Newly-elected Governors of New Jersey historically enter office with an increased number of seats for their political party in the State Assembly. Under the current State Constitution, 1993 was the only year when the party of a new Governor (Christine Todd Whitman) lost seats (five) in the Assembly. Democrats picked up nine seats in 2001, when James E. McGreevey won election, and five seats in 1989 when James Florio won. The GOP gained one seat in 1981 when Tom Kean was elected, Democrats added 26 seats in the 1973 election won by Brendan Byrne, and when William Cahill was elected in 1969, the Republicans gained one seat. Democrats picked up four seats with Richard Hughes’ 1961 victory and three seats with the 1953 election of Robert Meyner. When Republican Alfred Driscoll was elected Governor in 1946, his party gained six seats.
