1991 New Jersey Senate election

1991 New Jersey Senate elections

← 1987 November 5, 1991 1993 →

All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader John H. Dorsey John A. Lynch Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 23rd 17th
Last election 16 24
Seats before 17 23
Seats won 27 13
Seat change Increase 10 Decrease 10

Results by district
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain

Senate President before election

John A. Lynch Jr.
Democratic

Elected Senate President

Donald DiFrancesco
Republican

The 1991 New Jersey State Senate elections were held on November 5. The election took place mid-way through the term of Governor James Florio. The results were a landslide victory for the Republican Party amidst a tax revolt by New Jersey voters. Democrats picked up only one seat, that of Senator Lee B. Laskin. Republicans picked up eleven Democrat seats, winning control of the Senate for the first time since 1974. This was the first election after the 1990 census.

Two years later, Governor Florio narrowly lost re-election to Christine Todd Whitman. As of 2024, this remains the largest total number of seats held by the Republican Party and the largest number of seats gained by the Republican Party in a single election since the current districting scheme was introduced in 1973. This remains the last time the Republicans or any party held a veto-proof majority in the chamber.

Contents

BackgroundAftermath and legacy
Incumbents not runningSummary of results
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