2021 New Jersey State Senate election
Republican gain Republican hold Democratic gain Democratic hold
The 2021 New Jersey State Senate election was held on November 2, 2021. New Jersey voters elected state senators in all of the state's legislative districts for a two-year term to the New Jersey Senate .[ 2] This was the first election since 1991 where Republicans net gained state Senate seats. Democrats would later be restored to 25 seats following the party switch of Samuel D. Thompson in 2023.
Incumbents not running for re-election [ edit ]
In addition, five members who were elected in the last election in 2017 have since left office: Robert M. Gordon (D-38th , resigned),[ 7] Jeff Van Drew (D-1st , resigned),[ 8] Anthony R. Bucco (R-25th , died in office),[ 9] Gerald Cardinale (R-39th , died in office),[ 10] and Chris A. Brown , (R-2nd , resigned after previously announcing retirement).[ 11] [ 12]
Parties
Candidates
Seats
Popular vote
2017
2021
+/-
Strength
Vote
%
Change
Democratic
40
25
24
1
60%
1,296,465
51.9%
7.2
Republican
38
15
16
1
40%
1,199,006
48.0%
7.3
Libertarian
1
0
0
0
0%
403
0.02%
0.01
Independent
2
0
0
0
0%
1,460
0.1%
0.0
Total
81
40
40
100.00%
2,497,334
100.00%
Turnout
Registered
By State Senate District [ edit ]
^ Testa won a 2019 special election to complete the unexpired term of Senator Jeff Van Drew , who resigned to take his seat in the United States House of Representatives
^ Senator Chris A. Brown , who had already announced he would not stand for re-election, resigned on July 21 to join the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Vince Polistina , the Republican nominee for the seat in the general election, won an August 4 special county convention to succeed Brown. The Senate did not convene until after Election Day. Although Polistina's election was certified by Secretary of State Tahesha Way , and he was administered the oath of office by a retired Superior Court judge, Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney refused to swear him in as Senator, and the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services did not consider Polistina the incumbent.[ 16]
^ Addiego switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party in January 2019.
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
District 8, 2.22% gain
District 3, 3.36% gain
District 2, 3.74%
District 11, 3.76%
District 38, 5.80%
District 16, 6.64% gain
District 21, 7.30%
District 4, 8.84%
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Mike Testa (R)
Yolanda Garcia Balicki (D)
Undecided
Stockton University [ 18]
September 28 – October 10, 2021
407 (RV)
± 4.8%
49%
36%
9%
Predictions
Results
Polling
^ Internal poll for the Seth Grossman campaign
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Vince Polistina (R)
Vince Mazzeo (D)
Undecided
Stockton University [ 21]
October 9–24, 2021
401 (LV)
± 4.9%
41%
48%
6%
Predictions
Results
Predictions
Results
Predictions
Results
No Republicans filed. However, Clyde Cook received enough write-in votes to qualify for the general election.
Predictions
Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
Andrew Zwicker
Labor unions
Organizations
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Michael Pappas (R)
Andrew Zwicker (D)
3D Strategic Research (R)[ 27] [ B 1]
?
300 (LV)
± 5.7%
44%
44%
^ Internal poll for the New Jersey Senate Republican Campaign Committee
Predictions
Results
Andrew Zwicker (D)
Labor unions
Organizations
Predictions
Results
Predictions
Results
Following the primary, Onuoha was replaced on the ballot for the general election by Pedro "Peter" Pisar on August 23.[ 28]
Predictions
Results
Withdrew
Jason Krychiw,[ 30] suspended campaign on April 23, 2021[ 31]
Joe Cryan
Labor unions
Organizations
No Republicans filed.
Predictions
Results
Joe Cryan (D)
Labor unions
Organizations
Predictions
Results
Predictions
Results
Predictions
Results
No Democrats filed. However, Frederick P. Cook received enough write-in votes to qualify for the general election.
Predictions
Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
No Republicans filed.
Predictions
Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results
Republicans Chris Auriemma filed to run, withdrew, and then received enough write-in votes to qualify for the general election.
Predictions
Results
Gordon Johnson
Governors
Congressmen
Mayors
Christopher Chung, Mayor of Palisades Park, NJ[ 39]
James Dunleavy, Mayor of Teaneck, NJ[ 39]
John Labrosse, Mayor of Hackensack, NJ[ 38]
Mark Sokolich, Mayor of Fort Lee, NJ[ 39]
Michael Wildes , Mayor of Englewood, NJ[ 38]
Judah Ziegler, Mayor of Leonia, NJ[ 39]
Mark Zinna, Mayor of Tenafly, NJ[ 38]
State legislators
Joe Lagana, New Jersey State Senator
Loretta Weinberg , Senate Majority Leader of New Jersey[ 38]
Benjie E. Wimberly, New Jersey State Assemblyman[ 38]
Democratic chairs
John Bang, District 37 Democratic Chair[ 40]
Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff[ 41]
Greta Grewal-Virk, Democratic Vice Chair of Bergen County[ 38]
John Hogan, District 37 Treasurer[ 42]
Lynn Hurwitz, Democratic Municipal Chair[ 42]
Paul Juliano, Democratic Chairman of the Bergen County[ 43]
Zonie LeSane, District 37 Vice Chair[ 42]
Marc Macri, Democratic Municipal Chair
Kenneth Martin, District 37 Secretary[ 42]
Michelle Rupar, Democratic Municipal Chair
Joan S. Voss, Bergen County Commissioner[ 38]
Council people
Tom Argiro, Northvale Councilman[ 44]
Lou Battaglia, Hackensack Councilman
Charles Cobb, Englewood Councilman[ 45]
Michael Cohen, Englewood Councilman[ 45]
Lou DeLiso, Northvale Councilman[ 44]
Ed Develin, Northvale Councilman [ 44]
Jo Ellen Granquist, Bogota Councilwoman[ 46]
Paul Kim, Palisades Park Councilman[ 47]
JongChul Lee, Palisades Park Councilman[ 47]
Judith Maron, Englewood Councilwoman[ 45]
Andy Min, Palisades Park Councilman[ 47]
Mary Ellen Murphy, Bogota Councilwoman[ 46]
Michael Pagan, Teaneck Councilman
Daniel Park, Tenafly Councilman[ 38]
Ellen Park, Englewood Cliffs Councilwoman[ 47]
Jae Park, Palisades Park Councilman[ 47]
Robert Robbins, Bogota Councilman[ 46]
Kenneth Rosenzweig, Englewood Councilman[ 45]
Peter Suh, Fort Lee Councilman[ 47]
Paul Yoon, Fort Lee Councilman[ 47]
Organizations
Bergen County Building and Construction’s Trade Council[ 48]
Carpenters Union (Eastern Atlantic States Council of Carpenters)[ 49]
Hotel and Motel Trades Council[ 50]
International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA)[ 51]
International Union of Operating Engineers (Local 825)[ 52]
Laborer's International Union of North America (LIUNA)[ 53]
Latino American Democratic Association of New Jersey[ 54]
New Jersey Firefighters Union[ 55]
New Jersey League of Conservation Voters [ 56]
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)[ 57]
United Service Workers Union[ 48]
Predictions
Results
Gordon Johnson (D)
Governors
Congressmen
Mayors
Christopher Chung, Mayor of Palisades Park, NJ[ 39]
James Dunleavy, Mayor of Teaneck, NJ[ 39]
John Labrosse, Mayor of Hackensack, NJ[ 38]
Mark Sokolich, Mayor of Fort Lee, NJ[ 39]
Michael Wildes , Mayor of Englewood, NJ[ 38]
Judah Ziegler, Mayor of Leonia, NJ[ 39]
Mark Zinna, Mayor of Tenafly, NJ[ 38]
State legislators
Joe Lagana, New Jersey State Senator
Loretta Weinberg , Senate Majority Leader of New Jersey[ 38]
Benjie E. Wimberly, New Jersey State Assemblyman[ 38]
Democratic chairs
John Bang, District 37 Democratic Chair[ 40]
Greta Grewal-Virk, Democratic Vice Chair of Bergen County[ 38]
Lynn Hurwitz, Democratic Municipal Chair[ 42]
Paul Juliano, Democratic Chairman of the Bergen County[ 43]
Zonie LeSane, District 37 Vice Chair[ 42]
Marc Macri, Democratic Municipal Chair
Michelle Rupar, Democratic Municipal Chair
John Hogan, District 37 Treasurer[ 42]
Kenneth Martin, District 37 Secretary[ 42]
Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff[ 41]
Joan S. Voss, Bergen County Commissioner[ 38]
Council people
Tom Argiro, Northvale Councilman[ 44]
Lou Battaglia, Hackensack Councilman
Charles Cobb, Englewood Councilman[ 45]
Michael Cohen, Englewood Councilman[ 45]
Lou DeLiso, Northvale Councilman[ 44]
Ed Develin, Northvale Councilman [ 44]
Jo Ellen Granquist, Bogota Councilwoman[ 46]
Paul Kim, Palisades Park Councilman[ 47]
JongChul Lee, Palisades Park Councilman[ 47]
Judith Maron, Englewood Councilwoman[ 45]
Andy Min, Palisades Park Councilman[ 47]
Mary Ellen Murphy, Bogota Councilwoman[ 46]
Michael Pagan, Teaneck Councilman
Daniel Park, Tenafly Councilman[ 38]
Ellen Park, Englewood Cliffs Councilwoman[ 47]
Jae Park, Palisades Park Councilman[ 47]
Robert Robbins, Bogota Councilman[ 46]
Kenneth Rosenzweig, Englewood Councilman[ 45]
Peter Suh, Fort Lee Councilman[ 47]
Paul Yoon, Fort Lee Councilman[ 47]
Organizations
Bergen County Building and Construction’s Trade Council[ 48]
Carpenters Union (Eastern Atlantic States Council of Carpenters)[ 49]
Hotel and Motel Trades Council[ 50]
International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA)[ 51]
International Union of Operating Engineers (Local 825)[ 52]
Laborer's International Union of North America (LIUNA)[ 53]
Latino American Democratic Association of New Jersey[ 54]
New Jersey Firefighters Union[ 55]
New Jersey League of Conservation Voters [ 56]
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)[ 57]
United Service Workers Union[ 48]
Predictions
Results
Predictions
Results
Predictions
Results
^ Catalini, Mike (November 12, 2021). "NJ Senate Dems Pick Scutari as Leader After Sweeney's Stunning Loss to Truck Driver" . WNBC . Retrieved November 12, 2021 .
^ "New Jersey Secretary of State" . state.nj.us .
^ Barchenger, Stacey (January 13, 2021). "NJ Sen. Loretta Weinberg announces retirement after 28 years in Trenton" . NorthJersey.com . Retrieved January 13, 2021 .
^ Deak, Mike (January 27, 2021). "Sen. Christopher 'Kip' Bateman won't seek reelection, ending four decades in NJ politics" . myCentralJersey.com . Retrieved January 27, 2021 .
^ Salant, Jonathan D. (February 1, 2021). "Tom Kean Jr. announces he won't seek re-election to the state Senate. Is another try for Congress next?" . NJ.com . Retrieved February 1, 2021 .
^ Salant, Jonathan D. (July 2, 2021). "N.J. to get its marquee House race in 2022 as Kean will challenge Malinowski again" . NJ.com . Retrieved July 5, 2021 .
^ Tate, Curtis (April 5, 2018). "Gov. Phil Murphy appoints Sen. Bob Gordon to NJ utility watchdog" . NorthJersey.com . Retrieved July 5, 2021 .
^ Contento, Nina (January 2, 2019). "Former State Senator Jeff Van Drew Prepares for Washington, D.C." SNJ Today . Archived from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2021 .
^ Ortiz, Keldy; Westhoven, William (September 16, 2019). "New Jersey state Sen. Anthony Bucco dies of a heart attack" . Daily Record . Retrieved July 5, 2021 .
^ "Veteran New Jersey state senator Gerald Cardinale dies at 86" . Associated Press . February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021 .
^ Wildstein, David (February 18, 2021). "Chris Brown will not seek re-election to State Senate seat" . newjerseyglobe.com . Retrieved February 18, 2021 .
^ Brunetti Post, Michelle (July 20, 2021). "State Sen. Chris Brown to help advise governor's office on Atlantic City affairs" . The Press of Atlantic City . Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao "2021 New Jersey Globe Voter's Guide" . New Jersey Globe . October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao "New Jersey's 2021 Election Ratings - The Final Rundown" . Elections Daily . Retrieved March 11, 2021 .
^ "New Jersey State Senate elections, 2021" . Ballotpedia .
^ Wildstein, David (August 25, 2021). "Polistina Takes Oath As State Senator, But Democrats Say It's 'Not Official' " . The New Jersey Globe . Retrieved September 17, 2021 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For PRIMARY ELECTION 06/08/2021 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ Stockton University
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 06/08/2021 Election" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021 .
^ Neighborhood Research (R)
^ Stockton University
^ "Primary Election, June 8, 2021" . Gloucester County Clerk. June 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "County of Camden Official Election Results" (PDF) . Camden County Clerk. June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "2021 Endorsements" .
^ a b c d "32BJ SEIU is proud to endorse the following candidates who are committed to fighting for working people in New Jersey" .
^ a b c d "Our Candidates" . Working Families Party .
^ 3D Strategic Research (R)
^ "AMENDED CERTIFICATION" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Jersey . August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021 .
^ "Holley to Challenge Cryan in LD20 Democratic Primary" . Insider NJ . January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021 .
^ "Krychiw Challenging Cryan in LD20 Democratic Primary" . Insider NJ . InsiderNJ. December 14, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2021 .
^ "Krychiw drops Senate bid after lying about his job" . New Jersey Globe . April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021 .
^ "Primary Election, June 8, 2021" . Union County Clerk. June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "Primary Election, June 8, 2021" . Morris County Clerk. July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "Summary Report, 2021 Primary" (PDF) . Warren County Clerk. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "Official Results" . Sussex County Clerk. June 21, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "2021 June Primary Elections" . Bergen County Clerk. June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "June 22, 2021 Summary Report" (PDF) . Passaic County Clerk. June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .[permanent dead link ]
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Endorsements" .
^ a b c d e f g h "Teaneck mayor backs Gordon Johnson for Senate" . January 31, 2021.
^ a b "Gordon Johnson has votes to win Bergen Democratic line for Senate" . February 10, 2021.
^ a b "Cureton endorses Johnson for State Senate" . February 21, 2021.
^ a b c d e f g h "District 37 Democratic leaders endorse Gordon Johnson" . January 20, 2021.
^ a b "To boost Juliano, McCabe hosts fundraiser for Johnson" . May 4, 2021.
^ a b c d e f "Johnson gets Northvale endorsements for Senate run" . January 17, 2021.
^ a b c d e f g h "Englewood councilmembers back Johnson for Senate" . January 21, 2021.
^ a b c d e f "Johnson wins endorsements from Bogota Democratic leaders" . January 22, 2021.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Korean American local officials back Johnson" . January 26, 2021.
^ a b c d "Bergen Building Trades, Service Workers Union back Johnson for Senate" . March 4, 2021.
^ a b "Carpenters union endorses Gordon Johnson" . March 9, 2021.
^ a b "Hotel workers' union backs Johnson for Senate" . March 10, 2021.
^ a b "Longshoremen's union endorses Gordon Johnson" . March 12, 2021.
^ a b "Operating Engineers Local 825 endorses Gordon Johnson" . March 31, 2021.
^ a b "LIUNA goes with Gordon Johnson in Bergen Senate primary" . April 27, 2021.
^ a b hudsontv.com/latino-american-democratic-association-of-nj-endorses-assemblyman-gordon-johnson-to-succeed-senator-weinberg/
^ a b "Firefighters take sides in 37th district Senate primary, endorsing Johnson" . March 11, 2021.
^ a b "District 37: Gordon Johnson" .
^ a b "UFCW District Council of New York and New Jersey Endorses Assemblyman Gordon Johnson" . Associated Press . March 10, 2021.
^ "State and Local Candidates" .
^ "Our Candidates" . Working Families Party .
^ Wildstein, David (January 29, 2021). "Schepisi said to favor GOP Senate bid against Cardinale, will submit letter of intent" . New Jersey Globe . Retrieved February 18, 2021 .
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