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1977 New Jersey Senate election

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

1977 New Jersey State Senate elections
← 1973 November 8, 1977 1981 →
All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Matthew Feldman James Cafiero
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Leader's seat 37th 1st
Last election 29 10 1
Seats before 28 10 1
Seats won 27 13 0
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 3 Decrease 1
Results by district
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain
Senate President before election

Matthew Feldman
Democratic

Elected Senate President

Joseph P. Merlino
Democratic

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.[1] This is the last time Democrats held a veto-proof majority in the chamber.

Democrats chose Joseph P. Merlino as the Senate President and Carmen Orechio as Majority Leader; Republicans named Garrett Hagedorn as Minority Leader.[2]

Contents
Incumbents not running • Summary of results
By District: 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

Incumbents not running for re-election

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Democratic

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Republican

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Summary of results by district

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District Incumbent 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[a] 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[b] 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
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Senator Anne Clark Martindell resigned on May 17 to join the Jimmy Carter administration.

Close races

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Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 27, 1.8%
  2. District 20, 1.6%
  3. District 6, 4.2%
  4. District 39, 5.6%
  5. District 23, 8.6%
  6. District 10, 9.5%

Incumbents defeated

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In primary elections

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Democratic

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In general elections

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Democratic

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Independent

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  • District 2: After losing the Democratic primary, Senator Joseph McGahn ran as an independent in the general election; he finished third behind Perskie and Republican F. Frederick Perone.
  • District 21: After losing the Democratic primary, Senator Thomas Dunn ran as an independent in the general election; he finished second behind Gregorio.
  • District 30: Anthony Imperiale (Essex) was defeated by Democrat Frank E. Rodgers, the mayor of Harrison.[12]

Open seats

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Democratic holds

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Democratic gains

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Republican holds

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Republican gains

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  • District 6: Alene Ammond (Camden) lost the Democratic primary to Victor Pachter; Pachter lost the general election to Republican Lee Laskin, a former Assemblyman.[6][14]
  • District 14: Anne Clark Martindell (Mercer) was appointed U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand in May, leaving her seat vacant; Republican Walter E. Foran, an Assemblyman from Hunterdon County, won the open seat.

District 1

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James Cafiero (incumbent) 35,416 62.0%   3.7
Democratic Frank Kneiser 21,702 38.0%   3.7
Total votes 57,118 100.00%

District 2

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 66,160 100.00%

District 3

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 56,527 100.00%

District 4

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 54,984 100.00%

District 5

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 39,430 100.00%

District 6

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lee B. Laskin 29,823 52.1   5.3
Democratic Victor Pachter 27,449 47.9   5.3
Total votes 57,272 100.00%

District 7

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 51,764 100.00%

District 8

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 54,210 100.00%

District 9

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 83,629 100.00%

District 10

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 53,551 100.00%

District 11

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 55,894 100.00%

District 12

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 52,964 100.00%

District 13

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 48,533 100.00%

District 14

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 59,060 100.00%

District 15

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New Jersey general election, 1977[15]
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 58,083 100.00%

District 16

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1977 general election[15]
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 59,426 100.00%

District 17

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1977 general election[15]
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 44,149 100.00%

District 18

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1977 general election[15]
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 59,228 100.00%

District 19

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1977 general election[15]
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 46,260 100.00%

District 20

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1977 general election[15]
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 59,124 100.00%

District 21

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1977 general election[16]
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 43,215 100.00%

District 22

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1977 general election[15]
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 51,899 100.00%

District 23

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1977 general election[15]
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 56,863 100.0

District 24

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1977 general election[15]
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 51,730 100.00%

District 25

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1977 general election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James Wallwork 35,517 60.6%   6.4
Democratic Lewis J. Paper 23,096 39.4%   6.4
Total votes 58,613 100.00%

District 26

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1977 general election[15]
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 36,390 100.00%

District 27

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1977 general election[15]
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 50,628 100.00%

District 28

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1977 general election[15]
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 29,389 100.00%

District 29

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1977 general election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Wynona Lipman 16,037 90.6%   6.8
Republican Manuel Angel Colon 1,658 9.4%   6.8
Total votes 17,695 100.00%

District 30

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1977 general election[15]
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 41,798 100.00%

District 31

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1977 general election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Wally Sheil 26,872 70.6%   8.9
Republican Edward T. Magee 11,191 29.4%   8.9
Total votes 38,063 100.00%

District 32

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1977 general election[15]
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 39,712 '100.00%'

District 33

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1977 general election[15]
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 35,199 '100.00%'

District 34

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1977 general election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joseph Hirkala 28,628 69.6%   5.7
Republican Herman Schmidt 12,484 30.4%   5.7
Total votes 41,112 100.00

District 35

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1977 general election[15]
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 30,245 '100.00%'

District 36

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1977 general election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Anthony Scardino 31,466 63.9%   1.9
Republican Harold A. Pareti 17,805 36.1%   0.7
Total votes 49,271 100.00%

District 37

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1977 general election[15]
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 54,160 '100.00%'

District 38

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1977 general election[15]
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 43,918 '100.00%'

District 39

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1977 general election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Frank Herbert 28,658 52.8%   1.5
Republican John W. Markert 25,582 47.2%   1.5
Total votes 54,240 100.00%

District 40

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1977 general election[15]
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 51,362 '100.00%'

References

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  1. ^ Fitzgerald's New Jersey Legislative Manual. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1976.
  2. ^ Fitzgerald's New Jersey Legislative Manual. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1978.
  3. ^ a b "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  4. ^ Janson, Donald (March 5, 1977). "Perskie Likely to Oppose mcgahn in Senate Race". New York Times.
  5. ^ a b "Our Campaigns".
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Results of the Primary Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  7. ^ NARVAEZ, ALFONSO A. (October 17, 1977). "Democrats Running Strong in Campaigns in 13th, 17th and 21st Districts". New York Times.
  8. ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  11. ^ NARVAEZ, ALFONSO A. (October 10, 1977). "G.O.P. Expected to Maintain Strength In Morris, Union and Essex Counties". New York Times.
  12. ^ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  13. ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  14. ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "Results of the General Election Held November 8, 1977" (PDF). Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1977. p. 9. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
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