The 1983 New Jersey Senate election was held on November 8. The election took place mid-way through the first term of Governor Thomas Kean. Democrats gained a net of two seats after flipping the 11th, 13th, and 38th districts. Meanwhile, Republicans flipped the 18th.
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
The race between Costa and Kalik, both Assemblywomen from Willingboro, was expected to be among the most competitive in the state. Though Kalik, who had served since 1977, was better known in Trenton, Costa also served as a Freeholder and was the top vote-getter on the 1981 ticket.
Robert Morgan, the original Democratic nominee, withdrew from the race, citing the pressure of his medical practice.
County Prosecutor Alexander Lehrer, the most prominent public official in the county, was initially reluctant to run, worrying that a political campaign had little chance of success and could imperil his ambitions for the state judiciary. Party chair John Fiorino and U.S. Representative James J. Howard recruited him into the race through a draft movement; their support would also be critical to any judicial appointment.
Gagliano denied reports that he had implied Lehrer's campaign would threaten his confirmation to the judiciary in the Senate.
Garibaldi stressed the issue of auto insurance premiums, which he said remained unsatisfactorily high despite recent legislation to slow rate increases. He also cited his opposition to property revaluation programs in several towns, including Monroe and East Brunswick, which shifted local property tax burdens from commercial to residential property owners. Garibaldi said he had gone to court to stop the Monroe revaluation over disagreements with the group hired to conduct the survey.
Alongside the primary election, Lesniak won a special election to complete the unexpired term of John T. Gregorio, who had been convicted of conspiring to conceal his ownership of two Linden taverns.
Brown announced her campaign in March, claiming that she was running on economic issues rather than in opposition to Vreeland, who had been her running mate since 1980. The seat had been expected to go to Assemblyman Dean Gallo of Parsippany on Vreeland's retirement. Brown called for "new ideas", a veiled jab at the 73-year old Vreeland. Her campaign out-raised and out-advertised Vreeland.
In the primary, each candidate accused the other of conflicts of interest. Shain charged that Codey sponsored multiple bills relating to the insurance industry while earning money as a consultant from insurance companies. Codey charged that Shain earned large dividends from stock in a cable television company which was awarded a franchise to operate in Orange. Shain had abstained from voting on the contract and sold his shares before the primary election.
Shain spent close to $250,000 on radio commercials and telephone banking, while Codey spent over $115,000, setting a record for campaign spending.
Carrino challenged Caufield, who had served two terms and was a close ally of Newark mayor Kenneth A. Gibson. During the prior legislative session, Caufield had blocked a bill supported by the city council that would have reformed school board elections in Newark. The contest was framed as a struggle between the mayor and the city council for power.
The 30th district in suburban Essex County was among the most highly contested in the state, due to Orechio's position as President of the New Jersey Senate and the most powerful Democrat in Trenton. Governor Thomas Kean, a native of Essex, had carried the district by more than 3,000 votes in 1981, while Orechio was re-elected by slightly more than 1,000. Orechio, who was also the mayor of Nutley, hoped that the increased attention on the Senate race in an off-year and a special election for Nutley council would boost his vote.
Salerno, a first-time candidate for office, campaigned on a strong anti-crime position including tougher prison sentences, support of the Governor's proposed infrastructure bank, and opposition to the Mount Laurel doctrine of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Though he now lived in Bloomfield, he stressed his working class roots in Belleville. Down the stretch, the Republican campaign turned negative, attacking Orechio in personal terms while trying to establish Salerno's credentials for office. Among the issues cited was Orechio's control of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, which his brother Carl, a former Republican Assemblyman, chaired at a salary of $6,000 per year. Another Orechio brother, Frank, received a $54,000 salary as program director for the Wanaque South Water Project. Orechio called the attacks on his brothers "sleazy" and disclaimed any role in their work, noting that appointments were made by the Governor. (The appointments were also confirmed by the Senate.) He refused to appear on a campaign platform with Salerno until he received an apology.
Salerno spent over $110,000 by late October, while Orechio spent over $87,000. Former Democratic Freeholder Martin G. Scaturo ran in the race as an independent candidate.
Reacting to the results, Orechio said, "They had the money, the big money. But we had the people, and that's what really counted."
The three Hudson County district primaries were part of a struggle for power between Jersey City mayor Gerald McCann and former mayor Thomas F. X. Smith, who ran for Hudson County Executive against incumbent Edward F. Clark.
Cowan was backed by McCann, replacing incumbent Francis E. Rodgers on his slate. Cucci was backed by Smith.
Late in the campaign, Cucci was endorsed by U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, whom he had supported in 1982.
The three Hudson County district primaries were part of a struggle for power between Jersey City mayor Gerald McCann and former mayor Thomas F. X. Smith, who ran for Hudson County Executive against incumbent Edward F. Clark.
Jackman was backed by Smith, while Simunovich was backed by McCann. The race was considered "a tight one" by The New York Times.
Late in the campaign, Jackman was endorsed by U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, whom he had supported in 1982.
Given the Democratic lean of the district and a potential match-up with James W. Roe, Republican leaders feared a lingering split in the party could lead to a loss in November.
Bubba campaigned on a claim that he had single-handedly blocked efforts by Governor Kean for a 5-cent per gallon gas tax in 1982. Despite this, Kean supported his campaign.
Roe was likewise critical of his own party, referring to the "foot-dragging Legislature" and criticizing the slow pace of legislative negotiations on automobile insurance. He avoided criticism of Kean, who remained popular in the district.
Both candidates had switched parties in the past. Job, who had been a Republican in the 1960s, had spent the last decade as a member of the Democratic Party and served as the campaign manager for the Democratic Assembly ticket in 1981. As a result, he stayed out of the Assembly race, claiming that voters "[were] fortunate in having four good men to choose from." In radio commercials, Hirkala highlighted Job's penchant for switching parties.
With party loyalties blurred, the campaign turned bitterly personal, despite the friendship between the two candidates. Job referred to Hirkala as a "do-nothing" clerk, and Hirkala charged that Job had failed to prevent prison escapes and drug use by inmates as Bergen County Sheriff.
Hirkala planned to raise and spend $45,000, most of it from the New Jersey State Democratic Committee. Both candidates utilized radio commercials.