1957 New Jersey gubernatorial election

1957 New Jersey gubernatorial election

←  1953 November 5, 1957 1961  →
Turnout	74% of eligible voters (4 pp) [1]
Nominee Robert B. Meyner Malcolm Forbes Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,101,130 897,321 Percentage 54.6% 44.5%
County results Meyner:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Forbes:      50–60%
Governor before election Robert B. Meyner Democratic Elected Governor Robert B. Meyner Democratic

The 1957 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1957. Incumbent Democrat Robert B. Meyner defeated Republican nominee Malcolm Forbes with 54.55% of the vote. This was the first time in the state's history that a governor was elected to two four-year terms.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on April 16, 1957. ^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Robert B. Meyner, incumbent Governor

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert B. Meyner (incumbent)	192,657	100.00
Total votes			192,657	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Malcolm Forbes, State Senator from Somerset County
• Wayne Dumont, State Senator from Warren County

Results

Republican Party primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Malcolm Forbes	216,677	63.72
	Republican	Wayne Dumont	123,350	36.28
Total votes			340,027	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Malcolm Forbes, State Senator from Somerset County and billionaire publisher (Republican)
• Henry B. Krajewski, Secaucus tavernier and perennial candidate (American Third) ^[3]
• Robert B. Meyner, incumbent Governor (Democratic)
• Winifred O. Perry, insurance broker and former Verona councilman (Conservative) ^[3]
• Albert Ronis, chicken veterinarian and perennial candidate (Socialist Labor) ^[3]
• Anthony D. Scipio, Newark real estate broker (American) ^[3]

Results

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1957 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert B. Meyner (incumbent)	1,101,130	54.55%	1.38
	Republican	Malcolm Forbes	897,321	44.46%	0.22
	Socialist Labor	Albert Ronis	6,306	0.31%	0.15
	Independent	Henry B. Krajewski	6,256	0.31%	0.40
	Conservative	Winifred O. Perry	5,949	0.30%	N/A
	Independent	Anthony D. Scipio	1,526	0.08%	N/A
Majority
Turnout
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. Donald Lan, Secretary of State. "Results of the General Election Held November 8, 1977" (PDF). Retrieved August 8, 2025.
2. "Results of the Primary Election Held April 16th, 1957" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1957. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
3. "N.J. Elects Governor, Entire Assembly Tuesday" . The Bergen County Record. November 2, 1957. p. 9.
4. "Votes Cast for the Office of Governor of the State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1957. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2023.