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2001 New Jersey General Assembly election

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2001 New Jersey General Assembly election
← 1999 November 6, 2001 (2001-11-06) 2003 →
All 80 seats to the General Assembly
41 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Joseph J. Roberts
(stepped down) 		Jack Collins
(retired)
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 12, 1998 January 9, 1996
Leader's seat 5th (Bellmawr) 3rd (Gloucester City)
Last election 35 45
Seats won 44 35
Seat change Increase 9 Decrease 9
Results:
     Democratic gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
Speaker before election

Jack Collins
Republican

Elected Speaker

Albio Sires
Democratic

Elections in New Jersey
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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

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Redistricting

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See also: New Jersey legislative districts, 2001 apportionment
1992–02
2002–2012
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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1]

Incumbents not seeking re-election

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Democratic

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Republican

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[2]

Summary of results by district

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Legislative District Position Incumbent Party Elected Assembly Member Party
1st[3] 1 Nicholas Asselta Republican Nicholas Asselta Republican
2 John C. Gibson Republican Jeff Van Drew Democratic
2nd[4] 1 Kenneth LeFevre Republican Paul R. D'Amato Republican
2 Francis J. Blee Republican Francis J. Blee Republican
3rd[5] 1 Jack Collins Republican John J. Burzichelli Democrat
2 Gary Stuhltrager Republican Douglas H. Fisher Democrat
4th[6] 1 Robert J. Smith II Democrat Robert J. Smith II Democrat
2 George Geist Republican George Geist Republican
5th[7] 1 Nilsa Cruz-Perez Democrat Nilsa Cruz-Perez Democrat
2 Joseph J. Roberts Democrat Joseph J. Roberts Democrat
6th[8] 1 Louis Greenwald Democrat Louis Greenwald Democrat
2 Mary Previte Democrat Mary Previte Democrat
7th[9] 1 Herb Conaway Democrat Herb Conaway Democrat
2 Jack Conners Democrat Jack Conners Democrat
8th[10] 1 Francis Bodine Republican Francis Bodine Republican
2 Larry Chatzidakis Republican Larry Chatzidakis Republican
9th[11] 1 Jeffrey Moran Republican Jeffrey Moran Republican
2 Christopher J. Connors Republican Christopher J. Connors Republican
10th[12] 1 James W. Holzapfel Republican James W. Holzapfel Republican
2 David W. Wolfe Republican David W. Wolfe Republican
11th[13] 1 Thomas S. Smith Republican Thomas S. Smith Republican
2 Steve Corodemus Republican Steve Corodemus Republican
12th[14] 1 Clare Farragher Republican Clare Farragher Republican
2 Michael Arnone Republican Michael Arnone Republican
13th[15] 1 Samuel D. Thompson Republican Samuel D. Thompson Republican
2 Joseph Azzolina Republican Joseph Azzolina Republican
14th[16] 1 Gary Guear Democrat Gary Guear Democrat
2 Linda Greenstein Democrat Linda Greenstein Democrat
15th[17] 1 Bonnie Watson Coleman Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman Democrat
2 Reed Gusciora Democrat Reed Gusciora Democrat
16th[18] 1 Peter Biondi Republican Peter Biondi Republican
2 Christopher Bateman Republican Christopher Bateman Republican
17th[19] 1 Bob Smith Democrat Upendra Chivukula Democrat
2 Jerry Green Democrat Joseph V. Egan Democrat
18th[20] 1 Peter Barnes Democrat Peter Barnes Democrat
2 Barbara Buono Democrat Patrick J. Diegnan Democrat
19th[21] 1 Arline Friscia Democrat Arline Friscia Democrat
2 John Wisniewski Democrat John Wisniewski Democrat
20th[22] 1 Neil M. Cohen Democrat Neil M. Cohen Democrat
2 Joseph Suliga Democrat Joseph Cryan Democrat
21st[23] 1 Joel Weingarten Republican Thomas Kean Jr.[a] Republican
2 Eric Munoz Republican Eric Munoz Republican
22nd[24] 1 Richard Bagger Republican Linda Stender Democrat
2 Thomas Kean Jr. Republican Jerry Green[b] Democrat
23rd[25] 1 Leonard Lance Republican Michael J. Doherty Republican
2 Connie Myers Republican Connie Myers Republican
24th[26] 1 Guy Gregg Republican Guy Gregg Republican
2 Scott Garrett Republican Scott Garrett Republican
25th[27] 1 Rick Merkt Republican Rick Merkt Republican
2 Michael Patrick Carroll Republican Michael Patrick Carroll Republican
26th[28] 1 Alex DeCroce Republican Alex DeCroce Republican
2 Joseph Pennacchio Republican Joseph Pennacchio Republican
27th[29] 1 LeRoy J. Jones Jr. Democrat John F. McKeon Democrat
2 Nia Gill Democrat Mims Hackett Democrat
28th[30] 1 Craig A. Stanley Democrat Craig A. Stanley Democrat
2 Wilfredo Caraballo Democrat Donald Kofi Tucker[c] Democrat
29th[31] 1 William D. Payne Democrat William D. Payne Democrat
2 Donald Kofi Tucker Democrat Wilfredo Caraballo[d] Democrat
30th[32] 1 Joseph Malone Republican Joseph Malone Republican
2 Melvin Cottrell Republican Melvin Cottrell Republican
31st[33] 1 Joseph Doria Democrat Joseph Doria Democrat
2 Joseph Charles Democrat Elba Perez-Cinciarelli Democrat
32nd[34] 1 Joan M. Quigley Democrat Joan Quigley Democrat
2 Anthony Impreveduto Democrat Anthony Impreveduto Democrat
33rd[35] 1 Albio Sires Democrat Albio Sires Democrat
2 Rafael Fraguela Democrat Rafael Fraguela Democrat
34th[36] 1 Marion Crecco Republican Peter C. Eagler Democrat
2 Gerald H. Zecker Republican Willis Edwards Democrat
35th[37] 1 Nellie Pou Democrat Nellie Pou Democrat
2 Alfred Steele Democrat Alfred Steele Democrat
36th[38] 1 Paul DiGaetano Republican Paul DiGaetano Republican
2 John V. Kelly Republican Paul Sarlo Democrat
37th[39] 1 Ken Zisa Democrat Gordon M. Johnson Democrat
2 Loretta Weinberg Democrat Loretta Weinberg Democrat
38th[40] 1 Guy Talarico Republican Matt Ahearn Democrat
2 Rose Marie Heck Republican Rose Marie Heck Republican
39th[41] 1 Charlotte Vandervalk Republican Charlotte Vandervalk Republican
2 John E. Rooney Republican John E. Rooney Republican
40th[42] 1 Nicholas Felice Republican Kevin J. O'Toole Republican
2 David C. Russo Republican David Russo Republican

Close races

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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

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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

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New Jersey general election, 2001[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nicholas Asselta 36,392 29.6
Democratic Jeff Van Drew 32,271 26.3
Republican John C. Gibson 31,067 25.3
Democratic Douglas Jones-Romero 23,147 18.8
Total votes 122,877 100.0

District 2

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul R. D'Amato 29,427 28.1
Republican Frank Blee 29,010 27.7
Democratic Fred Scerni 22,833 21.8
Democratic Dianna W. Fauntleroy 22,597 21.6
Green Robert Paul Gabrielsky 941 0.9
Total votes 104,808 100.0

District 3

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Douglas H. Fisher 31,886 28.1
Democratic John J. Burzichelli 30,213 26.6
Republican Michael H. Facemyer 25,823 22.8
Republican Harold U. Johnson 25,509 22.5
Total votes 113,431 100.0

District 4

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George F. Geist 26,825 28.0
Democratic Robert J. Smith 24,845 25.9
Democratic David F. Carlamere 23,729 24.8
Republican Sherie Y. Jenkins 20,428 21.3
Total votes 95,827 100.0

District 5

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Roberts 32,224 43.0
Democratic Nilsa Cruz-Perez 30,087 40.1
Republican Ella Hilton 12,659 16.9
Total votes 74,970 100.0

District 6

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Louis D. Greenwald 38,327 32.7
Democratic Mary T. Previte 37,895 32.3
Republican Anthony "Tony" Clark 20,688 17.6
Republican Lou Harvey 20,452 17.4
Total votes 117,362 100.0

District 7

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Conners 31,703 29.7
Democratic Herb Conaway 31,547 29.5
Republican Clara Ruvolo 21,740 20.3
Republican Aubrey A. Fenton 21,066 19.7
Conservative Hosey Best 850 0.8
Total votes 106,906 100.0

District 8

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Francis L. Bodine 34,972 30.4
Republican Larry Chatzidakis 34,037 29.6
Democratic Carol A. Murphy 23,496 20.4
Democratic Thomas J. Price 22,622 19.6
Total votes 115,127 100.0

District 9

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Christopher J. Connors 44,004 30.1
Republican Jeffrey W. Moran 43,178 29.6
Democratic John F. Ryan 30,385 20.8
Democratic Robert DiBella 28,521 19.5
Total votes 146,088 100.0

District 10

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David W. Wolfe 36,989 29.2
Republican James W. Holzapfel 36,747 29.0
Democratic John Furey 26,723 21.1
Democratic Kimberley Casten 26,307 20.8
Total votes 126,766 100.0

District 11

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Corodemus 34,002 29.0
Republican Tom Smith 31,554 26.9
Democratic Jim Reilly 25,674 21.9
Democratic Warren Goode 24,267 20.7
Libertarian Robert Hull 676 0.6
Libertarian John M. Taylor 658 0.6
Lower Taxes Now Karen Zaletel 592 0.5
Total votes 117,423 100.0

District 12

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael J. Arnone 31,794 27.3
Republican Clare M. Farragher 30,476 26.2
Democratic Gordon N. Gemma 26,823 23.0
Democratic William I. Scherer 26,501 22.8
Natural Law Mary Jo Christian 865 0.7
Total votes 116,459 100.0

District 13

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Azzolina 33,777 28.9
Republican Samuel D. Thompson 32,397 27.7
Democratic Kevin Graham 25,851 22.1
Democratic Steven T. Piech 23,741 20.3
Libertarian Diane Hittner 874 0.7
We, The People Mac Dara F.X. Lyden 422 0.4
Total votes 117,062 100.0

District 14

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 32,878 27.5
Democratic Gary L. Guear Sr 31,469 26.3
Republican Barbara Wright 27,803 23.2
Republican Paul R. Kramer 27,563 23.0
Total votes 119,713 100.0

District 15

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bonnie Watson Coleman 30,816 34.0
Democratic Reed Gusciora 30,505 33.6
Republican Thomas Dallessio 14,657 16.2
Republican Rosanna Dovgala 14,076 15.5
Libertarian Christopher C. Toto 616 0.7
Total votes 90,670 100.0

District 16

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Christopher “Kip” Bateman 39,136 33.8
Republican Peter J. Biondi 37,788 32.6
Democratic John P. Rooney 20,051 17.3
Democratic James K. Foohey 18,948 16.3
Total votes 115,923 100.0

District 17

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph V. Egan 27,948 33.8
Democratic Upendra J. Chivukula 26,374 31.9
Republican Catherine Barrier 14,161 17.2
Republican Anthony Mazzola 14,085 17.1
Total votes 82,568 100.0

District 18

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter J. Barnes Jr 32,633 33.0
Democratic Patrick Diegnan Jr 30,759 31.1
Republican Norman J. Van Houten 18,152 18.3
Republican Sylvester Fernandez 17,443 17.6
Total votes 98,987 100.0

District 19

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John S. Wisniewski 35,090 37.4
Democratic Arline Friscia 33,458 35.7
Republican Billy E. Delgado 13,344 14.2
Republican Christopher F. Struben 11,844 12.6
Total votes 93,736 100.0

District 20

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Neil M. Cohen 22,457 41.3
Democratic Joseph Cryan 22,162 40.8
Schundler for Governor Dency J. Rivera 4,877 9.0
Schundler for Governor Ralph J. Fabre 4,852 8.9
Total votes 54,348 100.0

District 21

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas H. Kean, Jr. 44,223 31.8
Republican Eric Munoz 39,457 28.4
Democratic Tom Jardim 28,499 20.5
Democratic J. Brooke Hern 26,896 19.3
Total votes 139,075 100.0

District 22

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda Stender 29,169 30.5
Democratic Jerry Green 28,258 29.6
Republican Patricia Walsh 19,616 20.5
Republican Gabe Spera 18,486 19.4
Total votes 95,529 100.0

District 23

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Connie Myers 39,313 32.4
Republican Mike Doherty 35,345 29.2
Democratic J. Rebecca Goff 19,995 16.5
Democratic Thomas E. Palmieri 19,454 16.1
Warren/Hunterdon Independent Mike King 7,060 5.8
Total votes 121,167 100.0

District 24

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Garrett 38,242 36.3
Republican Guy R. Gregg 36,121 34.2
Democratic Suzanne Patnaude 15,754 14.9
Democratic Margarita Cart 15,369 14.6
Total votes 105,486 100.0

District 25

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Patrick Carroll 33,426 30.0
Republican Rick Merkt 33,414 30.0
Democratic Ann Huber 23,110 20.8
Democratic Dick Tighe 21,408 19.2
Total votes 111,358 100.0

District 26

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alex DeCroce 39,381 34.2
Republican Joseph Pennacchio 37,251 32.4
Democratic Joseph Raich 19,491 16.9
Democratic Sergio Bio 18,870 16.4
Total votes 114,993 100.0

District 27

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John F. McKeon 33,866 31.4
Democratic Mims Hackett Jr 31,179 28.9
Republican Muriel M. Shore 20,536 19.1
Republican Joseph Tempesta 20,074 18.6
African-Americans For Justice Natalie Heard 1,183 1.1
African-Americans For Justice Tobi Moor 930 0.9
Total votes 107,768 100.0

District 28

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donald Tucker 27,949 37.0
Democratic Craig A. Stanley 27,635 36.6
Republican Charles Daglian 9,557 12.7
Republican Michael Melham 9,042 12.0
Conservative Vincent J. Frantantoni 866 1.1
Independent William Coleman 474 0.6
Total votes 75,523 100.0

District 29

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William D. Payne 25,422 44.6
Democratic Wilfredo Caraballo 24,739 43.4
Republican Elaine L. Guarino 3,572 6.3
Republican Tharien Arnold 3,236 5.7
Total votes 56,969 100.0

District 30

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph R. Malone III 30,903 30.6
Republican Melvin Cottrell 29,963 29.6
Democratic Michael L. Broderick 20,959 20.7
Democratic Lyle M. (Peggi) Sturmfels 19,261 19.1
Total votes 101,086 100.0

District 31

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph V. Doria Jr 29,120 37.6
Democratic Elba Perez-Cinciarelli 27,637 35.7
Republican Ira F. Jersey 9,887 12.8
Republican Ador L. Equipado 9,603 12.4
Together We'll Win Juanita Lope'z 1,262 1.6
Total votes 77,509 100.0

District 32

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Anthony Impreveduto 27,648 36.7
Democratic Joan Quigley 27,484 36.4
Republican Frances Cohen 10,188 13.5
Republican Esther Gatria 10,087 13.4
Total votes 75,407 100.0

District 33

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Albio Sires 28,130 37.8
Democratic Rafael J. Fraguela 28,019 37.6
Republican Sergio Alonso 9,229 12.4
Republican Helen Pinoargotty 9,098 12.2
Total votes 74,476 100.0

District 34

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter C. Eagler 31,623 34.4
Democratic Willis Edwards III 29,538 32.1
Republican Gerald H. Zecker 16,306 17.7
Republican Natalie R. Esposito 14,484 15.8
Total votes 91,951 100.0

District 35

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alfred E. Steele 24,880 51.2
Democratic Nellie Pou 23,728 48.8
Total votes 48,608 100.0

District 36

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul DiGaetano 23,563 26.8
Democratic Paul Sarlo 21,811 24.8
Democratic Walter G. Wargacki 20,554 23.4
Republican James L. Cassella 20,394 23.2
Green Coalition Nick Scardigno 602 0.7
Green Coalition John Zazanis 497 0.6
Stop Vieques BOMBING Rafael Sanchez 442 0.5
Total votes 87,863 100.0

District 37

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Loretta Weinberg 34,443 34.4
Democratic Gordon M. Johnson 32,687 32.6
Republican Thomas F. Gaffney, Jr. 16,737 16.7
Republican Sandi Cortazzo 16,270 16.2
Total votes 100,137 100.0

District 38

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rose Marie Heck 27,055 25.3
Democratic Matt Ahearn 26,919 25.2
Democratic Kay Nest 26,587 24.9
Republican Nicholas R. Felice 26,252 24.6
Total votes 106,813 100.0

District 39

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charlotte Vandervalk 41,586 31.4
Republican John E. Rooney 40,277 30.4
Democratic Linda Mercurio 26,447 20.0
Democratic Jim Carroll 24,037 18.2
Total votes 132,347 100.0

District 40

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New Jersey general election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David C. Russo 38,627 30.7
Republican Kevin J. O'Toole 38,058 30.2
Democratic Frank Delvecchio 25,027 19.9
Democratic Donna Kurdock 24,201 19.2
Total votes 125,913 100.0

See also

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Notes

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  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

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  1. ^ a b c "New Jersey's Redistricting". The New York Times. May 9, 2001. p. 30.
  2. ^ "New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2001". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  3. ^ 1st
  4. ^ 2nd
  5. ^ 3rd
  6. ^ 4th
  7. ^ 5th
  8. ^ 6th
  9. ^ 7th
  10. ^ 8th
  11. ^ 9th
  12. ^ 10th
  13. ^ 11th
  14. ^ 12th
  15. ^ 13th
  16. ^ 14th
  17. ^ 15th
  18. ^ 16th
  19. ^ 17th
  20. ^ 18th
  21. ^ 19th
  22. ^ 20th
  23. ^ 21st
  24. ^ 22nd
  25. ^ 23rd
  26. ^ 24th
  27. ^ 25th
  28. ^ 26th
  29. ^ 27th
  30. ^ 28th
  31. ^ 29th
  32. ^ 30th
  33. ^ 31st
  34. ^ 32nd
  35. ^ 33rd
  36. ^ 34th
  37. ^ 35th
  38. ^ 36th
  39. ^ 37th
  40. ^ 38th
  41. ^ 39th
  42. ^ 40th
  43. ^ "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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