1971 New Jersey Senate election

1971 New Jersey Senate elections
November 2, 1971
All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
Turnout62%[1] (Decrease 2pp)
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Raymond Bateman J. Edward Crabiel
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 8th (Branchburg) 7th (Milltown)
Last election 31 9
Seats before 28 9
Seats won 24 16
Seat change Decrease 4 Increase 7
Popular vote 919,262 902,180
Senate President before election

Raymond Bateman[2]
Republican

 Elected Senate President

Raymond Bateman
Republican

The 1971 New Jersey State Senate election were held on November 2, 1971, during William T. Cahill's term as governor of New Jersey. The Democratic Party gained seven seats, breaking the Republican supermajority in the Senate and narrowing the majority significantly.

Primary elections were held on June 8.[3]

Background

Reapportioning

Until 1965, the New Jersey Senate was composed of 21 senators, with each county electing one. However, the 1964 Supreme Court of the United States decision Reynolds v. Sims required state legislative districts to be approximately equal in population.[4] From 1965 through 1973, New Jersey legislative districts were repeatedly modified to comply with the ruling.

In 1965, the Senate was increased to 29 members, with larger counties apportioned multiple seats and smaller counties sharing one or two senators. In 1967, the Senate was increased further to 40 members, which continued to generally follow county lines. In 1971, districts were redrawn by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission to reflect population changes following the 1970 United States census. One seat was eliminated in each of Essex and Hudson, replaced by new seats in Burlington and Monmouth. District 6 (comprising Mercer and Hunterdon counties) also switched from electing its senators at-large to electing them from two single-member districts because it became composed of more than one county. The changes, which moved representation away from the urban counties and towards the suburbs, generally favored the Republican Party.

The new districts were divided as follows:

DistrictCounties#
1Cape May and Cumberland1
2Atlantic1
3ASalem and Gloucester (part)1
3BGloucester (part) and Camden (part)1
3CCamden (part)1
4AOcean (part)1
4BBurlington (part) and Ocean (part)1
4CBurlington (part)1
5Monmouth3
6AHunterdon and Mercer (part)1
6BMercer (part)1
7Middlesex3
8Somerset1
9Union3
10Morris2
11Essex5
12Hudson3
13Bergen5
14Passaic3
15Warren and Sussex1

New seats

  • District 4C was created out of Burlington County.
  • District 5 (Monmouth County) gained one seat.

Seats eliminated

  • District 11 (Essex County) lost one seat.
  • District 12 (Hudson County) lost one seat.

Retirements

A total of 15 senators (3 Democrats and 12 Republicans) retired.

Democratic

  1. District 6A: Richard J. Coffee retired.
  2. District 6B: Sido L. Ridolfi retired.
  3. District 12: Frank J. Guarini retired.

Republican

  1. District 1: Robert E. Kay retired.
  2. District 3A: John L. White retired.
  3. District 3B: Hugh A. Kelly Jr. retired.
  4. District 4A: William Hiering retired.
  5. District 10: Harry L. Sears retired.
  6. District 11: Gerardo Del Tufo retired to run for Essex County freeholder.
  7. District 11: Alexander Matturri retired.
  8. District 13: Fairleigh Dickinson Jr. retired.
  9. District 14: Frank Sciro retired.
  10. District 14: Ira Schoem retired.
  11. District 14: Edward Sisco retired.

Resignations

Republicans

  1. District 4B: Edwin B. Forsythe resigned in November 1970 following his election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
  2. District 9: Nicholas LaCorte resigned December 7, 1970 following his appointment as a tax judge.[5]
  3. District 11: David W. Dowd resigned November 16, 1970 to become general counsel of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Democratic

  1. District 12: Frederick Hauser lost to James P. Dugan.

In general elections

Republican

Two incumbent Republican senators were defeated for re-election:[6]

  1. District 2: Frank S. Farley (first elected in 1941) lost to Joseph McGahn.
  2. District 11: Milton Waldor (first elected in 1967) lost to Ralph DeRose.

Independent

One Republican was denied party support and ran in the general election as an independent:[3]

  1. District 13: Willard Knowlton lost to Harold C. Hollenbeck.

Open seats that changed parties

Republican seats won by Democrats

  1. District 3B: won by Joseph A. Maressa.
  2. District 11: won by Wynona Lipman and Frank J. Dodd.
  3. District 14: won by Joseph Lazzara, William J. Bate, and Joseph Hirkala.

Democratic seats won by Republicans

  1. District 6A: won by William E. Schluter.[a]

Open seats that parties held

Democratic holds

  1. District 6B: won by Joseph P. Merlino.[b]

Republican holds

  1. District 1: won by James Cafiero.
  2. District 3A: won by James M. Turner.
  3. District 4A: won by John F. Brown.
  4. District 4B: won by Barry T. Parker.[c]
  5. District 9: won by Jerome Epstein.[d]
  6. District 10: won by Peter W. Thomas.
  7. District 13: won by Frederick Wendel.

Newly created seats

Democratic gain

  1. District 4C: Won by Edward J. Hughes Jr.

Republican gain

  1. District 5: Won by Joseph Azzolina.

Summary of results by district

District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
District 1 Robert E. Kay Rep James Cafiero Rep
District 2 Frank S. Farley Rep Joseph McGahn Dem
District 3A John L. White Rep James M. Turner Rep
District 3B Hugh A. Kelly Rep Joseph Maressa Dem
District 3C John L. Miller Rep John L. Miller Rep
District 3D Frank C. Italiano Rep Frank C. Italiano Rep
District 4A William Hiering Rep John F. Brown Rep
District 4B Vacant[e] Barry T. Parker Rep
District 4C New seat Edward J. Hughes Dem
District 5 Richard Stout Rep Richard Stout Rep
Alfred Beadleston Rep Alfred Beadleston Rep
New seat Joseph Azzolina Rep
District 6[f] Richard J. Coffee Dem William Schluter Rep
Sido L. Ridolfi Dem Joseph P. Merlino Dem
District 7 John A. Lynch Sr. Dem John A. Lynch Sr. Dem
J. Edward Crabiel Dem J. Edward Crabiel Dem
Norman Tanzman Dem Norman Tanzman Dem
District 8 Raymond Bateman Rep Raymond Bateman Rep
District 9 Frank X. McDermott Rep Frank X. McDermott Rep
Matt Rinaldo Rep Matt Rinaldo Rep
Vacant[g] Jerome Epstein Rep
District 10 Joseph Maraziti Rep Joseph Maraziti Rep
Harry L. Sears Rep Peter W. Thomas Rep
District 11 James Wallwork Rep James Wallwork Rep
Vacant[h] Frank J. Dodd Dem
Michael Giuliano Rep Michael Giuliano Rep
Milton Waldor Rep Ralph DeRose Dem
Geraldo Del Tufo Rep Wynona Lipman Dem
Alexander Matturri Rep Seat eliminated
District 12 Frederick Hauser Dem James P. Dugan Dem
William F. Kelly Jr. Dem William F. Kelly Jr. Dem
William Musto Dem William Musto Dem
Frank J. Guarini Dem Seat eliminated
District 13 Willard Knowlton Rep Harold Hollenbeck Rep
Joseph Woodcock Rep Joseph Woodcock Rep
Fairleigh Dickinson Jr. Rep Frederick Wendel Rep
Alfred Schiaffo Rep Alfred Schiaffo Rep
Garrett Hagedorn Rep Garrett Hagedorn Rep
District 14 Edward Sisco Rep Joseph Hirkala Dem
Ira Schoem Rep William J. Bate Dem
Frank Sciro Rep Joseph Lazzara Dem
District 15 Wayne Dumont Jr. Rep Wayne Dumont Jr. Rep

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 1, 1.6%
  2. District 3D, 1.6%
  3. District 3A, 0.02%
  4. District 4C, 3.1% gain
  5. District 5A, 4.2%
  6. District 5B, 4.2%
  7. District 5C, 2.8% gain
  8. District 7A, 7.2%
  9. District 7B, 6.8%
  10. District 7C, 7.0%
  11. District 9A, 5.6%
  12. District 9B, 2.9%
  13. District 9C, 1.1% gain
  14. District 13A, 2.2%
  15. District 13B, 2.3%
  16. District 13C, 2.1%
  17. District 13D, 2.0%
  18. District 13E, 2.3%
  19. District 14A, 6.0% gain
  20. District 14B, 4.9% gain
  21. District 14C, 4.8% gain

District 1

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Paul R. Porreca, former member of the Millville city commission and nominee for U.S. House in 1962

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul R. Porreca 2,590 100.00%
Total votes 2,590 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Cafiero 12,603 100.00%
Total votes 12,603 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • James Cafiero, assemblyman from North Wildwood (Republican)
  • John W. Gotsch (People's)
  • Paul R. Porreca, former member of the Millville city commission and nominee for U.S. House in 1962 (Democratic)

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James S. Cafiero 28,014 50.0
Democratic Paul R. Porreca 27,098 48.4
People's John W. Gotsch 867 1.5
Total votes 55,979 100.0
Republican hold

District 2

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph McGahn 4,408 64.06%
Democratic Bernice Paul 2,473 35.94%
Total votes 6,881 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank S. Farley (incumbent) 12,412 100.00%
Total votes 12,412 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph L. McGahn 39,257 58.1%
Republican Frank S. Farley (incumbent) 27,509 40.7%
Independent Charles Ross 840 1.2%
Total votes 67,606 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 3A

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Louis J. Damminger Jr. 3,479 100.00%
Total votes 3,479 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James M. Turner 3,920 100.00%
Total votes 3,920 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James M. Turner 26,424 50.01%
Democratic Louis J. Damminger Jr. 26,413 49.99%
Total votes 52,837 100.00%
Republican hold

District 3B

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph A. Maressa 4,102 100.00%
Total votes 4,102 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • George E. Lord, Bellmawr resident

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George E. Lord 3,723 100.00%
Total votes 3,723 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph A. Maressa 27,347 56.3%
Republican George E. Lord 21,266 43.7%
Total votes 48,613 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 3C

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Richard F. McCarthy, Camden County highway inspector and West Berlin tax collector (One Democrat for Tax Reforms Now)
  • Morton H. Rappaport, Cherry Hill resident (Regular Democratic Organization)

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Morton H. Rappaport 2,019 68.21%
Democratic Richard F. McCarthy 951 31.79%
Total votes 2,960 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John L. Miller (incumbent) 4,531
Total votes 4,531 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John L. Miller (incumbent) 28,345 57.2
Democratic Morton H. Rappaport 21,168 42.8
Total votes 49,513 100.0

District 3D

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas R. Bristow 3,693 100.00%
Total votes 3,693 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Frank Italiano, incumbent senator since 1968

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Italiano (incumbent) 2,211 100.00%
Total votes 2,211 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank C. Italiano (incumbent) 22,312 50.8
Democratic Thomas R. Bristow 21,615 49.2
Total votes 43,927 100.0
Republican hold

District 4A

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John F. Russo 2,839 75.69%
Democratic Wesley K. Bell 912 24.31%
Total votes 3,751 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John F. Brown 11,399 63.30%
Republican George F. Makin 6,610 36.70%
Total votes 18,009 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John F. Brown 30,272 53.4%
Democratic John F. Russo 26,378 46.6%
Total votes 56,650 100.00%
Republican hold

District 4B (special)

General election

Candidates

Results

Special election, March 2, 1971[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Walter L. Smith 10,389 60.4
Democratic Charles B. Yates 6,798 39.6
Total votes 17,187 100.0

District 4B

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred M. Detrick Jr. 2,449 100.00%
Total votes 2,449 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Barry T. Parker 6,648 100.00%
Total votes 6,648 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Barry T. Parker 22,929 62.5%
Democratic Fred M. Detrick Jr. 13,737 37.5%
Total votes 36,666 100.0
Republican hold

District 4C

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Hughes Jr. 4,260 100.00%
Total votes 4,260 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Walter L. Smith Jr. (incumbent) 5,604
Total votes 5,604 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Hughes Jr. 24,043 51.1
Republican Walter L. Smith Jr. (incumbent) 22,580 48.0
Socialist Labor Bernardo S. Doganiero 435 0.9
Total votes 47,058 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 5

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Himelman 6,821 33.42%
Democratic Vicnent Miller 6,820 33.42%
Democratic Walter Gehricke 6,766 33.16%
Total votes 20,407 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard R. Stout (incumbent) 11,130 33.90%
Republican Alfred N. Beadleston (incumbent) 10,984 33.45%
Republican Joseph Azzolina 10,721 32.65%
Total votes 32,835 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard R. Stout (incumbent) 69,067 19.4%
Republican Alfred N. Beadleston (incumbent) 68,555 19.3%
Republican Joseph Azzolina 60,199 16.9%
Democratic Vincent Miller 53,902 15.2%
Democratic William Himelman 53,861 15.1%
Democratic Walter Gehricke 50,201 14.1%
Total votes 355,785 100.00%
Republican hold

District 6A

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert R. Klein 3,652 100.00%
Total votes 3,652 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William E. Schluter
Total votes 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William E. Schluter 31,072 55.3%
Democratic Robert R. Klein 25,091 44.7%
Total votes 56,163 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 6B

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph P. Merlino 4,659 100.00%
Total votes 4,659 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lee J. Millas 1,030 100.00%
Total votes 1,030 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph P. Merlino 29,758 70.0
Republican Charles A. Delehey 12,740 30.0
Total votes 42,498 100.0
Democratic hold

District 7

District 7 consisted of all of Middlesex County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. Lynch (incumbent) 19,687 33.51%
Democratic Norman Tanzman (incumbent) 19,540 33.26%
Democratic J. Edward Crabiel (incumbent) 19,525 33.23%
Total votes 58,752 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Francis J. Coury 5,446 33.44%
Republican Leonard A. Tobias 5,439 33.39%
Republican Charles C. Griffith 5,402 33.17%
Total votes 16,287 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. Lynch (incumbent) 94,832 20.4%
Democratic J. Edward Crabiel (incumbent) 92,637 19.9%
Democratic Norman Tanzman (incumbent) 92,450 19.8%
Republican Leonard A. Tobias 61,672 13.2%
Republican Francis J. Coury 61,043 13.1%
Republican Charles C. Griffith 59,788 12.8%
Americans For ERG Edward R. Gavarny 3,547 0.8%
Total votes 465,969 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 8

District 8 consisted of all of Somerset County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Benjamin Levine, North Plainfield attorney and former deputy attorney general of New Jersey

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Benjamin Levine 2,330 100.00%
Total votes 2,330 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Raymond Bateman (incumbent) 5,645 100.00%
Total votes 5,645 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Raymond Bateman, incumbent senator since 1968 (Republican)
  • Benjamin Levine, North Plainfield attorney and former deputy attorney general of New Jersey (Democratic)

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Raymond Bateman (incumbent) 37,017 70.9%
Democratic Benjamin Levine 15,167 29.1%
Total votes 52,184 100.0
Republican hold

District 9 (special)

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Jerry Fitzgerald English, Summit attorney and environmental preservation activist[15]

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jerry F. English 8,956 100.00%
Total votes 8,956 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Van Dyke J. Pollitt, member of the Fanwood borough council[16]

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Van Dyke J. Pollitt 8,128 100.00%
Total votes 8,128 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Jerry F. English, Summit attorney and environmental preservation activist[15] (Democratic)
  • Van Dyke J. Pollitt, member of the Fanwood borough council[16] (Republican)
  • Elmer L. Sullivan (Independent Coalition)

Results

Special election, November 2, 1971[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jerry F. English 73,314 50.8
Republican Van Dyke J. Pollitt 64,798 44.9
Independent Coalition Elmer L. Sullivan 6,305 4.4
Total votes 144,417 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 9

District 9 consisted of all of Union County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John T. Connor Jr. 9,226 34.06%
Democratic Carmine J. Liotta 8,978 33.14%
Democratic Christopher Dietz 8,884 32.80%
Total votes 27,088 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Rinaldo (incumbent) 8,375 33.71%
Republican Frank X. McDermott (incumbent) 8,350 33.61%
Republican Jerome Epstein 8,122 32.69%
Total votes 24,847 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Rinaldo (incumbent) 93,608 20.6%
Republican Frank X. McDermott (incumbent) 77,536 17.1%
Republican Jerome Epstein 68,531 15.09%
Democratic Carmine J. Liotta 68,131 15.00%
Democratic Christopher Dietz 64,487 14.2%
Democratic John T. Connor Jr. 63,884 14.1%
Independent Coalition Elmer L. Sullivan 6,451 1.4%
Independent Coalition Arnold Gold 6,047 1.3%
Independent Coalition Richard Avant 5,406 1.2%
Total votes 454,081 100.00%
Republican gain from {{{swing}}}

District 10

District 10 consisted of all of Morris County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Garret A. Hobart IV, Morristown attorney and great-grandson of U.S. vice president Garret Hobart (Democratic)
  • James M. Kiss, Chatham resident (Democratic)

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Garret A. Hobart IV 6,338 50.76%
Democratic James M. Kiss 6,149 49.24%
Total votes 12,487 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Charles A. Covino, candidate for Senate in 1967 (Voluntary School Prayers, No New Taxes)
  • Thomas J. Hillery, former senator from Boonton (Regular Republican)
  • Joseph J. Maraziti, incumbent senator since 1968 (Experienced Regular Republican)
  • Peter W. Thomas, Chatham resident (Experienced Regular Republican)

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph J. Maraziti (incumbent) 16,763 37.44%
Republican Peter W. Thomas 14,200 31.72%
Republican Thomas J. Hillery 10,211 22.81%
Republican Charles A. Covino 3,596 8.03%
Total votes 44,770 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Garret A. Hobart IV, Morristown attorney and great-grandson of U.S. vice president Garret Hobart (Democratic)
  • Joseph J. Maraziti, incumbent senator since 1968 (Republican)
  • Frank J. Schweighardt (Democratic)
  • Peter W. Thomas, Chatham resident (Republican)

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph J. Maraziti (incumbent) 63,773 33.3%
Republican Peter W. Thomas 58,532 30.5%
Democratic Garret A. Hobart IV 35,087 18.3%
Democratic Frank J. Schweighardt 34,396 17.9%
Total votes 191,788 100.0%
Republican Party (United States) hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 11 (special)

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles De Marco 19,140 100.00%
Total votes 19,140 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nicholas La Spina 20,424 100.00%
Total votes 20,424 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

Special election, November 2, 1971[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles DeMarco 83,525 46.9%
Republican Nicholas LaSpina 76,352 42.9%
Essex Bi-Partisan Frank J. Messina 18,095 10.2%
Total votes 177,972 100.0%
Democratic gain from

District 11

District 11 consisted of all of Essex County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Michael A. Blasi, former president of the Irvington township council[19][20] (Essex Democratic Organization)
  • Frank J. Dodd, former assemblyman from West Orange (Regular Democratic Organization)
  • Ralph DeRose, South Orange attorney (Regular Democratic Organization)
  • Martin L. Greenberg, former assistant Essex County prosecutor (Regular Democratic Organization)
  • Joel R. Jacobson, South Orange labor organizer[21] (Essex Democratic Organization)
  • Wynona Lipman, Essex County freeholder (Regular Democratic Organization)
  • Francis X. McCarthy, Newark firefighter[20] (Essex Democratic Organization)
  • Henry W. Smolen, member of the Irvington township council[20] (Regular Democratic Organization)
  • Louis M. Turco, member of the Newark city council from the East Ward[20] (Essex Democratic Organization)
  • Edward Williams, former Newark police captain[20] (Essex Democratic Organization)

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wynona Lipman 18,754 13.98%
Democratic Ralph DeRose 18,252 13.61%
Democratic Frank J. Dodd 17,974 13.40%
Democratic Martin L. Greenberg 17,655 13.16%
Democratic Henry W. Smolen 16,381 12.21%
Democratic Louis M. Turco 9,950 7.42%
Democratic Joel R. Jacobson 9,174 6.84%
Democratic Michael A. Blasi 8,869 6.61%
Democratic Edward Williams 8,776 6.54%
Democratic Francis X. McCarthy 8,330 6.21%
Total votes 134,115 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Donald Blasi, Newark (East Ward Republicans)
  • Matthew G. Carter, mayor of Montclair (Republican Party Organization)
  • Frank Crisafulli, Newark (East Ward Republicans)
  • Michael Giuliano, incumbent senator since 1968 (Republican Party Organization)
  • Elizabeth Juliano, Newark (East Ward Republicans)
  • Sam L. Palmucci, Newark (East Ward Republicans)
  • Michael A. Petti, Newark (East Ward Republicans)
  • Frederic Remington, businessman and candidate for Senate in 1967 (Republican Party Organization)
  • Milton Waldor, incumbent senator since 1968 (Republican Party Organization)
  • James Wallwork, incumbent senator since 1968 (Republican Party Organization)

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Giuliano (incumbent) 21,386 18.49%
Republican James Wallwork (incumbent) 20,442 17.13%
Republican Milton Waldor (incumbent) 19,809 %
Republican Frederic Remington 19,171 16.58%
Republican Matthew G. Carter 19,011 16.44%
Republican Donald Blasi 3,557 3.08%
Republican Elizabeth Juliano 3,242 2.80%
Republican Michael A. Petti 3,218 2.78%
Republican Sam L. Palmucci 2,990 2.59%
Republican Frank Crisafulli 2,830 2.45%
Total votes 115,656 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Giuliano (incumbent) 92,166 9.8%
Democratic Ralph DeRose 91,380 9.7%
Republican James Wallwork (incumbent) 88,632 9.5%
Democratic Frank J. Dodd 86,041 9.18%
Democratic Wynona Lipman 85,644 9.14%
Republican Milton Waldor (incumbent) 84,736 9.04%
Democratic Martin L. Greenberg 82,291 8.8%
Republican Matthew G. Carter 77,418 8.3%
Democratic Henry W. Smolen 76,190 8.1%
Republican Frederic Remington 73,663 7.9%
Essex Bi-Partisan John J. Giblin 21,688 2.3%
Essex Bi-Partisan John F. Monica 21,072 2.2%
Essex Bi-Partisan Sylvester L. Casta 19,015 2.0%
Essex Bi-Partisan Joseph J. Bradley 16,348 1.7%
Essex Bi-Partisan Richard P. Weitzman 15,733 1.7%
Unity-Victory-Progress Joseph A. Santiago 5,483 0.6%
Total votes 937,500 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 12

District 12 consisted of all of Hudson County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • James P. Dugan, assemblyman from Bayonne (Regular Democratic Organization)
  • Frederick H. Hauser, incumbent senator since 1968 (Faithful Democratic Senator)
  • William F. Kelly Jr., incumbent senator since 1958 (Regular Democratic Organization)
  • William Musto, incumbent senator since 1966 and former mayor of Union City (Regular Democratic Organization)

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Musto (incumbent) 36,617 31.02%
Democratic William F. Kelly Jr. (incumbent) 36,344 30.79%
Democratic James P. Dugan 33,259 28.17%
Democratic Frederick H. Hauser (incumbent) 11,826 10.02%
Total votes 118,046 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Mario De Luca
  • Richard L. Jarvis
  • Nelson G. Russell

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nelson G. Russell 4,322 33.87%
Republican Richard L. Jarvis 4,225 33.11%
Republican Mario De Luca 4,215 33.03%
Total votes 12,762 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Patrick D. Conaghan, Bayonne attorney (Save Hudson County)
  • Anthony M. DeFino, mayor of West New York[23] (Save Hudson County)
  • Mario DeLuca (Republican)
  • James P. Dugan, assemblyman from Bayonne (Democratic)
  • Francis X. Hayes, former assistant Jersey City corporation counsel[23] (Save Hudson County)
  • William F. Kelly Jr. (Democratic)
  • Richard D. McAleer (Honesty-Efficiency-Decency)
  • William Musto, incumbent senator since 1966 and former mayor of Union City (Democratic)
  • Cosmo Palmitessa (Republican)
  • Joseph J. Panepinto (Republican)

Campaign

In the general election, an independent slate allied with Paul T. Jordan challenged the Democratic machine.[23]

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Musto (incumbent) 81,522 17.0%
Democratic James P. Dugan 78,293 16.3%
Democratic William F. Kelly Jr. (incumbent) 76,177 15.9%
Save Hudson County Patrick D. Conaghan 47,082 9.8%
Save Hudson County Francis X. Hayes 47,036 9.8%
Save Hudson County Anthony M. Defino 44,703 9.3%
Republican Joseph J. Panepinto 33,985 7.1%
Republican Cosmo Palmitessa 33,131 6.9%
Republican Mario DeLuca 32,131 6.7%
Honesty-Efficiency-Decency Richard D. McAleer 5,496 1.1%
Total votes 479,556 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 13

District 13 consisted of all of Bergen County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alfred W. Kiefer 12,448 20.15%
Democratic Sidney Aglow 12,400 20.07%
Democratic Raymond Garramone 12,349 19.99%
Democratic John J. McCarthy 12,336 19.97%
Democratic Lee M. Carlton 12,240 19.81%
Total votes 61,773 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Garrett W. Hagedorn, incumbent senator since 1968 (Republicans for Sensible Government)
  • Harold C. Hollenbeck, assemblyman from East Rutherford (Republicans for Sensible Government)
  • James A. Quaremba, Ridgewood (Home-Rule Republican)
  • James W. Ralph, Tenafly (Home-Rule Republican)
  • Alfred D. Schiaffo, incumbent senator since 1968 (Republicans for Sensible Government)
  • Frederick E. Wendel, mayor of Oradell (Republicans for Sensible Government)
  • Joseph C. Woodcock, incumbent senator since 1968 (Republicans for Sensible Government)
Withdrew
  • Willard B. Knowlton, incumbent senator since 1968 (ran as independent)

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Garrett W. Hagedorn (incumbent) 19,808 18.54%
Republican Frederick E. Wendel 18,559 17.37%
Republican Harold C. Hollenbeck 18,279 17.37%
Republican Joseph C. Woodcock (incumbent) 17,573 16.45%
Republican Alfred D. Schiaffo (incumbent) 16,531 15.47%
Republican James A. Quaremba 8,772 8.21%
Republican James W. Ralph 7,326 6.86%
Total votes 106,848 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harold C. Hollenbeck 158,615 11.3%
Republican Joseph C. Woodcock Jr. (incumbent) 157,280 11.2%
Republican Garrett W. Hagedorn (incumbent) 153,203 10.9%
Republican Alfred D. Schiaffo (incumbent) 151,806 10.8%
Republican Frederick E. Wendel 150,962 10.8%
Democratic John J. McCarthy 128,109 9.1%
Democratic Raymond Garramone 125,154 8.9%
Democratic Alfred W. Kiefer 124,083 8.8%
Democratic Sidney Aglow 123,857 8.8%
Democratic Lee M. Carlton 119,262 8.5%
Nobody’s Rubber Stamp Willard B. Knowlton 11,668 0.8%
Total votes 1,403,999 100.00%
Republican hold

District 14

District 14 consisted of all of Passaic County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph Hirkala 7,454 33.78%
Democratic William J. Bate 7,366 33.38%
Democratic Joseph A. Lazzara 7,249 32.85%
Total votes 22,069 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Henry Fette 5,577 31.52%
Republican Thomas W. E. Bowdler 5,538 31.30%
Republican Alfred Fontanella 5,424 30.66%
Republican Walter EPassaic County . Organization Johnson 1,153 6.52%
Total votes 17,692 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph Hirkala 64,725 21.2
Democratic Joseph A. Lazzara 54,426 17.8
Democratic William J. Bate 54,149 17.7
Republican Alfred Fontanella 46,478 15.2
Republican Thomas W. E. Bowdler 39,545 12.9
Republican Henry Fette 39,406 12.9
Socialist Labor Robert Clement 3,645 1.2
Socialist Labor Josephine Clement 3,485 1.1
Total votes 305,859 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 15

District 15 consisted of all of Sussex and Warren counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Richard V. Laddey, Sparta attorney

Results

1971 Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard V. Laddey 2,709 100.00%
Total votes 2,709 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Wayne Dumont, incumbent senator since 1968 and nominee for governor in 1965

Results

1971 Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wayne Dumont (incumbent) 6,356 100.00%
Total votes 6,356 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Wayne Dumont, incumbent senator since 1968 and nominee for governor in 1965 (Republican)
  • Richard V. Laddey (Democratic)

Results

1971 New Jersey Senate election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wayne Dumont (incumbent) 28,041 66.6%
Democratic Richard V. Laddey 14,072 33.4%
Total votes 42,113 100.0
Republican hold

Notes

  1. ↑ Schluter succeeded Richard J. Coffee, who had been elected from District 6 at-large in 1967.
  2. ↑ Merlino succeeded Sido Ridolfi, who had been elected from District 6 at-large in 1967.
  3. ↑ Parker also won a special election to complete the remaining months of the unexpired term for the seat, which had been vacated by Edwin T. Forsythe.
  4. ↑ A special election to complete the remaining months of the unexpired term for the seat, which had been vacated by Nicholas LaCorte, was won by Jerry English of the Democratic Party.
  5. ↑ The seat was left vacant by the resignation of Edwin B. Forsythe, who was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives in January 1971.
  6. ↑ Split into Districts 6A and 6B.
  7. ↑ The third Union seat was vacant after Nicholas LaCorte resigned in 1970. A special election was held simultaneously to complete the remainder of LaCorte's term (November 1971–January 1972) and was won by Democrat Jerry Fitzgerald English.
  8. ↑ The seat was left vacant by the resignation of David W. Dowd, who became general counsel of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

References

  1. ↑ "General Election Data - 1924 to 2022" (PDF). NJ.gov.
  2. ↑ Sullivan, Ronald (March 24, 1971). "Hudson and Essex Losing Seats in Jersey's Senate". New York Times.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 "Results of the Primary Election Held June 8, 1971" (PDF). Secretary of State Paul J. Sherwin. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  4. ↑ "JERSEY ORDERED TO REAPPORTION; Judge Finds Congressional Districts Unconstitutional". New York Times. May 21, 1965.
  5. ↑ Wildstein, David (November 19, 2019). "Dyke Pollitt, political consultant and onetime Senate candidate, dies at 87". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Results of the General Election Held on November 2, 1971" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Wildstein, David (March 18, 2018). "John D. Burzichelli, former mayor, dies at 83". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  9. ↑ "GOP Wins N.J. Senate Race". The Record. March 3, 1971. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Legislative Notes". The New York Times. December 22, 1974. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Wildstein, David (July 25, 2021). "Chester Apy, former assemblyman and victim of 1960s redistricting, dies at 89". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Wildstein, David (March 7, 2020). "Robert Klein, LBJ White House speechwriter, top aide to Gov. Hughes, dies at 89". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Wildstein, David (August 22, 2022). "Dorothy Power, five-term Middlesex freeholder, dies at 90". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Legacy of Leonard A. Tobias to Live on Through Renaming of Administration Building". TAPinto. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  15. 1 2 Janson, Donald (August 24, 1979). "Jersey's New Environment Chief". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Wildstein, David (November 19, 2019). "Dyke Pollitt, political consultant and onetime Senate candidate, dies at 87". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Wildstein, David (September 16, 2019). "Christopher Dietz, onetime Democratic powerbroker, dies at 83". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Wildstein, David (April 10, 2023). "The Caretakers: 18 interim N.J. legislators". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Michael Blasi, councilman, Irvington schools manager". New Jersey Hills. December 6, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wildstein, David (September 8, 2022). "Burgess could be the first senator from Irvington since upper house was established in 1845". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  21. ↑ Sullivan, Joseph F.; Times, Special To the New York (December 27, 1989). "Joel R. Jacobson Is Dead at 71; New Jersey's First Energy Chief". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  22. ↑ Wildstein, David (June 8, 2020). "Carmine Capone, former Orange mayor, dies at 92". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  23. 1 2 3 Wildstein, David (December 12, 2021). "James Dugan, former senator and Dem state chairman, dies at 92". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Carlton, Randall". Vietnam Veterans Memorial & Museum. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  25. 1 2 Wildstein, David (March 4, 2019). "Some 1960s Bergen County political history". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  26. 1 2 "John McCarthy Obituary - Westwood, NJ". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
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