2007: A Republican Year

2007 was a Republican year in New Jersey, thanks to some significant local gains, a well played game of defense, the defeat of two ballot referendums, and the growing insignificance of Governor Jon “Hold Me Accountable” Corzine. It is arguably the first Republican year in New Jersey, albeit marginally, since 1997.

Republicans ousted State Senator Ellen Karcher in the 12th, has a net gain of two Assembly seats – defeating two-term Democrat Michael Panter in Monmouth County and winning back the 8th district seat they lost earlier this year when Francis Bodine switched parties to run for the Senate. The GOP won both Assembly seats in District 2, holding Frank Blee’s seat and picking up the one Jim Whelan vacated.

Republican Mayors will replace Democratic Mayors in three towns -- Toms River (pop.

The GOP held the Atlantic County Executive post, and control of the Freeholder Boards in Atlantic and Monmouth counties. They fended off threats in Burlington, Somerset, Hunterdon and Salem counties.

Places where Democrats heavily outspent Republicans in traditionally GOP districts – the three open seats in the eighth, and three GOP veterans in the 39th – the Republicans held on by a comfortable margin. Republicans held potentially competitive Senate seats in Districts 11 and 14, with Sean Kean and Bill Baroni – both helped by endorsements from labor and environmental groups – winning with more than 60%.

And perhaps most significantly, New Jersey voters voted down two ballot initiatives where Democratic leaders where heavily invested: spending $450 million on stem cell research, and dedicating part of the sales tax for property tax relief.

For Democrats, the bright spots where the pickup of two State Senate seats: in District 1, where Jefferson Van Drew ousted incumbent Nicholas Asselta; and in District 2, where Whelan is going to the Senate and sending interim incumbent Sonny McCullough back to Egg Harbor Township. That means a net gain of one seat for the Democrats in the Senate.

Democrats held the two Assembly seats in the first district, re-elected Linda Greenstein – comfortably – in the 14th, and narrowly picked up Baroni’s Assembly seat. They got an assist from the conservative values Common Sense American group, which enabled Greenstein to get an extra $100,000 in rescue money; the 20% advantage in spending helped Democrat Wayne DeAngelo with his 500-vote margin.

The Democrats picked up Freeholder seats in Cumberland and Monmouth counties– there only gains. The failed to make gains in Atlantic, Burlington, and Somerset, and didn't take control (or elect a Sheriff) in Monmouth. One nice pickup -- Jonathan Hornick won 60% in ousting Marlboro Mayor Robert Kleinberg -- was tempered by the loss of Hamilton Mayor Glen Gilmore.

In District 22, where Assemblywoman Linda Stender spent most of the campaign boosting her 2008 rematch with Congressman Mike Ferguson, Stender won re-election to her Assembly seat by a relatively narrow margin against a challenger who spent about $100.