2001 New Jersey General Assembly election

2001 New Jersey General Assembly election

November 6, 2001 (2001-11-06)

All 80 seats to the General Assembly
41 seats needed for a majority
Turnout49%[1] (Increase 18pp)
 Majority partyMinority party
 
LeaderJoseph J. Roberts
(stepped down)
Jack Collins
(retired)
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Leader sinceJanuary 12, 1998January 9, 1996
Leader's seat5th (Bellmawr)3rd (Gloucester City)
Last election3545
Seats won4435
Seat changeIncrease 9Decrease 9

Results:
     Democratic gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold

Speaker before election

Jack Collins
Republican

Elected Speaker

Albio Sires
Democratic

The 2001 New Jersey General Assembly elections were held on November 6, 2001, for all 80 seats in the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. The election coincided with a gubernatorial election where Democrat Jim McGreevey won. Republicans held a 45-35 majority in the lower house prior to the election. The members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one state senator and two State Assembly members. New Jersey uses coterminous legislative districts for both its State Senate and General Assembly. This was the first election under the maps from the 2000 census.

The Democratic Party flipped the chamber with a 44-36 majority. As of 2025, Democrats continue to hold a majority in the General Assembly. Democrats were able to flip one seat in the 1st, 36th, and 38th districts, and both seats in the 3rd, 22nd, and 34th.

Background

Redistricting

New Jersey Legislature before (left) and after (right) the 2001 redistricting

The new map was based on a revised Democratic map chosen by Professor Larry Bartels of Princeton University, the non-partisan member of the reapportionment commission.[2] Republicans challenged the district map under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, arguing that by shifting some African-American and Hispanic voters out of three predominantly minority districts in and around Newark and spreading them to other, mostly white districts, the plan diluted minority voting strength. The case was rejected by the U.S. Court for the District of New Jersey.[2] The Republican suit was dismissed partly under the influence of the near-unanimous support of New Jersey's incumbent minority legislators for the Democratic claim that their map would result in more minority representation, rather than less.[2]

Incumbents not seeking re-election

Democratic

Republican

[3]

Summary of results by district

Legislative DistrictPositionIncumbentPartyElected Assembly MemberParty
1st[4]1Nicholas AsseltaRepublicanNicholas AsseltaRepublican
2John C. GibsonRepublicanJeff Van DrewDemocratic
2nd[5]1Kenneth LeFevreRepublicanPaul R. D'AmatoRepublican
2Francis J. BleeRepublicanFrancis J. BleeRepublican
3rd[6]1Jack CollinsRepublicanJohn J. BurzichelliDemocrat
2Gary StuhltragerRepublicanDouglas H. FisherDemocrat
4th[7]1Robert J. Smith IIDemocratRobert J. Smith IIDemocrat
2George GeistRepublicanGeorge GeistRepublican
5th[8]1Nilsa Cruz-PerezDemocratNilsa Cruz-PerezDemocrat
2Joseph J. RobertsDemocratJoseph J. RobertsDemocrat
6th[9]1Louis GreenwaldDemocratLouis GreenwaldDemocrat
2Mary PreviteDemocratMary PreviteDemocrat
7th[10]1Herb ConawayDemocratHerb ConawayDemocrat
2Jack ConnersDemocratJack ConnersDemocrat
8th[11]1Francis BodineRepublicanFrancis BodineRepublican
2Larry ChatzidakisRepublicanLarry ChatzidakisRepublican
9th[12]1Jeffrey MoranRepublicanJeffrey MoranRepublican
2Christopher J. ConnorsRepublicanChristopher J. ConnorsRepublican
10th[13]1James W. HolzapfelRepublicanJames W. HolzapfelRepublican
2David W. WolfeRepublicanDavid W. WolfeRepublican
11th[14]1Thomas S. SmithRepublicanThomas S. SmithRepublican
2Steve CorodemusRepublicanSteve CorodemusRepublican
12th[15]1Clare FarragherRepublicanClare FarragherRepublican
2Michael ArnoneRepublicanMichael ArnoneRepublican
13th[16]1Samuel D. ThompsonRepublicanSamuel D. ThompsonRepublican
2Joseph AzzolinaRepublicanJoseph AzzolinaRepublican
14th[17]1Gary GuearDemocratGary GuearDemocrat
2Linda GreensteinDemocratLinda GreensteinDemocrat
15th[18]1Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocratBonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat
2Reed GuscioraDemocratReed GuscioraDemocrat
16th[19]1Peter BiondiRepublicanPeter BiondiRepublican
2Christopher BatemanRepublicanChristopher BatemanRepublican
17th[20]1Bob SmithDemocratUpendra ChivukulaDemocrat
2Jerry GreenDemocratJoseph V. EganDemocrat
18th[21]1Peter BarnesDemocratPeter BarnesDemocrat
2Barbara BuonoDemocratPatrick J. DiegnanDemocrat
19th[22]1Arline FrisciaDemocratArline FrisciaDemocrat
2John WisniewskiDemocratJohn WisniewskiDemocrat
20th[23]1Neil M. CohenDemocratNeil M. CohenDemocrat
2Joseph SuligaDemocratJoseph CryanDemocrat
21st[24]1Joel WeingartenRepublicanThomas Kean Jr.[a]Republican
2Eric MunozRepublicanEric MunozRepublican
22nd[25]1Richard BaggerRepublicanLinda StenderDemocrat
2Thomas Kean Jr.RepublicanJerry Green[b]Democrat
23rd[26]1Leonard LanceRepublicanMichael J. DohertyRepublican
2Connie MyersRepublicanConnie MyersRepublican
24th[27]1Guy GreggRepublicanGuy GreggRepublican
2Scott GarrettRepublicanScott GarrettRepublican
25th[28]1Rick MerktRepublicanRick MerktRepublican
2Michael Patrick CarrollRepublicanMichael Patrick CarrollRepublican
26th[29]1Alex DeCroceRepublicanAlex DeCroceRepublican
2Joseph PennacchioRepublicanJoseph PennacchioRepublican
27th[30]1LeRoy J. Jones Jr.DemocratJohn F. McKeonDemocrat
2Nia GillDemocratMims HackettDemocrat
28th[31]1Craig A. StanleyDemocratCraig A. StanleyDemocrat
2Wilfredo CaraballoDemocratDonald Kofi Tucker[c]Democrat
29th[32]1William D. PayneDemocratWilliam D. PayneDemocrat
2Donald Kofi TuckerDemocratWilfredo Caraballo[d]Democrat
30th[33]1Joseph MaloneRepublicanJoseph MaloneRepublican
2Melvin CottrellRepublicanMelvin CottrellRepublican
31st[34]1Joseph DoriaDemocratJoseph DoriaDemocrat
2Joseph CharlesDemocratElba Perez-CinciarelliDemocrat
32nd[35]1Joan M. QuigleyDemocratJoan QuigleyDemocrat
2Anthony ImprevedutoDemocratAnthony ImprevedutoDemocrat
33rd[36]1Albio SiresDemocratAlbio SiresDemocrat
2Rafael FraguelaDemocratRafael FraguelaDemocrat
34th[37]1Marion CreccoRepublicanPeter C. EaglerDemocrat
2Gerald H. ZeckerRepublicanWillis EdwardsDemocrat
35th[38]1Nellie PouDemocratNellie PouDemocrat
2Alfred SteeleDemocratAlfred SteeleDemocrat
36th[39]1Paul DiGaetanoRepublicanPaul DiGaetanoRepublican
2John V. KellyRepublicanPaul SarloDemocrat
37th[40]1Ken ZisaDemocratGordon M. JohnsonDemocrat
2Loretta WeinbergDemocratLoretta WeinbergDemocrat
38th[41]1Guy TalaricoRepublicanMatt AhearnDemocrat
2Rose Marie HeckRepublicanRose Marie HeckRepublican
39th[42]1Charlotte VandervalkRepublicanCharlotte VandervalkRepublican
2John E. RooneyRepublicanJohn E. RooneyRepublican
40th[43]1Nicholas FeliceRepublicanKevin J. O'TooleRepublican
2David C. RussoRepublicanDavid RussoRepublican

Close races

Districts where the difference of total votes between the top-two parties was under 10%:

  1. District 1, 9.8% gain D
  2. District 3, 9.4% gain
  3. District 4, 1.4%
  4. District 12, 7.7%
  5. District 14, 7.6%
  6. District 36, 1.8% gain D
  7. District 38, 0.2% gain D

List of races

District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40

District 1

New Jersey general election, 2001[44]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanNicholas Asselta 36,392 29.6
DemocraticJeff Van Drew 32,271 26.3
RepublicanJohn C. Gibson31,06725.3
DemocraticDouglas Jones-Romero23,14718.8
Total votes122,877 100.0

District 2

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanPaul R. D'Amato 29,427 28.1
RepublicanFrank Blee 29,010 27.7
DemocraticFred Scerni22,83321.8
DemocraticDianna W. Fauntleroy22,59721.6
GreenRobert Paul Gabrielsky9410.9
Total votes104,808 100.0

District 3

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDouglas H. Fisher 31,886 28.1
DemocraticJohn J. Burzichelli 30,213 26.6
RepublicanMichael H. Facemyer25,82322.8
RepublicanHarold U. Johnson25,50922.5
Total votes113,431 100.0

District 4

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanGeorge F. Geist 26,825 28.0
DemocraticRobert J. Smith 24,845 25.9
DemocraticDavid F. Carlamere23,72924.8
RepublicanSherie Y. Jenkins20,42821.3
Total votes95,827 100.0

District 5

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJoe Roberts 32,224 43.0
DemocraticNilsa Cruz-Perez 30,087 40.1
RepublicanElla Hilton12,65916.9
Total votes74,970 100.0

District 6

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLouis D. Greenwald 38,327 32.7
DemocraticMary T. Previte 37,895 32.3
RepublicanAnthony "Tony" Clark20,68817.6
RepublicanLou Harvey20,45217.4
Total votes117,362 100.0

District 7

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJack Conners 31,703 29.7
DemocraticHerb Conaway 31,547 29.5
RepublicanClara Ruvolo21,74020.3
RepublicanAubrey A. Fenton21,06619.7
ConservativeHosey Best8500.8
Total votes106,906 100.0

District 8

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanFrancis L. Bodine 34,972 30.4
RepublicanLarry Chatzidakis 34,037 29.6
DemocraticCarol A. Murphy23,49620.4
DemocraticThomas J. Price22,62219.6
Total votes115,127 100.0

District 9

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanChristopher J. Connors 44,004 30.1
RepublicanJeffrey W. Moran 43,178 29.6
DemocraticJohn F. Ryan30,38520.8
DemocraticRobert DiBella28,52119.5
Total votes146,088 100.0

District 10

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanDavid W. Wolfe 36,989 29.2
RepublicanJames W. Holzapfel 36,747 29.0
DemocraticJohn Furey26,72321.1
DemocraticKimberley Casten26,30720.8
Total votes126,766 100.0

District 11

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanSteve Corodemus 34,002 29.0
RepublicanTom Smith 31,554 26.9
DemocraticJim Reilly25,67421.9
DemocraticWarren Goode24,26720.7
LibertarianRobert Hull6760.6
LibertarianJohn M. Taylor6580.6
Lower Taxes NowKaren Zaletel5920.5
Total votes117,423 100.0

District 12

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMichael J. Arnone 31,794 27.3
RepublicanClare M. Farragher 30,476 26.2
DemocraticGordon N. Gemma26,82323.0
DemocraticWilliam I. Scherer26,50122.8
Natural LawMary Jo Christian8650.7
Total votes116,459 100.0

District 13

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJoe Azzolina 33,777 28.9
RepublicanSamuel D. Thompson 32,397 27.7
DemocraticKevin Graham25,85122.1
DemocraticSteven T. Piech23,74120.3
LibertarianDiane Hittner8740.7
We, The PeopleMac Dara F.X. Lyden4220.4
Total votes117,062 100.0

District 14

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLinda R. Greenstein 32,878 27.5
DemocraticGary L. Guear Sr 31,469 26.3
RepublicanBarbara Wright27,80323.2
RepublicanPaul R. Kramer27,56323.0
Total votes119,713 100.0

District 15

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticBonnie Watson Coleman 30,816 34.0
DemocraticReed Gusciora 30,505 33.6
RepublicanThomas Dallessio14,65716.2
RepublicanRosanna Dovgala14,07615.5
LibertarianChristopher C. Toto6160.7
Total votes90,670 100.0

District 16

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanChristopher “Kip” Bateman 39,136 33.8
RepublicanPeter J. Biondi 37,788 32.6
DemocraticJohn P. Rooney20,05117.3
DemocraticJames K. Foohey18,94816.3
Total votes115,923 100.0

District 17

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJoseph V. Egan 27,948 33.8
DemocraticUpendra J. Chivukula 26,374 31.9
RepublicanCatherine Barrier14,16117.2
RepublicanAnthony Mazzola14,08517.1
Total votes82,568 100.0

District 18

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticPeter J. Barnes Jr 32,633 33.0
DemocraticPatrick Diegnan Jr 30,759 31.1
RepublicanNorman J. Van Houten18,15218.3
RepublicanSylvester Fernandez17,44317.6
Total votes98,987 100.0

District 19

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJohn S. Wisniewski 35,090 37.4
DemocraticArline Friscia 33,458 35.7
RepublicanBilly E. Delgado13,34414.2
RepublicanChristopher F. Struben11,84412.6
Total votes93,736 100.0

District 20

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticNeil M. Cohen 22,457 41.3
DemocraticJoseph Cryan 22,162 40.8
Schundler for GovernorDency J. Rivera4,8779.0
Schundler for GovernorRalph J. Fabre4,8528.9
Total votes54,348 100.0

District 21

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanThomas H. Kean, Jr. 44,223 31.8
RepublicanEric Munoz 39,457 28.4
DemocraticTom Jardim28,49920.5
DemocraticJ. Brooke Hern26,89619.3
Total votes139,075 100.0

District 22

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLinda Stender 29,169 30.5
DemocraticJerry Green 28,258 29.6
RepublicanPatricia Walsh19,61620.5
RepublicanGabe Spera18,48619.4
Total votes95,529 100.0

District 23

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanConnie Myers 39,313 32.4
RepublicanMike Doherty 35,345 29.2
DemocraticJ. Rebecca Goff19,99516.5
DemocraticThomas E. Palmieri19,45416.1
Warren/Hunterdon IndependentMike King7,0605.8
Total votes121,167 100.0

District 24

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanScott Garrett 38,242 36.3
RepublicanGuy R. Gregg 36,121 34.2
DemocraticSuzanne Patnaude15,75414.9
DemocraticMargarita Cart15,36914.6
Total votes105,486 100.0

District 25

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMichael Patrick Carroll 33,426 30.0
RepublicanRick Merkt 33,414 30.0
DemocraticAnn Huber23,11020.8
DemocraticDick Tighe21,40819.2
Total votes111,358 100.0

District 26

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanAlex DeCroce 39,381 34.2
RepublicanJoseph Pennacchio 37,251 32.4
DemocraticJoseph Raich19,49116.9
DemocraticSergio Bio18,87016.4
Total votes114,993 100.0

District 27

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJohn F. McKeon 33,866 31.4
DemocraticMims Hackett Jr 31,179 28.9
RepublicanMuriel M. Shore20,53619.1
RepublicanJoseph Tempesta20,07418.6
African-Americans For JusticeNatalie Heard1,1831.1
African-Americans For JusticeTobi Moor9300.9
Total votes107,768 100.0

District 28

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDonald Tucker 27,949 37.0
DemocraticCraig A. Stanley 27,635 36.6
RepublicanCharles Daglian9,55712.7
RepublicanMichael Melham9,04212.0
ConservativeVincent J. Frantantoni8661.1
IndependentWilliam Coleman4740.6
Total votes75,523 100.0

District 29

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticWilliam D. Payne 25,422 44.6
DemocraticWilfredo Caraballo 24,739 43.4
RepublicanElaine L. Guarino3,5726.3
RepublicanTharien Arnold3,2365.7
Total votes56,969 100.0

District 30

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJoseph R. Malone III 30,903 30.6
RepublicanMelvin Cottrell 29,963 29.6
DemocraticMichael L. Broderick20,95920.7
DemocraticLyle M. (Peggi) Sturmfels19,26119.1
Total votes101,086 100.0

District 31

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJoseph V. Doria Jr 29,120 37.6
DemocraticElba Perez-Cinciarelli 27,637 35.7
RepublicanIra F. Jersey9,88712.8
RepublicanAdor L. Equipado9,60312.4
Together We'll WinJuanita Lope'z1,2621.6
Total votes77,509 100.0

District 32

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticAnthony Impreveduto 27,648 36.7
DemocraticJoan Quigley 27,484 36.4
RepublicanFrances Cohen10,18813.5
RepublicanEsther Gatria10,08713.4
Total votes75,407 100.0

District 33

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticAlbio Sires 28,130 37.8
DemocraticRafael J. Fraguela 28,019 37.6
RepublicanSergio Alonso9,22912.4
RepublicanHelen Pinoargotty9,09812.2
Total votes74,476 100.0

District 34

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticPeter C. Eagler 31,623 34.4
DemocraticWillis Edwards III 29,538 32.1
RepublicanGerald H. Zecker16,30617.7
RepublicanNatalie R. Esposito14,48415.8
Total votes91,951 100.0

District 35

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticAlfred E. Steele 24,880 51.2
DemocraticNellie Pou 23,728 48.8
Total votes48,608 100.0

District 36

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanPaul DiGaetano 23,563 26.8
DemocraticPaul Sarlo 21,811 24.8
DemocraticWalter G. Wargacki20,55423.4
RepublicanJames L. Cassella20,39423.2
Green CoalitionNick Scardigno6020.7
Green CoalitionJohn Zazanis4970.6
Stop Vieques BOMBINGRafael Sanchez4420.5
Total votes87,863 100.0

District 37

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLoretta Weinberg 34,443 34.4
DemocraticGordon M. Johnson 32,687 32.6
RepublicanThomas F. Gaffney, Jr.16,73716.7
RepublicanSandi Cortazzo16,27016.2
Total votes100,137 100.0

District 38

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanRose Marie Heck 27,055 25.3
DemocraticMatt Ahearn 26,919 25.2
DemocraticKay Nest26,58724.9
RepublicanNicholas R. Felice26,25224.6
Total votes106,813 100.0

District 39

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanCharlotte Vandervalk 41,586 31.4
RepublicanJohn E. Rooney 40,277 30.4
DemocraticLinda Mercurio26,44720.0
DemocraticJim Carroll24,03718.2
Total votes132,347 100.0

District 40

New Jersey general election, 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanDavid C. Russo 38,627 30.7
RepublicanKevin J. O'Toole 38,058 30.2
DemocraticFrank Delvecchio25,02719.9
DemocraticDonna Kurdock24,20119.2
Total votes125,913 100.0

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Redistricted from the 22nd district.
  2. ^ Redistricted from the 17th district.
  3. ^ Redistricted from the 29th district.
  4. ^ Redistricted from the 28th district.

References

  1. ^ "General Election Data - 1924 to 2022" (PDF). NJ.gov.
  2. ^ a b c "New Jersey's Redistricting". The New York Times. May 9, 2001. p. 30.
  3. ^ "New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2001". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  4. ^ 1st
  5. ^ 2nd
  6. ^ 3rd
  7. ^ 4th
  8. ^ 5th
  9. ^ 6th
  10. ^ 7th
  11. ^ 8th
  12. ^ 9th
  13. ^ 10th
  14. ^ 11th
  15. ^ 12th
  16. ^ 13th
  17. ^ 14th
  18. ^ 15th
  19. ^ 16th
  20. ^ 17th
  21. ^ 18th
  22. ^ 19th
  23. ^ 20th
  24. ^ 21st
  25. ^ 22nd
  26. ^ 23rd
  27. ^ 24th
  28. ^ 25th
  29. ^ 26th
  30. ^ 27th
  31. ^ 28th
  32. ^ 29th
  33. ^ 30th
  34. ^ 31st
  35. ^ 32nd
  36. ^ 33rd
  37. ^ 34th
  38. ^ 35th
  39. ^ 36th
  40. ^ 37th
  41. ^ 38th
  42. ^ 39th
  43. ^ 40th
  44. ^ "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly for November 2001 General Election" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 9, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
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