GOP Candidates Sweep District 39 Election

Three incumbent Republicans running for state Senate and Assembly positions in District 39 were re-elected Tuesday, according to reports of unofficial results.

State Senator Gerald Cardinale earned 64 percent of the vote, nj.com reported early Wednesday morning.

According to unofficial results reported by nj.com, Cardinale received 36,156 votes to Jane Bidwells 20,630.

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, an incumbent Republican, captured 32 percent of the vote and newcomer Robert Auth received 30 percent. They soundly defeated Democrats Donna Abene and Anthony Iannarelli. Abene received 21,420 votes, Iannarelli received 19,807.

Cardinale, a dentist by profession, was first elected to the Senate in 1982. He held various leadership positions since the mid-1980s. He serves on the Commerce and Judiciary committees.

Schepisi, an attorney who owns her own law firm, was first elected to the Assembly in 2012. She serves on the Judiciary and Environment and Solid Waste committees.

District 39 consists of 20 municipalities in Bergen and Passaic counties, including Bloomingdale.