Gerald Cardinale

Committee assignments Commerce Judiciary

Personal life Cardinale married Carole Petrullo in 1959. They attended the same preschool in Brooklyn, but only reconnected years later when three friends set them up on blind dates. They remained married for 62 years until his death. Together, they had five children: Marisa, Christine, Kara, Gary, and Nicole.

Cardinale died on the morning of February 20, 2021, at the Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, New Jersey. He was 86, and suffered a brief illness prior to his death that was not related to COVID-19. Cardinale's funeral was on February 24 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Tenafly, New Jersey. He was buried at Brookside Cemetery in Englewood, New Jersey.

Electoral history New Jersey Senate 2017 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.

2013 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.

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

2007 In his second closest election since 1981 at that point, Cardinale defeated Democratic nominee Joseph Ariyan by 5,000 votes.

2003 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.

2001 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.

1997 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.

1993 Cardinale who was serving as Majority Whip easily beat Democratic nominee Stephen Jaffe.

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

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

1983 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.

1981 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.

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

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

United States House of Representatives

New Jersey Governor