New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1981
New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1981
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The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 1981 was a race for Governor of New Jersey held on November 3, 1981. Republican Thomas Kean defeated Democrat James Florio with 49.46% of the vote.[1]
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on Tuesday June 2, 1981.[2]
Republican primary
Candidates
- Thomas Kean, Former Assembly Speaker
- Lawrence Francis Kramer, Former Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey
- Bo Sullivan, Businessman
- James Wallwork, State Senator
- Barry T. Parker, State Senator
- Anthony Imperiale, State Assemblyman
- Jack Rafferty, Mayor of Hamilton, New Jersey
- Richard McGlynn, Former Superior Court Judge
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- James Florio, U.S. representative
- Robert A. Roe, U.S., representative
- Kenneth A. Gibson, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey
- Joseph P. Merlino, New Jersey Senate president
- John J. Degnan, New Jersey Attorney General
- Thomas F. X. Smith, Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey
- Frank J. Dodd, New Jersey Senate member
- William J. Hamilton, New Jersey Senate member
- Barbara McConnell, New Jersey General Assembly member
- Ann Klein, Human Services Commissioner
- Herbert J. Buehler, New Jersey Senate member
- Stella E. Mann
- Rose Zeidwerg Monyek
Results
| Democratic Party primary results[2] |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Democratic |
James Florio |
164,179 |
25.92 |
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Democratic |
Robert A. Roe |
98,660 |
15.58 |
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Democratic |
Kenneth A. Gibson |
95,212 |
15.03 |
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Democratic |
Joseph P. Merlino |
70,910 |
11.20 |
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Democratic |
John J. Degnan |
65,844 |
10.40 |
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Democratic |
Thomas F. X. Smith |
57,479 |
9.08 |
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Democratic |
Frank J. Dodd |
23,866 |
3.77 |
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Democratic |
William J. Hamilton |
17,395 |
2.75 |
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Democratic |
Barbara McConnell |
16,123 |
2.55 |
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Democratic |
Ann Klein |
14,844 |
2.35 |
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Democratic |
Herbert J. Buehler |
4,266 |
0.67 |
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Democratic |
Stella E. Mann |
2,375 |
0.38 |
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Democratic |
Rose Zeidwerg Monyek |
2,129 |
0.34 |
| Total votes |
' |
100.00 |
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- Thomas Kean, Republican
- James Florio, Democratic, U.S. Representative
Other candidates
- Bill Gahres, Down With Lawyers
- Chester Grabowski, The Suffering Majority
- Jack Moyers, Libertarian
- Paul B. Rizzo, Independent-Honest-Available
- Harry J. Gaynor, Leadership By Example
- James A. Kolyer, III, Middle Class Candidate
- Jules Levin, Socialist Labor Party of America
- Charles C. Stone, Jr., Federalist
- James E. Harris, Socialist Workers Party
- Ernest D. Pellerino, Law & Order
- Jasper C. Gould, Contempt of Court
Results
| New Jersey Gubernatorial Election, 1981[3] |
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
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Republican |
Thomas Kean |
1,145,999 |
49.46% |
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Democratic |
James Florio |
1,144,202 |
49.38% |
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Independent |
Bill Gahres |
4,525 |
0.20% |
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Independent |
Chester Grabowski |
4,496 |
0.19% |
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Libertarian |
Jack Moyers |
2,377 |
0.10% |
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Independent |
Paul B. Rizzo |
2,336 |
0.10% |
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Independent |
Harry J. Gaynor |
2,209 |
0.10% |
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Independent |
James A. Kolyer, III |
2,144 |
0.09% |
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Socialist Labor |
Julius Levin |
2,073 |
0.09% |
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Independent |
Charles C. Stone, Jr. |
1,948 |
0.08% |
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Socialist Workers |
James E. Harris |
1,681 |
0.07% |
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Independent |
Ernest D. Pellerino |
1,647 |
0.07% |
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Independent |
Jasper C. Gould |
1,602 |
0.07% |
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| Majority |
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| Turnout |
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Republican hold |
Swing |
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References
