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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1981/Governor/New Jersey
      1981·Governor·New Jersey

      New Jersey Governor

      Winner
      REP
      Thomas H Kean
      49.5%1,145,999 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      James J Florio
      49.4%1,144,202 votes
      Margin
      R+0.1
      2,317,239 total votes
      3 candidates2,317,239 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Thomas H KeanREP✓
      		REP1,145,99949.5%
      James J FlorioDEM
      		DEM1,144,20249.4%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH27,0381.2%

      Seat History

      Governor in New Jersey

      2025
      Mikie SherrillDEM
      D+14.3
      2021
      Philip MurphyDEM
      D+3.2
      2017
      Philip MurphyDEM
      D+14.1
      2013
      Chris ChristieREP
      R+22.1
      2009
      Chris ChristieREP
      R+3.6
      2005
      Jon CorzineDEM
      D+10.4
      2001
      James E McGreeveyDEM
      D+14.8
      1997
      Christine Todd WhitmanREP
      R+1.1
      1993
      Christine Todd WhitmanREP
      R+1.0
      1989
      James J FlorioDEM
      D+24.0
      1985
      Thomas H KeanREP
      R+40.3
      1977
      Brendan T. ByrneDEM
      D+13.9
      1973
      Brendan T. ByrneDEM
      D+34.8
      1969
      William T. CahillREP
      R+21.2
      View all Governor history for New Jersey →

      Candidates

      James J FlorioDEM
      Record11W-2L
      Avg MarginD+7.9
      Career1969-1993
      Governor / US House / State House
      Full profile →
      Thomas H KeanREP
      Record6W-0L
      Avg MarginR+13.9
      Career1969-1985
      Governor / State House
      Full profile →
      ← All 1981 Governor races1981 overviewNew Jersey profileAll elections