NJ Election Results

Turnout was reported to be very light Tuesday as voters chose the candidates who will run in November's election.

Most incumbents were unopposed, but several races attracted significant interest.

For the results of contested races, click here.

Republicans are hoping to build up steam to mount a challenge to the Democrats in the fall. The Democrats hold a five-seat edge in the Assembly, while the Senate is split evenly.

All 120 seats in the Legislature are open at the end of this year. Voters in districts statewide will choose the 80 members of the Assembly and the 40 in the Senate.

With November's elections expected to be cast as a referendum on Gov. James E. McGreevey's tenure, Republicans are hoping to make gains in the Assembly and possibly take control of the Senate.

GOP victories would provide momentum for the 2005 race for governor. Party leaders hope to keep McGreevey to one term and restore Republicans to power. In the 1990s, the GOP dominated, controlling the Legislature and the Statehouse until 2001.

Republicans fall short in numbers of registered voters. Of the 4.5 million New Jersey residents registered to vote, 871,000 are Republicans. Democrats number 1.3 million, according to figures released Monday.

In the Assembly, five incumbent Democrats faced primary challenges, while seven GOP incumbents were competing.

The Senate had six Democrats with primary elections; five GOP senators faced primaries.

The Senate races offered some of the state's most competitive campaigns.

Republican Robert J. Martin, a 10-year senator, was challenged by Jay Webber, a conservative newcomer who mounted a grassroots campaign praised for its aggressiveness.

One of the Assembly's most high-profile races featured former Speaker Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian's return to politics in a race against GOP incumbent Michael J. Doherty. Doherty represents the 23rd District in parts of Hunterdon and Warren counties.

Haytaian attacked Doherty almost daily for revelations that the Assemblyman had a New York driver's license. Doherty's camp is reminding voters that the state paid $345,000 in settlement money and legal fees to an Assembly staffer who had accused Haytaian of sexually harassing her. The harassment charges were eventually dropped.

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Author: Copyright 2002 by NBC10. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.