1961 New Jersey gubernatorial election

1961 New Jersey gubernatorial election

November 7, 1961

Nominee Richard J. Hughes James P. Mitchell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,084,194 1,049,274 Percentage 50.4% 48.7%

County results Hughes:      50–60%      60–70% Mitchell:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Robert B. Meyner Democratic Elected Governor Richard J. Hughes Democratic

The 1961 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1961. Democratic nominee Richard J. Hughes defeated Republican nominee James P. Mitchell with 50.37% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on April 18, 1961.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Richard J. Hughes, former Superior Court judge
• Weldon R. Sheets
• Eugene E. Demarest

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard J. Hughes	222,789	84.21
	Democratic	Weldon R. Sheets	21,285	8.05
	Democratic	Eugene E. Demarest	20,487	7.74
Total votes			264,561	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• James P. Mitchell, former United States Secretary of Labor
• Walter H. Jones, State Senator from Bergen County
• Wayne Dumont, State Senator from Warren County
• Louis Berns

Results

Republican Party primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James P. Mitchell	202,188	43.68
	Republican	Walter H. Jones	160,553	34.69
	Republican	Wayne Dumont	95,761	20.69
	Republican	Louis Berns	4,376	0.95
Total votes			462,878	100.00

General election

Candidates

• G. George Addonizio (Independent)
• Richard J. Hughes, former Mercer County Superior Court judge (Democratic)
• Henry B. Krajewski, perennial candidate (Veterans Bonus Now)
• Edward J. Lueddeke (Prosperity with Liberty)
• Reinhardt V. Metzger, former Assemblyman from Essex County (Conservative)
• James P. Mitchell, former United States Secretary of Labor (Republican)
• Daniel Petrino (State Soldiers Bonus)
• Albert Ronis (Socialist Labor)
• Ruth F. Shiminsky (Socialist Workers)

Results

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1961

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Richard J. Hughes	1,084,194	50.37%	4.18
	Republican	James P. Mitchell	1,049,274	48.74%	4.28
	Conservative	Reinhardt V. Metzger	5,820	0.27%	0.03
	Independent	Henry B. Krajewski	3,904	0.18%	0.13
	Independent	Edward J. Lueddeke	2,541	0.12%	N/A
	Independent	G. George Addonizio	2,462	0.11%	N/A
	Socialist Labor	Albert Ronis	2,103	0.10%	0.21
	Independent	Daniel Petrino	1,393	0.07%	N/A
	Socialist Workers	Ruth F. Shiminsky	971	0.05%	N/A
Majority
Turnout
	Democratic hold		Swing

Results by county

By county

County Richard J. Hughes Democratic James P. Mitchell Republican Various candidates Other parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Atlantic 27,254 34,766 1,510 7,512 64,643 Bergen 123,421 171,180 3,236 47,759 306,714 Burlington 30,756 27,331 359 3,425 64,195 Camden 141,026 Cape May 21,154 Cumberland 36,022 Essex 295,946 Gloucester 50,568 Hudson 236,153 Hunterdon 20,940 Mercer 101,628 Middlesex 166,279 Monmouth 117,681 Morris 89,453 Ocean 43,354 Passaic 139,174 Salem 22,236 Somerset 53,532 Sussex 19,412 Union 194,471 Warren 23,350 Totals 1,084,194 50.37% 1,049,274 48.74% 19,194 0.91% 34,920 1.63% 2,207,931