The 1981 New Jersey Senate elections were held on November 3. The New Jersey legislature reapportioned its state legislative districts in advance of the 1981 election. The new districts resulted in many senators running for re-election in newly re-numbered districts. The election coincided with a tightly contested gubernatorial election between Thomas Kean and James Florio. Republicans gained five seats, narrowing the Democratic majority to 22âÂÂ18. Democrats flipped districts 10, 14, and 15, while Republicans flipped districts 9, 12, 13, 21, 26, 34, 38, and 39.
A Federal Bureau of Investigation investigation resulted in the retirements of Senators Joseph A. Maressa and Angelo Errichetti, both of whom accepted bribes from the FBI under the guise of Arab oil sheikhs. Errichetti was convicted; Maressa was not prosecuted but opted to retire.
Incumbents not running for re-election
Democratic
Republican
Summary of results by State Senate district
Close races
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
- gain
- gain
- gain
District 1
The first district consisted of all of Cape May County and the Cumberland municipalities of Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, Upper Deerfield, Deerfield, and Maurice River. Prior to redistricting, it had contained all of Cumberland County.
Incumbent Senator James Cafiero retired.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 2
The second district consisted of Atlantic County except for the municipalities of Folsom, Buena, and Buena Vista, which were removed in redistricting. Redistricting also removed Bass River and Washington in Burlington County and Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor in Ocean County.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Richard "Reds" Lavin, labor organizer and state government liaison for the Atlantic City Department of Parks and Public Property (The Alternative)
- Steven Perskie, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Endorsed By Atlantic County Democratic Convention)
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 3
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Raymond Zane, incumbent Senator (Regular Democratic Organization)
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- D. Paul McMahon Jr., owner of a Woodbury electrical contracting firm
Results
General election
Candidates
- D. Paul McMahon Jr., owner of a Woodbury electrical contracting firm (Republican)
- Raymond Zane, incumbent Senator (Democratic)
Results
District 4
Democratic primary
Candidates
This primary was a rematch of the 1979 Assembly election, in which Dalton and running mate Dennis L. Riley, who ran with the support of Congressman Jim Florio, unseated Gewertz and Francis J. Gorman, who had the support of Camden mayor and State Senator Angelo Errichetti. Each candidate had the support of their respective county party; Dalton in Camden and Gewertz in Gloucester.
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Connie B. Roggio, Gloucester Township councilwoman (Regular Republican Organization)
- Frank B. Smith (Organization of Regular Republicans)
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 5
Democratic primary
Candidates
Unlike the neighboring fourth district, both Assemblymen Rand and Schuck were considered allies of Errichetti and shared a legislative office. Their friendly relations were maintained throughout a "kid-gloves" campaign, despite the close margin.
Ultimately, Florio struck an alliance with Rand which propelled him over the top as Florio ran up large numbers in the gubernatorial race.
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- John H. Lyons Jr. (Regular Republican Organization of Camden County)
Results
General election
Candidates
District 6
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- James Greenberg (Regular Democratic Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
- James Greenberg (Democratic)
- Lee Laskin, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Republican)
District 7
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Michael J. Conda (Regular Republican Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
District 8
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Raymond J. Storck (Regular Democratic Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
District 9
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Wesley K. Bell, former mayor of Stafford Township and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1978 (Official Regular Democrat Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
District 10
All of the new tenth district had previously been contained within the boundaries of the ninth district in Ocean County. It consisted of Lakewood, Brick, and Toms River, and the shore towns of Lavallette, Mantoloking, Bay Head, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Ocean Gate, Point Pleasant Beach, and Point Pleasant.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 11
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- George Callas (Regular Democratic Organization of Monmouth County)
Results
General election
Candidates
- George Callas (Democratic)
- Stan Johnson (Citizens)
- Brian T. Kennedy, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Republican)
Results
District 12
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Roger J. Kane (Regular Democratic Organization of Monmouth County)
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 13
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Eugene J. Bedell, incumbent Senator since 1974 (Regular Democratic Organization of Monmouth County)
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 14
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 15
Incumbent Senator Joseph Merlino, who had been redistricted from the 13th district, opted to run for Governor of New Jersey.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Sollami had the support of county party chair and power broker Richard J. Coffee.
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 16
Republican primary
Candidates
- John H. Ewing, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Somerset County Republican Organization)
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- John F. Guerrera (Regular Democratic Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
- John H. Ewing, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Republican)
- John F. Guerrera (Regular Democratic Organization)
Results
District 17
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Donald J. Douglas (Middlesex County Republican Organization, Inc.)
- John Giammarco (Middlesex County Regular Republican Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
District 18
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Joseph M. Cooperstein (Middlesex County Republican Organization, Inc.)
- Peter Garibaldi, former Assemblyman from Monroe Township (Middlesex County Regular Republican Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
District 19
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Edmund S. Kaboski (Middlesex County Republican Organization, Inc.)
Results
General election
Candidates
- Edmund S. Kaboski (Republican)
- Laurence S. Weiss, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Democratic)
Results
District 20
Democratic primary
Candidates
- John T. Gregorio, incumbent Senator since 1978 and mayor of Linden (Regular Democratic Organization of Union County)
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Fenick (Regular Organization Republican of Union County)
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 21
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- C. Louis Bassano, Assemblyman from Union Township (Regular Organization Republican of Union County)
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 22
Republican primary
Candidates
- Anthony J. Crincoli (Regular Republican Party)
- Donald DiFrancesco, incumbent Senator since 1979 (Regular Organization Republican of Union County)
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Frank Fiorito (Democratic PartyOrganization)
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 23
Republican primary
Candidates
- Walter Foran, incumbent Senator since 1977 (Regular Republican Organization)
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Samuel J. Gugliemini (Regular Democratic Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
- Walter Foran, incumbent Senator since 1977 (Republican)
- Samuel J. Gugliemini (Democratic)
Results
District 24
Republican primary
Candidates
The campaign between Albanese and Dumont was possibly the most bitter in the state. Dumont had supported Albanese in his short-lived campaign for governor, only for Albanese to withdraw from that race and challenge Dumont.
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Edward Gaffney (Regular Democratic Party Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
- Wayne Dumont, incumbent Senator since 1968 (Republican)
- Edward Gaffney (Democratic)
Results
District 25
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Horace Chamberlain (Democrat)
Results
General election
Candidates
- Horace Chamberlain (Democratic)
- John H. Dorsey, incumbent Senator since 1978 (Republican)
Results
District 26
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Benjamin Steltzer (Regular Democrat)
Results
General election
Candidates
- Benjamin Steltzer (Democratic)
- James P. Vreeland, incumbent Senator since 1974 (Republican)
Results
District 27
Democratic primary
Candidates
- James J. Brown ("Think" Democratic)
- Richard Codey, Assemblyman from Orange (Democratic Party Organization)
- Gayle Brody Rosen
Results
Republican primary
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 28
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Results
General election
Candidates
- John P. Caufield, incumbent Senator since 1979 (Democratic)
- Herta B. Tully (Republican)
Results
District 29
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Wynona Lipman, incumbent Senator since 1972 (Democratic PartyOrganization)
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Louis J. Smith (Essex Republican Party Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
- Wynona Lipman, incumbent Senator since 1972 (Democratic)
- Louis J. Smith (Republican)
Results
District 30
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- John I. Crecco (Essex Republican Party Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
- John I. Crecco (Republican)
- Arthur Kinoy (Citizens)
- Carmen Orechio, incumbent Senator since 1974 and mayor of Nutley (Democratic)
Results
District 31
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jean C. Lane (Regular Republican Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 32
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Joseph F. Ward (Regular Republican Organization)
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
Notes
References