1985 New Jersey General Assembly election

The 1985 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1985.

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 , 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.

Republicans flipped one seat in districts 9, 10, and 14, as well as both seats in districts 3, 13, 30, 32, 33, and 36. Democrats flipped one seat in District 17.

Incumbents not running for re-election

Democratic

Thomas W. Long (District 20)
Nicholas LaRocca (District 33)

Summary of races

Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.

Close races

Districts where the difference of total votes between the top-two parties was under 10%:

gain R
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District 1

Republican primary

Candidates

Joseph W. Chinnici, incumbent Assembly member from Bridgeton since 1972 (Regular Republican Party)
Guy F. Muziani, incumbent Assembly member from Wildwood since 1982 (Regular Republican Party)

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Peter L. Amico, forklift innovator from Vineland (Regular Democratic Organization)
Raymond A. Batten, prosecutor (Regular Democratic Organization)

Results

General election

Candidates

Peter L. Amico, forklift innovator from Vineland (Democratic)
Raymond A. Batten, prosecutor (Democratic)
Joseph W. Chinnici, incumbent Assembly member from Bridgeton since 1972 (Republican)
Guy F. Muziani, incumbent Assembly member from Wildwood since 1982 (Republican)

Results

District 2

Republican primary

Candidates

Dolores G. Cooper, incumbent Assembly member from Brigantine since 1982 (Regular Republican)
J. Edward Kline, incumbent Assembly member from Atlantic City since 1984 (Regular Republican)

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Lillian E. Bryant, daughter of Horace J. Bryant (Regular Democratic Organization)
Joel Jacovitz, real estate developer (Regular Democratic Organization)
Israel Mosee, community activist

Results

General election

Candidates

Lillian E. Bryant, daughter of Horace J. Bryant (Democratic)
Dolores G. Cooper, incumbent Assembly member from Atlantic City since 1982 (Republican)
Joel Jacovitz, real estate developer (Democratic)
J. Edward Kline, incumbent Assembly member from Brigantine since 1984 (Republican)

Results

District 3

Democratic primary

Candidates

Martin A. Herman, incumbent Assembly member from Mickleton since 1974 (Democratic)
Thomas A. Pankok, incumbent Assembly member from Pennsville since 1982 (Democratic)

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Jack Collins, former Glassboro State College basketball coach and member of the Elmer Board of Education (Regular Republican Organization)
Gary Stuhltrager, Gloucester County Freeholder (Regular Organization Republican)
Douglas Zee, fruit grower and farmer (Regular Republican - the People's Choice)

Results

General election

Candidates

Jack Collins, former Glassboro State College basketball coach and member of the Elmer Board of Education (Republican)
Martin A. Herman, incumbent Assembly member from Mickleton since 1974 (Democratic)
Thomas A. Pankok, incumbent Assembly member from Pennsville since 1982 (Democratic)
Gary Stuhltrager, Gloucester County Freeholder (Republican)

Results

District 4

General election

Candidates

Anthony S. Marsella, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
Dennis L. Riley, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
Frank F. Senatore (Republican)
William F. Thomson (Republican)

Results

District 5

General election

Candidates

Charles E. Brimm (Republican)
Wayne R. Bryant, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
Francis J. Gorman, incumbent Assembly member since 1972 (Democratic)
William M. Terrell (Republican)

Results

District 6

General election

Candidates

Harry Benn (Democratic)
John A. Rocco, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
Thomas J. Shusted, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Republican)
Carl B. Viniar (Democratic)

Results

District 7

General election

Candidates

Charles J. Ansert (Republican)
Renee L. Borstad (Republican)
Thomas P. Foy, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
Barbara Kalik, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)

Results

District 8

General election

Candidates

Claire B. Cohen (Democratic)
Harold L. Colburn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
Bernardo S. Doganiero, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor)
Paul Ferguson (Socialist Labor)
Robert C. Shinn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since February 1985 (Republican)
Harrison B. Slack (Democratic)

Results

District 9

General election

Candidates

Paul David Hedrich ("Time for Change")
John T. Hendrickson Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
Warren E. Hickman (Democratic)
Jeffrey Moran, member of the Ocean County Utilities Authority and former member of the Beachwood Borough Council (Republican)
Jorge A. Rod, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)

Results

District 10

General election

Candidates

John Paul Doyle, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and Assembly Majority Leader since 1982 (Democratic)
Marlene Lynch Ford, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Democratic)
Wallace Gluck (Libertarian)
Roden S. Lightbody (Republican)
Robert Singer, mayor of Lakewood Township (Republican)

Results

District 11

General election

Candidates

Craig Alan Frankel (Democratic)
Daniel P. Jacobson, member of the Ocean Township Council (Democratic)
Joseph A. Palaia, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
Anthony M. Villane, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)

Results

District 12

General election

Candidates

John O. Bennett, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
Michael L. Detzky (Democratic)
Donald M. Lomurro (Democratic)
Marie Sheehan Muhler, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)

Results

District 13

General election

Candidates

Joseph Azzolina, former member of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly (Republican)
William Flynn, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)
Joann H. Smith, former member of the Old Bridge Township Council (Republican)
Jacqueline Walker, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Democratic)

Results

District 14

General election

Candidates

Joseph L. Bocchini Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
Thomas Colitsas, West Windsor accountant and candidate for State Senate in 1981 (Republican)
Joseph D. Patero, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)
John K. Rafferty, mayor of Hamilton Township and candidate for Governor in 1981 (Republican)

Results

District 15

General election

Candidates

Barbara Marrow (Republican)
Mary Ann McKee (Republican)
Gerald S. Naples, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
John S. Watson, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)

Results

District 16

General election

Candidates

Stephen Friedlander (Libertarian)
Walter J. Kavanaugh, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)
William R. Norris II (Democratic)
John S. Penn, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
Frank M. Reskin (Democratic)

Results

District 17

General election

District 18

General election

Candidates

Michael Liebowitz (Republican)
S. Elliott Mayo (Republican)
Thomas H. Paterniti, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
Frank M. Pelly, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)

Results

District 19

General election

Candidates

Robert De Santis (Republican)
Alan Karcher, Speaker of the General Assembly since 1982 and incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)
George Otlowski, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and mayor of Perth Amboy (Democratic)
Emery Z. Toth (Republican)

Results

District 20

General election

Candidates

Tom Dunn, mayor of Elizabeth and former member of the State Senate (Experienced-Competent-Courageous)
Thomas J. Deverin, incumbent Assembly member since 1970 (Democratic)
George Hudak, mayor of Linden (Democratic)
Alice Holzapfel (Republican)
Michael A. Posnock (Republican)
Rose Zeidwerg Monyek, perennial candidate ("Inflation Fighting Housewife")

Results

District 21

General election

Candidates

Peter J. Genova, incumbent Assembly member since February 1985 (Republican)
Chuck Hardwick, Assembly Minority Leader and incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Republican)
Livio Mancino (Democratic)
Fred Palensar III (Independent)
Andrew Ruotolo, former Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey (Democratic)

Results

District 22

General election

Candidates

Bob Franks, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
Florence Martone (Democratic)
Maureen Ogden, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
John F. Tully Jr. (Democratic)

Results

District 23

General election

Candidates

Richard C. Allen (Democratic)
Karl Weidel, incumbent Assembly member since 1970 (Republican)
Dick Zimmer, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)

Results

District 24

General election

Candidates

Robert T. Davis (Democratic)
Chuck Haytaian, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
John P. Kilroy Jr. (Democratic)
Robert E. Littell, incumbent Assembly member since 1968 (Republican)

Results

District 25

General election

Candidates

Arthur R. Albohn, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
Donald Cresitello, former mayor of Morristown (Democratic)
Rodney Frelinghuysen, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
Carl A. Mottey (Democratic)

Results

District 26

General election

Candidates

Ralph A. Loveys, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
Robert Martin, incumbent Assembly member since February 1985 (Republican)
Claude C. Post (Democratic)
Joseph V. Vender (Democratic)

Results

District 27

General election

Candidates

Jean Brozyna (Republican)
Chandler Dennis (Republican)
Mildred Barry Garvin, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)
Harry A. McEnroe, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)

Results

District 28

General election

Candidates

Michael Adubato, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)
Joe Imperiale
Jose Linares, attorney (Republican)
James Zangari, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)

Results

District 29

General election

Candidates

Willie B. Brown, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)
Kurt A. Culbreath (Republican)
Eugene H. Thompson, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)
Della Moses Walker (Republican)

Results

District 30

General election

Candidates

Steve Adubato Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Democratic)
Marion Crecco, advertising executive and chair of the Bloomfield Republican Party Committee (Republican)
Buddy Fortunato, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)
John V. Kelly, former Assembly member from Nutley (Republican)

Results

District 31

General election

Candidates

Nat Amadeo (Republican)
Joseph Charles, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
Joseph Doria, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
Bruce M. Shipitofsky (Republican)

Results

District 32

General election

Candidates

Charles J. Catrillo, director of water for Jersey City (Republican)
Paul Cuprowski, incumbent Assembly member since 1983 (Democratic)
Frank J. Gargiulo (Republican)
Edith M. Shaw (Politicians Are Crooks)
Herbert H. Shaw, perennial candidate (Politicians Are Crooks)
Anthony P. Vanieri, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Democratic)

Results

District 33

General election

Candidates

Jose Arango (Republican)
Ronald Dario, member of the Union City Commission (Republican)
Mario R. Hernandez (Democratic)
Robert Ranieri, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Democratic)

Results

District 34

General election

Candidates

Elisa Leib (Democratic)
Newton Edward Miller, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
Joseph F. Palumbo (Democratic)
Gerald H. Zecker, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)

Results

District 35

General election

Candidates

John Girgenti, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)
Vincent O. Pellecchia, incumbent Assembly member since 1972 (Democratic)
Walter W. Porter Jr. (Republican)
Kenneth Van Rye (Republican)

Results

District 36

General election

Candidates

Paul DiGaetano, member of the Passaic City Council (Republican)
Kathleen Donovan, Lyndhurst public defender (Republican)
Robert P. Hollenbeck, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)
Richard F. Visotcky, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)

Results

District 37

General election

Candidates

Byron Baer, incumbent Assembly member since 1972 (Democratic)
Nicholas Corbiscello (Republican)
Martin Katz (Republican)
D. Bennett Mazur, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)

Results

District 38

General election

Candidates

Thomas K. Hynes (Democratic)
Louis F. Kosco, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
Richard Kraus (Libertarian)
Pat Schuber, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
David S. Turetsky (Democratic)