Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1985/Governor/New Jersey
      1985·Governor·New Jersey

      New Jersey Governor

      Winner
      REP
      Thomas H Kean
      69.6%1,372,631 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Peter Shapiro
      29.3%578,402 votes
      Margin
      R+40.3
      1,972,624 total votes
      3 candidates1,972,624 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Thomas H KeanREP✓
      		REP1,372,63169.6%
      Peter ShapiroDEM
      		DEM578,40229.3%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH21,5911.1%

      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
      1981
      Thomas H KeanREP
      R+0.1
      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

      Peter ShapiroDEM
      Record2W-1L
      Avg MarginD+9.8
      Career1975-1985
      Governor / State House
      Full profile →
      Thomas H KeanREP
      Record6W-0L
      Avg MarginR+13.9
      Career1969-1985
      Governor / State House
      Full profile →
      ← All 1985 Governor races1985 overviewNew Jersey profileAll elections