The 1985 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1985.
The elections coincided with Governor Tom Kean's landslide re-election. The result was a historic victory for Kean's Republican Party, which gained 14 seats to retake the majority in the Assembly. As of , this remains the only election since 1973 in which Republicans won any seats in the Senate or Assembly from Hudson County, where they carried four of six seats.
Republicans flipped one seat in districts 9, 10, and 14, as well as both seats in districts 3, 13, 30, 32, 33, and 36. Democrats flipped one seat in District 17.
Incumbents not running for re-election Democratic Thomas W. Long (District 20) Nicholas LaRocca (District 33)
Summary of races Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.
DistrictIncumbentPartyElectedParty1st Legislative DistrictGuy F. MuzianiRepGuy F. MuzianiRepJoseph W. ChinniciRepJoseph W. ChinniciRep2nd Legislative DistrictJ. Edward ClineRepJ. Edward ClineRepDolores G. CooperRepDolores G. CooperRep3rd Legislative DistrictMartin A. HermanDemJack CollinsRepThomas A. PankokDemGary StuhltragerRep4th Legislative DistrictAnthony S. MarsellaDemAnthony S. MarsellaDemDennis L. RileyDemDennis L. RileyDem5th Legislative DistrictFrancis J. GormanDemFrancis J. GormanDemWayne R. BryantDemWayne R. BryantDem6th Legislative DistrictJohn A. RoccoRepJohn A. RoccoRepThomas J. ShustedRepThomas J. ShustedRep7th Legislative DistrictBarbara KalikDemBarbara KalikDemThomas P. FoyDemThomas P. FoyDem8th Legislative DistrictHarold L. Colburn Jr.RepHarold L. Colburn Jr.RepRobert C. Shinn Jr.RepRobert C. ShinnRep9th Legislative DistrictJohn T. Hendrickson Jr.RepJohn T. Hendrickson Jr.RepJorge A. RodDemJeffrey MoranRep10th Legislative DistrictJohn Paul DoyleDemJohn Paul DoyleDemMarlene Lynch FordDemRobert SingerRep11th Legislative DistrictJoseph A. PalaiaRepJoseph A. PalaiaRepAnthony M. VillaneRepAnthony M. VillaneRep12th Legislative DistrictMarie Sheehan MuhlerRepMarie Sheehan MuhlerRepJohn O. BennettRepJohn O. BennettRep13th Legislative DistrictJacqueline WalkerDemJoseph AzzolinaRepBill FlynnDemJoann H. SmithRep14th Legislative DistrictJoseph L. Bocchini Jr.DemJoseph L. Bocchini Jr.DemJoseph D. PateroDemJohn K. RaffertyRep15th Legislative DistrictJohn S. WatsonDemJohn S. WatsonDemGerald S. NaplesDemGerald S. NaplesDem16th Legislative DistrictWalter J. KavanaughRepWalter J. KavanaughRepJohn S. PennRepJohn S. PennRep17th Legislative DistrictDavid C. SchwartzDemDavid C. SchwartzDemAngela L. PerunRepBob SmithDem18th Legislative DistrictThomas H. PaternitiDemThomas H. PaternitiDemFrank M. PellyDemFrank M. PellyDem19th Legislative DistrictGeorge OtlowskiDemGeorge J. OtlowskiDemAlan KarcherDemAlan KarcherDem20th Legislative DistrictThomas J. DeverinDemThomas J. DeverinDemThomas W. LongDemGeorge HudakDem21st Legislative DistrictChuck HardwickRepChuck HardwickRepPeter J. GenovaRepPeter J. GenovaRep22nd Legislative DistrictBob FranksRepBob FranksRepMaureen OgdenRepMaureen OgdenRep23rd Legislative DistrictDick ZimmerRepDick ZimmerRepKarl WeidelRepKarl WeidelRep24th Legislative DistrictRobert E. LittellRepRobert E. LittellRepChuck HaytaianRepChuck HaytaianRep25th Legislative DistrictRodney FrelinghuysenRepRodney FrelinghuysenRepArthur R. AlbohnRepArthur R. AlbohnRep26th Legislative DistrictRobert J. MartinRepRobert J. MartinRepRalph A. LoveysRepRalph A. LoveysRep27th Legislative DistrictHarry A. McEnroeDemHarry A. McEnroeDemMildred Barry GarvinDemMildred Barry GarvinDem28th Legislative DistrictMichael AdubatoDemMichael AdubatoDemJames ZangariDemJames ZangariDem29th Legislative DistrictWillie B. BrownDemWillie B. BrownDemEugene H. ThompsonDemEugene H. ThompsonDem30th Legislative DistrictBuddy FortunatoDemJohn V. KellyRepSteve AdubatoDemMarion CreccoRep31st Legislative DistrictJoe DoriaDemJoe DoriaDemJoseph CharlesDemJoseph CharlesDem32nd Legislative DistrictPaul CuprowskiDemFrank J. GargiuloRepAnthony P. VainieriDemCharles J. CatrilloRep33rd Legislative DistrictNicholas LaRoccaDemRonald A. DarioRepRobert A. RanieriDemJose ArangoRep34th Legislative DistrictGerald ZeckerRepGerald ZeckerRepNewton E. MillerRepNewton E. MillerRep35th Legislative DistrictJohn GirgentiDemJohn GirgentiDemVincent O. PellecchiaDemVincent O. PellecchiaDem36th Legislative DistrictRobert HollenbeckDemKathleen DonovanRepRichard VisotckyDemPaul DiGaetanoRep37th Legislative DistrictD. Bennett MazurDemD. Bennett MazurDemByron BaerDemByron BaerDem38th Legislative DistrictPat SchuberRepPat SchuberRepLouis KoscoRepLouis KoscoRep39th Legislative DistrictJohn E. RooneyRepJohn E. RooneyRepElizabeth RandallRepElizabeth RandallRep40th Legislative DistrictWalter M. D. KernRepWalter M. D. KernRepNicholas FeliceRepNicholas R. FeliceRep
Incumbents not running for re-election • Summary 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 __NOTOC__
Close races Districts where the difference of total votes between the top-two parties was under 10%:
gain R gain R gain
gain
gain D gain gain gain gain
District 1
Republican primary Candidates Joseph W. Chinnici, incumbent Assembly member from Bridgeton since 1972 (Regular Republican Party) Guy F. Muziani, incumbent Assembly member from Wildwood since 1982 (Regular Republican Party) Results
Democratic primary Candidates Peter L. Amico, forklift innovator from Vineland (Regular Democratic Organization) Raymond A. Batten, prosecutor (Regular Democratic Organization) Results
General election Candidates Peter L. Amico, forklift innovator from Vineland (Democratic) Raymond A. Batten, prosecutor (Democratic) Joseph W. Chinnici, incumbent Assembly member from Bridgeton since 1972 (Republican) Guy F. Muziani, incumbent Assembly member from Wildwood since 1982 (Republican)
Results
District 2
Republican primary Candidates Dolores G. Cooper, incumbent Assembly member from Brigantine since 1982 (Regular Republican) J. Edward Kline, incumbent Assembly member from Atlantic City since 1984 (Regular Republican)
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Lillian E. Bryant, daughter of Horace J. Bryant (Regular Democratic Organization) Joel Jacovitz, real estate developer (Regular Democratic Organization) Israel Mosee, community activist Results
General election Candidates Lillian E. Bryant, daughter of Horace J. Bryant (Democratic) Dolores G. Cooper, incumbent Assembly member from Atlantic City since 1982 (Republican) Joel Jacovitz, real estate developer (Democratic) J. Edward Kline, incumbent Assembly member from Brigantine since 1984 (Republican)
Results
District 3
Democratic primary Candidates Martin A. Herman, incumbent Assembly member from Mickleton since 1974 (Democratic) Thomas A. Pankok, incumbent Assembly member from Pennsville since 1982 (Democratic) Results
Republican primary Candidates Jack Collins, former Glassboro State College basketball coach and member of the Elmer Board of Education (Regular Republican Organization) Gary Stuhltrager, Gloucester County Freeholder (Regular Organization Republican) Douglas Zee, fruit grower and farmer (Regular Republican - the People's Choice) Results
General election Candidates Jack Collins, former Glassboro State College basketball coach and member of the Elmer Board of Education (Republican) Martin A. Herman, incumbent Assembly member from Mickleton since 1974 (Democratic) Thomas A. Pankok, incumbent Assembly member from Pennsville since 1982 (Democratic) Gary Stuhltrager, Gloucester County Freeholder (Republican)
Results
District 4
General election
Candidates
Anthony S. Marsella, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic) Dennis L. Riley, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic) Frank F. Senatore (Republican) William F. Thomson (Republican)
Results
District 5
General election
Candidates
Charles E. Brimm (Republican) Wayne R. Bryant, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic) Francis J. Gorman, incumbent Assembly member since 1972 (Democratic) William M. Terrell (Republican)
Results
District 6
General election
Candidates
Harry Benn (Democratic) John A. Rocco, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican) Thomas J. Shusted, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Republican) Carl B. Viniar (Democratic)
Results
District 7
General election
Candidates
Charles J. Ansert (Republican) Renee L. Borstad (Republican) Thomas P. Foy, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic) Barbara Kalik, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)
Results
District 8
General election
Candidates
Claire B. Cohen (Democratic) Harold L. Colburn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican) Bernardo S. Doganiero, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor) Paul Ferguson (Socialist Labor) Robert C. Shinn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since February 1985 (Republican) Harrison B. Slack (Democratic)
Results
District 9
General election
Candidates
Paul David Hedrich ("Time for Change") John T. Hendrickson Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican) Warren E. Hickman (Democratic) Jeffrey Moran, member of the Ocean County Utilities Authority and former member of the Beachwood Borough Council (Republican) Jorge A. Rod, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
Results
District 10
General election
Candidates
John Paul Doyle, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and Assembly Majority Leader since 1982 (Democratic) Marlene Lynch Ford, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Democratic) Wallace Gluck (Libertarian) Roden S. Lightbody (Republican) Robert Singer, mayor of Lakewood Township (Republican)
Results
District 11
General election
Candidates
Craig Alan Frankel (Democratic) Daniel P. Jacobson, member of the Ocean Township Council (Democratic) Joseph A. Palaia, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican) Anthony M. Villane, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)
Results
District 12
General election
Candidates
John O. Bennett, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican) Michael L. Detzky (Democratic) Donald M. Lomurro (Democratic) Marie Sheehan Muhler, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)
Results
District 13
General election
Candidates
Joseph Azzolina, former member of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly (Republican) William Flynn, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic) Joann H. Smith, former member of the Old Bridge Township Council (Republican) Jacqueline Walker, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Democratic)
Results
District 14
General election
Candidates
Joseph L. Bocchini Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic) Thomas Colitsas, West Windsor accountant and candidate for State Senate in 1981 (Republican) Joseph D. Patero, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic) John K. Rafferty, mayor of Hamilton Township and candidate for Governor in 1981 (Republican)
Results
District 15
General election
Candidates
Barbara Marrow (Republican) Mary Ann McKee (Republican) Gerald S. Naples, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic) John S. Watson, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
Results
District 16
General election
Candidates
Stephen Friedlander (Libertarian)