The 1989 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1989. Incumbent Republican Governor Thomas Kean was term-limited after two consecutive terms. Democrat James Florio, a U.S. Represent
James Florio headshot 1983
Jim Courter
The 1981 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held November 3, 1981. Republican Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly Thomas Kean narrowly defeated Democratic U.S. Representative James Florio, 4
1989 New Jersey gubernatorial election
…Better Affordable Government) Florio, who had run in the Democratic primary for Governor in 1977 and had lost an extremely close general election in 1981 to Thomas Kean, stressed in this campaign that he would govern more like Kean than the conservative Courter would. Florio also contended that he would…
Tom Kean 1981
James Florio 1983
Ronald Reagan, pictured here campaigning in September 1980 in Jersey City, won a large victory in New Jersey. His election and the early stages of his presidency served as the backdrop for the 1981 campaign, in which nearly all of the Republican field focused on their affinity with the President.
Kean campaigning in September