 7.8 | |
Democratic | Richard C. Allen | 10,774 | 13.9 | 3.3 | |
Total votes | '77,412' | '100.0' |
District 24
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert E. Littell | 30,616 | 37.3 | 1.3 | |
Republican | Garabed “Chuck” Haytaian | 29,094 | 35.4 | 0.7 | |
Democratic | Robert T. Davis | 12,806 | 15.6 | 0.4 | |
Democratic | John P. Kilroy, Jr. | 9,617 | 11.7 | 2.3 | |
Total votes | '82,133' | '100.0' |
District 25
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rodney P. Frelinghuysen | 31,695 | 37.1 | 5.4 | |
Republican | Arthur R. Albohn | 29,043 | 34.0 | 4.6 | |
Democratic | Donald Cresitello | 12,652 | 14.8 | 4.9 | |
Democratic | Carl A. Mottey | 11,955 | 14.0 | 5.2 | |
Total votes | 85,345 | 100.0 |
District 26
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert J. Martin | 31,943 | 37.6 | 1.4 | |
Republican | Ralph A. Loveys | 31,898 | 37.5 | 4.7 | |
Democratic | Claude C. Post | 10,697 | 12.6 | 3.0 | |
Democratic | Joseph V. Vender | 10,425 | 12.3 | 3.1 | |
Total votes | '84,963' | '100.0' |
District 27
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Harry A. McEnroe | 20,780 | 31.5 | 5.4 | |
Democratic | Mildred Barry Garvin | 20,680 | 31.3 | 5.1 | |
Republican | Jean Brozyna | 12,345 | 18.7 | 4.9 | |
Republican | Chandler Dennis | 12,167 | 18.4 | 5.4 | |
Total votes | '65,972' | '100.0' |
District 28
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Michael F. Adubato | 12,495 | 30.4 | 4.1 | |
Democratic | James Zangari | 12,092 | 29.4 | 3.0 | |
Republican | Joe Imperiale | 8,604 | 20.9 | 8.3 | |
Republican | Jose Linares | 7,896 | 19.2 | 8.5 | |
Total votes | '41,087' | '100.0' |
District 29
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Willie B. Brown | 12,736 | 35.2 | 7.1 | |
Democratic | Eugene H. Thompson | 12,224 | 33.7 | 7.9 | |
Republican | Della Moses Walker | 5,852 | 16.2 | 7.6 | |
Republican | Kurt A. Culbreath | 5,420 | 15.0 | 7.5 | |
Total votes | '36,232' | '100.0' |
District 30
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John V. Kelly | 30,820 | 28.3 | 3.1 | |
Republican | Marion Crecco | 28,268 | 26.0 | 8.4 | |
Democratic | Stephen N. Adubato, Jr. | 25,505 | 23.4 | 3.2 | |
Democratic | Buddy Fortunato | 24,290 | 22.3 | 6.0 | |
Total votes | '108,883' | '100.0' |
District 31
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph V. Doria, Jr. | 25,613 | 31.8 | 8.6 | |
Democratic | Joseph Charles, Jr. | 24,612 | 30.6 | 8.8 | |
Republican | Nat S. Amadeo | 15,380 | 19.1 | 9.1 | |
Republican | Bruce M. Shipitofsky | 14,942 | 18.6 | 9.5 | |
Total votes | 80,547 | 100.0 |
District 32
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Frank J. Gargiulo | 25,179 | 27.1 | 10.4 | |
Republican | Charles J. Catrillo | 24,798 | 26.7 | 10.4 | |
Democratic | Paul Cuprowski | 21,018 | 22.7 | 9.4 | |
Democratic | Anthony P. Vainieri | 19,977 | 21.5 | 10.0 | |
Politicians Are Crooks | Edith M. Shaw | 896 | 1.0 | 0.8 | |
Politicians Are Crooks | Herbert H. Shaw | 877 | 0.9 | 0.7 | |
Total votes | '92,745' | '100.0' |
District 33
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ronald A. Dario | 20,422 | 27.9 | 10.0 | |
Republican | Jose O. Arango | 19,748 | 26.9 | 9.7 | |
Democratic | Robert A. Ranieri | 17,443 | 23.8 | 8.9 | |
Democratic | Mario R. Hernandez | 15,671 | 21.4 | 10.8 | |
Total votes | '73,284' | '100.0' |
District 34
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Gerald H. Zecker | 32,025 | 32.3 | 6.1 | |
Republican | Newton E. Miller | 31,791 | 32.1 | 5.4 | |
Democratic | Joseph F. Palumbo | 17,784 | 18.0 | 5.5 | |
Democratic | Elisa Leib | 17,411 | 17.6 | 4.1 | |
Total votes | '99,011' | '100.0' |
District 35
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John A. Girgenti | 18,634 | 30.2 | 7.4 | |
Democratic | Vincent “Ozzie” Pellecchia | 16,204 | 26.3 | 8.8 | |
Republican | Walter W. Porter, Jr. | 13,538 | 21.9 | 8.0 | |
Republican | Kenneth Van Rye | 13,352 | 21.6 | 8.2 | |
Total votes | '61,728' | '100.0' |
District 36
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Kathleen A. Donovan | 24,775 | 27.4 | 7.4 | |
Republican | Paul DiGaetano | 24,555 | 27.2 | 7.5 | |
Democratic | Robert P. Hollenbeck | 21,295 | 23.6 | 7.5 | |
Democratic | Richard F. Visotcky | 19,764 | 21.9 | 7.2 | |
Total votes | '90,389' | '100.0' |
District 37
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | D. Bennett Mazur | 27,376 | 27.0 | 3.9 | |
Democratic | Byron Baer | 27,335 | 26.9 | 4.5 | |
Republican | Nicholas Corbiscello | 24,300 | 23.9 | 5.0 | |
Republican | Martin Katz | 22,453 | 22.1 | 3.4 | |
Total votes | '101,464' | '100.0' |
District 38
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | William P. Schuber | 29,606 | 30.8 | 3.9 | |
Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 29,096 | 30.2 | 3.1 | |
Democratic | Thomas K. Hynes | 19,033 | 19.8 | 3.9 | |
Democratic | David S. Turetsky | 18,190 | 18.9 | 3.5 | |
Libertarian | Richard Kraus | 313 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Total votes | '96,238' | '100.0' |
District 39
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Elizabeth E. Randall | 35,172 | 33.3 | 4.4 | |
Republican | John E. Rooney | 33,358 | 31.6 | 2.9 | |
Democratic | Joseph A. Ferriero | 18,714 | 17.7 | 4.2 | |
Democratic | Fay Yeager | 18,257 | 17.3 | 3.2 | |
Total votes | 105,501 | 100.0 |
District 40
editGeneral election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Walter M. D. Kern, Jr. | 36,476 | 35.9 | 1.3 | |
Republican | Nicholas R. Felice | 36,369 | 35.8 | 1.9 | |
Democratic | Judy Miller | 14,590 | 14.4 | 1.6 | |
Democratic | Carmine J. Cicchino | 14,050 | 13.8 | 1.7 | |
Total votes | '101,485' | '100.0' |