Legislators have lost primaries each of last six cycles

If no incumbents are defeated in their bids for re-election to the Legislature today, it will be the first time since 1995.  Most at risk: State Sen. Marcia Karrow (R-Raritan), who has served in the State Senate since January; seven-term Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris Twp.); newly-elected Assemblyman John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown), and freshmen Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville) and Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark). 

Two years ago, three Essex County Democrats lost their Assembly seats: Wilfredo Caraballo (D-Newark), Oadline Truitt (D-Newark) and Craig Stanley (D-Irvington).  All three had lost the backing of the Essex Democratic organization.  Stanley, who lost that race by just 127 votes, is challenging Caputo and Tucker.

Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) lost the 2005 Democratic primary two years after he ousted incumbents Joseph Doria (D-Bayonne) and Elba Perez-Cinciarelli (D-Jersey City).  He has since returned to the Assembly.  Joseph Azzolina (R-Middletown), who served in the Assembly from 1966 to 1972, in the Senate from 1972 to 1974, in the Assembly from 1986 to 1988, and again from 1992, lost the GOP primary in 2005 to Amy Handlin (R-Middletown).  Arline Friscia (D-Woodbridge) was ousted in the Democratic primary by Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy).

Guy Talarico (R-Oradell) lost his Assembly seat in 2001 after redistricting put him in a new district with two other Republican incumbents.  Louis Romano (D-West New York) was ousted in 1999 by Rudy Garcia (D-Union City).  In 1997, five-term State Sen. Joseph Bubba (R-Wayne) was defeated by Norman Robertson (R-Clifton), a Passaic County Freeholder, after the Passaic GOP organization withdrew their support of the incumbent.