June 30, 2008 - 3:39pm
The curse of the legislature
By Wally Edge
Category: GovernorTags: Bill Gormley, Raymond Bateman, Alan Karcher, James E. McGreevey, Morgan Larson
The New Jersey Legislature is often the breeding ground for gubernatorial candidates, but by 2009 it will have been 81 years since a sitting state legislator has been elected Governor -- the last time was in 1928, when Morgan Larson, a Republican State Senator from Middlesex County, won.
Over the last fifty years, only four incumbent legislators -- State Senators Malcom Forbes (1957), Wayne Dumont (1965), Raymond Bateman (1977) and James E. McGreevey (1997) -- have won gubernatorial primaries, and all four have lost their general elections.
More often, incumbent legislators to lose gubernatorial primaries: Paul DiGaetano, who won just 5.5% in 2005, Alan Karcher in 1989, Chuck Hardwick, Bill Gormley and Gerald Cardinale in 1989; John Russo in 1985, Frank Dodd, William Hamilton, Joseph Merlino, Barry Parker, James Wallwork and Anthony Imperiale in 1981; Thomas Kean and Raymond Garramone in 1977; Ralph DeRose and Ann Klein in 1973; Harry Sears, Frank McDermott and William Kelly in 1969; Charles Sandman in 1965, and Walter Jones in 1961. Still, seven of the last eleven Governors had served in the Legislature.
Contributors
Wally Edge
New Jersey has eighteen living former Congressmen -- that number should go to twenty next year with the retirements of Jim Saxton and Michael ... >
Bob Torricelli
The financial debacle on Wall Street may change many things. Our international power, standard of living and individual security might all ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Joe Biden promises to impose Catholic dogma upon the country, and calls it "patriotic". >
Debbie Holtz
The NJ 101.5 radio debate scheduled later this month was one Frank Lautenberg quickly agreed to - in fact his campaign was the first to confirm its ... >
Steve Lonegan
The sub prime mortgage melt down and its ensuing financial “crisis” has tested the mettle of all of us who believe in and support the free ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
For the past few weeks, I've watched with fascination as politician after politician have appeared on a beach or a boardwalk and declared their ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
Senator John McCain insisted that he and Senator Barak Obama should go on the road for a host of town hall meetings to discuss the issues in a ... >
Joey Novick
According to a Fairleigh Dickinson poll, Senator Frank Lautenberg leads Lobbyist Dick Zimmer by 16 points, 50-34 percent. Fourteen percent say ... >
Juan Melli
While New Jersey suffered from a crippling structural deficit, politicians created a slush fund to dole out tax dollars for their own personal gain.
... >
Carla Katz
As I drove home from a VP debate party on Thursday night, I surfed radio talk shows and heard countless callers say that Governor Palin ‘won’ the ... >
Poll
If Barack Obama becomes President, who should he pick for U.S. Attorney?
Matt Boxer
1%
Paul Fishman
14%
Paula Franzese
10%
Robert Gilson
1%
Deborah Gramiccioni
0%
Patrick Hobbs
3%
Lawrence Lustberg
3%
Ralph Marra
6%
Bill Matsikoudis
9%
Julien Neils
4%
Frank Vespa-Papaleo
22%
Walter Timpone
1%
Luis Valentin
2%
Ted Wells
9%
Someone Else
15%
PolitickerNJ Partners
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
The Pindell Report Keep up with the races in your state |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win Predict the road to the White House |
Most Active Stories
- McCain campaign disappoints us with a rather pathetic announcement of Democratic support
- McCain's New Jersey Democrats
- Burlington versus Trenton in 3rd District showdown
- Only in New Jersey
- If Obama wins, Trella likely to be unemployed
- Lautenberg bonds with Bikers for Obama
- The Democratic primary for U.S. Attorney: Timpone will be a non-starter
- U.S. Senate race gets radio-active
- Adler and Myers debate on NJN this weekend
- Corzine to appear on Meet the Press on Sunday
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- DOHERTY: NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA JUSTIFIES REPEALING GLOBAL WARMING RESPONSE ACT
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Torricelli on COAH
Quote of the Day
October 13, 2008
"The Christmas Tree process has existed for many, many years... I'm going to keep hammering and hammering and hammering, and if I can't get the information maybe the U.S. Attorney can. -- Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham), on the state budget. Both Merkt and Christie are potential candidates for the 2009 Republican nomination for Governor.
-Star-Ledger, 10/13/08
Recent Press Releases
- Oct 13 2008
- Oct 13 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
An Obama Surrogate Gets His Treasury Tryout― STEVE KORNACKI
TOO MANY WANT TO FLY THE COOP AT STAR-LEDGER― MUST READ
The Drivers of the Star-Ledger Crisis― NEW YORK OBSERVER
Colts Neck couple to host president today― Juan and Marta Gutierrez
Public purchase benefited Democratic Party donors ― JOSEPH FERRIERO
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
not very close
Incumbent legislators don't just lose gubernatorial primaries.... they get blown out.