The 1951 New Jersey Senate election was held on November 6, 1951, to determine which party would control the New Jersey Senate for the following two years in the 176th New Jersey Legislature. Eleven out of 21 seats in the New Jersey Senate were up for election, and the primary was held in April 1951. Prior to the election, 14 seats were held by Republicans, and 7 seats were held by Democrats. The general election saw Republicans expand their majority in the State Senate by 2 seats. Republicans flipped each seat in Burlington and Warren counties.
Defeated incumbents In primary Republicans Monmouth County: J. Stanley Herbert lost renomination to Richard R. Stout. Somerset County: Freas L. Hess lost renomination to Malcolm Forbes.
In general Democrats Burlington County: James M. Davis Jr. lost re-election to Albert McCay. Warren County: Robert B. Meyner lost re-election to Wayne Dumont.
Summary of results by county CountyIncumbentPartyElected SenatorPartyAtlanticFrank S. FarleyRepNo electionBergenDavid Van AlstyneRepNo electionBurlingtonJames M. Davis Jr.DemAlbert McCayRepCamdenBruce A. WallaceRepBruce A. WallaceRepCape MayAnthony CafieroRepAnthony CafieroRepCumberland W. Howard SharpDemNo electionEssexAlfred C. ClappRepAlfred C. ClappRepGloucesterHarold W. HannoldRepHarold W. HannoldRepHudsonJames F. Murray Jr.DemNo electionHunterdonWesley LanceRepNo electionMercerSido RidolfiDemNo electionMiddlesexBernard W. VogelDemBernard W. VogelDemMonmouthJ. Stanley HerbertRepRichard R. StoutRepMorrisThomas J. HilleryRepNo electionOceanW. Steelman MathisRepNo electionPassaicFrank W. ShershinRepNo electionSalemJohn M. Summerill Jr.RepJohn M. Summerill Jr.RepSomersetFreas HessRepMalcolm ForbesRepSussexGeorge B. HarperRepNo electionUnionKenneth HandRepKenneth HandRepWarrenRobert B. MeynerDemWayne DumontRep
Closest races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%: (gain)
Other gains Seats that flipped party control where the margin of victory was over 10%:
(gain)
Burlington County
Democratic primary
Candidates
James M. Davis Jr., incumbent state senator
Republican primary
Candidates
Louis J. Kaser Albert McCay, former assemblyman (194448) William F. Parker Clifford Ross Powell, former state senator (192840) and acting governor (1935)
General election
Candidates
James M. Davis Jr., incumbent state senator (Democratic) Albert McCay, former assemblyman (194448) (Republican)
Results
Camden County
General election
Candidates
George F. Neutze (Democratic) Bruce A. Wallace, incumbent senator (Republican)
Results
Cape May County
General election
Candidates
Anthony Cafiero, incumbent senator (Republican) Joseph F. Hughes (Democratic)
Results
Essex County
General election
Candidates
Alfred C. Clapp, incumbent senator (Republican) Ruth Lerner (Progressive) John A. Pindar (Democratic)
Results
Gloucester County
General election
Candidates
Harold W. Hannold, incumbent senator (Republican) Joseph Mennite (Democratic)
Results
Middlesex County
Democratic primary
Candidates
Joseph T. Karcher Bernard Vogel, incumbent senator
General election
Candidates
Walter D. Fetterly (Republican) Bernard Vogel, incumbent senator (Democratic)
Results
Monmouth County
Republican primary
J. Stanley Herbert, incumbent senator Richard R. Stout, attorney and veteran
General election
Candidates
Solomon Lautman (Democratic) Richard R. Stout, attorney and veteran (Republican)
Results
Salem County
General election
Candidates
James S. Sparks (Democratic) John M. Summerill Jr. (Republican)
Results
Somerset County
Republican primary
Candidates
Malcolm Forbes, publishing magnate Freas L. Hess, incumbent senator
General election
Candidates
Malcolm Forbes, publishing magnate (Republican) Anthony P. Kearns (Democratic)
Results
Union County
General election
Candidates
Kenneth Hand, incumbent senator (Republican) J. Jerome Kaplon (Democratic)
Results
Warren County
General election
Candidates
Wayne Dumont, Phillipsburg attorney (Republican) Robert B. Meyner, incumbent senator (Democratic)
Results
See also List of New Jersey state legislatures
References