1985 NJ LD-03 Assembly Election

Despite heavilly taergeting the seat, heading into the election Republicans weren't optimistic in picking up the seat with the Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, November 3, Pg 12b) characterizing Six term Martin Herman as one of Trenton''s brightest & Tom Pankok as expected to survive.

However, some Republicans tended to credit Both assemblymen's victories to the popular State Senator for the third District, Democrat Raymond Zane, and thus enphasized the district as a strong pickup opportunity for the GOP.

Further, Jack Collins & Gary Stuhltrager also enphasized the effect that the High auto insurance rates that had been plaguing New Jersey would present an issue in the campaign, as well as the bill that set criteria for the setting of toxic waste dumps (a bill that would aversely impact LD-03)

In the end, Despite Republican's lack of confidence in the seat, and the Democrat's confidence in their reelection, Both Democrats lost though, Kean's landslide (and R+25.67% Win in the seat) prooving much for them to overcome.

I highlight this seat because Assemblymen-Elect David Bailey and Heather Simmons, who won thanks to John Burzichelli's comfortable senate win over Ed Durr will likewise likely face a drag at the top of the ticket.

This drag, which though unlikely to be to the extent of Tom Kean's landslide, could still doom their reelection due to increasing polarization. In short, Bailey and Simmons start off as some of the most endangered incumbents in the NJ Assembly

This is, unless, George Norcross and the South Jersey Dem Machine manage to pull another Rabbit out of their hat in 2025.

Now back to 1985. Jack Collins & Gary Stuhltrager would end up holding LD-03 throughout the 1980s and 1990s, eventually flipping in 2001 with Doug Fisher and Paulsboro Mayor John J. Burzichelli.