The 2001 New Jersey Senate election was held on November 6. The election took place alongside Jim McGreevey's landslide election as Governor of New Jersey and were held in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, which killed 750 New Jerseyans and impacted many others. Under a newly redrawn map, Democrats gained five seats to split control of the Senate evenly. Democrats flipped districts 3 (after the incumbent switched parties earlier in the year), 18 (which was vacant), 22, 34, and 38.
A power-sharing agreement was reached with John O. Bennett and Richard Codey as co-presidents of the Senate. This is the last time Democrats did not win an outright majority of New Jersey State Senate seats, as well as the last time any Senate seats in North Jersey changed parties.
Background
Redistricting
As required, the New Jersey legislature redistricted its state legislative districts in advance of the 2001 election. Most Senators remained in their existing districts, though Senator Kevin J. O'Toole was redistricted to the 40th district and chose not to challenge.
The new map was based on a revised Democratic map chosen by Professor Larry Bartels of Princeton University, the non-partisan member of the reapportionment commission.
Republicans challenged the district map under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, arguing that by shifting some African-American and Hispanic voters out of three predominantly minority districts in and around Newark and spreading them to other, mostly white districts, the plan diluted minority voting strength. The case was rejected by the U.S. Court for the District of New Jersey. The Republican suit was dismissed partly under the influence of the near-unanimous support of New Jersey's incumbent minority legislators for the Democratic claim that their map would result in more minority representation, rather than less.
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
District 1
General election
Candidates
- James Cafiero, incumbent Senator since 1990 (Republican)
- William J. Hughes Jr., federal antitrust prosecutor and son of former U.S. Representative William J. Hughes (Democratic)
Results
District 2
General election
Candidates
- David Alcantara (Green)
- Bill Gormley, incumbent Senator since 1982 (Republican)
Results
District 3
General election
Candidates
Results
District 4
General election
Candidates
- Joseph L. Manganello (Democratic)
- John Matheussen, incumbent Senator since 1992 (Republican)
Results
District 5
General election
Candidates
- Wayne R. Bryant, incumbent Senator since 1995 (Democratic)
- Maryann T. Callahan (Republican)
Results
District 6
General election
Candidates
- John Adler, incumbent Senator since 1992 (Democratic)
- Jane A. Greenfogel (Republican)
Results
District 7
General election
Candidates
Results
District 8
General election
Candidates
- Martha W. Bark, incumbent Senator since 1997 (Republican)
- Gary E. Haman (Democratic)
Results
District 9
General election
Candidates
- Leonard T. Connors, incumbent Senator since 1982 and mayor of Surf City (Republican)
- Mark Schreckstein (Common Sense Independent)
- Peter A. Terranova (Democratic)
Results
District 10
General election
Candidates
- Andrew R. Ciesla, incumbent Senator since 1992 (Republican)
- Timothy E. Ryan (Democratic)
Results
District 11
General election
Candidates
- Maureen O'Rourke (Democratic)
- Joseph A. Palaia, incumbent Senator since 1989 and president pro tempore of the New Jersey Senate (Republican)
Results
District 12
General election
Candidates
- John O. Bennett, incumbent Senator since 1989 and Senate Majority Leader (Republican)
- Amy I. Aughenbaugh (Democratic)
Results
District 13
General election
Candidates
Results
District 14
General election
Candidates
Results
District 15
General election
Candidates
- Thomas D. Abrams (Libertarian)
- Norbert E. Donelly (Republican)
- Shirley Turner, incumbent Senator since 1998 (Democratic)
Results
District 16
General election
Candidates
Results
District 17
General election
Candidates
- Skip House (Republican)
- Bob Smith, member of the General Assembly and former mayor of Piscataway (Democratic)
Results
District 18
General election
Candidates
- Barbara Buono, member of the General Assembly (Democratic)
- John G. Cito (Republican)
Results
District 19
General election
Candidates
- Naresh Gidwani (Republican)
- Joe Vitale, incumbent Senator since 1998 (Democratic)
Results
District 20
General election
Candidates
- Raymond Lesniak, incumbent Senator since 1983 (Democratic)
- Daniel M. Nozza (Schundler for Governor)
Results
District 21
General election
Candidates
- Richard Bagger, member of the General Assembly since 1992 (Republican)
- Ellen Steinberg (Democratic)
Results
District 22
General election
Candidates
- Milt Campbell, former Olympic decathlete and professional football player (Republican)
- Joseph Suliga, member of the General Assembly since 1994 (Democratic)
Results
District 23
General election
Candidates
- Frederick P. Cook (Democratic)
- Leonard Lance, member of the General Assembly since 1991 and son of former Senator Wesley Lance (Republican)
Results
District 24
General election
Candidates
- Robert Littell, incumbent Senator since 1990 (Republican)
- Edwin Selby (Democratic)
Results
District 25
General election
Candidates
- Anthony Bucco, incumbent Senator since 1998 (Republican)
- Horace Chamberlain (Democratic)
Results
District 26
General election
Candidates
- Robert Martin, incumbent Senator since 1993 (Republican)
- Paul E. Pinney (Democratic)
Results
District 27
General election
Candidates
- Richard Codey, incumbent Senator since 1982 (Democratic)
- Donald Page (African-Americans for Justice)
- Jared Silverman (Republican)
Results
District 28
General election
Candidates
- Brian E. Coleman (Independent)
- Marion Crecco, member of the General Assembly since 1986 (Republican)
- Ronald Rice, incumbent Senator since 1986 (Democratic)
Results
District 29
General election
Candidates
- Sharpe James, incumbent Senator since 1999 and mayor of Newark (Democratic)
Results
District 30
General election
Candidates
- Timothy J. Konopka (Democratic)
- Robert Singer, incumbent Senator since 1993 (Republican)
Results
District 31
General election
Candidates
- Joseph Charles, member of the General Assembly since 1982 (Democratic)
- Martin J. McFadden (Republican)
Results
District 32
General election
Candidates
- Martin J. McFadden (Republican)
- Nicholas Sacco, incumbent Senator since 1994 and mayor of North Bergen (Democratic)
- Herbert H. Shaw, perennial candidate (Politicians are Crooks)
- Louis Vernotico (Eliminate Primary Elections)
Results
District 33
General election
Candidates
- Bernard Kenny, incumbent Senator since 1993 (Democratic)
- Nancy Gaynor (Republican)
Results
District 34
General election
Candidates
- Nia Gill, member of the General Assembly since 1994 (Democratic)
- Norman M. Robertson, incumbent Senator since 1998 (Republican)
- Marie Yvrose Celestin (Social Economic Empowerment)
Results
District 35
General election
Candidates
Results
District 36
General election
Candidates
- Joseph Farallo (Green Coalition)
- Garry Furnari, incumbent Senator since 1998 (Democratic)
- John V. Kelly, member of the General Assembly since 1986 (Republican)
Results
District 37
General election
Candidates
- Byron Baer, incumbent Senator since 1994 (Democratic)
- Jonathan L. Bender (Republican)
Results
District 38
General election
Candidates
Results
District 39
General election
Candidates
- Alan Baskin (Democratic)
- Gerald Cardinale, incumbent Senator since 1982 (Republican)
- George E. Soroka (Conservative)
Results
District 40
General election
Candidates
- Henry McNamara, incumbent Senator since 1985 (Republican)
- Jack Nigro (Democratic)
Results
Notes
See also
References