New Jersey State Senate election, 1977

New Jersey State Senate Elections, 1977
New Jersey
November 8, 1977
40 of the 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Matthew Feldman James Cafiero
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat District 37 District 1
Last election 29 Seats 10 Seats
Seats won 27 13
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 3
  Third party
 
Party Independent
Last election 1 Seat
Seats before 1
Seats won 0
Seat change Decrease 1
Senate President before election

Matthew Feldman
Democratic

 Elected Senate President

Joseph P. Merlino
Democratic

The 1977 New Jersey State Senate election coincided with Brendan Byrne's re-election to a second term as Governor of New Jersey. Byrne entered the 1977 cycle as an unlikely candidate for re-election; Republicans gained 17 Assembly seats in the 1975 mid-term elections,[1] and Byrne was exceedingly unpopular after supporting a State Income Tax; nearly three-quarters of New Jersey voters disapproved of his job performance.[2] Byrne won renomination in the Democratic Primary with just 30% of the vote against ten challengers, and the Republican nominee, State Sen. Raymond Bateman, began the campaign with a sizable lead; some polls had him ahead by as much as 17%.[3] Byrne and Bateman debated nine times and Byrne used the governorship to his advantage, signing bills and appearing with cabinet members all over the state, benefiting from a visit by President Carter and turning what was his biggest weakness, the income tax, into a strength. Property taxes went down because of it, people got rebates and Bateman's plan - replacing it with an increased sales tax - was widely criticised.[4]

While Republicans had high hopes of winning back the Senate, Democrats lost just two seats, with Republicans picking up three and the lone Independent in the Senate also losing.[5]

History

The state was to be divided into 40 legislative districts for the first time in 1973, with each district electing one State Senator and two members of the General Assembly. The 1977 elections was the second time the current legislative districting map was in effect. The districts were drawn first to achieve a population balance (districts were drawn to be within +/- 4% of each other), and then to be as geographically compact as possible. Many districts included parts of several counties. Some districts had more than one incumbent.[6]

Until 1965, the New Jersey State Senate was composed of 21 Senators, with each county electing one Senator. After the U.S. Supreme Court, in Reynolds v. Sims (more commonly known as One Man, One Vote), required redistricting by state legislatures for congressional districts to keep represented populations equal, as well as requiring both houses of state legislatures to have districts drawn that contained roughly equal populations, and to perform redistricting when needed.[7] In 1965, the Senate was increased from 21 members to 29 members, and larger counties were given more than one seat, and some smaller counties shared one or two Senators. The map was changed again in 1967, and again in 1971, as the state adjusted to the one man, one vote ruling.

Incumbents who lost re-election

Five incumbent Democratic Senators were defeated in the June primary; Democrats held four of the seats, and Republicans picked up one seat:[8]

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:[9]

Two incumbent Democratic Senators were defeated for re-election:[10]

One incumbent Independent Senator was defeated for re-election, a Democratic pickup:[11]

Open seats

Three incumbent Republican Senators did not seek re-election in 1977; Republicans held two seats and Democrats picked up one seat:[12]

Three incumbent Democratic Senators did not seek re-election in 1977; Democrats held both seats:[13]

One Democratic Senator resigned from the Senate in 1977 after receiving a federal appointment; that seat was picked up by the Republicans:[14]

Incumbents who were reelected

Sixteen incumbent Democratic Senators were re-elected in 1977:[15]

Seven incumbent Republican Senators were re-elected in 1977:[16]

Key primary races

Key general election races

Leadership

Democrats chose Joseph P. Merlino as the Senate President and Carmen Orechio as Majority Leader; Republicans named Garrett Hagedorn as Minority Leader.[31]

References

  1. ↑ Fitzgerald's New Jersey Legislative Manual. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1976.
  2. ↑ "Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling". www.eagleton.rutgers.edu. Rutgers University. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling". www.eagleton.rutgers.edu. Rutgers University. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  4. ↑ http://www.bluejersey.com/diary/11060/
  5. ↑ Fitzgerald's New Jersey Legislative Manual. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1976.
  6. ↑ Sullivan, Ronald (9 March 1973). "JERSEY APPROVES DISTRICTING PLAN; Reapportions State Senate and Assembly Seats for this Year's Elections Jersey Panel Approves a Plan To Redistrict Legislative Seats Jersey Panel Approves a Plan To Redistrict Legislative Seats". New York Times.
  7. ↑ "JERSEY ORDERED TO REAPPORTION; Judge Finds Congressional Districts Unconstitutional". New York Times. 21 May 1965.
  8. ↑ "Results of the Primary Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  24. ↑ NARVAEZ, ALFONSO A. (10 October 1977). "G.O.P. Expected to Maintain Strength In Morris, Union and Essex Counties". New York Times.
  25. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  26. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  27. ↑ NARVAEZ, ALFONSO A. (17 October 1977). "Democrats Running Strong in Campaigns in 13th, 17th and 21st Districts". New York Times.
  28. ↑ Janson, Donald (5 March 1977). "Perskie Likely to Oppose mcgahn in Senate Race". New York Times.
  29. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  30. ↑ "Our Campaigns".
  31. ↑ Fitzgerald's New Jersey Legislative Manual. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1978.
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