Republicans Take Senate, Assembly in District 39

Republicans defeated their Democratic challengers in the Senate and Assembly races for .

With 103 of 110 Bergen County districts reporting and all 22 Passaic County districts reporting, Sen. Gerald Cardinale of Demarest received 24,405 votes to Democratic challenger Lorraine Waldes of River Vale 14,308, according to the unofficial results.

For the two open General Assembly seats, Assemblyman Robert Schroeder of Washington Township and Holly Schepisi of River Vale appeared to be victorious over Democrats Anthony Iannarelli Jr. of Ramsey and Michael McCarthy of Dumont. Schepisi took the place of Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk of Hillsdale on the ballot after she decided this summer not to seek reelection.

From the reporting districts, Schroeder received 23,323 votes, Schepisi got 22,685, Iannarelli received 13,977 and McCarthy got 14,524.

Taxes and job creation were cited as some of the big issues during the campaign.

District 39 includes Closter, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Mahwah, Montvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Park Ridge, Ramsey, River Vale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Washington Township, Westwood and Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County; and Bloomingdale, Ringwood and Wanaque in Passaic County.