1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election

1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election

November 8, 1977

Nominee Brendan Byrne Raymond Bateman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,184,564 888,880 Percentage 55.7% 41.8%

Results by county   Byrne 60–70%   Byrne 50–60%   Byrne <50%   Bateman 50–60%

Governor before election Brendan Byrne Democratic Elected Governor Brendan Byrne Democratic

The 1977 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1977. Incumbent Democrat Brendan Byrne defeated Republican nominee Raymond Bateman with 55.71% of the vote. As of 2020, this is the last time a Democratic governor won reelection in New Jersey, and the last time Hunterdon and Warren Counties were carried by a Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 7, 1977.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Brendan Byrne, incumbent Governor
• Robert A. Roe, U.S. Representative
• Ralph DeRose, former State Senator
• James Florio, U.S. Representative
• Joseph A. Hoffman, former Department of Labor and Industry commissioner
• Raymond Garramone, State Senator
• A. Howard Freund
• Paul T. Jordan, Mayor of Jersey City
• Emery J. Zold
• George Koukos
• Melvin M. Whaley

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Brendan Byrne	175,448	30.30
	Democratic	Robert A. Roe	134,116	23.16
	Democratic	Ralph DeRose	99,948	17.26
	Democratic	James Florio	87,743	15.15
	Democratic	Joseph A. Hoffman	58,835	10.16
	Democratic	Raymond Garramone	6,602	1.14
	Democratic	A. Howard Freund	6,205	1.07
	Democratic	Paul T. Jordan	2,996	0.52
	Democratic	Emery J. Zold	2,934	0.51
	Democratic	George Koukos	2,889	0.50
	Democratic	Melvin M. Whaley	1,282	0.22
Total votes			578,998	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Raymond Bateman, State Senator
• Thomas Kean, State Assemblyman
• C. Robert Sarcone, former State Senator
• William A. Angus Jr., former Mayor of Moorestown

Results

Republican Party primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Raymond Bateman	196,592	54.70
	Republican	Thomas Kean	129,982	36.17
	Republican	C. Robert Sarcone	20,961	5.81
	Republican	William A. Angus Jr.	11,954	3.33
Total votes			359,389	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Brendan Byrne, Democratic
• Raymond Bateman, Republican

Other candidates

• Francis W. Flowers, Declare Your Independence
• Chester Grabowski, Independents for All
• Frank J. Primich, Libertarian
• Chauncey E. McSpiritt, Cheap, Chauncey, Upstart
• Paul B. Rizzo, Independent
• Richard D. McAleer, Anti-Income Tax
• John F. Donato, Axe The Tax
• Angelo S. Massaro, People's Choice
• William Zsidisin, One For All
• Jules Levin, Socialist Labor Party of America
• Jasper C. Gould, Independent
• Leif O. Johnson, Labor
• Robert Ganteaume, Grass Roots
• Bill Gahres, Right to Die

Results

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1977

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Brendan Byrne	1,184,564	55.71%
	Republican	Raymond Bateman	888,880	41.81%
	Independent	Francis W. Flowers	8,677	0.41%
	Independent	Chester Grabowski	8,494	0.40%
	Libertarian	Frank J. Primich	5,674	0.27%
	Independent	Chauncey E. McSpiritt	4,464	0.21%
	Independent	Paul B. Rizzo	3,691	0.17%
	Independent	Richard D. McAleer	3,688	0.17%
	Independent	John F. Donato	3,189	0.15%
	Independent	Angelo S. Massaro	3,031	0.14%
	Independent	William Zsidisin	2,974	0.14%
	Socialist Labor	Julius Levin	2,276	0.11%
	Independent	Jasper C. Gould	2,248	0.11%
	Independent	Leif O. Johnson	1,601	0.08%
	Independent	Robert Ganteaume	1,480	%
	Independent	Bill Gahres	1,333	%
Majority
Turnout
	Democratic hold		Swing