New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2013

2013 Competitiveness Overview
Primary competition (state comparison) ;
	Incumbents with no challenges at all in 2013 ; Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers •; Primary competitiveness
Major party challengers (state comparison)
	List of candidates with no competition
Open seats (state comparisons)
	Long-serving senators • Long-serving reps
Chart Comparing 2013 Results
	Comparisons Between Years
Competitiveness Index • Absolute Index
	2013 State Legislative Elections
Competitiveness Studies from Other Years
	2007 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2014

	2015 → ← 2011
	New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2013
	Majority control • Campaign contributions
	Qualifications • Impact of Redistricting
	State Legislative Election Results
	List of candidates 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
	New Jersey General Assembly • 2013 New Jersey Senate Elections

Elections for the office of New Jersey General Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 4, 2013, and a general election on November 5, 2013.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 1, 2013. The deadline for objections to nomination petitions for primary election candidates was April 5, 2013. Independent candidates wishing to run in the general election were required to submit their nomination petitions by June 4, 2013. The deadline for objections to nomination petitions for independent general election candidates was June 10, 2013.^[1]^[2]

Nomination petitions must contain the signatures of at least 100 voters in the legislative district. Candidates are required to disclose any criminal convictions.^[3]

As with the State Senate, incumbency was one of the strongest factors in the results for New Jersey's elections for State Assembly in 2013. A total of 74 incumbents appeared on the general election ballot. All but two of them, Nelson Albano (D) and John Amodeo (R), won re-election on November 5. There were eight newly-elected members of the New Jersey State Assembly. The newly elected members were split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.

Majority control

Heading into the November 5 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the New Jersey General Assembly. The party lost one seat but gained another to remain the majority party after the 2013 election:

New Jersey General Assembly
Party		As of November 4, 2013	After the 2013 Election
	Democratic Party	48	48
	Republican Party	32	32
Total		80	80

Campaign contributions

See also: State-by-state comparison of donations to state house campaigns

This chart shows how many candidates ran for state house in New Jersey in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state house races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.^[4]

Total contributions, New Jersey General Assembly
Year	Number of candidates	Total contributions
2011	215	$25,001,973
2009	205	$25,487,974
2007	204	$26,388,602
2005	212	$23,299,489
2003	233	$15,682,188
2001	218	$12,642,876
1999	216	$13,178,596
1997	138	$7,436,476

During the 2011 election, the total contributions to the 215 Assembly candidates was $25,001,973. The top 10 contributors were:^[4]

2011 Donors, New Jersey General Assembly
Donor	Amount
New Jersey State Laborers	$344,500
New Jersey Education Association	$325,900
New Jersey Republican Party	$296,965
New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters	$296,950
Election Fund of Cook Conaway & Singleton	$245,493
New Jersey Association of Realtors	$242,450
1199 Seiu United Healthcare Workers East	$185,400
Communications Workers New Jersey	$162,500
Cmte to Elect Lesniak Cryan & Quijano	$157,485
Democratic Assembly Campaign Cmte	$155,183

Super PAC spending

The national super PAC the Fund for Jobs, Growth and Security was founded to prevent the popularity of Governor Chris Christie (R) from creating Republican majorities in New Jersey's 2013 elections. Democratic activists expressed concern that Christie's "coattails" would lead to a Republican state legislature and allow him to successfully promote a conservative agenda ahead of a presidential run in 2016. The Fund for Jobs, Growth and Security super PAC won a legal battle allowing it to spend unlimited amounts on state legislative campaigns in New Jersey. The super PAC's president is Susan McCue, who was dubbed by POLITICO as one of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) "closest confidantes," is the organization's president.^[5]

Qualifications

In order to be a candidate to run for the New Jersey General Assembly, a candidate must:

Be a citizen of the United States
Reside for no less than two years in the district the candidate plans to represent.
Be 21 years of age or older.
Obtain 100 signatures via petition and submit the signatures to the New Jersey Secretary of State^[6].
Disclose any criminal convictions^[7].

Competitiveness

Candidates unopposed by a major party

There were no candidates facing no competition in the November 5 general election and who were thus, barring unforeseen circumstances, be guaranteed re-election in November. In one district, the major party candidates are opposed by only third party challengers.

District 25: Incumbent Michael Patrick Carroll (R), incumbent Anthony Bucco, Jr. (R), Rebecca Feldman (I) and Jack Curtis (I).

Primary challenges
Eleven incumbents faced competition in the June 4 primary. All eleven of those incumbents defeated their primary challengers.

Retiring incumbents
Five incumbent representatives did not run for re-election, while 75 (93.8%) ran for re-election.

District 8: Scott Rudder (R)
District 18: Peter Barnes, III (D)
District 33: Ruben Ramos, Jr. (D) and Sean Connors (D)
District 39: Robert Schroeder (R)

Note: Assemblywoman Connie Terranova Wagner (D) withdrew from election on June 11, citing family reasons.^[8]

Impact of redistricting

See also: Redistricting in New Jersey

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, New Jersey's population increased from 8,414,350 to 8,791,894 between 2000 and 2010.^[9]

The New Jersey Redistricting Commission is responsible for redistricting. This is one of 11 commissions nationwide that is responsible for redistricting. This redistricting commission is composed of 10 members, chosen by the following:

5 by the Chairperson of the state Democratic Party
5 by the Chairperson of the state Republican Party

If a plan is not in place, the New Jersey Supreme Court selects an 11th member. For the third consecutive decade, Rutgers professor Alan Rosenthal was chosen as the tie-breaking member. Rosenthal was unable to get the commission to agree on a compromise map and therefore had to cast a tie-breaking vote. He ultimately went with the Democrats' map, stating that it "reflected the current distribution of partisan preferences in New Jersey."^[10]

Among the changes to the map:^[11]

Somerset County would now be split among four districts. Before, it was in two.
The new 12th District included parts of Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington and Middlesex counties.

List of candidates

District 1

June 4 Democratic primary:

Nelson Albano a Incumbent Albano first assumed office in 2006.
Bob Andrzejczak a Incumbent Andrzejczak first assumed office in 2013.

June 4 Republican primary:

Sam Fiocchi a
Kristine Gabor a

November 5 General election candidates:

Nelson Albano: 26,611

Bob Andrzejczak: 29,958

Sam Fiocchi: 27,539

Kristine Gabor: 25,903

District 2

June 4 Democratic primary:

Vincent Mazzeo a
Nick Russo a

June 4 Republican primary:

John F. Amodeo a Incumbent Amodeo first assumed office in 2008.
Chris Brown a Incumbent Brown first assumed office in 2012.

November 5 General election candidates:

Vincent Mazzeo: 25,164

Nick Russo: 23,900

John F. Amodeo: 25,124

Chris Brown: 26,020

Gary Stein: 1,388

District 3

June 4 Democratic primary:

John J. Burzichelli a Incumbent Burzichelli first assumed office in 2002.
Celeste M. Riley a Incumbent Riley first assumed office in 2009.

June 4 Republican primary:

Larry Wallace a
Bob Vanderslice a

November 5 General election candidates:

John J. Burzichelli: 31,049

Celeste M. Riley: 29,870

Larry Wallace: 25,094

Bob Vanderslice: 24,823

District 4

June 4 Democratic primary:

Paul D. Moriarty a Incumbent Moriarty first assumed office in 2006.
Gabriela M. Mosquera a Incumbent Mosquera first assumed office in 2012.

June 4 Republican primary:

Philip Dieser a
Theodore M. Liddell a

November 5 General election candidates:

Paul D. Moriarty: 28,527

Gabriela M. Mosquera: 27,095

Philip Dieser: 21,702

Theodore M. Liddell: 20,998

District 5

June 4 Democratic primary:

Angel Fuentes a Incumbent Fuentes first assumed office in 2010.
Gilbert L. Wilson a Incumbent Wilson first assumed office in 2006.

June 4 Republican primary:

David Ragonese a
George Wagoner a

November 5 General election candidates:

Angel Fuentes: 25,167

Gilbert L. Wilson: 24,761

David Ragonese: 17,774

George Wagoner: 17,037

District 6

June 4 Democratic primary:

Louis D. Greenwald a Incumbent Greenwald first assumed office in 1996.
Pamela R. Lampitt a Incumbent Lampitt first assumed office in 2006.

June 4 Republican primary:

Note: McMullin was replaced by George R. Fisher on the general election ballot.

November 5 General election candidates:

Louis D. Greenwald: 33,232

Pamela R. Lampitt: 31,366

Chris Leone-Zwillinger: 22,147

George R. Fisher: 21,399

District 7

June 4 Democratic primary:

Herb Conaway a Incumbent Conaway first assumed office in 1998.
Troy Singleton a Incumbent Singleton first assumed office in 2011.

June 4 Republican primary:

November 5 General election candidates:

Herb Conaway: 34,978

Troy Singleton: 34,772

Anthony Ogozalek: 27,991

Jeff Banasz: 27,233

District 8

Incumbent Scott Rudder (R) did not seek re-election.

June 4 Democratic primary:

Robert McGowan a
Ava Markey a

June 4 Republican primary:

Chris Brown: 7,149 a Incumbent Brown first assumed office in 2012.
Maria Rodriguez-Gregg: 6,461 a
W. Scott Fay: 1,242
Gary E. Jacques: 1,241

November 5 General election candidates:

Robert McGowan: 22,461

Ava Markey: 21,665

Chris Brown: 34,293

Maria Rodriguez-Gregg: 32,360

District 9

June 4 Democratic primary:

June 4 Republican primary:

Brian E. Rumpf a Incumbent Rumpf first assumed office in 2003.
DiAnne C. Gove a Incumbent Gove first assumed office in 2009.

November 5 General election candidates:

Peter Ferwerda III: 18,872

Christopher McManus: 20,354

Brian E. Rumpf: 45,690

DiAnne C. Gove: 43,695

District 10

June 4 Democratic primary:

Susan Kane a
Amber Gesslein a

June 4 Republican primary:

Dave Wolfe a Incumbent Wolfe first assumed office in 1992.
Gregory P. McGuckin a Incumbent McGucking first assumed office in 2012.

November 5 General election candidates:

Susan Kane: 20,647

Amber Gesslein: 19,658

Dave Wolfe: 44,627

Gregory P. McGuckin: 42,586

District 11

June 4 Democratic primary:

Edward Zipprich a
Kevin McMillan a

June 4 Republican primary:

Mary Pat Angelini a Incumbent Angelini first assumed office in 2008.
Caroline Casagrande a Incumbent Casagrande first assumed office in 2012.

November 5 General election candidates:

Edward Zipprich: 19,968

Kevin McMillan: 20,406

Mary Pat Angelini: 29,842

Caroline Casagrande: 28,827

District 12

June 4 Democratic primary:

June 4 Republican primary:

Ronald S. Dancer a Incumbent Dancer first assumed office in 2012.
Robert D. Clifton a Incumbent Clifton first assumed office in 2012.

November 5 General election candidates:

Lawrence J. Furman: 17,119

Nicholas Nellegar: 16,312

Ronald S. Dancer: 32,188

Robert D. Clifton: 31,059

Diane Bindler: 1,354

District 13

June 4 Democratic primary:

Allison Friedman a
Matthew Morehead a

June 4 Republican primary:

Amy Handlin: 5,720 a Incumbent Handlin first assumed office in 2006.
Declan O'Scanlon: 5,695 a Incumbent O'Scanlon first assumed office in 2012.
Edna Walsh: 1,646
Stephen Boracchia: 1,559

November 5 General election candidates:

Allison Friedman: 19,623

Matthew Morehead: 18,843

Amy Handlin: 38,795

Declan O'Scanlon: 37,577

Karen Anne Zaletel: 796

District 14

June 4 Democratic primary:

Wayne P. DeAngelo a Incumbent DeAgelo first assumed office in 2008.
Daniel R. Benson a Incumbent Benson first assumed office in 2011.

June 4 Republican primary:

Ronald Haas a
Steve Cook a

November 5 General election candidates:

Wayne P. DeAngelo: 32,048

Daniel R. Benson: 30,992

Ronald Haas: 26,233

Steve Cook: 28,135

Sean O'Connor: 898

Steven Uccio: 779

District 15

June 4 Democratic primary:

Reed Gusciora a Incumbent Gusciora first assumed office in 1996.
Bonnie Watson Coleman a Incumbent Coleman first assumed office in 1998.

June 4 Republican primary:

Kim Taylor a
Anthony Giordano a

November 5 General election candidates:

Reed Gusciora: 28,848

Bonnie Watson Coleman: 29,109

Kim Taylor: 17,310

Anthony Giordano: 17,429

District 16

June 4 Democratic primary:

Marie Corfield a
Ida Ochoteco a

June 4 Republican primary:

Jack M. Ciattarelli a Incumbent Ciatarelli first assumed office in 2011.
Donna M. Simon a Incumbent Simon first assumed office in 2012.

Libertarian candidates:

Patrick McKnight a

November 5 General election candidates:

Marie Corfield: 25,112

Ida Ochoteco: 23,682

Jack M. Ciattarelli: 32,125

Donna M. Simon: 31,543

Patrick McKnight: 1,202

District 17

June 4 Democratic primary:

Joseph V. Egan a Incumbent Egan first assumed office in 2002.
Upendra Chivukula a Incumbent Chivukula first assumed office in 2002.

June 4 Republican primary:

Carlo Dilalla a
Sanjay Patel a

November 5 General election candidates:

Joseph V. Egan: 23,763

Upendra Chivukula: 23,331

Carlo Dilalla: 13,762

Sanjay Patel: 12,281

District 18

Incumbent Peter Barnes, III (D) did not seek re-election.

June 4 Democratic primary:

Patick J. Diegnan, Jr. a Incumbent first assumed office in 2002.
Nancy Pinkin a

June 4 Republican primary:

Robert A. Bengivenga a
Lisa Goldhamer a

November 5 General election candidates:

Patick J. Diegnan, Jr.: 24,996

Nancy Pinkin: 24,186

Robert A. Bengivenga: 21,517

Lisa Goldhamer: 20,559

Sheila Angalet: 1,068

District 19

June 4 Democratic primary:

Craig J. Coughlin a Incumbent Coughlin first assumed office 2010.
John S. Wisniewski a Incumbent Wisniewski first assumed office 1996.

June 4 Republican primary:

Arif Khan a
Stephanie Ziemba a

November 5 General election candidates:

Craig J. Coughlin: 22,393

John S. Wisniewski: 24,404

Arif Khan: 12,151

Stephanie Ziemba: 13,406

District 20

June 4 Democratic primary:

Joseph Cryan a Incumbent Cryan first assumed office in 2002.
Annette Quijano a Incumbent Quijano first assumed office in 2008.

June 4 Republican primary:

Independent candidates:

Note: Pires and Sileem do not appear on the official list of general election candidates.

November 5 General election candidates:

Joseph Cryan: 19,268

Annette Quijano: 18,839

Charles Donnelly: 7,719

Christopher Hackett: 7,269

District 21

June 4 Democratic primary:

Norman W. Albert a
Jill Anne Lazare a

June 4 Republican primary:

Jon Bramnick a Incumbent Bramnick first assumed office in 2003.
Nancy Munoz a Incumbent Munoz first assumed office in 2009.

November 5 General election candidates:

Norman W. Albert: 20,045

Jill Anne Lazare: 21,129

Jon Bramnick: 38,556

Nancy Munoz: 37,314

District 22

June 4 Democratic primary:

Gerald Green a Incumbent Green first assumed office in 1992.
Linda Stender a Incumbent Stender first assumed office in 2002.

June 4 Republican primary:

Jeffrey D. First a
John Campbell a

November 5 General election candidates:

Gerald Green: 23,168

Linda Stender: 23,242

Jeffrey D. First: 16,965

John Campbell: 18,826

District 23

June 4 Democratic primary:

John Valentine a
Ralph Drake a

June 4 Republican primary:

Erik Peterson a Incumbent Peterson first assumed office in 2009.
John DiMaio a Incumbent DiMaio first assumed office in 2009.

November 5 General election candidates:

John Valentine: 17,828

Ralph Drake: 16,548

Erik Peterson: 35,604

John DiMaio: 35,458

District 24

June 4 Democratic primary:

Susan M. Williams a
William Weightman a

June 4 Republican primary:

Alison Littell McHose a Incumbent McHose first assumed office in 2003.
F. Parker Space a Incumbent Space first assumed office in 2013.

November 5 General election candidates:

Susan M. Williams: 16,883

William Weightman: 14,411

Alison Littell McHose: 37,399

F. Parker Space: 35,093

District 25

June 4 Democratic primary:

Alex Krasnomowitz a

Note: Krasnomowitz withdrew prior to the primary election, but remained on the primary ballot.

June 4 Republican primary:

Michael Patrick Carroll a Incumbent Carrol first assumed office in 1996.
Anthony M. Bucco a Incumbent Bucco first assumed office in 2010.

November 5 General election candidates:

Michael Patrick Carroll: 33,393

Anthony M. Bucco: 35,536

Rebecca Feldman: 9,209

Jack Curtis: 4,426

District 26

June 4 Democratic primary:

Elliot Isibor a
Joseph Raich a

June 4 Republican primary:

Jay Webber a Incumbent Webber first assumed office in 2008.
BettyLou DeCroce a Incumbent DeCroce first assumed office in 2012.

November 5 General election candidates:

Elliot Isibor:18,720

Joseph Raich: 18,379

Jay Webber: 35,028

BettyLou DeCroce: 35,352

District 27

June 4 Democratic primary:

John F. McKeon a Incumbent McKeon first assumed office in 2002.
Mila M. Jasey a Incumbent Jasey first assumed office in 2007.

June 4 Republican primary:

Angelo Tedesco: 5,576 a
Laura M. Ali: 5,328 a
Tayfun Selen: 1,383

November 5 General election candidates:

John F. McKeon: 30,554

Mila M. Jasey: 29,345

Angelo Tedesco: 25,378

Laura M. Ali: 24,732

District 28

June 4 Democratic primary:

Cleopatra G. Tucker a Incumbent Tucker first assumed office in 2008.
Ralph Caputo a Incumbent Caputo first assumed office in 2008.

June 4 Republican primary:

James Boydston a
Peter S. Manning a

November 5 General election candidates:

Cleopatra G. Tucker: 25,869

Ralph Caputo: 26,221

James Boydston: 7,452

Peter S. Manning: 7,875

District 29

June 4 Democratic primary:

L. Grace Spencer a Incumbent Spencer first assumed office in 2008.
Alberto Coutinho a Incumbent Coutinho first assumed office in 2008.

June 4 Republican primary:

November 5 General election candidates:

L. Grace Spencer: 15,259

Eliana Pintor Marin: 14,645

Aracelis Sanabria Tejada: 3,957

Elaine L. Guarino: 3,903

Note: Assemblyman Alberto Coutinho resigned from office on September 11, amid an investigation into a charity that had been established by his father. Eliana Pintor Marin was chosen to replace Coutinho on the general election ballot.