1977 New Jersey State Senate election
# 1977 New Jersey State Senate election

The 1977 New Jersey State Senate election coincided with Brendan Byrne's re-election to a second term as Governor of New Jersey.

The election coincided with Governor Brendan Byrne's re-election over Senator Raymond Bateman. Byrne narrowly survived a primary election which eliminated seven incumbent Democratic Senators. Despite the intra-party division and early polls indicating Byrne was an underdog in the general election, Byrne survived and the Democrats preserved their large majority in the Senate, losing just one seat on aggregate.

## Incumbents not running for re-election

### Democratic

* John A. Lynch Sr. (District 17)
* Alexander J. Menza (District 20) (ran for U.S. Senator)
* Raymond Garramone (District 39) (ran for Governor)

### Republican

* Alfred N. Beadleston (District 11)
* Raymond Bateman (District 16) (ran for Governor)
* Frank Davenport (District 35)

## Summary of results by district

| District | Incumbent | Party | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1st Legislative District | James Cafiero | | Rep | James Cafiero | Rep |
| 2nd Legislative District | Joseph McGahn | | Dem | Steven P. Perskie | Dem |
| 3rd Legislative District | Raymond Zane | | Dem | Raymond Zane | Dem |
| 4th Legislative District | Joseph A. Maressa | | Dem | Joseph A. Maressa | Dem |
| 5th Legislative District | Angelo Errichetti | | Dem | Angelo Errichetti | Dem |
| 6th Legislative District | Alene Ammond | | Dem | Lee B. Laskin | Rep |
| 7th Legislative District | Edward J. Hughes | | Dem | Charles B. Yates | Dem |
| 8th Legislative District | Barry T. Parker | | Rep | Barry T. Parker | Rep |
| 9th Legislative District | John F. Russo | | Dem | John F. Russo | Dem |
| 10th Legislative District | Herbert J. Buehler | | Dem | Brian T. Kennedy | Rep |
| 11th Legislative District | Alfred N. Beadleston | | Rep | S. Thomas Gagliano | Rep |
| 12th Legislative District | Eugene J. Bedell | | Dem | Eugene J. Bedell | Dem |
| 13th Legislative District | Joseph P. Merlino | | Dem | Joseph P. Merlino | Dem |
| 14th Legislative District | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Walter E. Foran | Rep |
| 15th Legislative District | Wayne Dumont | | Rep | Wayne Dumont | Rep |
| 16th Legislative District | Raymond Bateman | | Rep | John H. Ewing | Rep |
| 17th Legislative District | John A. Lynch Sr. | | Dem | William J. Hamilton | Dem |
| 18th Legislative District | Bernard Dwyer | | Dem | Bernard Dwyer | Dem |
| 19th Legislative District | John Fay | | Dem | Laurence Weiss | Dem |
| 20th Legislative District | Alexander J. Menza | | Dem | Anthony E. Russo | Dem |
| 21st Legislative District | Thomas G. Dunn | | Dem | John Gregorio | Dem |
| 22nd Legislative District | Peter J. McDonough | | Rep | Peter J. McDonough | Rep |
| 23rd Legislative District | Stephen B. Wiley | | Dem | John H. Dorsey | Rep |
| 24th Legislative District | James P. Vreeland | | Rep | James P. Vreeland | Rep |
| 25th Legislative District | James Wallwork | | Rep | James Wallwork | Rep |
| 26th Legislative District | Frank J. Dodd | | Dem | Frank J. Dodd | Dem |
| 27th Legislative District | Carmen Orechio | | Dem | Carmen Orechio | Dem |
| 28th Legislative District | Martin L. Greenberg | | Dem | Martin L. Greenberg | Dem |
| 29th Legislative District | Wynona Lipman | | Dem | Wynona Lipman | Dem |
| 30th Legislative District | Anthony Imperiale | | Ind | Frank E. Rodgers | Dem |
| 31st Legislative District | James P. Dugan | | Dem | Wally Sheil | Dem |
| 32nd Legislative District | Joseph W. Tumulty | | Dem | David Friedland | Dem |
| 33rd Legislative District | William Musto | | Dem | William Musto | Dem |
| 34th Legislative District | Joseph Hirkala | | Dem | Joseph Hirkala | Dem |
| 35th Legislative District | Frank Davenport | | Rep | Frank X. Graves Jr. | Dem |
| 36th Legislative District | Anthony Scardino | | Dem | Anthony Scardino | Dem |
| 37th Legislative District | Matthew Feldman | | Dem | Matthew Feldman | Dem |
| 38th Legislative District | John Skevin | | Dem | John Skevin | Dem |
| 39th Legislative District | Raymond Garramone | | Dem | Frank Herbert | Dem |
| 40th Legislative District | Garrett Hagedorn | | Rep | Garrett Hagedorn | Rep |

* ↑ Errichetti, who was also mayor of Camden, was chosen to succeed Senator John J. Horn in 1976. Horn joined Governor Byrne's cabinet as Commissioner of Labor and Industry.
* ↑ Senator Anne Clark Martindell resigned on May 17 to join the Jimmy Carter administration.

### Gaines and losses

Two incumbent Democratic Senators were defeated for re-election:

* District 10: Herbert Buehler (D-Monmouth) lost to Republican Brian Kennedy, a former Assemblyman from Monmouth County.
* District 23: Stephen Wiley (D-Morris) lost to Republican John H. Dorsey, an Assemblyman from Monmouth County.

One Democratic Senator resigned from the Senate in 1977 after receiving a federal appointment; that seat was picked up by the Republicans:

* District 14: Anne Clark Martindell (D-Mercer) was appointed U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand; she was succeeded by Republican Walter E. Foran, an Assemblyman from Hunterdon County.

One incumbent Independent Senator was defeated for re-election, a Democratic pickup:

* District 30: Anthony Imperiale (I-Essex) was defeated by Frank E. Rodgers, the Mayor of Harrison.

### Incumbents who lost primaries

Two incumbent Democratic Senators who were denied party support for another term ran in the General Election as Independent candidates and were defeated; Democrats held both of these seats:

* District 2: Joseph McGahn (D-Atlantic) lost to Democrat Steven P. Perskie, an Assemblyman from Atlantic County.
* District 21: Thomas Dunn (D-Union) lost to Democrat John Gregorio, an Assemblyman from Union County and the Mayor of Linden.

Five incumbent Democratic Senators were defeated in the June primary; Democrats held four of the seats, and Republicans picked up one seat:

* District 6: Alene Ammond (D-Camden) lost the Democratic Primary to Victor Pachter; Pachter lost the general election to Republican Lee Laskin, a former Assemblyman.
* District 7: Edward J. Hughes (D-Burlington) lost the Democratic Primary to Charles B. Yates; Yates won the General Election.
* District 19: John Fay (D-Middlesex) lost the Democratic Primary to Laurence Weiss. Weiss won the General Election.
* District 31: James P. Dugan (D-Hudson) lost the Democratic Primary to Wally Sheil, the President of Hudson County Community College.
* District 32: Joseph W. Tumulty (D-Hudson) lost the Democratic Primary to David Friedland, a former Assemblyman from Hudson County.

## Key primary races

* District 6: Alene Ammond lost support of the Camden Democratic organization and Senate Democrats had tossed her out of their caucus. Pachter, a former Cherry Hill Councilman, beat Ammond by just 533 votes (47%-43%).
* District 7: Assemblyman Charles B. Yates beat Senator Edward J. Hughes by just 352 votes (52%-49%).
* District 19: Larry Weiss beat incumbent Jack Fay by 2,686 votes (54%-46%).
* District 23: Assemblyman John H. Dorsey defeated former Assemblyman Albert Merck in the Republican Senate primary by a 62%-38% margin. Merck was the heir to the Merck & Co. pharmaceutical fortune.
* Districts 31 & 32: Two incumbents were defeated by wide margins in the June Democratic Primary in the aftermath of the May election for Mayor of Jersey City. James Dugan was the incumbent Democratic State Chairman, but Walter Sheil had the backing of Mayor-elect Thomas F.X. Smith. Dugan finished third in a field of four candidates, more than 8,000 votes behind Sheil. Friedland also had Smith's backing; Tumulty lost by almost 15,000 votes, 77%-23%.

## Key general election races

* Republican Pickup in District 6: With Democrats split after Ammond's primary loss, Republicans replaced the winner of the GOP primary, Addison Bradley, and replaced him with Laskin, who was a stronger General Election candidate. Laskin won by 2,374 votes (52%-48%).
* Republican Pickup in District 23: Democrat Stephen B. Wiley, an unexpected '73 winner in heavily GOP Morris County, was not supposed to even run for re-election; Gov. Byrne had nominated him as an Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, but he was unable to take the post because of a state law that prevented legislators from taking jobs for which they had voted to raise the pay.
* Democratic Pickup in District 30: Incumbent Anthony Imperiale, elected as an Independent in 1973, lost to Democrat Frank E. Rodgers, the longtime Mayor of Harrison, 48%-35%. Republican Harry J. Romeo ran third with 17%.
* Democratic Pickup in District 35: Republican Frank Davenport, who beat an incumbent Democrat in 1973 by just 93 votes, did not seek re-election. Democrat Frank X. Graves, the Mayor of Paterson, defeated former Assemblyman Alfred Fontanella by a 56%-40% margin.
* Two incumbents, Thomas Dunn (the Mayor of Elizabeth) in Union County, and Joseph McGahn in Atlantic County, lost party support for re-election. Rather than compete in Democratic primaries, both ran as Independents and lost. In Atlantic, Assembly Majority Leader Steven P. Perskie defeated Republican Frederick Perrone by a 48%-30% margin, with McGahn finishing third with 22%. In Union, Assemblyman John Gregorio (who was also the Mayor of Linden) defeated Dunn, 47%-32%, with Republican Robert T. Walsh finishing third with 19%.

## District 1

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | James Cafiero (incumbent) | 35,416 | 62.0% | 3.7 |
| | Democratic | Frank Kneiser | 21,702 | 38.0% | 3.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,118 | 100.00% | |

## District 2

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Steven P. Perskie | 31,712 | 47.9% | 7.2 |
| | Republican | F. Frederick Perone | 20,160 | 30.5% | 14.4 |
| | Re-Elect, Experience, Integrity | Joseph McGahn (incumbent) | 14,288 | 21.6% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 66,160 | 100.00% | |

## District 3

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Raymond Zane (incumbent) | 37,199 | 65.8% | 14.1 |
| | Republican | Robert C. Hendrickson, Jr. | 19,328 | 34.2% | 14.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,527 | 100.00% | |

## District 4

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Joseph A. Maressa (incumbent) | 35,736 | 65.0% | 1.2 |
| | Republican | Walter C. Gebelein | 19,248 | 35.0% | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,984 | 100.00% | |

## District 5

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Angelo Errichetti (incumbent) | 27,352 | 69.4% | 9.1 |
| | Republican | Ernest J. Merlino | 12,078 | 30.6% | 6.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,430 | 100.00% | |

## District 6

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Lee B. Laskin | 29,823 | 52.1 | 5.3 |
| | Democratic | Victor Pachter | 27,449 | 47.9 | 5.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,272 | 100.00% | |

## District 7

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Charles B. Yates | 30,793 | 59.5% | 1.6 |
| | Republican | Michael J. Conda | 20,971 | 40.5% | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,764 | 100.00% | |

## District 8

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Barry T. Parker (incumbent) | 30,042 | 55.4% | 2.6 |
| | Democratic | Charles H. Ryan | 24,168 | 44.6% | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,210 | 100.00% | |

## District 9

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | John F. Russo (incumbent) | 53,309 | 63.7% | 9.2 |
| | Republican | James J. Mancini | 28,673 | 34.3% | 11.2 |
| | Libertarian | Leonard T. Flynn | 1,153 | 1.4% | N/A |
| | Independent | Donald Knause | 494 | 0.6% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 83,629 | 100.00% | |

## District 10

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Brian T. Kennedy | 29,059 | 54.3% | 9.4 |
| | Democratic | Herbert J. Buehler (incumbent) | 23,990 | 44.8% | 10.3 |
| | Let's Work Together | Franco DiDomenica | 502 | 0.9% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,551 | 100.00% | |

## District 11

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | S. Thomas Gagliano | 30,452 | 54.5% | 0.4 |
| | Democratic | Arthur Goldzweig | 24,398 | 43.7% | 2.2 |
| | Libertarian | Anne Caroline Riecker | 567 | 1.0% | N/A |
| | Independent | Joseph Rembisz, Jr. | 477 | 0.9% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,894 | 100.00% | |

## District 12

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Eugene J. Bedell (incumbent) | 28,391 | 53.6% | 5.2 |
| | Republican | Joseph Azzolina | 21,877 | 41.3% | 6.1 |
| | Independent | Eileen Lloyd | 2,435 | 4.6% | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Jack Moyers | 261 | 0.5% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,964 | 100.00% | |

## District 13

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Joseph P. Merlino (incumbent) | 33,757 | 69.6% | 4.8 |
| | Republican | Harry L. Dearden | 14,776 | 30.4% | 4.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 48,533 | 100.00% | |

## District 14

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Walter E. Foran (incumbent) | 33,556 | 56.8% | 8.3 |
| | Democratic | Peter J. Bearse | 25,504 | 43.2% | 8.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,060 | 100.00% | |

## District 15

New Jersey general election, 1977 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Wayne Dumont (incumbent) | 35,268 | 60.7% | 5.7 |
| | Democratic | Joseph J. Keslo | 22,815 | 39.3% | 5.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 58,083 | 100.00% | |

## District 16

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | John H. Ewing | 38,772 | 65.2% | 1.2 |
| | Democratic | Kenneth L. Hetrick | 20,654 | 34.8% | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,426 | 100.00% | |

## District 17

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | William J. Hamilton, Jr. | 26,343 | 59.7% | 11.0 |
| | Republican | Peter J. Selesky | 16,183 | 36.7% | 8.3 |
| | Independent Candidate | Walter Jinotti | 985 | 2.2% | N/A |
| | Repeal Income Tax | Edward J. McGlynn | 638 | 1.4% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,149 | 100.00% | |

## District 18

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Bernard J. Dwyer (incumbent) | 34,144 | 57.6% | 5.6 |
| | Republican | S. Elliott Mayo | 23,803 | 40.2% | 3.4 |
| | Independent | Edward R. Gavarny | 1,281 | 2.2% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,228 | 100.00% | |

## District 19

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Laurence S. Weiss | 30,474 | 65.9% | 12.7 |
| | Republican | Raymond J. Freid | 15,390 | 33.3% | 11.9 |
| | U.S. Labor | Michael R. Leppig | 396 | 0.9% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 46,260 | 100.00% | |

## District 20

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Anthony E. Russo | 30,057 | 50.8 | 5.5 |
| | Republican | Frank X. McDermott | 29,067 | 49.2 | 6.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,124 | 100.00% | |

## District 21

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | John T. Gregorio | 20,255 | 46.9% | 15.8 |
| | Re-elect Experience, Courage | Thomas G. Dunn (incumbent) | 13,932 | 32.2% | N/A |
| | Republican | Robert T. Walsh | 8,005 | 18.5% | 16.0 |
| | Repeal Income Tax | Rocco J. Gallo | 1,023 | 2.4% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,215 | 100.00% | |

## District 22

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Peter McDonough (incumbent) | 28,669 | 55.2% | 2.9 |
| | Democratic | Harry P. Pappas | 22,032 | 42.5% | 5.2 |
| | An Independent Choice | John J. Carone | 1,198 | 2.3% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,899 | 100.00% | |

## District 23

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | John H. Dorsey | 30,882 | 54.3% | 7.4 |
| | Democratic | Stephen B. Wiley (incumbent) | 25,981 | 45.7% | 7.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,863 | 100.0 | |

## District 24

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | James P. Vreeland | 34,694 | 67.1% | 14.5 |
| | Democratic | Norma K. Herzfeld | 17,036 | 32.9% | 14.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,730 | 100.00% | |

## District 25

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | James Wallwork | 35,517 | 60.6% | 6.4 |
| | Democratic | Lewis J. Paper | 23,096 | 39.4% | 6.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 58,613 | 100.00% | |

## District 26

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Frank J. Dodd | 27,293 | 75.0% | 0.1 |
| | Republican | Nancy Jane Schron | 8,847 | 24.3% | 0.6 |
| | Libertarian | Kenneth R. Kaplan | 250 | 0.7% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,390 | 100.00% | |

## District 27

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Carmen A. Orechio | 25,773 | 50.9% | 2.2 |
| | Republican | John N. Dennis | 24,855 | 49.1% | 2.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,628 | 100.00% | |

## District 28

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Martin L. Greenberg | 16,986 | 57.8% | 2.5 |
| | Republican | James A. Pindar | 11,399 | 38.8% | 2.0 |
| | Income Tax Referendum | Nicholas T. Fernicola | 770 | 2.6% | N/A |
| | Jobs, Equality, Peace | Charles E. Cascone | 234 | 0.8% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,389 | 100.00% | |

## District 29

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Wynona Lipman | 16,037 | 90.6% | 6.8 |
| | Republican | Manuel Angel Colon | 1,658 | 9.4% | 6.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,695 | 100.00% | |

## District 30

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Frank E. Rodgers | 20,081 | 48.0% | 11.6 |
| | Anti-Tax Candidate | Anthony Imperiale | 14,771 | 35.3% | 14.0 |
| | Republican | Harry J. Romeo | 6,946 | 16.6% | 2.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,798 | 100.00% | |

## District 31

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Wally Sheil | 26,872 | 70.6% | 8.9 |
| | Republican | Edward T. Magee | 11,191 | 29.4% | 8.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,063 | 100.00% | |

## District 32

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | David Friedland | 26,813 | 67.5% | 7.2 |
| | Republican | Joseph W. Gallagher | 11,817 | 29.8% | 6.9 |
| | Politicians Are Crooks | Herbert H. Shaw | 1,082 | 2.7% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,712 | '100.00%' | |

## District 33

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | William Musto | 25,270 | 71.8% | 6.2 |
| | Republican | Michael A. Litzas | 7,244 | 20.6% | 1.4 |
| | Repeal Income Tax | William J. Meehan | 1,719 | 4.9% | N/A |
| | For The People | Eulalio Jose Negrin | 966 | 2.7% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,199 | '100.00%' | |

## District 34

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Joseph Hirkala | 28,628 | 69.6% | 5.7 |
| | Republican | Herman Schmidt | 12,484 | 30.4% | 5.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,112 | 100.00 | |

## District 35

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Frank X. Graves Jr. | 17,005 | 56.2% | 6.3 |
| | Republican | Alfred E. Fontanella | 12,193 | 40.3% | 9.8 |
| | Tax Revolt Independent | Joseph S. Long | 547 | 1.8% | N/A |
| | Independent Progressive Conservative | Roy L. Ward | 500 | 1.7% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,245 | '100.00%' | |

## District 36

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Anthony Scardino | 31,466 | 63.9% | 1.9 |
| | Republican | Harold A. Pareti | 17,805 | 36.1% | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,271 | 100.00% | |

## District 37

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Matthew Feldman (incumbent) | 31,945 | 59.0% | 0.4 |
| | Republican | William C. Clark | 21,723 | 40.1% | 0.7 |
| | Communist | Magnus Nelson | 492 | 0.9% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,160 | '100.00%' | |

## District 38

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | John Skevin (incumbent) | 24,629 | 56.1% | 1.5 |
| | Republican | Frank A. Buono, Jr. | 19,289 | 43.9% | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,918 | '100.00%' | |

## District 39

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Frank Herbert | 28,658 | 52.8% | 1.5 |
| | Republican | John W. Markert | 25,582 | 47.2% | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,240 | 100.00% | |

## District 40

1977 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Garrett W. Hagedorn (incumbent) | 29,689 | 57.8% | 1.6 |
| | Democratic | Anthony D. Andora | 21,009 | 40.9% | 2.9 |
| | Independent Middle America | Victor E. Virgens | 664 | 1.3% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,362 | '100.00%' | |

## Leadership

Democrats chose Joseph P. Merlino as the Senate President and Carmen Orechio as Majority Leader; Republicans named Garrett Hagedorn as Minority Leader.

