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1981
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Governor
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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 candidates
2,317,239 total votes
Export CSV
Candidate
Party
Votes ▼
%
Vote Share
Thomas H Kean
REP
✓
REP
1,145,999
49.5%
James J Florio
DEM
DEM
1,144,202
49.4%
Other
OTH
OTH
27,038
1.2%
Seat History
Governor in New Jersey
2025
Mikie Sherrill
DEM
D+14.3
2021
Philip Murphy
DEM
D+3.2
2017
Philip Murphy
DEM
D+14.1
2013
Chris Christie
REP
R+22.1
2009
Chris Christie
REP
R+3.6
2005
Jon Corzine
DEM
D+10.4
2001
James E McGreevey
DEM
D+14.8
1997
Christine Todd Whitman
REP
R+1.1
1993
Christine Todd Whitman
REP
R+1.0
1989
James J Florio
DEM
D+24.0
1985
Thomas H Kean
REP
R+40.3
1977
Brendan T. Byrne
DEM
D+13.9
1973
Brendan T. Byrne
DEM
D+34.8
1969
William T. Cahill
REP
R+21.2
View all Governor history for New Jersey →
Candidates
James J Florio
DEM
Record
11W-2L
Avg Margin
D+7.9
Career
1969-1993
Governor / US House / State House
Full profile →
Thomas H Kean
REP
Record
6W-0L
Avg Margin
R+13.9
Career
1969-1985
Governor / State House
Full profile →
← All 1981 Governor races
1981 overview
New Jersey profile
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