# New Jersey's 38th legislative district

New Jersey's 38th legislative district is one of 40 districts that make up the map for the New Jersey Legislature. It covers the Bergen County municipalities of Bergenfield, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Hasbrouck Heights, Little Ferry, Lodi, Maywood, Moonachie, New Milford, Oradell, Paramus, River Edge, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook, South Hackensack, and Teterboro.

## Demographic information

As of the 2020 United States census, the district had a population of 227,451, of whom 179,126 (78.8%) were of voting age. The racial makeup of the district was 135,144 (59.4%) White, 9,698 (4.3%) African American, 640 (0.3%) Native American, 36,122 (15.9%) Asian, 35 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 21,955 (9.7%) from some other race, and 23,857 (10.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48,582 (21.4%) of the population.
The district had 164,670 registered voters as of February 1, 2025, of whom 66,211 (40.2%) were registered as unaffiliated, 58,905 (35.8%) were registered as Democrats, 37,911 (23.0%) were registered as Republicans, and 1,643 (1.0%) were registered to other parties.

## Political representation

For the 2024-2025 session, the 38th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Lagana (D, Paramus) and in the General Assembly by Lisa Swain (D, Fair Lawn) and Chris Tully (D, Bergenfield).
The legislative district overlaps with New Jersey's 5th and 9th congressional districts.

## Apportionment history

Since the creation of the 40-district legislative map in 1973, the 38th district has always included Paramus, though early in the lifetime of the 40-district map, Hackensack was also within the district. In the 1973 version of the map, and in the decade following the 1981 redistricting, Paramus and Hackensack anchored the 38th district with numerous nearby municipalities in central Bergen County compromising the remainder of the district. In the 1991 redistricting, the 38th became more of a crescent shape stretching from Cliffside Park and Palisades Park, northwest to Elmwood Park, then north and east to Paramus and Oradell. This shape was slightly modified in 2001 when that year's redistricting extended the 38th to the Hudson River picking up Fort Lee and Edgewater. The crescent shape of the district was removed in the 2011 redistricting when it changed to a T-shaped district extending out of Bergen County for the first time.
In October 2015, Anthony Cappola left the race for an Assembly seat in the 38th district and resigned from office as a member of the River Edge Borough Council, following disclosures that he had written and published a 2003 book titled Outrageous that was described as "full of racial slurs, rants and stereotypes". The Bergen County Republican Organization filed suit in Passaic County, seeking to replace Cappola's spot on the ballot with Fernando Alonso and offering to cover the $100,000 cost of reprinting ballots. Bergen County Clerk John Hogan argued that absentee ballots had already been printed and distributed, with nearly ballots already completed and submitted to the Clerk's Office. The Republicans unexpectedly dropped the effort to have the candidate replaced on October 13 and Cappola later announced his intention to continue in the race. Ultimately Cappola and his running mate Mark DiPisa were defeated by Democratic incumbents Tim Eustace and Joseph Lagana.
All three seats became vacant in 2018. Robert M. Gordon resigned his Senate seat on April 4, 2018, to accept an appointment to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Democratic committee members in Bergen and Passaic Counties unanimously selected Assemblyman Lagana over Assemblyman Eustace (after the latter withdrew to back Lagana) to replace Gordon in the Senate on April 11; he took his Senate seat on April 12. The following day on April 13, Eustace resigned his seat to become deputy director of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission. Committee members selected Fair Lawn Mayor Lisa Swain and Congressional aide and former Bergenfield Council President Chris Tully as the replacements in the Assembly; they were sworn in on May 24. In the November 6, 2018, special election to complete the unexpired terms, Lagana defeated Daisy Ortiz Berger for the senate seat and Swain and Tully defeated Republicans Gail Horton and Jayme Ouellete for the two assembly seats.

## Election history

| Session | Senate | General Assembly | General Assembly |
| 1974–1975 | John Skevin (D) | Edward H. Hynes (D) | Paul Contillo (D) |
| 1976–1977 | John Skevin (D) | Robert Burns (D) | Paul Contillo (D) |
| 1978–1979 | John Skevin (D) | Robert Burns (D) | Paul Contillo (D) |
| 1980–1981 | John Skevin (D) | John B. Paolella (R) | Louis F. Kosco (R) |
| 1982–1983 | John B. Paolella (R) | Pat Schuber (R) | Louis F. Kosco (R) |
| 1984–1985 | Paul Contillo (D) | Pat Schuber (R) | Louis F. Kosco (R) |
| 1986–1987 | Paul Contillo (D) | Pat Schuber (R) | Louis F. Kosco (R) |
| 1988–1989 | Paul Contillo (D) | Pat Schuber (R) | Patrick J. Roma (R) |
| 1990–1991 | Paul Contillo (D) | Pat Schuber (R) | Patrick J. Roma (R) |
| 1990–1991 | Paul Contillo (D) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Patrick J. Roma (R) |
| 1992–1993 | Louis F. Kosco (R) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Patrick J. Roma (R) |
| 1994–1995 | Louis F. Kosco (R) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Patrick J. Roma (R) |
| 1996–1997 | Louis F. Kosco (R) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Patrick J. Roma (R) |
| 1996–1997 | Louis F. Kosco (R) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Guy Talarico (R) |
| 1998–1999 | Louis F. Kosco (R) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Guy Talarico (R) |
| 2000–2001 | Louis F. Kosco (R) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Guy Talarico (R) |
| 2002–2003 | Joseph Coniglio (D) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Matt Ahearn (D) |
| 2002–2003 | Joseph Coniglio (D) | Rose Marie Heck (R) | Matt Ahearn (G) |
| 2004–2005 | Joseph Coniglio (D) | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Joan Voss (D) |
| 2006–2007 | Joseph Coniglio (D) | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Joan Voss (D) |
| 2008–2009 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Connie Wagner (D) | Joan Voss (D) |
| 2010–2011 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Connie Wagner (D) | Joan Voss (D) |
| 2012–2013 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Connie Wagner (D) | Tim Eustace (D) |
| 2012–2013 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Paul Contillo (D) | Tim Eustace (D) |
| 2014–2015 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Joseph Lagana (D) | Tim Eustace (D) |
| 2016–2017 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Joseph Lagana (D) | Tim Eustace (D) |
| 2018–2019 | Robert M. Gordon (D) | Joseph Lagana (D) | Tim Eustace (D) |
| 2018–2019 | Joseph Lagana (D) | Lisa Swain (D) | Chris Tully (D) |
| 2020–2021 | Joseph Lagana (D) | Lisa Swain (D) | Chris Tully (D) |
| 2022–2023 | Joseph Lagana (D) | Lisa Swain (D) | Chris Tully (D) |
| 2024–2025 | Joseph Lagana (D) | Lisa Swain (D) | Chris Tully (D) |
* ↑ Resigned on December 31, 1990 following his election as Bergen County Executive
* ↑ Appointed to the Assembly; Sworn in on January 31, 1991
* ↑ Resigned January 10, 1997 to become a Superior Court judge
* ↑ Appointed to the Assembly on February 20, 1997
* ↑ Switched party registration on January 24, 2003
* ↑ Resigned on October 1, 2013
* ↑ Appointed to the Assembly on November 18, 2013
* ↑ Resigned on April 4, 2018 to become a Commissioner of the Board of Public Utilities
* 1 2 Appointed to the Senate on April 12, 2018, won a November 6, 2018 special election to complete unexpired term
* ↑ Resigned on April 13, 2018 to become Deputy Director of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission
* 1 2 Appointed to the Assembly on May 24, 2018, won a November 6, 2018 special election to complete unexpired term

## Election results
### Senate

2021 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joseph A. Lagana | 34,895 | 52.9 | 7.2 |
| | Republican | Richard Garcia | 31,069 | 47.1 | 7.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,964 | 100.0 | |
Special election, November 6, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joseph A. Lagana | 48,451 | 60.1 | 3.0 |
| | Republican | Daisy Ortiz Berger | 32,140 | 39.9 | 3.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,591 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Bob Gordon | 30,881 | 57.1 | 5.2 |
| | Republican | Kelly Langschultz | 23,238 | 42.9 | 5.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,119 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Bob Gordon | 27,779 | 51.9 | 1.1 |
| | Republican | Fernando A. Alonso | 25,767 | 48.1 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,546 | 100.0 | |
2011 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert M. Gordon | 22,299 | 53.0 |
| | Republican | John J. Driscoll, Jr. | 19,745 | 47.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,044 | 100.0 |
2007 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robert M. Gordon | 22,351 | 59.9 | 4.2 |
| | Republican | Robert Colletti | 14,949 | 40.1 | 4.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,300 | 100.0 | |
2003 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joseph Coniglio | 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 | |
2001 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joseph Coniglio | 29,316 | 53.2 |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 25,773 | 46.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,089 | 100.0 |
1997 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 30,538 | 55.2 | 8.1 |
| | Democratic | Valerie Vaineri Huttle | 23,350 | 42.2 | 5.5 |
| | Conservative | Denise A. Richardson | 1,390 | 2.5 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,278 | 100.0 | |
1993 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 40,276 | 63.3 | 7.9 |
| | Democratic | James Krone | 23,348 | 36.7 | 4.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 63,624 | 100.0 | |
1991 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 27,748 | 55.4 |
| | Democratic | Paul Contillo | 20,572 | 41.1 |
| | Taxpayers Only Choice | C. Fischer | 1,773 | 3.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,093 | 100.0 |
1987 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Paul Contillo | 23,574 | 52.6 | 1.9 |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 21,206 | 47.4 | 1.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,780 | 100.0 | |
1983 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Paul Contillo | 22,422 | 50.7 | 4.2 |
| | Republican | John B. Paolella | 21,827 | 49.3 | 1.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,249 | 100.0 | |
1981 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John B. Paolella | 30,670 | 51.0 |
| | Democratic | John M. Skevin | 27,968 | 46.5 |
| | Citizens For Progress | Bernard J. Focarino | 1,473 | 2.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,111 | 100.0 |
1977 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John M. Skevin | 24,629 | 56.1 | 1.5 |
| | Republican | Frank A. Buono, Jr. | 19,289 | 43.9 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,918 | 100.0 | |
1973 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John M. Skevin | 31,677 | 57.6 |
| | Republican | Frederick E. Wendel | 23,307 | 42.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,984 | 100.0 |

### General Assembly

2021 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Lisa Swain | 34,226 | 26.5 | 1.2 |
| | Democratic | Chris Tully | 33,444 | 25.9 | 1.3 |
| | Republican | Alfonso Mastrofilipo Jr. | 30,777 | 23.9 | 1.2 |
| | Republican | Gerard "Jerry" Taylor | 30,597 | 23.7 | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 129,044 | 100.0 | |
2019 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Lisa Swain | 23,173 | 27.7 | 1.6 |
| | Democratic | Christopher Tully | 22,727 | 27.2 | 2.0 |
| | Republican | Christopher DiPiazza | 18,929 | 22.7 | 2.2 |
| | Republican | Michael A. Kazimir | 18,725 | 22.4 | 1.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 83,554 | 100.0 | |
Special election, November 6, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Christopher Tully | 46,406 | 59.3 |
| | Republican | Jayme Ouellette | 31,833 | 40.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,239 | 100.0 |
Special election, November 6, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lisa Swain | 47,865 | 59.7 |
| | Republican | Gail Horton | 32,310 | 40.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,175 | 100.0 |
New Jersey general election, 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joseph A. Lagana | 30,800 | 29.3 | 0.2 |
| | Democratic | Tim Eustace | 30,727 | 29.2 | 0.1 |
| | Republican | William Leonard | 21,541 | 20.5 | 1.4 |
| | Republican | Christopher B. Wolf | 21,525 | 20.5 | 0.6 |
| | Independent- NJ Awakens | Dev Goswami | 533 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 105,126 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Tim Eustace | 19,563 | 29.1 | 4.1 |
| | Democratic | Joseph Lagana | 19,511 | 29.1 | 3.9 |
| | Republican | Mark DiPisa | 14,721 | 21.9 | 3.0 |
| | Republican | Anthony Cappola | 13,339 | 19.9 | 4.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,134 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joseph Lagana | 26,279 | 25.2 | 2.0 |
| | Democratic | Timothy J. Eustace | 26,021 | 25.00 | 0.7 |
| | Republican | Joseph J. Scarpa | 25,965 | 24.94 | 1.6 |
| | Republican | Joan Fragala | 25,836 | 24.81 | 1.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 104,101 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Connie Terranova Wagner | 22,258 | 27.2 |
| | Democratic | Timothy J. Eustace | 21,097 | 25.7 |
| | Republican | Richard S. Goldberg | 19,091 | 23.3 |
| | Republican | Fernando A. Alonso | 18,820 | 23.0 |
| | Libertarian | Vinko Grskovic | 707 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 81,973 | 100.0 |
New Jersey general election, 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Concetta Wagner | 28,618 | 27.9 | 1.7 |
| | Democratic | Joan M. Voss | 28,078 | 27.4 | 2.6 |
| | Republican | Judith Fisher | 23,132 | 22.5 | 1.8 |
| | Republican | Nicholas Lonzisero | 22,808 | 22.2 | 2.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 102,636 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2007 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joan M. Voss | 21,779 | 30.0 | 0.0 |
| | Democratic | Concetta Wagner | 21,457 | 29.6 | 0.9 |
| | Republican | John J. Driscoll Jr. | 14,997 | 20.7 | 0.9 |
| | Republican | Renee Czarnecki | 14,323 | 19.7 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,556 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robert M. Gordon | 32,389 | 30.5 | 3.6 |
| | Democratic | Joan M. Voss | 31,886 | 30.0 | 4.6 |
| | Republican | Richard L. Miller | 21,008 | 19.8 | 1.6 |
| | Republican | John J. Baldino | 20,915 | 19.7 | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106,198 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Robert M. Gordon | 21,857 | 26.9 | 1.7 |
| | Democratic | Joan Voss | 20,580 | 25.4 | 0.5 |
| | Republican | Louis A. Tedesco Jr | 17,398 | 21.4 | 3.9 |
| | Republican | Ed Trawinski | 16,983 | 20.9 | 3.7 |
| | Green | Matt Ahearn | 4,357 | 5.4 | 19.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 81,175 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rose Marie Heck | 27,055 | 25.3 |
| | Democratic | Matt Ahearn | 26,919 | 25.2 |
| | Democratic | Kay Nest | 26,587 | 24.9 |
| | Republican | Nicholas R. Felice | 26,252 | 24.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106,813 | 100.0 |
New Jersey general election, 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Rose Marie Heck | 17,734 | 27.5 | 0.5 |
| | Republican | Guy F. Talarico | 17,620 | 27.3 | 1.0 |
| | Democratic | Helene Herbert | 14,307 | 22.2 | 0.2 |
| | Democratic | Robert Riccardella | 13,972 | 21.7 | 0.5 |
| | Independent - Progressive | Michael Perrone, Jr. | 899 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,532 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Rose Marie Heck | 29,987 | 28.0 | 1.6 |
| | Republican | Guy F. Talarico | 28,157 | 26.3 | 1.9 |
| | Democratic | Michael Paul De Marse | 23,956 | 22.4 | 1.1 |
| | Democratic | Fred Dressel | 23,738 | 22.2 | 1.6 |
| | Conservative | Bernard C. Sobolewski | 1,259 | 1.2 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 107,097 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 1995 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Patrick J. Roma | 21,013 | 28.2 | 4.0 |
| | Republican | Rose Marie Heck | 19,655 | 26.4 | 4.1 |
| | Democratic | Donna M. Spoto | 15,832 | 21.3 | 2.8 |
| | Democratic | Frederick J. Dressel | 15,314 | 20.6 | 2.1 |
| | Conservative | Bernadette Mc Caskey | 1,326 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Bernard C. Sobolewski | 1,245 | 1.7 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 74,385 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 1993 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Patrick J. Roma | 40,523 | 32.2 | 0.2 |
| | Republican | Rose Marie Heck | 38,388 | 30.5 | 1.9 |
| | Democratic | Frank Biasco | 23,665 | 18.8 | 1.1 |
| | Democratic | Robert Burns | 23,292 | 18.5 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 125,868 | 100.0 | |
1991 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Patrick J. Roma | 31,958 | 32.0 |
| | Republican | Rose Marie Heck | 28,552 | 28.6 |
| | Democratic | Frank Biasco | 19,816 | 19.9 |
| | Democratic | Thomas J. Duch | 19,398 | 19.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 99,724 | 100.0 |
1989 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | William P. Schuber | 29,652 | 27.5 | 0.4 |
| | Republican | Patrick J. Roma | 28,264 | 26.3 | 1.2 |
| | Democratic | Joseph Cipolla | 24,983 | 23.2 | 0.9 |
| | Democratic | Greta Kiernan | 24,739 | 23.0 | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 107,638 | 100.0 | |
1987 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | William P. Schuber | 23,566 | 27.1 | 3.7 |
| | Republican | Patrick J. Roma | 21,791 | 25.1 | 5.1 |
| | Democratic | John J. Ryan, Jr. | 20,894 | 24.1 | 4.3 |
| | Democratic | Joseph Capizzi | 20,576 | 23.7 | 4.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 86,827 | 100.0 | |
1985 New Jersey general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | William P. Schuber | 29,606 | 30.8 | 3.9 |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 29,096 | 30.2 | 3.1 |
| | Democratic | Thomas K. Hynes | 19,033 | 19.8 | 3.9 |
| | Democratic | David S. Turetsky | 18,190 | 18.9 | 3.5 |
| | Libertarian | Richard Kraus | 313 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 96,238 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 1983 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 23,191 | 27.1 | 1.0 |
| | Republican | William P. Schuber | 23,034 | 26.9 | 2.1 |
| | Democratic | Robert J. Colon | 20,303 | 23.7 | 0.2 |
| | Democratic | Adeline Epifano Goldsholl | 19,201 | 22.4 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 85,729 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 30,204 | 26.1 |
| | Republican | William P. Schuber | 28,684 | 24.8 |
| | Democratic | Tony Luna | 27,624 | 23.9 |
| | Democratic | Robert Burns | 27,012 | 23.4 |
| | Citizens For Progress | Andrew J. Repetti | 1,161 | 1.0 |
| | Citizens For Progress | Charles Lo Presti | 942 | 0.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 115,627 | 100.0 |
New Jersey general election, 1979 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John B. Paolella | 20,452 | 26.1 | 2.3 |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 19,578 | 25.0 | 2.9 |
| | Democratic | Paul J. Contillo | 19,204 | 24.5 | 2.8 |
| | Democratic | Robert Burns | 18,294 | 23.3 | 3.5 |
| | Independents | Walter Haas | 881 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,409 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Paul J. Contillo | 23,585 | 27.3 | 1.1 |
| | Democratic | Robert Burns | 23,113 | 26.8 | 1.7 |
| | Republican | James J. Cuccio | 20,551 | 23.8 | 0.6 |
| | Republican | Louis F. Kosco | 19,028 | 22.1 | 2.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 86,277 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 1975 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Paul J. Contillo | 25,621 | 26.2 | 2.9 |
| | Democratic | Robert Burns | 24,511 | 25.1 | 4.9 |
| | Republican | Frank A. Buono, Jr. | 23,873 | 24.4 | 3.1 |
| | Republican | Ralph W. Chandless, Jr. | 23,800 | 24.3 | 4.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 97,805 | 100.0 | |
New Jersey general election, 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edward H. Hynes | 32,878 | 30.0 |
| | Democratic | Paul J. Contillo | 31,818 | 29.1 |
| | Republican | Charles E. Reid | 23,276 | 21.3 |
| | Republican | Ralph W. Chandless, Jr. | 21,544 | 19.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 109,516 | 100.0 |