1979Final resultsIncumbent defeated
1979 election for New Jersey Legislative District 38
New Jersey General Assembly · New Jersey
2 seats: John B. Paolella (R), Louis F. Kosco (R) won.
2 seatsJohn B. PaolellaRepublican · winner
26.1%20,452
Louis F. KoscoRepublican · winner
25.0%19,578
Paul ContilloDemocrat · incumbent
24.5%19,204
Robert BurnsDemocrat · incumbent
23.3%18,294
Walter HassIndependent
1.1%881
78,409 votes
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1979
Races before and after
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
John B. Paolella (R)Louis F. Kosco (R)Paul Contillo (D)Robert Burns (D)
Also on the ballot: Walter Hass (Independent), 1.1%