1983 New Jersey State Senate election
# 1983 New Jersey State Senate election

The 1983 New Jersey State Senate elections were held on November 8.

The election took place mid-way through the first term of Governor Thomas Kean. Democrats gained a net of two seats.

## Incumbents not running for re-election

### Democratic

* Herman T. Costello (District 7)
* Frank E. Rodgers (District 32)
* Nicholas LaRocca (District 33) (ran for Assembly)

## Summary of results by State Senate district

| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1st Legislative District | James R. Hurley | Rep | James R. Hurley | Rep |
| 2nd Legislative District | William Gormley | Rep | William Gormley | Rep |
| 3rd Legislative District | Raymond Zane | Dem | Raymond Zane | Dem |
| 4th Legislative District | Daniel Dalton | Dem | Daniel Dalton | Dem |
| 5th Legislative District | Walter Rand | Dem | Walter Rand | Dem |
| 6th Legislative District | Lee Laskin | Rep | Lee Laskin | Rep |
| 7th Legislative District | Herman T. Costello | Dem | Catherine A. Costa | Dem |
| 8th Legislative District | Jim Saxton | Rep | Jim Saxton | Rep |
| 9th Legislative District | Leonard T. Connors | Rep | Leonard T. Connors | Rep |
| 10th Legislative District | John F. Russo | Dem | John F. Russo | Dem |
| 11th Legislative District | Brian T. Kennedy | Rep | Frank Pallone | Dem |
| 12th Legislative District | S. Thomas Gagliano | Rep | S. Thomas Gagliano | Rep |
| 13th Legislative District | John P. Gallagher | Rep | Richard Van Wagner | Dem |
| 14th Legislative District | Francis J. McManimon | Dem | Francis J. McManimon | Dem |
| 15th Legislative District | Gerald R. Stockman | Dem | Gerald R. Stockman | Dem |
| 16th Legislative District | John H. Ewing | Rep | John H. Ewing | Rep |
| 17th Legislative District | John A. Lynch Jr. | Dem | John A. Lynch Jr. | Dem |
| 18th Legislative District | James Bornheimer | Dem | Peter P. Garibaldi | Rep |
| 19th Legislative District | Laurence Weiss | Dem | Laurence Weiss | Dem |
| 20th Legislative District | Raymond Lesniak | Dem | Raymond Lesniak | Dem |
| 21st Legislative District | C. Louis Bassano | Rep | C. Louis Bassano | Rep |
| 22nd Legislative District | Donald DiFrancesco | Rep | Donald DiFrancesco | Rep |
| 23rd Legislative District | Walter E. Foran | Rep | Walter E. Foran | Rep |
| 24th Legislative District | Wayne Dumont | Rep | Wayne Dumont | Rep |
| 25th Legislative District | John H. Dorsey | Rep | John H. Dorsey | Rep |
| 26th Legislative District | James P. Vreeland | Rep | Leanna Brown | Rep |
| 27th Legislative District | Richard Codey | Dem | Richard Codey | Dem |
| 28th Legislative District | John P. Caufield | Dem | John P. Caufield | Dem |
| 29th Legislative District | Wynona Lipman | Dem | Wynona Lipman | Dem |
| 30th Legislative District | Carmen Orechio | Dem | Carmen Orechio | Dem |
| 31st Legislative District | Edward T. O'Connor Jr. | Dem | Edward T. O'Connor Jr. | Dem |
| 32nd Legislative District | Frank E. Rodgers | Dem | Thomas F. Cowan | Dem |
| 33rd Legislative District | Nicholas LaRocca | Dem | Christopher Jackman | Dem |
| 34th Legislative District | Joseph Bubba | Rep | Joseph Bubba | Rep |
| 35th Legislative District | Frank X. Graves Jr. | Dem | Frank X. Graves Jr. | Dem |
| 36th Legislative District | Joseph Hirkala | Dem | Joseph Hirkala | Dem |
| 37th Legislative District | Matthew Feldman | Dem | Matthew Feldman | Dem |
| 38th Legislative District | John Paolella | Rep | Paul Contillo | Dem |
| 39th Legislative District | Gerald Cardinale | Rep | Gerald Cardinale | Rep |
| 40th Legislative District | Garrett Hagedorn | Rep | Garrett Hagedorn | Rep |

* ↑ Gormley won a September 1982 special election to complete the unexpired term of Senator Steven P. Perskie, who resigned to become a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court.

## District 1

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | James R. Hurley (incumbent) | 30,141 | 59.8% | 6.0 |
| | Democratic | Christopher H. Riley | 20,232 | 40.2% | 6.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,373 | 100.00% | |

## District 2

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | William Gormley (incumbent) | 27,616 | 56.8% | 15.5 |
| | Democratic | Arlene Groch | 19,937 | 41.0% | 16.0 |
| | Senate Independent | James T. Hagen | 1,062 | 2.2% | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 48,615 | 100.00% | |

## District 3

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Raymond Zane (incumbent) | 30,179 | 63.0% | 0.2 |
| | Republican | Mary Ruth Talley | 17,743 | 37.0% | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,922 | 100.00% | |

## District 4

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Daniel Dalton | 21,891 | 63.9% | 0.6 |
| | Republican | Christopher Michaele | 12,379 | 36.1% | 0.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,270 | 100.00% | |

## District 5

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Walter Rand (incumbent) | 23,446 | 66.0% | 6.0 |
| | Republican | Gregory B. Montgomery | 12,090 | 34.0% | 6.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,536 | 100.00% | |

## District 6

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Lee B. Laskin (incumbent) | 29,783 | 63.3% | 6.6 |
| | Democratic | Francis J. Ward | 17,235 | 36.7% | 6.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,018 | 100.00% | |

## District 7

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Catherine A. Costa | 26,697 | 63.1% | 6.0 |
| | Republican | Henry W. Metzger | 15,616 | 36.9% | 6.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,313 | 100.00% | |

## District 8

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Jim Saxton (incumbent) | 22,714 | 63.1% | 2.6 |
| | Democratic | Charles H. Ryan | 13,303 | 36.9% | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,017 | 100.00% | |

## District 9

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Leonard T. Connors (incumbent) | 31,028 | 63.3 | 1.1 |
| | Democratic | Anthony M. Sellitto, Jr. | 17,989 | 36.7 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,017 | 100.00% | |

## District 10

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | John F. Russo (incumbent) | 31,807 | 63.3 | 4.7 |
| | Republican | Bob Fall | 18,413 | 36.7 | 4.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,220 | 100.00% | |

## District 11

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Frank Pallone | 24,339 | 50.4% | 9.3 |
| | Republican | Brian T. Kennedy (incumbent) | 23,412 | 48.5% | 9.3 |
| | Bull Moose | Edgar Van Houten | 508 | 1.1% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 48,259 | 100.00% | |

## District 12

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | S. Thomas Gagliano (incumbent) | 24,294 | 50.9% | 8.2 |
| | Democratic | Alexander D. Lehrer | 23,414 | 49.1% | 8.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,708 | 100.00% | |

## District 13

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Richard Van Wagner | 26,522 | 54.1% | 5.7 |
| | Republican | John P. Gallagher (incumbent) | 22,508 | 45.9% | 5.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,030 | 100.00% | |

## District 14

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Francis J. McManimon (incumbent) | 30,376 | 63.5% | 5.8 |
| | Republican | Charles B. W. Durand | 17,448 | 36.5% | 5.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,824 | 100.00% | |

## District 15

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Gerald R. Stockman (incumbent) | 29,967 | 67.3% | 10.9 |
| | Republican | Robert A. Gladstone | 14,543 | 32.7% | 10.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,510 | 100.00% | |

## District 16

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | John H. Ewing (incumbent) | 27,383 | 67.4% | 1.9 |
| | Democratic | Alfred A. Wicklund | 13,242 | 32.6% | 1.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,625 | 100.00% | |

## District 17

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | John A. Lynch Jr. (incumbent) | 19,703 | 65.3% | 4.7 |
| | Republican | Frank A. Santoro | 10,449 | 34.7% | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,152 | 100.00% | |

## District 18

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Peter P. Garibaldi | 24,397 | 47.9% | 0.0 |
| | Democratic | James W. Bornheimer (incumbent) | 23,814 | 46.7% | 5.4 |
| | Independent | Robert S. Maurer | 2,769 | 5.4% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,980 | 100.00% | |

## District 19

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Laurence S. Weiss (incumbent) | 28,251 | 59.0 | 1.4 |
| | Republican | James W. Inman | 19,603 | 41.0 | 1.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,854 | 100.00% | |

## District 20

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Raymond Lesniak (incumbent) | 23,246 | 64.5% | 0.6 |
| | Republican | Alfred D. Palermo | 11,868 | 32.9% | 5.4 |
| | Inflation Fighting Housewife | Rose Zeidwerg Monyek | 389 | 1.1% | 2.4 |
| | Beam the Bomb | Joseph P. Scanlon | 305 | 0.8% | N/A |
| | Independent | Harold J. Young | 217 | 0.6% | 3.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,025 | 100.00% | |

## District 21

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | C. Louis Bassano (incumbent) | 29,300 | 50.5% | 1.4 |
| | Democratic | Anthony E. Russo | 28,734 | 49.5% | 1.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 58,034 | 100.00% | |

## District 22

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Donald DiFrancesco (incumbent) | 29,005 | 66.6% | 1.3 |
| | Democratic | Thomas M. McCormack | 14,576 | 33.4% | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,581 | 100.00% | |

## District 23

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Walter E. Foran (incumbent) | 27,224 | 69.2% | 5.9 |
| | Democratic | William Martin, Jr. | 12,101 | 30.8% | 5.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,325 | 100.00% | |

## District 24

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Wayne Dumont (incumbent) | 29,279 | 75.6% | 1.8 |
| | Democratic | Clarence W. Sickles | 9,431 | 24.4% | 1.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,710 | 100.00% | |

## District 25

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | John H. Dorsey (incumbent) | 25,529 | 65.4% | 2.6 |
| | Democratic | Allen Hantman | 13,524 | 34.6% | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,053 | 100.0 | |

## District 26

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Leanna Brown | 24,348 | 68.2% | 1.7 |
| | Democratic | Anthony Calvino | 11,342 | 31.8% | 1.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,690 | 100.00% | |

## District 27

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Richard Codey (incumbent) | 18,943 | 75.2% | 1.3 |
| | Republican | James J. Brown | 6,255 | 24.8% | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,198 | 100.00% | |

## District 28

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | John P. Caufield (incumbent) | 11,829 | 72.9% | 2.1 |
| | Republican | Joseph N. Mastrangelo | 4,392 | 27.1% | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,221 | 100.00% | |

## District 29

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Wynona Lipman (incumbent) | 12,906 | 85.5 | 2.8 |
| | Republican | Willie M. Brascher | 2,182 | 14.5 | 2.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,088 | 100.00% | |

## District 30

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Carmen A. Orechio (incumbent) | 28,613 | 53.8% | 4.4 |
| | Republican | Ralph J. Salerno | 23,523 | 44.2% | 3.5 |
| | Regular Organization | Martin G. Scaturo | 1,061 | 2.0% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,197 | 100.00% | |

## District 31

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Edward T. O'Connor Jr. (incumbent) | 23,894 | 80.7% | 5.3 |
| | Republican | Helen Kozak | 5,698 | 19.3% | 5.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,592 | 100.00% | |

## District 32

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Thomas F. Cowan | 23,510 | 63.8% | 0.4 |
| | Republican | Joseph A. Plonski | 11,997 | 32.6% | 1.8 |
| | Politicians Are Crooks | Herbert H. Shaw | 1,318 | 3.6 | 1.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,825 | 100.00% | |

## District 33

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Christopher Jackman | 18,916 | 66.5% | 15.7 |
| | Republican | Carlos E. Munoz | 9,532 | 33.5% | 15.7 (23.4) |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,448 | 100.00% | |

## District 34

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Joseph Bubba (incumbent) | 23,993 | 51.0% | 1.7 |
| | Democratic | James W. Roe | 23,019 | 49.0% | 1.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,012 | 100.00% | |

## District 35

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Frank X. Graves Jr. (incumbent) | 23,646 | 74.3% | 0.3 |
| | Republican | Richard Fontanella | 8,161 | 25.7% | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,807 | 100.00% | |

## District 36

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Joseph Hirkala (incumbent) | 28,325 | 58.3% | 2.9 |
| | Republican | Joseph F. Job | 20,222 | 41.7% | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 48,547 | 100.00% | |

## District 37

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Matthew Feldman (incumbent) | 32,645 | 64.3% | 2.6 |
| | Republican | Michael L. Kingman | 18,143 | 35.7% | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,788 | 100.00% | |

## District 38

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Democratic | Paul Contillo | 22,422 | 50.7% | 4.2 |
| | Republican | John B. Paolella (incumbent) | 21,827 | 49.3% | 1.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,249 | 100.00% | |

## District 39

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Gerald Cardinale (incumbent) | 27,199 | 51.2% | 7.0 |
| | Democratic | Francis Herbert | 25,942 | 48.8% | 7.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,141 | 100.0 | |

## District 40

1983 general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Republican | Garrett W. Hagedorn (incumbent) | 28,755 | 65.5% | 1.3 |
| | Democratic | Charles F. Ryan | 15,152 | 34.5% | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,907 | 100.00% | |
