The 1987 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1987.
The elections took place midway through Governor Tom Kean's second term in office. Democrats won back eight seats, narrowing the Republican majority to four. Democrats flipped one seat in districts 1 and 14, as well as flipping both seats in districts 32, 33, and 36.
Incumbents not running for re-election Democratic
Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. (District 14) (ran for Mercer County Executive) Thomas H. Paterniti (District 18) (ran for State Senate) Vincent O. Pellecchia (District 35)
Republican Guy F. Muziani (District 1) Joseph W. Chinnici (District 1) Joseph Azzolina (District 13) (ran for State Senate) John K. Rafferty (District 14) Charles J. Catrillo (District 32) (ran for State Senate) Louis Kosco (District 38) (ran for State Senate)
Summary of races Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.
DistrictIncumbentPartyElectedParty1st Legislative DistrictGuy F. MuzianiRepFrank LoBiondoRepJoseph W. ChinniciRepEdward H. SalmonDem2nd Legislative DistrictJ. Edward KlineRepJ. Edward KlineRepDolores G. CooperRepDolores G. CooperRep3rd Legislative DistrictJack CollinsRepJack CollinsRepGary StuhltragerRepGary StuhltragerRep4th Legislative DistrictAnthony S. MarsellaDemAnthony S. MarsellaDemDennis L. RileyDemDennis L. RileyDem5th Legislative DistrictJoseph J. RobertsDemJoseph J. RobertsDemWayne 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. Shinn Jr.Rep9th Legislative DistrictJohn T. Hendrickson Jr.RepJohn T. Hendrickson Jr.RepJeffrey MoranRepJeffrey MoranRep10th Legislative DistrictJohn Paul DoyleDemJohn Paul DoyleDemRobert SingerRepRobert SingerRep11th Legislative DistrictJoseph A. PalaiaRepJoseph A. PalaiaRepAnthony M. VillaneRepAnthony M. VillaneRep12th Legislative DistrictClare FarragherRepClare FarragherRepJohn O. BennettRepJohn O. BennettRep13th Legislative DistrictJoseph AzzolinaRepJoe KyrillosRepJoann H. SmithRepJoann H. SmithRep14th Legislative DistrictJoseph L. Bocchini Jr.DemJoseph D. PateroDemJohn K. RaffertyRepAnthony CiminoDem15th 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. SchwartzDemBob SmithDemBob SmithDem18th Legislative DistrictThomas H. PaternitiDemGeorge A. SpadoroDemFrank M. PellyDemFrank M. PellyDem19th Legislative DistrictGeorge OtlowskiDemGeorge OtlowskiDemAlan KarcherDemAlan KarcherDem20th Legislative DistrictThomas J. DeverinDemThomas J. DeverinDemGeorge HudakDemGeorge HudakDem21st Legislative DistrictChuck HardwickRepChuck HardwickRepPeter J. GenovaRepPeter J. GenovaRep22nd Legislative DistrictBob FranksRepBob FranksRepMaureen OgdenRepMaureen OgdenRep23rd Legislative DistrictBill SchluterRepBill SchluterRepDick KaminRepDick KaminRep24th 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 GarvinDemStephanie R. BushDem28th Legislative DistrictMichael AdubatoDemMichael AdubatoDemJames ZangariDemJames ZangariDem29th Legislative DistrictWillie B. BrownDemWillie B. BrownDemEugene H. ThompsonDemJackie MattisonDem30th Legislative DistrictJohn V. KellyRepJohn V. KellyRepMarion CreccoRepMarion CreccoRep31st Legislative DistrictJoe DoriaDemJoe DoriaDemJoseph CharlesDemJoseph CharlesDem32nd Legislative DistrictFrank J. GargiuloRepAnthony ImprevedutoDemCharles J. CatrilloRepDavid C. KronickDem33rd Legislative DistrictRonald A. DarioRepBernard KennyDemJose ArangoRepBob MenendezDem34th Legislative DistrictGerald ZeckerRepGerald ZeckerRepNewton E. MillerRepNewton E. MillerRep35th Legislative DistrictJohn GirgentiDemJohn GirgentiDemVincent O. PellecchiaDemBill PascrellDem36th Legislative DistrictKathleen DonovanRepLouis J. GillDemPaul DiGaetanoRepThomas J. DuchDem37th Legislative DistrictD. Bennett MazurDemD. Bennett MazurDemByron BaerDemByron BaerDem38th Legislative DistrictPat SchuberRepPat SchuberRepLouis F. KoscoRepPatrick J. RomaRep39th Legislative DistrictJohn E. RooneyRepJohn E. RooneyRepElizabeth RandallRepElizabeth RandallRep40th Legislative DistrictWalter M. D. KernRepWalter M. D. KernRepNicholas FeliceRepNicholas 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 D
gain
District 1
General election
Candidates
Raymond A. Batten, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Democratic) Frank LoBiondo, Cumberland County Freeholder (Republican) Edward H. Salmon, Cumberland County Freeholder and former mayor of Millville (Democratic) Gerald M. Thornton (Republican)
Results
District 2
General election
Candidates
Dolores G. Cooper, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican) J. Edward Kline, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican) Fred Scerni (Democratic) William A. Thompson III (Democratic)
Results
District 3
General election
Candidates
Jack Collins, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican) Paul A. Oland (Democratic) Gary Stuhltrager, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican) James G. Waddington (Democratic)
Results
District 4
General election
Candidates
Anthony S. Marsella, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic) John Matheussen, attorney (Republican) Dennis L. Riley, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic) Wayne S. Wooster (Republican)
Results
District 5
General election
Candidates
Wayne R. Bryant, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic) Jose DeJesus Jr. (Republican) Raymond R. Groller (Republican) Joseph J. Roberts, incumbent Assembly member since July 1987 (Democratic)
Results
District 6
General election
Candidates
Patrick J. Brennan (Democratic) John A. Rocco, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican) Thomas J. Shusted, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Republican) John J. Tarditi Jr. (Democratic)
Results
District 7
General election
Candidates
Renee L. Borstad, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Republican) Vincent R. Faris (Republican) Thomas P. Foy, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic) Barbara Kalik, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)
Results
District 8
General election
Candidates
Harold L. Colburn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican) Thomas Long (Democratic) Robert C. Shinn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since February 1985 (Republican) Harrison B. Slack, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Democratic)
Results
District 9
General election
Candidates
Judy Anderson (Democratic) John T. Hendrickson Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican) Jeffrey Moran, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican) Harry F. Schmoll Jr. (Democratic)
Results
District 10
General election
Candidates
John Paul Doyle, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and former Assembly Majority Leader (Democratic) Marlene Lynch Ford, former Assembly member (Democratic) Robert A. Gasser (Republican) Robert Singer, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 and former mayor of Lakewood Township (Republican)
Results
District 11
General election
Candidates
Mary K. Blohm (Compulsory Education Law) John D'Amico Jr., Monmouth County Freeholder (Democratic) Joshua Leinsdorf (Compulsory Education Law) Joseph A. Palaia, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican) Joseph Quinn (Democratic) Anthony M. Villane, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)
Results
District 12
General election
Candidates
Gene J. Anthony (Democratic) John O. Bennett, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican) Dante J. Massa (Democratic) Marie Sheehan Muhler, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)
Results
District 13
General election
Candidates
William Flynn, former Assembly member (Democratic) Joe Kyrillos, special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior (Republican) Joann H. Smith, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican) Jacqueline Walker, former Assembly member (Democratic)
Results
District 14
Democratic primary
Candidates
Anthony J. Cimino, Mercer County Freeholder Janice Mironov, East Windsor municipal attorney Joseph D. Patero, former Assembly member from Manville
Declined
Joseph L. Bocchini, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (ran for Mercer County Executive)
Republican primary
Declined
John K. Rafferty, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 and mayor of Hamilton Township (ran for re-election as mayor)
General election
Candidates
Anthony J. Cimino, Mercer County Freeholder (Democratic) David J. Kenny (Republican) Joseph D. Patero, former Assembly member (Democratic) Walt Sodie (Republican)
Results
District 15
General election
Candidates
Arthur E. Frank (Republican) John S. Furlong (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
Walter J. Kavanaugh, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican) Adele Montgomery (Democratic) John S. Penn, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican) Alfred A. Wicklund (Democratic)
Results
District 17
General election
Candidates
David C. Schwartz, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic) Peter J. Selesky (Republican) Bob Smith, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Democratic) Dorothy Sonnenberg (Republican)
Results
District 18
Democratic primary
Candidates
Frank M. Pelly, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 George A. Spadoro, member of the Edison Township Council
Declined
Thomas H. Paterniti, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (ran for State Senate)
General election
Candidates
Doris M. Fleming (Republican) Robert Maurer (Republican) Frank M. Pelly, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic) George A. Spadoro, member of the Edison Township Council (Democratic)
Results
District 19
General election
Candidates
Alan Karcher, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and former Speaker of the General Assembly (Democratic) George Otlowski, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and mayor of Perth Amboy (Democratic) Beverly A. Samuelson (Republican) Emery Z. Toth, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Republican)
Results
District 20
General election
Candidates
Thomas J. Deverin, incumbent Assembly member since 1970 (Democratic) George Hudak, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 and mayor of Linden (Democratic) Peter Kobylarz (Republican) William Wnuck (Republican)
Results
District 21
General election