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
Summary of races
Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.| Incumbents not running for re-election • Summary of races • District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 |
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
- Guy F. Muziani, incumbent Assembly member from Wildwood since 1982
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Peter L. Amico, forklift innovator from Vineland
- Raymond A. Batten, prosecutor
General election
Candidates
- Peter L. Amico, forklift innovator from Vineland
- Raymond A. Batten, prosecutor
- Joseph W. Chinnici, incumbent Assembly member from Bridgeton since 1972
- Guy F. Muziani, incumbent Assembly member from Wildwood since 1982
District 2
Republican primary
Candidates
- Dolores G. Cooper, incumbent Assembly member from Brigantine since 1982
- J. Edward Kline, incumbent Assembly member from Atlantic City since 1984
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Lillian E. Bryant, daughter of Horace J. Bryant
- Joel Jacovitz, real estate developer
- Israel Mosee, community activist
General election
Candidates
- Lillian E. Bryant, daughter of Horace J. Bryant
- Dolores G. Cooper, incumbent Assembly member from Atlantic City since 1982
- Joel Jacovitz, real estate developer
- J. Edward Kline, incumbent Assembly member from Brigantine since 1984
District 3
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Martin A. Herman, incumbent Assembly member from Mickleton since 1974
- Thomas A. Pankok, incumbent Assembly member from Pennsville since 1982
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jack Collins, former Glassboro State College basketball coach and member of the Elmer Board of Education
- Gary Stuhltrager, Gloucester County Freeholder
- Douglas Zee, fruit grower and farmer
General election
Candidates
- Jack Collins, former Glassboro State College basketball coach and member of the Elmer Board of Education
- Martin A. Herman, incumbent Assembly member from Mickleton since 1974
- Thomas A. Pankok, incumbent Assembly member from Pennsville since 1982
- Gary Stuhltrager, Gloucester County Freeholder
District 4
General election
Candidates
- Anthony S. Marsella, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- Dennis L. Riley, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Frank F. Senatore
- William F. Thomson
District 5
General election
Candidates
- Charles E. Brimm
- Wayne R. Bryant, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- Francis J. Gorman, incumbent Assembly member since 1972
- William M. Terrell
District 6
General election
Candidates
- Harry Benn
- John A. Rocco, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Thomas J. Shusted, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
- Carl B. Viniar
District 7
General election
Candidates
- Charles J. Ansert
- Renee L. Borstad
- Thomas P. Foy, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Barbara Kalik, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
District 8
General election
Candidates
- Claire B. Cohen
- Harold L. Colburn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1984
- Bernardo S. Doganiero, perennial candidate
- Paul Ferguson
- Robert C. Shinn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since February 1985
- Harrison B. Slack
District 9
General election
Candidates
- Paul David Hedrich
- John T. Hendrickson Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- Warren E. Hickman
- Jeffrey Moran, member of the Ocean County Utilities Authority and former member of the Beachwood Borough Council
- Jorge A. Rod, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
District 10
General election
Candidates
- John Paul Doyle, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and Assembly Majority Leader since 1982
- Marlene Lynch Ford, incumbent Assembly member since 1984
- Wallace Gluck
- Roden S. Lightbody
- Robert Singer, mayor of Lakewood Township
District 11
General election
Candidates
- Craig Alan Frankel
- Daniel P. Jacobson, member of the Ocean Township Council
- Joseph A. Palaia, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- Anthony M. Villane, incumbent Assembly member since 1976
District 12
General election
Candidates
- John O. Bennett, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Michael L. Detzky
- Donald M. Lomurro
- Marie Sheehan Muhler, incumbent Assembly member since 1976
District 13
General election
Candidates
- Joseph Azzolina, former member of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly
- William Flynn, incumbent Assembly member since 1974
- Joann H. Smith, former member of the Old Bridge Township Council
- Jacqueline Walker, incumbent Assembly member since 1984
District 14
General election
Candidates
- Joseph L. Bocchini Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- Thomas Colitsas, West Windsor accountant and candidate for State Senate in 1981
- Joseph D. Patero, incumbent Assembly member since 1974
- John K. Rafferty, mayor of Hamilton Township and candidate for Governor in 1981
District 15
General election
Candidates
- Barbara Marrow
- Mary Ann McKee
- Gerald S. Naples, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- John S. Watson, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
District 16
General election
Candidates
- Stephen Friedlander
- Walter J. Kavanaugh, incumbent Assembly member since 1976
- William R. Norris II
- John S. Penn, incumbent Assembly member since 1984
- Frank M. Reskin
District 18
General election
Candidates
- Michael Liebowitz
- S. Elliott Mayo
- Thomas H. Paterniti, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Frank M. Pelly, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
District 19
General election
Candidates
- Robert De Santis
- Alan Karcher, Speaker of the General Assembly since 1982 and incumbent Assembly member since 1974
- George Otlowski, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and mayor of Perth Amboy
- Emery Z. Toth
District 20
General election
Candidates
- Tom Dunn, mayor of Elizabeth and former member of the State Senate
- Thomas J. Deverin, incumbent Assembly member since 1970
- George Hudak, mayor of Linden
- Alice Holzapfel
- Michael A. Posnock
- Rose Zeidwerg Monyek, perennial candidate
District 21
General election
Candidates
- Peter J. Genova, incumbent Assembly member since February 1985
- Chuck Hardwick, Assembly Minority Leader and incumbent Assembly member since 1978
- Livio Mancino
- Fred Palensar III
- Andrew Ruotolo, former Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
District 22
General election
Candidates
- Bob Franks, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Florence Martone
- Maureen Ogden, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- John F. Tully Jr.
District 23
General election
Candidates
- Richard C. Allen
- Karl Weidel, incumbent Assembly member since 1970
- Dick Zimmer, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
District 24
General election
Candidates
- Robert T. Davis
- Chuck Haytaian, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- John P. Kilroy Jr.
- Robert E. Littell, incumbent Assembly member since 1968
District 25
General election
Candidates
- Arthur R. Albohn, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Donald Cresitello, former mayor of Morristown
- Rodney Frelinghuysen, incumbent Assembly member since 1984
- Carl A. Mottey
District 26
General election
Candidates
- Ralph A. Loveys, incumbent Assembly member since 1984
- Robert Martin, incumbent Assembly member since February 1985
- Claude C. Post
- Joseph V. Vender
District 27
General election
Candidates
- Jean Brozyna
- Chandler Dennis
- Mildred Barry Garvin, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
- Harry A. McEnroe, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
District 28
General election
Candidates
- Michael Adubato, incumbent Assembly member since 1974
- Joe Imperiale
- Jose Linares, attorney
- James Zangari, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
District 29
General election
Candidates
- Willie B. Brown, incumbent Assembly member since 1974
- Kurt A. Culbreath
- Eugene H. Thompson, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
- Della Moses Walker
District 30
General election
Candidates
- Steve Adubato Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1984
- Marion Crecco, advertising executive and chair of the Bloomfield Republican Party Committee
- Buddy Fortunato, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
- John V. Kelly, former Assembly member from Nutley
District 31
General election
Candidates
- Nat Amadeo
- Joseph Charles, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- Joseph Doria, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Bruce M. Shipitofsky
District 32
General election
Candidates
- Charles J. Catrillo, director of water for Jersey City
- Paul Cuprowski, incumbent Assembly member since 1983
- Frank J. Gargiulo
- Edith M. Shaw
- Herbert H. Shaw, perennial candidate
- Anthony P. Vanieri, incumbent Assembly member since 1984
District 33
General election
Candidates
- Jose Arango
- Ronald Dario, member of the Union City Commission
- Mario R. Hernandez
- Robert Ranieri, incumbent Assembly member since 1984
District 34
General election
Candidates
- Elisa Leib
- Newton Edward Miller, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Joseph F. Palumbo
- Gerald H. Zecker, incumbent Assembly member since 1984
District 35
General election
Candidates
- John Girgenti, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
- Vincent O. Pellecchia, incumbent Assembly member since 1972
- Walter W. Porter Jr.
- Kenneth Van Rye
District 36
General election
Candidates
- Paul DiGaetano, member of the Passaic City Council
- Kathleen Donovan, Lyndhurst public defender
- Robert P. Hollenbeck, incumbent Assembly member since 1974
- Richard F. Visotcky, incumbent Assembly member since 1974
District 37
General election
Candidates
- Byron Baer, incumbent Assembly member since 1972
- Nicholas Corbiscello
- Martin Katz
- D. Bennett Mazur, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
District 38
General election
Candidates
- Thomas K. Hynes
- Louis F. Kosco, incumbent Assembly member since 1980
- Richard Kraus
- Pat Schuber, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- David S. Turetsky
District 39
General election
Candidates
- Joe Ferriero, member of the Dumont Borough Council
- Elizabeth Randall, assistant counsel to Governor Thomas Kean
- John E. Rooney, incumbent Assembly member since 1983
- Fay Yeager
District 40
General election
Candidates
- Carmine J. Cicchino
- Nicholas Felice, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
- Walter M. D. Kern, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
- Judy Miller