The 1991 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1991.
The elections took place midway through Jim Florio's term as Governor of New Jersey. As in the concurrent New Jersey Senate elections, the Republican Party won a historic landslide, gaining 21 seats to win veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Republicans flipped at least one seat in thirteen Assembly districts and both seats in eight districts, dominating in the New Jersey suburbs and reducing the Democratic Party to a handful of urban centers.
As of , the Republican Assembly majority of 58 seats is the largest for the Republican party since the adoption of the district map in 1973. This is the last time that Republicans held a veto-proof majority in the chamber, and the last for either party until 2017. Republicans flipped one seat in districts 1, 2, 15, 21, and 34, as well as both seats in districts 4, 7, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, and 36. From 1992 to 2002, Republicans controlled the Assembly.
Background Redistricting
As required, the New Jersey legislature redistricted its state legislative districts in advance of the 1991 election. Redistricting was on balance considered to have favored Republicans.
Tax increase A centerpiece of the Florio administration's legislative agenda was the passage of a $2.8 billion tax increase. Republicans centered their 1991 campaign on opposition to the increase, as did even some incumbent Democrats, such as Senator Paul Contillo. According to the Florio administration, the tax increase was designed to aid blue-collar workers, who were "also the people most upset by enactment of the taxes."
Gun control A strict gun control measure was another major legislative achievement of the Florio administration. The bill's passage led the National Rifle Association of America to spend nearly $250,000 in the 1991 elections targeting candidates in both parties who had voted in favor of the bill and supporting those who pledged to repeal it.
Incumbents not running for re-election Democratic Anthony S. Marsella (District 4) (ran for State Senate) John Paul Doyle (District 10) (ran for State Senate) David C. Schwartz (District 17) Jim McGreevey (District 19) (lost party support, ran for Mayor of Woodbridge) Michael F. Adubato (District 28) Bob Menendez (District 31) (ran for State Senate) Joseph Mecca (District 34) (ran for State Senate) John Girgenti (District 35) (ran for State Senate)
Additionally, several Democrats resigned their seats late in the 1991 campaign to join the Florio administration, including Joseph D. Patero, Edward H. Salmon, Frank M. Pelly.
Republican Dolores Cooper (District 2) (ran for State Senate as independent, but dropped out) Joe Kyrillos (District 13) (ran for State Senate) Chuck Hardwick (District 21) Bill Schluter (District 23) (redistricted to District 24, ran for State Senate) Louis F. 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 DistrictFrank LoBiondoRepFrank LoBiondoRepRaymond A. BattenDemJohn C. GibsonRep2nd Legislative DistrictFred ScerniDemJohn F. GaffneyRepDolores G. CooperRepFrederick P. NicklesRep3rd Legislative DistrictJack CollinsRepJack CollinsRepGary StuhltragerRepGary StuhltragerRep4th Legislative DistrictAnthony S. MarsellaDemGinny WeberRepAnn A. MullenDemGeorge GeistRep5th Legislative DistrictJoseph J. RobertsDemJoseph J. RobertsDemWayne R. BryantDemWayne R. BryantDem6th Legislative DistrictJohn A. RoccoRepJohn A. RoccoRepLee SolomonRepLee SolomonRep7th Legislative DistrictBarbara KalikDemPriscilla B. AndersonRepJack CaseyDemJosé F. SosaRep8th Legislative DistrictHarold L. Colburn Jr.RepHarold L. Colburn Jr.RepRobert C. Shinn Jr.RepRobert C. Shinn Jr.Rep9th Legislative DistrictChristopher ConnorsRepChristopher ConnorsRepJeffrey MoranRepJeffrey MoranRep10th Legislative DistrictJohn Paul DoyleDemGinny HainesRepMarlene Lynch FordDemDavid W. WolfeRep11th Legislative DistrictDaniel P. JacobsonDemTom SmithRepJohn VillapianoDemSteve CorodemusRep12th Legislative DistrictClare FarragherRepClare FarragherRepMichael ArnoneRepMichael ArnoneRep13th Legislative DistrictJoe KyrillosRepJoseph AzzolinaRepJoann H. SmithRepJoann H. SmithRep14th Legislative DistrictPeter A. CantuDemPaul KramerRepAnthony CiminoDemBarbara WrightRep15th Legislative DistrictJohn S. WatsonDemJohn S. WatsonDemGerald S. NaplesDemJohn HartmannRep16th Legislative DistrictWalter J. KavanaughRepWalter J. KavanaughRepJohn S. PennRepJohn S. PennRep17th Legislative DistrictDavid C. SchwartzDemJerry GreenDemBob SmithDemBob SmithDem18th Legislative DistrictGeorge A. SpadoroDemHarriet DermanRepMichael J. BakerDemJeff WarshRep19th Legislative DistrictGeorge OtlowskiDemStephen A. MikulakRepJim McGreeveyDemErnest L. OrosRep20th Legislative DistrictGeorge HudakDemGeorge HudakDemThomas J. DeverinDemTom DunnDem21st Legislative DistrictChuck HardwickRepMonroe Jay LustbaderRepNeil M. CohenDemMaureen OgdenRep22nd Legislative DistrictBob FranksRepBob FranksRepMaureen OgdenRepRichard BaggerRep23rd Legislative DistrictBill SchluterRepChuck HaytaianRepDick KaminRepLeonard LanceRep24th Legislative DistrictScott GarrettRepScott GarrettRepChuck HaytaianRepDick KaminRep25th Legislative DistrictRodney FrelinghuysenRepRodney FrelinghuysenRepArthur R. AlbohnRepArthur R. AlbohnRep26th Legislative DistrictRobert J. MartinRepRobert J. MartinRepAlex DeCroceRepAlex DeCroceRep27th Legislative DistrictHarry A. McEnroeDemRobert L. BrownDemMildred Barry GarvinDemStephanie R. BushDem28th Legislative DistrictMichael AdubatoDemHarry McEnroeDemJames ZangariDemJames ZangariDem29th Legislative DistrictWillie B. BrownDemWillie B. BrownDemEugene H. ThompsonDemJackie MattisonDem30th Legislative DistrictJohn V. KellyRepRobert SingerRepMarion CreccoRepMelvin CottrellRep31st Legislative DistrictJoe DoriaDemJoe DoriaDemJoseph CharlesDemJoseph CharlesDem32nd Legislative DistrictAnthony ImprevedutoDemAnthony ImprovedutoDemDavid C. KronickDemDavid C. KronickDem33rd Legislative DistrictBernard KennyDemBernard KennyDemBob MenendezDemLouis RomanoDem34th Legislative DistrictGerald ZeckerRepGerald ZeckerRepJoseph MeccaDemMarion CreccoRep35th Legislative DistrictFrank CataniaRepFrank CataniaRepBill PascrellDemBill PascrellDem36th Legislative DistrictLouis J. GillDemJohn V. KellyRepThomas J. DuchDemPaul DiGaetanoRep37th Legislative DistrictD. Bennett MazurDemD. Bennett MazurDemByron BaerDemByron BaerDem38th Legislative DistrictRose Marie HeckRepRose Marie HeckRepPatrick J. RomaRepPatrick J. RomaRep39th Legislative DistrictJohn E. RooneyRepJohn E. RooneyRepCharlotte VandervalkRepCharlotte VandervalkRep40th Legislative DistrictDavid C. RussoRepDavid C. RussoRepNicholas 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 gain gain R
gain
gain R
gain
District 1
General election
Candidates
Raymond A. Batten, incumbent Assembly member (Democratic) John C. Gibson (Republican) Frank LoBiondo, incumbent Assembly member since 1988 (Republican) Jennifer R. Lookabaugh (Democratic)
Results
District 2
General election
Candidates
Tom Foley (Democratic) John F. Gaffney, Atlantic County Freeholder and former mayor of Linwood (Republican) Frederick P. Nickles (Republican) Fred Scerni, incumbent Assembly member since 1990 (Democratic)
Results
District 3
General election
Candidates
Jack Collins, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican) Albert S. Fogg III (Populist) James H. Orr Jr. (Populist) Gary Stuhltrager, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican) Nancy L. Sungenis (Democratic) Benjamin W. Timberman (Democratic)
Results
District 4
General election
Candidates
George Geist (Republican) Ann A. Mullen, incumbent Assembly member since (Democratic) Timothy D. Scaffidi (Democratic) Mary Virginia Weber (Republican)
Results
District 5
General election
Candidates
Wayne R. Bryant, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic) Walter Jost (Republican) John Randall (Republican) Joseph J. Roberts, incumbent Assembly member since 1987 (Democratic)
Results
District 6
General election
Candidates
Lewis Friedner (Democratic) Leonard P. Krivy (Democratic) John A. Rocco, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican) Lee Solomon (Republican)
Results
District 7
General election
Candidates
Priscilla B. Anderson, mayor of Willingboro and Trenton Public Schools guidance counselor (Republican) Jack Casey, incumbent Assembly member since January 1991 and former mayor of Palmyra (Democratic) Barbara Kalik, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic) José F. Sosa, mayor of Mount Holly (Republican)
Results
District 8
General election
Candidates
James S. Brophy (Democratic) Harold L. Colburn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican) Robert C. Shinn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1985 (Republican) Arthur J. Zeichner (Democratic)
Results
District 9
General election
Candidates
Christopher J. Connors, incumbent Assembly member since 1990 (Republican) Edward W. Frydendahl Jr. (Democratic) Jeffrey Moran, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican) Len Morano (Democratic)
Results
District 10
General election
Candidates
Paul C. Brush (Democratic) Marlene Lynch Ford, incumbent Assembly member since 1990 (Democratic) Virginia E. Haines, former clerk of the General Assembly (Republican) David W. Wolfe (Republican)
Results
District 11
General election
Candidates
Steve Corodemus, member of the Monmouth County Planning Board and former president of the Atlantic Highlands Borough Council (Republican) Robert J. Furlong Sr. (I Represent You) Daniel P. Jacobson, incumbent Assembly member since 1990 (Democratic) James W. Manning (Truth in Government) Tom Smith, mayor of Asbury Park (Republican) John Villapiano, incumbent Assembly member since 1988 and former Monmouth County Freeholder (Democratic)
Results
District 12
General election
Candidates
Michael Arnone, incumbent Assembly member since 1988 and former mayor of Red Bank (Republican) Arnold Bellush (Democratic) James H. Dorn (Accountable Independent) Clare Farragher, incumbent Assembly member since 1987 and member of the Freehold Township Committee (Republican) Michael A. Ferguson (Democratic) Virginia A. Flynn (Libertarian) Donald W. Jamison (Libertarian)
Results
District 13
General election
Candidates
Irvin B. Beaver Richard A. Cooper Joe Kyrillos, incumbent Assembly member since 1988 (Republican) Claudia Montelione (Libertarian) Joann H. Smith, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
Results
District 14
General election
Candidates
Peter A. Cantu, incumbent Assembly member since August 1991 (Democratic) Anthony J. Cimino, incumbent Assembly member since 1988 (Democratic) Paul Kramer, Mercer County Freeholder (Republican) Kevin John Meara (Regular Independent Organization) Paul Rizzo (Senior Power) Barbara Wright, former mayor of Plainsboro Township (Republican)
Results
District 15
General election