1969 New Jersey gubernatorial election
← 1965 November 4, 1969 1973 →
 
Nominee William T. Cahill Robert B. Meyner
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,411,905 911,003
Percentage 59.7% 38.5%
County results

Cahill:      50–60%      60–70%

Meyner:      50–60%
Governor before election

Richard J. Hughes
Democratic

Elected Governor

William T. Cahill
Republican

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The 1969 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1969. Republican nominee William T. Cahill defeated Democratic nominee Robert B. Meyner with 59.66% of the vote. This was the only gubernatorial election that Republicans won between 1953 and 1977.

Primary elections were held on June 3.[1] Cahill won the Republican nomination narrowly over fellow South Jersey Congressman Charles W. Sandman Jr., while Meyner finished with nearly twice the vote of his closest competitor.

This is the first gubernatorial election since the 19th century, in which a Republican won Hudson County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert B. Meyner 173,801 44.77
Democratic William F. Kelly 87,888 22.64
Democratic Henry Helstoski 60,483 15.58
Democratic D. Louis Tonti 34,810 8.97
Democratic Ned J. Parsekian 24,908 6.42
Democratic John L. Hennessey 6,302 1.62
Total votes 388,192 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William T. Cahill 158,980 39.31
Republican Charles W. Sandman Jr. 144,877 35.83
Republican Harry L. Sears 46,778 11.57
Republican Frank X. McDermott 35,503 8.78
Republican William E. Ozzard 18,262 4.52
Total votes 404,400 100.00

General election

Candidates

Results

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1969[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William T. Cahill 1,411,905 59.66% Increase18.58
Democratic Robert B. Meyner 911,003 38.49% Decrease18.90
Independent James E. Johnson 10,725 0.45% N/A
Independent Jack D. Alvino 10,149 0.43% N/A
Conservative Winifred O. Perry 10,128 0.43% Decrease 0.47
Independent Louis Vanderplate 6,611 0.28% N/A
Socialist Labor Julius Levin 6,085 0.26% Increase 0.05
Total votes 2,366,606 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing (({swing))}

References

  1. ^ a b c "Candidates for the Office of Governor - State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1969. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  2. ^ "Who's Hennessey?". The Record. May 9, 1969. p. 18. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Tonti is a Winner—At the Races". Asbury Park Press. June 1, 1969. p. 3. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Votes Cast for the Office of Governor of the State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1969. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
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