2003 New Jersey Senate election

Last updated

2003 New Jersey Senate elections
Flag of New Jersey.svg
  2001 November 4, 2003 2007  

All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  Codey2011 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Leader Richard Codey John O. Bennett
(lost re-election)
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 27th 12th
Last election2020
Seats won2218
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 2

2003 New Jersey State Senate election.svg
Results by district
     Democratic hold     Democratic gain
     Republican hold

Senate President before election

John O. Bennett and Richard Codey

Elected Senate President

Richard Codey
Democratic

The 2003 New Jersey State Senate elections were held on November 4.

Contents

The election took midway through Jim McGreevey's term as Governor of New Jersey. The election ended two years of split control in favor of the Democratic Party, which regained a majority for the first time since 1991. Incumbent Senate co-President John O. Bennett was unseated for re-election by Ellen Karcher. The Democrats continue to hold the majority in the Senate as of 2024.

Contents
Incumbents not runningSummary of results
By District: 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940

Incumbents not running for re-election

Democratic

Republican

Additionally, Senators John J. Matheussen, Richard Bagger, and Garry Furnari, who were elected in 2001, resigned before their terms were completed. The interim appointees for each of their seats ran as incumbents.

Summary of results by State Senate district

District Incumbent PartyElected SenatorParty
1st Legislative District James Cafiero Rep Nicholas Asselta Rep
2nd Legislative District William Gormley RepWilliam GormleyRep
3rd Legislative District Steve Sweeney DemSteve SweeneyDem
4th Legislative District George Geist [lower-alpha 1] Rep Fred Madden Dem
5th Legislative District Wayne R. Bryant DemWayne R. BryantDem
6th Legislative District John Adler DemJohn AdlerDem
7th Legislative District Diane Allen RepDiane AllenRep
8th Legislative District Martha W. Bark RepMartha W. BarkRep
9th Legislative District Leonard T. Connors RepLeonard T. ConnorsRep
10th Legislative District Andrew R. Ciesla RepAndrew R. CieslaRep
11th Legislative District Joseph A. Palaia RepJoseph A. PalaiaRep
12th Legislative District John O. Bennett Rep Ellen Karcher Dem
13th Legislative District Joe Kyrillos RepJoe KyrillosRep
14th Legislative District Peter Inverso RepPeter InversoRep
15th Legislative District Shirley Turner DemShirley TurnerDem
16th Legislative District Walter J. Kavanaugh RepWalter J. KavanaughRep
17th Legislative District Bob Smith DemBob SmithDem
18th Legislative District Barbara Buono DemBarbara BuonoDem
19th Legislative District Joe Vitale DemJoe VitaleDem
20th Legislative District Raymond Lesniak DemRaymond LesniakDem
21st Legislative District Tom Kean Jr. [lower-alpha 2] RepTom Kean Jr.Rep
22nd Legislative District Joseph Suliga Dem Nicholas Scutari Dem
23rd Legislative District Leonard Lance RepLeonard LanceRep
24th Legislative District Robert Littell RepRobert LittellRep
25th Legislative District Anthony Bucco RepAnthony BuccoRep
26th Legislative District Robert Martin RepRobert MartinRep
27th Legislative District Richard Codey DemRichard CodeyDem
28th Legislative District Ronald Rice DemRonald RiceDem
29th Legislative District Sharpe James DemSharpe JamesDem
30th Legislative District Robert W. Singer RepRobert W. SingerRep
31st Legislative District L. Harvey Smith [lower-alpha 3] Dem Glenn Cunningham Dem
32nd Legislative District Nicholas Sacco DemNicholas SaccoDem
33rd Legislative District Bernard Kenny DemBernard KennyDem
34th Legislative District Nia Gill DemNia GillDem
35th Legislative District John Girgenti DemJohn GirgentiDem
36th Legislative District Paul Sarlo [lower-alpha 4] DemPaul SarloDem
37th Legislative District Byron Baer DemByron BaerDem
38th Legislative District Joseph Coniglio DemJoseph ConiglioDem
39th Legislative District Gerald Cardinale RepGerald CardinaleRep
40th Legislative District Henry McNamara RepHenry McNamaraRep
  1. Geist was appointed to the seat after Senator John Matheussen resigned to become head of the Delaware River Port Authority.
  2. Kean was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Senator Richard Bagger, who resigned to pursue private business interests.
  3. Smith was appointed to the seat after the resignation of Senator Joseph Charles on August 13.
  4. Sarlo was appointed to the seat after Senator Garry Furnari resigned to join the New Jersey Superior Court.

Close races

  1. District 4, 0.16% gain
  2. District 3, 8.10%
  3. District 3, 9.07%
  4. District 12, 9.92% gain

District 1

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Nicholas Asselta 31,112 80.9% Increase2.svg 30.5
HealthCare For AllSteven Fenichel5,98615.6%N/A
English Language OnlyGeorge Cecola1,3413.5%N/A
Total votes38,439 100.0%

District 2

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican William Gormley (incumbent) 24,680 60.0% Decrease2.svg 26.5
Democratic Tom Swift15,28137.1%N/A
Green Robert "Gabe" Gabrielsky1,1742.9%Decrease2.svg 10.6
Total votes41,135 100.0%

District 3

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Stephen M. Sweeney (incumbent) 29,051 54.0% Increase2.svg 2.5
Republican Phillip S. Rhudy24,69846.0%Decrease2.svg 2.5
Total votes53,749 100.0%

District 4

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Fred H. Madden 20,752 50.08% Increase2.svg 8.3
Republican George Geist (incumbent)20,68949.92%Decrease2.svg 8.3
Total votes41,441 100.0%

District 5

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Wayne R. Bryant (incumbent) 21,442 64.9% Decrease2.svg 4.4
Republican Ali Sloan El11,58935.1%Increase2.svg 4.4
Total votes33,031 100.0%

District 6

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic John Adler (incumbent) 29,033 61.0% Decrease2.svg 5.7
Republican Joseph A. Adolf18,53439.0%Increase2.svg 5.7
Total votes47,567 100.0%

District 7

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Diane Allen (incumbent) 26,341 60.3 Increase2.svg 6.2
Democratic Diane F. Gabriel17,33139.7Decrease2.svg 6.2
Total votes'43,672''100.0'

District 8

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Martha W. Bark (incumbent) 28,047 66.9% Increase2.svg 6.2
Democratic Thomas J. Price13,86533.1%Decrease2.svg 6.2
Total votes'41,912''100.0'

District 9

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Leonard T. Connors (incumbent) 36,539 65.6% Increase2.svg 6.9
Democratic Aviva Twersky-Glasner18,99534.4%Decrease2.svg 6.1
Total votes'55,534''100.0'

District 10

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Andrew R. Ciesla (incumbent) 29,752 65.1% Increase2.svg 8.3
Democratic James M. Blaney15,96034.9%Decrease2.svg 8.3
Total votes'45,712''100.0'

District 11

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Joseph A. Palaia 23,643 58.7% Decrease2.svg 3.3
Democratic Paul X. Escandon11,04527.4%Decrease2.svg 10.6
Green Brian Unger4,75911.8%N/A
Libertarian Emerson Ellett8312.1%N/A
Total votes'40,278''100.0'

District 12

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ellen Karcher 24,174 52.4% Increase2.svg 11.2
Republican John O. Bennett (incumbent)19,60042.5%Decrease2.svg 16.3
Green Earl Gray2,3345.1%N/A
Total votes46,108 100.0%

District 13

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Joe Kyrillos (incumbent) 23,459 54.1% Decrease2.svg 10.3
Democratic William E. Flynn 17,82841.1%Increase2.svg 5.5
Green Greg Orr1,4193.3%N/A
Conservative Mac Dara Lyden6491.5%N/A
Total votes43,355 100.0%

District 14

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Peter Inverso (incumbent) 29,499 58.6% Increase2.svg 6.5
Democratic Anthony J. "Skip" Cimino 19,61338.9%Decrease2.svg 9.0
Libertarian Ray Cragle1,2492.5%N/A
Total votes50,361 100.0%

District 15

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Shirley Turner (incumbent) 24,053 67.4% Decrease2.svg 1.7
Republican Calvin O. Iszard11,63832.6%Increase2.svg 2.9
Total votes35,691 100.0%

District 16

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Walter J. Kavanaugh (incumbent) 28,843 100.0% Increase2.svg 33.4
Total votes28,843 100.0%

District 17

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Bob Smith (incumbent) 17,438 61.0% Decrease2.svg 7.9
Republican Jeffrey M. Orbach11,16839.0%Increase2.svg 7.9
Total votes28,606 100.0%

District 18

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Barbara Buono (incumbent) 18,561 58.5% Decrease2.svg 6.5
Republican Richard F. Plechner13,17541.5%Increase2.svg 6.5
Total votes31,736 100.0%

District 19

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Joe Vitale (incumbent) 22,643 65.5% Decrease2.svg 11.9
Republican Paul Danielczyk11,94934.5%Increase2.svg 11.9
Total votes34,592 100.0%

District 20

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Raymond Lesniak (incumbent) 12,361 62.2% Decrease2.svg 17.8
Republican Daniel M. Nozza7,21736.3%Increase2.svg 16.3
Restore NJ StateShawn P. Gianella2981.5%N/A
Total votes19,876 100.0%

District 21

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Tom Kean Jr. (incumbent) 32,058 67.4% Increase2.svg 8.8
Democratic Francis D. McIntyre14,47030.4%Decrease2.svg 11.0
Green Teresa Migliore-DiMatteo1,0552.2%N/A
Total votes47,583 100.0%

District 22

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Nicholas Scutari 16,658 55.0% Decrease2.svg 4.1
Republican Martin Marks13,60945.0%Increase2.svg 4.1
Total votes30,267 100.0%

District 23

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 29,775 68.0% Decrease2.svg 1.3
Democratic Frederick P. Cook13,99432.0%Increase2.svg 1.3
Total votes43,769 100.0%

District 24

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Robert E. Littell (incumbent) 23,106 68.1% Decrease2.svg 6.3
Democratic James D. Morrison10,81031.9%Increase2.svg 6.3
Total votes33,916 100.0%

District 25

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Anthony R. Bucco (incumbent) 22,163 55.1% Decrease2.svg 10.4
Democratic Blair B. MacInnes18,06044.9%Increase2.svg 10.4
Total votes40,223 100.0%

District 26

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Robert J. Martin (incumbent) 21,733 66.0 Increase2.svg 0.1
Democratic Daniel L. Grant11,21634.0Decrease2.svg 0.1
Total votes'32,949''100.0'

District 27

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Richard Codey (incumbent) 17,220 65.8% Increase2.svg 1.1
Republican Bobbi Joan Bennett8,95834.2%Increase2.svg 1.4
Total votes26,178 100.0%

District 28

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ronald Rice (incumbent) 10,068 73.4% Increase2.svg 4.0
Republican Jean LaMothe3,13722.9%Decrease2.svg 6.7
Green Beresford Jones5183.8%N/A
Total votes13,723 100.0%

District 29

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Sharpe James (incumbent) 7,919 82.7% Decrease2.svg 17.3
Green Toy-Ling Washington1,18712.4%N/A
Socialist Workers Abigail D. Tilsner4704.9%N/A
Total votes9,576 100.0%

District 30

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Robert W. Singer (incumbent) 24,637 62.6% Increase2.svg 0.9
Democratic Steven Morlino14,71337.4%Decrease2.svg 0.9
Total votes39,350 100.0

District 31

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Glenn Cunningham 15,838 79.0% Increase2.svg 4.9
Republican Carmen E. Mendiola3,21416.0%Decrease2.svg 9.9
Green Eric Olsen1,0055.0%N/A
Total votes20,057 100.0%

District 32

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Nicholas Sacco (incumbent) 17,269 76.9% Increase2.svg 7.9
Republican Louis S. Lusquinos Jr4,08518.2%Decrease2.svg 11.2
Time For ChangeDenis Jaslow9284.1%N/A
Eliminate Primary ElectionsLouis Vernotico1600.7%Increase2.svg 0.2
Total votes22,442 100.0%

District 33

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Bernard Kenny (incumbent) 20,809 80.9% Increase2.svg 5.6
Republican Rafael Fraguela 4,90419.1%Decrease2.svg 5.6
Total votes25,713 100.0%

District 34

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Nia Gill (incumbent) 19,161 69.7% Increase2.svg 4.8
Republican Frank C. Fusco8,32530.3%Decrease2.svg 4.1
Total votes27,486 100.0%

District 35

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic John Girgenti (incumbent) 16,243 68.6% Decrease2.svg 31.4
Republican David R. Troast7,43431.4%N/A
Total votes23,677 100.0%

District 36

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Paul Sarlo (incumbent) 18,035 53.3% Increase2.svg 2.5
Republican John V. Kelly 14,96444.2%Decrease2.svg 3.6
Tax the RichRichard DelaRosa4961.5%N/A
Real Pro-ChoiceMaximo Moscoso3481.0%N/A
Total votes33,843 100.0%

District 37

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Byron Baer (incumbent) 22,543 61.9% Decrease2.svg 4.5
Republican Barry S. Honig13,86038.1%Increase2.svg 4.5
Total votes36,403 100.0%

District 38

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Joseph Coniglio (incumbent) 23,077 55.7% Increase2.svg 2.5
Republican Rose Marie Heck 18,32144.3%Decrease2.svg 2.5
Total votes41,398 100.0%

District 39

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Gerald Cardinale (incumbent) 30,718 62.3% Decrease2.svg 0.6
Democratic Richard Muti18,60537.7%Increase2.svg 1.5
Total votes49,323 100.0%

District 40

New Jersey general election, 2003 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Henry McNamara (incumbent) 24,478 64.5% Increase2.svg 2.2
Democratic Matt Rogers13,49335.5%Decrease2.svg 2.2
Total votes37,971 100.0%

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References

  1. 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 "Official List, Candidate Returns for State Senate for November 2003 General Election" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2015.