Gerald Cardinale

In 2018 Cardinale sponsored e a bill alongside Senators Paul Sarlo, Kristin Corrado, Loretta Weinberg, and Joseph Lagana that would push a special election to the following year if a vacancy for the County Sheriff, Clerk, or Surrogate posts if the vacancy occurs 70 days before election day.[6] In March 2019 Cardinale expressed his opposition to marijuana legalization. He called the social justice argument in favor of legalization "B.S." as well as saying it wouldn't solve the budget problems that those in favor of legalization have argued.[7]

• Commerce[8]
• Judiciary

In 2017 Cardinale faced a challenge from Democrat Linda H. Schwager and Libertarian James Tosone. In his second closest election in that district since 1981 he beat Schwager by over 4,000 votes. Cardinale won Bergen, and Passaic Counties by about 4,000 and 2,000 votes respectively.[11]

2017 General Election in the 39th District[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale (Incumbent)	33,752	52.8%	10.8
	Democratic	Linda H. Schwager	29,631	46.3%	9.9
	Libertarian	James Tosone	574	0.9%	0.9
Total votes			'63,957'	'100.0%'

In a year that was good, electorally, for incumbent State Senate Republicans, Cardinale won re-election by over 16,000 votes, and finishing with more than 60% of the vote in Bergen and Passaic Counties.[13]

2013 General Election in the 39th District[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale (Incumbent)	37,836	63.6%	0.1
	Democratic	Jane “Jan” Bidwell	21,616	36.4%	0.1
Total votes			'59,452'	'100.0%'

2011 re-redistricting put part of Passaic County in the district. Democrats nominated Lorraine M. Waldes. Cardinale easily defeated Waldes.

In his second closest election since 1981 at that point, Cardinale defeated Democratic nominee Joseph Ariyan by 5,000 votes.

2007 General Election in the 39th District[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale (Incumbent)	27,623	55.4%	6.9
	Democratic	Joseph Ariyan	22,272	44.6%	6.9
Total votes			'48,895'	'100.0'

During the 2003 general election in New Jersey Democrats gained a majority in the State Senate for the first time since 1992, however Cardinale still won re-election easily.

2003 General Election in the 39th District[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale (Incumbent)	30,718	62.3	0.6
	Democratic	Richard Muti	18,605	37.7	1.5
Total votes			'49,323'	'100.0'

In 2001, Republicans lost two seats in the State Senate making the partisan makeup a 20–20 split. Republicans lost the Governorship with the retirement of Governor Donald DiFrancesco and the election of James McGreevey. Regardless, Cardinale won re-election in the then-safe Republican 39th District.

In 1997 Incumbent Republican Governor Christine Todd Whitman barely squeaked out a re-election win over State Senator and Woodbridge Township Mayor James McGreevey, Cardinale, who at this point was still serving as Deputy Majority Leader under the leadership of Majority Leader John O. Bennett and Senate President Donald DiFrancesco, cruised to re-election.

1997 General Election in the 39th District[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale (Incumbent)	46,424	66.3	3.8
	Democratic	Ilan Plawker	22,466	32.1	5.4
	Conservative	Michael W. Koontz	1,166	1.7	N/A
Total votes			'70,056'	'100.0'

Cardinale who was serving as Majority Whip easily beat Democratic nominee Stephen Jaffe.

1993 General Election in the 39th District[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale (Incumbent)	48,803	62.5	4.4
	Democratic	Stephen H. Jaffe	29,268	37.5	4.4
Total votes			'78,071'	'100.0'

In the 1991 election, Republicans gained an overwhelming Majority in the State Senate. Cardinale was made Majority Whip following the election.

Cardinale easily won re-election to a third term in 1987.

1987 General Election in the 39th District[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale (Incumbent)	31,585	67.1	15.9
	Democratic	Louis B. Redisch	15,499	32.9	15.9
Total votes			'47,084'	'100.0'

In what was Cardinale's closest election since 1981 he faced now former State Senator Francis X. Herbert, who lost by a little under 2,000 votes.

1983 General Election in the 39th District[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale (Incumbent)	27,199	51.2	7.0
	Democratic	Francis X. Herbert	25,942	48.8	7.0
Total votes			'53,141'	'100.0'

Then an Assemblyman, Cardinale ran for State Senate for the first time against incumbent Democratic State Senator Frank Herbert, Cardinale beat him by a wide margin.

In 1979 Cardinale, again ran for General Assembly this time he won coming in first place.

1979 General Election in the 39th District[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale	27,608	28.1	4.8
	Republican	John W. Markert	27,450	28.0	4.7
	Democratic	Greta Kiernan (Incumbent)	21,425	21.8	4.2
	Democratic	Harold Martin (Incumbent)	20,577	21.0	5.1
	Libertarian	Henry Koch	809	0.8	0.2
	U.S. Labor	Elliot Greenspan	308	0.3	0.0
Total votes			'98,177'	'100.0'

In 1977 Cardinale ran for General Assembly losing to Incumbent Harold Martin and newcomer Greta Kiernan.

1977 General Election in the 39th District[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Harold Martin	28,105	26.1	0.7
	Democratic	Greta Kiernan	28,026	26.0	1.1
	Republican	Gerald Cardinale	25,087	23.3	1.9
	Republican	John F. Inganamort	25,041	23.3	1.2
	Libertarian	Henry Koch	681	0.6	N/A
	Libertarian	William J. Zelko, Jr.	432	0.4	N/A
	U.S. Labor	Elliot Greenspan	276	0.3	N/A
Total votes			'107,648'	'100.0'