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New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1981

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1981
New Jersey
← 1977 November 3, 1981 1985 →
  Thomas H. Kean (cropped).png James Florio headshot 1983.jpg
Candidate Thomas Kean James Florio
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,145,999 1,144,202
Percentage 49.46% 49.38%

1981 NJ GovElect Result.svg
  Kean 60–70%
  Kean 50–60%
  Florio 60–70%
  Florio 50–60%
  Florio <50%

Governor before election

Brendan Byrne
Democratic

Elected Governor

James Florio
Democratic


Brendan Byrne
Democratic

James Florio
Democratic

The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 1981 was a race for Governor of New Jersey held on November 3, 1981. Republican Thomas Kean narrowly defeated Democrat James Florio with 49.46% of the vote following a recount of the ballots.

Primary elections were held on Tuesday June 2, 1981.

Major party candidates

Other candidates

The results of the initial ballot counting was close with Kean leading Florio by 1,677 votes. Two television networks had actually called the race for Florio at the time. State Democrats had accused the Republican National Committee of intimidating minority voters in Newark, Camden, and Trenton by setting up the Ballot Security Task Force which sent out mailers to voters in these cities and posted armed off-duty police officers and large signs at certain precincts. A recount took place over the next month and Kean was certified the winner besting Florio by 1,797 votes out of over 2.3 million votes cast.


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