1981 New Jersey gubernatorial election


The 1981 New Jersey gubernatorial election was 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. The difference between the two was less than 2000 votes out of more than 2 million cast.

Primary elections

s were held on June 2, 1981.

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

Candidates

General election

Candidates

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.