2011 General Election Results

The focus of this year's elections in the state was centered on the Legislature, where all 120 seats were up for election. For the first time in ten years, candidates for the Legislature this year campaigned in newly redrawn legislative districts. Last April, the NJ Legislative Apportionment Commission, an 11-member bipartisan panel, voted to adopt a new legislative district map which will be used for the next ten years (redistricting is a process conducted following each census).

As the polls closed on November 8, 2011, candidates held their breath as they hoped to be elected as one of the 120 members 215th New Jersey State Legislature. While there were some tight races, a majority of the races were won by a wide margin, as the Democrats gained one seat in the Assembly and the Republicans were unable to pick up any seats. The Democrats will control both houses of the 215th New Jersey State Legislature with 24 Democrats and 16 Republicans in the Senate and 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly.

Voters were also asked yesterday, in the only statewide ballot question, if New Jersey should seek to institute sports betting at casinos and racetracks if the federal government changes the law to allow it. The ballot question passed.

Here are the results from all 40 New Jersey Legislative Districts:

In the 1st district, while it was not thought to be in play, the race got especially vicious as Election Day neared. Incumbent Jeff Van Drew (D) was reelected for the Senate seat. Van Drew has been a member of the State Senate since 2008 and was a member of the Assembly from 2002-2007, serving as the Assistant Majority Leader from 2006-2007. On the Assembly side, incumbents Nelson Albano (D) and Matthew Milam (D) held off their Republican challengers. Albano, a shop steward for Village Supermarkets and Milam, president of Foundry Service Corporation, will be beginning their third and second terms in the Assembly respectively.

In the 2nd district, Senator Jim Whelan (D) defeated current Assemblyman Vince Polistina (R), in one of the State’s most contested races. Along with record breaking amounts of money spent on campaigning, this heated battle saw the State’s top Republican and Democratic leaders, including Governor Chris Christie, show support for their respective candidates. One Assembly seat went to incumbent John Amodeo (R), a crane operator who was elected to the Assembly in 2007, while newcomer Chris Brown (R) will hold the second Assembly seat.

In the 3rd district, incumbent Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) was victorious. The Assembly election saw three incumbents running for two seats after the re-drawing of district lines threw current 4th district Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco (R) into the race. In this predominantly Democratic district John Burzichelli (D) and Celeste Riley (D) were reelected to their Assembly seats.

In the 4th district, Fred Madden (D) defeated his Republican challenger, Giancarlo D'Orazio, and will begin his third term as a State Senator. On the Assembly side, current Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D) was reelected, while the open Assembly seat went to newcomer Gabriela Mosquera (D).

In the 5th district, a heavily Democratic district in Gloucester and Camden counties, the discussion centered on a struggling economy and fair school funding. Incumbent Donald Norcross (D) was reelected to the State Senate, while incumbents Angel Fuentes (D) and Gilbert “Whip” Wilson (D) also were reelected to the State Assembly. 

In the 6th district, Senator James Beach (D) was reelected to his second term in the State Senate, after Republican candidate Phil Mitsch came under fire for insensitive remarks he made on the social media medium Twitter. Incumbents Louis Greenwald (D) and Pamela Lampitt (D) were reelected to their State Assembly seats. Greenwald has represented the 6th district since 1996, while Lampitt will begin her fourth term in the State Assembly. 

In the 7th district, incumbent Senator Diane Allen (R) was reelected. In one of the states most hotly contested races for State Assembly, Democratic Incumbents Herb Conaway and Troy Singleton defeated their Republican challengers James Keenan and Chris Halgas.

In the 8th district, Dawn Marie Addiego (R) ran unopposed, as Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis was previously tossed off the ballot by a federal appeals court. The Assembly had only one incumbent, Scott Rudder (R), who was victorious, while his running mate, Christopher Brown (R) was elected to the other Assembly seat.

In the 9th district, Republican incumbent Christopher Connors was reelected having served the New Jersey State Legislature since 1989, first in the Assembly and moving to the Senate in 2008. Incumbents Dianne Gove (R) and Brian Rumpf (R) won reelection and will begin serving their second and fifth terms in the Assembly respectively. 

In the 10th district, James Holzapfel (R) moves up from the Assembly, winning the Senate seat after former Senator Andrew Ciesla (R) did not seek reelection. Incumbent David Wolfe (R) won one Assembly seat while the other Assembly seat went to Gregory McGuckin (R).

In the 11th district, two former 12th district Republicans were victorious. Jennifer Beck won the Senate seat, while Caroline Casagrande was successful in the Assembly. Eleventh District Republican Incumbent Mary Pat Angelini (R) won the other Assembly seat.

In the 12th district, Samuel Thompson (R) was successfully elected to the Senate, after serving as an Assemblyman in the 13th district since 1998. Republicans Ronald Dancer and Robert Clifton earned the Assembly seats.

In the 13th district, after being challenged by three Independents and one Democrat, incumbent Senator Joseph Kyrillos (R) was reelected. In the only Assembly race with six candidates, incumbent Amy Handlin (R) was reelected along with Declan O’Scanlon (R), who became a part of the 13th district after redistricting and had previously served as an Assemblyman in the 12th district.

In the 14th district, one of the more competitive districts in the State, Linda Greenstein (D) was able to hold off Republican candidate Richard Kanka. Incumbent Assemblymen Wayne DeAngelo (D) and Daniel Benson (D) were able to garner enough support to be reelected to the Assembly.

In the 15th district, even with losing traditionally Democratic strongholds of Princeton and West Windsor to redistricting, the incumbents were able to hold onto their seats. Shirley Turner (D) will serve her fifth term as a member of the State Senate, while Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) were reelected to the State Assembly.

In the 16th district, where Democrats were hoping to pull off an upset, Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R) was reelected to the State Senate. Peter Biondi (R), the only incumbent on the Assembly ticket was elected, as was newcomer Jack Ciattarelli (R).

In the 17th district, Senator Bob Smith (D) was reelected to the State Senate where he has served since 2002. In the Assembly, incumbents Upendra Chivukula (D) and Joseph Egan (D) won reelection.

In the 18th district, Senator Barbara Buono (D) defeated her Republican challenger to remain in the State Senate. Despite a late push by Republican candidate Marcia Silva, Democratic incumbent Assemblymen Peter Barnes, III and Patrick Diegnan, Jr. were both reelected to the State Assembly.

In the 19th district, longtime Senator Joseph Vitale (D) won reelection for the seat he has held since 1998. John Wisniewski (D), the state Democratic chairman and deputy speaker of the Assembly, along with Craig Coughlin (D), were both reelected to the State Assembly.

In the 20th district, Democratic incumbents continued their stranglehold in a predominantly Democratic district. Senator Raymond Lesniak (D) was reelected and will continue a State Senate career that began in 1983. The Assembly seats were won by incumbents Joseph Cryan (D) and Annette Quijano (D). 

In the 21st district, Senate Republican Leader Thomas Kean was reelected to the position he has held since 2003. Republican Conference Leader Jon Bramnick (R) and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R) were both reelected to the State Assembly.

In the 22nd district, Nicholas Scutari (D) easily won reelection in the State Senate amid rumors that his Republican challenger was dropping from the race just weeks before the election. Assemblyman Gerald Green (D) has served the State Assembly since 1992 and will serve another two-year term after being reelected. Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D) was also reelected and will fill the second Assembly seat in the 22nd district.

In the 23rd district, incumbent Republican Senator Michael Doherty was reelected to office in this rural GOP stronghold. Assembly Incumbents John DiMaio and Erik Peterson, both Republicans were also reelected. 

In the 24th district, which has striking similarities to the 23rd district, all three Republican incumbents were reelected to their respective seats. Senator Steven Oroho, Assemblyman Gary Chiusano and Assemblywoman Alison McHose will all begin to serve their two year terms in January of 2012.

In the 25th district, the only father-son team serving in the legislature was reelected. Anthony R. Bucco (R) was reelected to the Senate, while his son, Anthony M. Bucco (R), was reelected to the Assembly. Joining the younger Bucco in the Assembly is Republican incumbent Michael Patrick Carroll, who has served in the Legislature since 1996.

In the 26th district, Senator Joe Pennacchio (R) defeated his Democratic challenger, Wasim Khan, the same challenger he defeated in 2007. Assembly Republican leader Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman Jay Webber (R) were also reelected to the Assembly.

In the 27th district, all three incumbents were able to retain their seats despite a late Republican campaign push, including television commercials featuring Governor Chris Christie. One-time Governor Richard Codey (D) was reelected to his seat in the Senate which he has held since 1982. Democrat incumbents Mila Jasey and John McKeon were also reelected to their seats in the Assembly.

In the 28th district, Ronald Rice (D) was reelected to serve in the Senate seat he has held since 1986. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo and Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, both Democrats, were reelected to the Assembly.

In the 29th district, Assistant Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D) defeated a Republican and independent challengers to remain in the Senate. Democratic incumbents Albert Coutinho and Grace Spencer were also reelected, and will each serve a two-year term in the Assembly.

In the 30th district, where some of the most drastic redistricting took place, Republican Robert Singer was reelected to the State Senate, as the district remained largely Republican. The real shake up comes on the Assembly side where former 11th district Senator Sean Kean (R) was elected to serve in the Assembly along with former 11th district Assemblyman David Rible (R).

In the 31st district, the Democrats won in a clean sweep. Senator Sandra Cunningham and Assemblymen Charles Mainor and Jason O’Donnell were all reelected to their respective seats.

In the 32nd district, long-time Assemblywoman Joan Quigley was no longer on the ballot after the section of Jersey City where she resides was moved out of the district. However, the Democrats were still able to retain all three seats as Nicholas Sacco and Vincent Prieto were reelected to the Senate and Assembly respectively. Newcomer, Angelica Jiminez who ran on the Democratic ticket, was elected to her first term in the Assembly. 

In the 33rd district, where only 8 percent of registered voters are Republicans, Democratic Senator Brian Stack garnered reelection to his State Senate seat. Joining incumbent Ruben Ramos (D) in the Assembly is Jersey City Police Detective Sean Connors (D).

In the 34th district, one of the safest Democratic districts in the State, State Senator Nia Gill was reelected to the Senate, Assemblyman Thomas Giblin and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver was all reelected.

In the 35th district, where there was no incumbent Senator, Assemblywoman Nellie Pou was elected and becomes both the first woman and first Latina to represent the 35th district in the Senate. On the Assembly side, newcomers Benjie Wimberly (D) and Shavonda Sumter (D) were elected.

In the 36th district, incumbent and Chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Paul Sarlo was reelected as State Senator. Incumbent Gary Schaer (D) and newcomer Marlene Caride (D) will represent the two Assembly seats in this district.

In the 37thdistrict, incumbent Loretta Weinberg (D) was once again reelected to the State Senate. Incumbent Democrats Gordon Johnson and Valerie Huttle were both reelected to the Assembly.

In the 38th district, tensions ran high in one of the most hotly contested battles in the State. GOP candidates saw an opportunity to gain seats in both the Senate and the Assembly, while Democrats were confident that they would hold onto all three seats. In the end, Senator Robert Gordon was reelected to the State Senate, as republican challenger John Driscoll conceded before 10:00 p.m. Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D) was reelected to the State Assembly, joined by newcomer Timothy Eustace (D).

In the 39th district, incumbent Republican Gerald Cardinale was reelected to the Senate, while Republicans Robert Schroeder, an incumbent, and newcomer Holly Schepisi were elected to the Assembly. 

In the 40th district, three heavily favored Republican incumbents were reelected to office. Senator Kevin O’Toole defeated the same Democratic challenger he ran against in 2007, while Scott Rumana and David Russo will once again represent the 40th district in the Assembly.

NEW JOBS, the Business PAC of New Jersey, endorses 96 candidates for state Senate and General Assembly

NEW JOBS today announced the endorsements of 96 candidates in the upcoming legislative elections, Executive Director David Brogan said.

"New Jersey Organization for a Better State (NEW JOBS), the business PAC of New Jersey, is proud to announce our first round of endorsements for the 2011 State Legislative races," Brogan said.  "In these difficult economic times, it has never been more important to elect and retain pro-business candidates and legislators who understand the needs of business." 

"Our endorsements are not based on party affiliation," Brogan added, "but rather, the willingness of each candidate to lower the cost of doing business, strengthen the business climate, and create jobs in our great State." 

"We thank the endorsed candidates and endorsed incumbent legislators for their hard work and their commitment to the economic viability of our State." 

To find out more about NEW JOBS, please go to www.newjobspac.com

The candidates endorsed by NEW JOBS include the following:

*  Denotes incumbent

Jeff Van Drew-D (District 1 - Senate) *       
Samuel Fiocchi-R (District 1 - Assembly)
Matthew Milam - D (District 1 - Assembly) *          

Vincent Polistina-R (District 2 - Senate) * (Incumbent Assemblyman running for Senate)
John Amodeo-R (District 2 - Assembly) *    
Christopher Brown-R (District 2 - Assembly)

Stephen Sweeney-D (District 3 - Senate) *
John Burzichelli-D (District 3 - Assembly) *
Celeste Riley-D (District 3 - Assembly) *

Fred Madden-D (District 4 - Senate) *         
Gabriela Mosquera-D (District 4 - Assembly)

Donald Norcross-D (District 5 - Senate) *   
Angel Fuentes-D (District 5 - Assembly) *  
Gilbert Wilson-D (District 5 - Assembly) *     

James Beach-D (District 6 - Senate) *
Louis Greenwald-D (District 6 - Assembly) *
Pamela Lampitt-D (District 6 - Assembly) * 

Diane Allen-R (District 7 - Senate) *
Christopher Halgas-R (District 7 - Assembly)
Jim Keenan-R (District 7 - Assembly)

Dawn Marie Addiego-R (District 8 - Senate) *        
Christopher Brown-R (District 8 - Assembly)
Scott Rudder-R (District 8 - Assembly) *       

Christopher Connors-R (District 9 - Senate) *          
DiAnne Gove-R (District 9 - Assembly) *    
Brian Rumpf-R (District 9 - Assembly) *

James Holzapfel-R (District 10 - Senate) *   
David Wolfe-R (District 10 - Assembly) *
Greg McGuckin-R (District 10 - Assembly)

Jennifer Beck-R (District 11 - Senate) *       
Mary Pat Angelini - R (District 11 - Assembly) *    
Caroline Casagrande-R (District 11 - Assembly) *   

Samuel Thompson-R (District 12 - Senate) *           
Ronald Dancer-R (District 12 - Assembly) *
Robert Clifton-R (District 12 - Assembly)

Joseph Kyrillos-R (District 13 - Senate) *    
Amy Handlin-R (District 13 - Assembly) *
Declan O'Scanlon-R (District 13 - Assembly) *       

Richard Kanka-R (District 14 - Senate)
Daniel Benson - D (District 14 - Assembly) *
Wayne Wittman-R (District 14 - Assembly)

Shirley Turner-D (District 15 - Senate) *      
Bonnie Watson Coleman-D (District 15 - Assembly) *        
Reed Gusciora-D (District 15 - Assembly) *

Christopher Bateman-R (District 16 - Senate) *       
Peter Biondi-R (District 16 - Assembly) *    
Jack Ciattarelli-R (District 16 - Assembly)

Upendra Chivukula-D (District 17 - Assembly) *    

Peter Barnes-D (District 18 - Assembly) *   
Patrick Deignan-D (District 18 - Assembly) *          

John Wisniewski-D (District 19 - Assembly) *         
Craig Coughlin-D (District 19 - Assembly) *           

Raymond Lesniak-D (District 20 - Senate) *           
Joseph Cryan-D (District 20 - Assembly) *
Annette Quijano-D (District 20 - Assembly) *                     

Thomas Kean-R (District 21 - Senate) *       
Jon Bramnick-R (District 21 - Assembly) *  
Nancy Muñoz-R (District 21 - Assembly) *  

Michael Doherty-R (District 23 - Senate) *  
John DiMaio-R (District 23 - Assembly) *   
Erik Peterson-R (District 23 - Assembly) *  

Steven Oroho-R (District 24 - Senate) *       
Gary Chiusano-R (District 24 - Assembly) *
Alison Littell McHose-R (District 24 - Assembly) *

Anthony R.  Bucco - R (District 25 - Senate) *          
Anthony M. Bucco-R (District 25 - Assembly) *       
Michael Patrick Carroll-R (District 25 - Assembly) *           
                       
Joseph Pennacchio - R (District 26 - Senate) *        
Alex DeCroce-R (District 26 - Assembly) * 
Jay Webber-R (District 26 - Assembly) *     

Richard Codey-D (District 27 - Senate) *    

Ronald Rice-D (District 28 - Senate) *         

Teresa Ruiz-D (District 29 - Senate) *          
Albert Coutinho-D (District 29 - Assembly) *         

Robert Singer-R (District 30 - Senate) *
Sean Kean-R (District 30 - Assembly) *
David Rible-R (District 30 - Assembly) *    
             
Sandra Cunningham-D (District 31 - Senate) *

Vincent Prieto-D (District 32 - Assembly) *

Brian Stack-D (District 33 - Senate) *
Ruben Ramos-D (District 33 - Assembly) *

Nia Gill-D (District 34 - Senate) *    
Shelia Oliver-D (District 34 - Assembly) *   

Nellie Pou-D (District 35 - Senate) *
Shavonda E. Sumter -D (District 35 - Assembly)

Paul Sarlo-D (District 36 - Senate) *
Gary Schaer-D (District 36 - Assembly) *

John Driscoll-R (District 38 - Senate)
Fernando Alonso-R (District 38 - Assembly)
Richard Goldberg-R (District 38 - Assembly)

Gerald Cardinale-R (District 39 - Senate) * 
Robert Schroeder-R (District 39 - Assembly) *        
Holly Schepisi-R (District 39 - Assembly)

Kevin O'Toole-R (District 40 - Senate) *     
Scott Rumana-R (District 40 - Assembly) *
David Russo-R (District 40 - Assembly) *   

For more information, please contact David Brogan, Executive Director of the NEW JOBS PAC at 609-503-9111 ext. 2 or via email at dbrogan@newjobspac.com.

2011 PRIMARY RESULTS

Loyal Democrats and Republicans went to the polls on June 7th to vote for the primary candidates who will appear on the November 2011 ballot for New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly.  Results appear below. 
                     
-- In the 1st district, Republican Senate candidate David DeWeese defeated Thomas Greto to earn the right to run against incumbent Democratic Senator Jeff Van Drew.  Republican Assembly candidates Suzanne Walters and Samuel Fiocchi defeated Peter Boyce and Paul Halley.  Their victory earns them the right to take on Democratic Incumbent Assemblymen Albano and Milam in the general election. 

-- In the 2nd district, in the Assembly primary, party-endorsed Democrats Alisa Cooper and Damon Tyner defeated former Congressional candidate Gary Stein.   Following their win, they will compete for Assembly seats in the General Election with Incumbent Republican John Amodeo and newcomer Chris Brown. 

-- In the 5th district, Republicans had a contested Senate primary between George Gallenthin and Keith Walker.  Walker won and will now face off against incumbent Democrat Donald Norcross.  On the Assembly side, Republicans William Levins and Ari Ford defeated Donna Ward.  Following their victory, they will face Incumbent Democratic Assemblypersons Angel Fuentes and Gilbert "Whip" Wilson in November.

-- In the 7th District, incumbent Republican Senator Diane Allen won a primary challenge against Carole Lokan-Moore, with 90% of the vote.  In the Assembly primary race, Incumbent Democratic Assemblyman Herb Conaway and his running mate Troy Singleton also won a primary challenge over Ken Gordon.  As of now, the Republican ticket in November will be Allen, Malone, and Halgas, and the Democratic ticket will be Cook, Conaway, and Singleton. 

-- In the 14th District, the Republican Assembly primary was won by Robbinsville Mayor David Fried and former Cranbury Mayor Wayne Wittman.  They will face Incumbent-Democratic Assemblymen Benson and DeAngelo. 

-- In the 20th district, one of the more interesting races to watch, Democratic Senator Raymond Lesniak defeated Jerome Dunn, an assistant superintendent in the Elizabeth school system with 54% of the vote to Dunn’s 46%.  Majority Assembly Leader Joseph Cryan and his running mate Assemblywoman Annette Quijano also defeated Tony Monteiro and Carlos Cedeno, both of Elizabeth, by 6% of the vote.   

-- In the 25th District, another primary race to watch, Incumbent Senator Anthony Bucco defeated Morris County Freeholder Director William Chegwidden, with 66% of the vote. Incumbent Assemblymen Anthony Bucco and Michael Patrick Carroll also defeated John Sierchio.

 -- In the 27th district, Incumbent Democratic Assemblypersons Mila Jasey and John McKeon defeated Ellen Steinberg to maintain their spots on the ballot.  In the Senate races, William Eames defeated William Sullivan in the Republican primary to take on Democratic Senator Richard Codey.

-- In the 28th District, Democratic Assemblyman Ralph Caputo who moved to Nutley following redistricting, and his running mate Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, defeated fellow Democrat Michael Frazzano.

-- In the 31st District, Incumbent Democratic Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham defeated businessman Bruce Alston.

-- In the 32nd District, Incumbent Democratic Senator Nicholas Sacco defeated Jeff Boss on the Democratic primary ballot.  Democratic Assemblyman Vincent Prieto and his running mate Angelica Maria Jimenez likewise defeated challenger Francisco Torres, who only received 4% of the vote. 

-- In the 33rd district Assembly race, party-endorsed Incumbent Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. and his running mate Sean Connors defeated Hoboken council member, Ravi Bhalla, who received just 9% of the vote.   

-- In the 34th district, the Republican Assembly primary race between Randy Colondres, Steve Farrell, Joan Salensky and Rick Farfan is still too close to call.  The two winners will face incumbents, Speaker Sheila Oliver and Assemblyman Tom Giblin who are expected to easily win the general election. 

-- In the 35th district, in the Democratic Assembly primary race, Shavonda Sumter and Benjie Wimberly defeated Samuel Torres.  On the Republican side for Assembly, the race between Donna Puglisi, James Challice, Rhina Tavarez and William Connolly is still too close to call.

-- In the 38th district, John Driscoll defeated Kenneth Del Vecchio in the Republican Senate primary to face Incumbent Democrat Robert Gordon in the general election.  In the Assembly races, the Republican Assembly primary was won by Richard Goldberg and Fernando Alonso, who defeated Joseph Gant, Scott Verrone and Wojciech Siemaszkiewicz.  Goldberg and Alonso will face Incumbent Asssemblywoman Connie Wagner and her running mate Timothy Eustace in November.   

-- In the 40th district, in the Assembly primary, Incumbent Assemblymen Scott Rumana and David Russo easily defeated challengers Louis D’Angelo and Ernesto Sesso.