# 1961 New Jersey gubernatorial election

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The 1961 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1961. Democratic nominee Richard J. Hughes defeated Republican nominee James P. Mitchell with 50.37% of the vote.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on April 18, 1961.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Richard J. Hughes, former Superior Court judge
* Weldon R. Sheets
* Eugene E. Demarest

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard J. Hughes | 222,789 | 84.21 |
| | Democratic | Weldon R. Sheets | 21,285 | 8.05 |
| | Democratic | Eugene E. Demarest | 20,487 | 7.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 264,561 | 100.00 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* James P. Mitchell, former United States Secretary of Labor
* Walter H. Jones, State Senator from Bergen County
* Wayne Dumont, State Senator from Warren County
* Louis Berns

#### Results

Republican Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James P. Mitchell | 202,188 | 43.68 |
| | Republican | Walter H. Jones | 160,553 | 34.69 |
| | Republican | Wayne Dumont | 95,761 | 20.69 |
| | Republican | Louis Berns | 4,376 | 0.95 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 462,878 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

* G. George Addonizio (Independent)
* Richard J. Hughes, former Mercer County Superior Court judge (Democratic)
* Henry B. Krajewski, perennial candidate (Veterans Bonus Now)
* Edward J. Lueddeke (Prosperity with Liberty)
* Reinhardt V. Metzger, former Assemblyman from Essex County (Conservative)
* James P. Mitchell, former United States Secretary of Labor (Republican)
* Daniel Petrino (State Soldiers Bonus)
* Albert Ronis (Socialist Labor)
* Ruth F. Shiminsky (Socialist Workers)

### Results

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Richard J. Hughes | 1,084,194 | 50.37% | 4.18 |
| | Republican | James P. Mitchell | 1,049,274 | 48.74% | 4.28 |
| | Conservative | Reinhardt V. Metzger | 5,820 | 0.27% | 0.03 |
| | Independent | Henry B. Krajewski | 3,904 | 0.18% | 0.13 |
| | Independent | Edward J. Lueddeke | 2,541 | 0.12% | N/A |
| | Independent | G. George Addonizio | 2,462 | 0.11% | N/A |
| | Socialist Labor | Albert Ronis | 2,103 | 0.10% | 0.21 |
| | Independent | Daniel Petrino | 1,393 | 0.07% | N/A |
| | Socialist Workers | Ruth F. Shiminsky | 971 | 0.05% | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

#### Results by county

By county :
| County | Richard J. Hughes Democratic | Richard J. Hughes Democratic | James P. Mitchell Republican | James P. Mitchell Republican | Various candidates Other parties | Various candidates Other parties | Margin | Margin | Total votes cast |
| County | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total votes cast |
| Atlantic | 27,254 | | 34,766 | | 1,510 | | 7,512 | | 64,643 |
| Bergen | 123,421 | | 171,180 | | 3,236 | | 47,759 | | 306,714 |
| Burlington | 30,756 | | 27,331 | | 359 | | 3,425 | | 64,195 |
| Camden | | | | | | | | | 141,026 |
| Cape May | | | | | | | | | 21,154 |
| Cumberland | | | | | | | | | 36,022 |
| Essex | | | | | | | | | 295,946 |
| Gloucester | | | | | | | | | 50,568 |
| Hudson | | | | | | | | | 236,153 |
| Hunterdon | | | | | | | | | 20,940 |
| Mercer | | | | | | | | | 101,628 |
| Middlesex | | | | | | | | | 166,279 |
| Monmouth | | | | | | | | | 117,681 |
| Morris | | | | | | | | | 89,453 |
| Ocean | | | | | | | | | 43,354 |
| Passaic | | | | | | | | | 139,174 |
| Salem | | | | | | | | | 22,236 |
| Somerset | | | | | | | | | 53,532 |
| Sussex | | | | | | | | | 19,412 |
| Union | | | | | | | | | 194,471 |
| Warren | | | | | | | | | 23,350 |
| Totals | 1,084,194 | 50.37% | 1,049,274 | 48.74% | 19,194 | 0.91% | 34,920 | 1.63% | 2,207,931 |