1981 New Jersey gubernatorial election

1981 New Jersey gubernatorial election

← 1977 November 3, 1981 1985 →
 
Candidate Thomas Kean James Florio
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,145,999 1,144,202
Percentage 49.46% 49.38%

Kean:      50–60%      60–70%
Florio:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Brendan Byrne
Democratic

Elected Governor

Thomas Kean
Republican

The 1981 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held November 3, 1981. Republican Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly Thomas Kean narrowly defeated Democratic U.S. Representative James Florio, 49.46%-49.38, following a recount.[1] Kean's margin of victory was 1,797 votes out of more than two million votes cast.[2][3] As of 2024, the 1981 gubernatorial election remains the closest gubernatorial contest in New Jersey history.[4]

Primary elections were held June 2, 1981.[5] Kean and Florio prevailed, each defeating numerous other candidates without attaining 50% of the vote. The general election was framed as a referendum on the new presidency of Ronald Reagan and, in particular, on Reagan's cuts to federal spending.[6][7][8][9] On election night, the results were too close to call, but Kean led by fewer than 1,700 votes. Florio petitioned for a recount, which expanded Kean's lead slightly; Florio conceded the race on November 30.


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  1. ^ "Election night 1981, when the N.J. governor's race was too close to call". NJ.com. November 3, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference history was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference general was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Brindle, Jeffrey (October 3, 2022). "Former Governor Jim Florio – A Public Servant Right to the End". insidernj.com.
  5. ^ "Candidates for the Office of Governor - State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference nytprimary was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Broder, David S. (November 4, 1981). "Rep. Florio, Kean in Close N.J. Race". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 3, 2022.

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