1963 New Jersey Senate election

The 1963 New Jersey Senate elections were held on November 5.

The elections took place midway through the first term of Governor Richard J. Hughes. Eleven of New Jersey's 21 counties elected Senators; Republicans gained four seats.

Incumbents not running for re-election

Democratic

• Donal C. Fox (Essex) (lost support of county organization)

Republican

All five Republican incumbents stood for re-election.

Summary of results by county

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. Essex, 6.41% gain
2. Gloucester, 8.07% gain
3. Union, 9.22%
4. Burlington, 9.71% gain

Seats where the margin of victory was 10% or greater; and the seat flipped party control:

1. Camden, 10.27% gain

Burlington

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Henry S. Haines, incumbent Senator
• Edward J. Hulse, director of the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders and brother-in-law of Governor Hughes

Campaign

The campaign was bitter, with Hulse criticizing Haines's record in the Senate. Haines was aligned with Grover C. Richman Jr., the former Attorney General whom Governor Hughes had outmaneuvered for the 1961 Democratic nomination.

Results

Hulse and his four-man ticket won the primary by carrying the heavily Democratic towns of Burlington, Florence, Levittown, and Maple Shade. Haines was strongest in Bordentown and also received a large majority in Palmyra.

Both Haines and Hulse lost their own home towns, Burlington and Edgewater Park, respectively.

General election

Candidates

• Bernardo S. Doganiero, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor)
• Edward J. Hulse, director of the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders (Democratic)
• Edwin B. Forsythe, former mayor of Moorestown (Republican)
• John V. Mahalchik (Independent)

Results

Camden

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Joseph F. Carroll, college professor of education
• Joseph W. Cowgill, incumbent Senator

Results

Cowgill won the city of Camden with a 5–1 margin.

General election

Candidates

• Joseph W. Cowgill, incumbent Senator (Democratic)
• Julius Levin (Socialist Labor)
• Frederick J. Scholz, senior vice president of First Camden National Bank and Trust Co. (Republican)

Results

Cape May

Essex

General election

Candidates

• Elmer Matthews, Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly (Democratic)
• George C. Richardson, Democratic Assemblyman at-large for Essex County (New Frontier)
• C. Robert Sarcone, Assemblyman at-large for Essex County (Republican)
• David E. Wilson (Conservative)
• Paul J. Wolek (Legalized Gambling Bonus)
• Murray Zuckoff (Socialist Workers)

Results

Gloucester

Middlesex

Monmouth

Salem

Somerset

Union

Warren

References