# 2003 New Jersey Senate election

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The 2003 New Jersey Senate election was held on November 4.
The election took midway through Jim McGreevey's term as Governor of New Jersey. The election ended two years of split control in favor of the Democratic Party, which regained a majority for the first time since 1991. Incumbent Senate co-president John O. Bennett was unseated for re-election by Ellen Karcher in the 12th district, and Democrats also flipped a seat in the 4th.
The Democrats continue to hold the majority in the Senate as of 2025.

## Incumbents not running for re-election
### Democratic

* Joseph Suliga (District 22) (withdrew to enter rehabilitation for alcoholism)

### Republican

* James Cafiero (District 1)
Additionally, Senators John J. Matheussen, Richard Bagger, and Garry Furnari, who were elected in 2001, resigned before their terms were completed. The interim appointees for each of their seats ran as incumbents.

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | October 4, 2002 |

## Summary of results by State Senate district

| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 1st Legislative District | James Cafiero | Rep | Nicholas Asselta | Rep |
| 2nd Legislative District | William Gormley | Rep | William Gormley | Rep |
| 3rd Legislative District | Steve Sweeney | Dem | Steve Sweeney | Dem |
| 4th Legislative District | George Geist | Rep | Fred Madden | Dem |
| 5th Legislative District | Wayne R. Bryant | Dem | Wayne R. Bryant | Dem |
| 6th Legislative District | John Adler | Dem | John Adler | Dem |
| 7th Legislative District | Diane Allen | Rep | Diane Allen | Rep |
| 8th Legislative District | Martha W. Bark | Rep | Martha W. Bark | Rep |
| 9th Legislative District | Leonard T. Connors | Rep | Leonard T. Connors | Rep |
| 10th Legislative District | Andrew R. Ciesla | Rep | Andrew R. Ciesla | Rep |
| 11th Legislative District | Joseph A. Palaia | Rep | Joseph A. Palaia | Rep |
| 12th Legislative District | John O. Bennett | Rep | Ellen Karcher | Dem |
| 13th Legislative District | Joe Kyrillos | Rep | Joe Kyrillos | Rep |
| 14th Legislative District | Peter Inverso | Rep | Peter Inverso | Rep |
| 15th Legislative District | Shirley Turner | Dem | Shirley Turner | Dem |
| 16th Legislative District | Walter J. Kavanaugh | Rep | Walter J. Kavanaugh | Rep |
| 17th Legislative District | Bob Smith | Dem | Bob Smith | Dem |
| 18th Legislative District | Barbara Buono | Dem | Barbara Buono | Dem |
| 19th Legislative District | Joe Vitale | Dem | Joe Vitale | Dem |
| 20th Legislative District | Raymond Lesniak | Dem | Raymond Lesniak | Dem |
| 21st Legislative District | Tom Kean Jr. | Rep | Tom Kean Jr. | Rep |
| 22nd Legislative District | Joseph Suliga | Dem | Nicholas Scutari | Dem |
| 23rd Legislative District | Leonard Lance | Rep | Leonard Lance | Rep |
| 24th Legislative District | Robert Littell | Rep | Robert Littell | Rep |
| 25th Legislative District | Anthony Bucco | Rep | Anthony Bucco | Rep |
| 26th Legislative District | Robert Martin | Rep | Robert Martin | Rep |
| 27th Legislative District | Richard Codey | Dem | Richard Codey | Dem |
| 28th Legislative District | Ronald Rice | Dem | Ronald Rice | Dem |
| 29th Legislative District | Sharpe James | Dem | Sharpe James | Dem |
| 30th Legislative District | Robert W. Singer | Rep | Robert W. Singer | Rep |
| 31st Legislative District | L. Harvey Smith | Dem | Glenn Cunningham | Dem |
| 32nd Legislative District | Nicholas Sacco | Dem | Nicholas Sacco | Dem |
| 33rd Legislative District | Bernard Kenny | Dem | Bernard Kenny | Dem |
| 34th Legislative District | Nia Gill | Dem | Nia Gill | Dem |
| 35th Legislative District | John Girgenti | Dem | John Girgenti | Dem |
| 36th Legislative District | Paul Sarlo | Dem | Paul Sarlo | Dem |
| 37th Legislative District | Byron Baer | Dem | Byron Baer | Dem |
| 38th Legislative District | Joseph Coniglio | Dem | Joseph Coniglio | Dem |
| 39th Legislative District | Gerald Cardinale | Rep | Gerald Cardinale | Rep |
| 40th Legislative District | Henry McNamara | Rep | Henry McNamara | Rep |
* ↑ Geist was appointed to the seat after Senator John Matheussen resigned to become head of the Delaware River Port Authority.
* ↑ Kean was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Senator Richard Bagger, who resigned to pursue private business interests.
* ↑ Smith was appointed to the seat after the resignation of Senator Joseph Charles on August 13.
* ↑ Sarlo was appointed to the seat after Senator Garry Furnari resigned to join the New Jersey Superior Court.

### Close races

* District 4, 0.16% gain
* District 3, 8.10%
* District 3, 9.07%
* District 12, 9.92% gain

## District 1

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nicholas Asselta | 31,112 | 80.9% | 30.5 |
| | HealthCare For All | Steven Fenichel | 5,986 | 15.6% | N/A |
| | English Language Only | George Cecola | 1,341 | 3.5% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,439 | 100.0% | |

## District 2

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | William Gormley (incumbent) | 24,680 | 60.0% | 26.5 |
| | Democratic | Tom Swift | 15,281 | 37.1% | N/A |
| | Green | Robert "Gabe" Gabrielsky | 1,174 | 2.9% | 10.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,135 | 100.0% | |

## District 3

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Stephen M. Sweeney (incumbent) | 29,051 | 54.0% | 2.5 |
| | Republican | Phillip S. Rhudy | 24,698 | 46.0% | 2.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,749 | 100.0% | |

## District 4

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Fred H. Madden | 20,752 | 50.08% | 8.3 |
| | Republican | George Geist (incumbent) | 20,689 | 49.92% | 8.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,441 | 100.0% | |

## District 5

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Wayne R. Bryant (incumbent) | 21,442 | 64.9% | 4.4 |
| | Republican | Ali Sloan El | 11,589 | 35.1% | 4.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,031 | 100.0% | |

## District 6

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John Adler (incumbent) | 29,033 | 61.0% | 5.7 |
| | Republican | Joseph A. Adolf | 18,534 | 39.0% | 5.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,567 | 100.0% | |

## District 7

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Diane Allen (incumbent) | 26,341 | 60.3 | 6.2 |
| | Democratic | Diane F. Gabriel | 17,331 | 39.7 | 6.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '43,672' | '100.0' | |

## District 8

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Martha W. Bark (incumbent) | 28,047 | 66.9% | 6.2 |
| | Democratic | Thomas J. Price | 13,865 | 33.1% | 6.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '41,912' | '100.0' | |

## District 9

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Leonard T. Connors (incumbent) | 36,539 | 65.6% | 6.9 |
| | Democratic | Aviva Twersky-Glasner | 18,995 | 34.4% | 6.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '55,534' | '100.0' | |

## District 10

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Andrew R. Ciesla (incumbent) | 29,752 | 65.1% | 8.3 |
| | Democratic | James M. Blaney | 15,960 | 34.9% | 8.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '45,712' | '100.0' | |

## District 11

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joseph A. Palaia | 23,643 | 58.7% | 3.3 |
| | Democratic | Paul X. Escandon | 11,045 | 27.4% | 10.6 |
| | Green | Brian Unger | 4,759 | 11.8% | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Emerson Ellett | 831 | 2.1% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '40,278' | '100.0' | |

## District 12

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Ellen Karcher | 24,174 | 52.4% | 11.2 |
| | Republican | John O. Bennett (incumbent) | 19,600 | 42.5% | 16.3 |
| | Green | Earl Gray | 2,334 | 5.1% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 46,108 | 100.0% | |

## District 13

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joe Kyrillos (incumbent) | 23,459 | 54.1% | 10.3 |
| | Democratic | William E. Flynn | 17,828 | 41.1% | 5.5 |
| | Green | Greg Orr | 1,419 | 3.3% | N/A |
| | Conservative | Mac Dara Lyden | 649 | 1.5% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,355 | 100.0% | |

## District 14

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Peter Inverso (incumbent) | 29,499 | 58.6% | 6.5 |
| | Democratic | Anthony J. "Skip" Cimino | 19,613 | 38.9% | 9.0 |
| | Libertarian | Ray Cragle | 1,249 | 2.5% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,361 | 100.0% | |

## District 15

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Shirley Turner (incumbent) | 24,053 | 67.4% | 1.7 |
| | Republican | Calvin O. Iszard | 11,638 | 32.6% | 2.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,691 | 100.0% | |

## District 16

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Walter J. Kavanaugh (incumbent) | 28,843 | 100.0% | 33.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,843 | 100.0% | |

## District 17

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Bob Smith (incumbent) | 17,438 | 61.0% | 7.9 |
| | Republican | Jeffrey M. Orbach | 11,168 | 39.0% | 7.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,606 | 100.0% | |

## District 18

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Barbara Buono (incumbent) | 18,561 | 58.5% | 6.5 |
| | Republican | Richard F. Plechner | 13,175 | 41.5% | 6.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,736 | 100.0% | |

## District 19

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joe Vitale (incumbent) | 22,643 | 65.5% | 11.9 |
| | Republican | Paul Danielczyk | 11,949 | 34.5% | 11.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,592 | 100.0% | |

## District 20

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Raymond Lesniak (incumbent) | 12,361 | 62.2% | 17.8 |
| | Republican | Daniel M. Nozza | 7,217 | 36.3% | 16.3 |
| | Restore NJ State | Shawn P. Gianella | 298 | 1.5% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,876 | 100.0% | |

## District 21

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Tom Kean Jr. (incumbent) | 32,058 | 67.4% | 8.8 |
| | Democratic | Francis D. McIntyre | 14,470 | 30.4% | 11.0 |
| | Green | Teresa Migliore-DiMatteo | 1,055 | 2.2% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,583 | 100.0% | |

## District 22

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Nicholas Scutari | 16,658 | 55.0% | 4.1 |
| | Republican | Martin Marks | 13,609 | 45.0% | 4.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,267 | 100.0% | |

## District 23

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Leonard Lance (incumbent) | 29,775 | 68.0% | 1.3 |
| | Democratic | Frederick P. Cook | 13,994 | 32.0% | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,769 | 100.0% | |

## District 24

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert E. Littell (incumbent) | 23,106 | 68.1% | 6.3 |
| | Democratic | James D. Morrison | 10,810 | 31.9% | 6.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,916 | 100.0% | |

## District 25

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Anthony R. Bucco (incumbent) | 22,163 | 55.1% | 10.4 |
| | Democratic | Blair B. MacInnes | 18,060 | 44.9% | 10.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,223 | 100.0% | |

## District 26

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert J. Martin (incumbent) | 21,733 | 66.0 | 0.1 |
| | Democratic | Daniel L. Grant | 11,216 | 34.0 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | '32,949' | '100.0' | |

## District 27

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Richard Codey (incumbent) | 17,220 | 65.8% | 1.1 |
| | Republican | Bobbi Joan Bennett | 8,958 | 34.2% | 1.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,178 | 100.0% | |

## District 28

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Ronald Rice (incumbent) | 10,068 | 73.4% | 4.0 |
| | Republican | Jean LaMothe | 3,137 | 22.9% | 6.7 |
| | Green | Beresford Jones | 518 | 3.8% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,723 | 100.0% | |

## District 29

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Sharpe James (incumbent) | 7,919 | 82.7% | 17.3 |
| | Green | Toy-Ling Washington | 1,187 | 12.4% | N/A |
| | Socialist Workers | Abigail D. Tilsner | 470 | 4.9% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,576 | 100.0% | |

## District 30

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert W. Singer (incumbent) | 24,637 | 62.6% | 0.9 |
| | Democratic | Steven Morlino | 14,713 | 37.4% | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,350 | 100.0 | |

## District 31

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Glenn Cunningham | 15,838 | 79.0% | 4.9 |
| | Republican | Carmen E. Mendiola | 3,214 | 16.0% | 9.9 |
| | Green | Eric Olsen | 1,005 | 5.0% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,057 | 100.0% | |

## District 32

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Nicholas Sacco (incumbent) | 17,269 | 76.9% | 7.9 |
| | Republican | Louis S. Lusquinos Jr | 4,085 | 18.2% | 11.2 |
| | Time For Change | Denis Jaslow | 928 | 4.1% | N/A |
| | Eliminate Primary Elections | Louis Vernotico | 160 | 0.7% | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,442 | 100.0% | |

## District 33

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Bernard Kenny (incumbent) | 20,809 | 80.9% | 5.6 |
| | Republican | Rafael Fraguela | 4,904 | 19.1% | 5.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,713 | 100.0% | |

## District 34

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Nia Gill (incumbent) | 19,161 | 69.7% | 4.8 |
| | Republican | Frank C. Fusco | 8,325 | 30.3% | 4.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,486 | 100.0% | |

## District 35

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John Girgenti (incumbent) | 16,243 | 68.6% | 31.4 |
| | Republican | David R. Troast | 7,434 | 31.4% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,677 | 100.0% | |

## District 36

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Paul Sarlo (incumbent) | 18,035 | 53.3% | 2.5 |
| | Republican | John V. Kelly | 14,964 | 44.2% | 3.6 |
| | Tax the Rich | Richard DelaRosa | 496 | 1.5% | N/A |
| | Real Pro-Choice | Maximo Moscoso | 348 | 1.0% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,843 | 100.0% | |

## District 37

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Byron Baer (incumbent) | 22,543 | 61.9% | 4.5 |
| | Republican | Barry S. Honig | 13,860 | 38.1% | 4.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,403 | 100.0% | |

## District 38

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joseph Coniglio (incumbent) | 23,077 | 55.7% | 2.5 |
| | Republican | Rose Marie Heck | 18,321 | 44.3% | 2.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,398 | 100.0% | |

## District 39

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Gerald Cardinale (incumbent) | 30,718 | 62.3% | 0.6 |
| | Democratic | Richard Muti | 18,605 | 37.7% | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,323 | 100.0% | |

## District 40

New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Henry McNamara (incumbent) | 24,478 | 64.5% | 2.2 |
| | Democratic | Matt Rogers | 13,493 | 35.5% | 2.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,971 | 100.0% | |