View source for Richard Codey

{{Short description|American politician (born 1946)}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Richard Codey
| image               = Codey2011 (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Codey in 2011
| office1             = 53rd [[Governor of New Jersey]]
| term_start1         = November 15, 2004
| term_end1           = January 17, 2006
| predecessor1        = [[Jim McGreevey]]
| successor1          = [[Jon Corzine]]
| term_start2         = January 12, 2002
| term_end2           = January 15, 2002<br>Acting
| predecessor2        = [[John O. Bennett]] (acting)
| successor2          = Jim McGreevey
| state_senate3       = New Jersey
| district3           = [[New Jersey's 27th legislative district|27th]]
| term_start3         = January 10, 1982
| term_end3           = January 9, 2024
| predecessor3        = [[Carmen A. Orechio]]
| successor3          = [[John F. McKeon]]
| office4             = 111th and 113th President of the [[New Jersey Senate]]
| term_start4         = January 8, 2008
| term_end4           = January 12, 2010
| predecessor4        = [[Bernard Kenny]]
| successor4          = [[Stephen Sweeney]]
| alongside5          = [[John O. Bennett|John Bennett]] (January 8, 2002 – January 13, 2004)
| term_start5         = January 8, 2002
| term_end5           = January 7, 2008
| predecessor5        = [[Donald DiFrancesco]]
| successor5          = [[Bernard Kenny]]
| office6             = Minority Leader of the [[New Jersey Senate]]
| term_start6         = January 13, 1998
| term_end6           = January 8, 2002
| predecessor6        = [[John A. Lynch Jr.]]
| successor6          = [[Leonard Lance]] (2004)
| state_assembly7     = New Jersey
| district7           = [[New Jersey's 26th legislative district|26th]]
| term_start7         = January 8, 1974
| term_end7           = January 12, 1982
| predecessor7        = Constituency established
| successor7          = [[Leanna Brown]]<br>[[Dean Gallo]]
| birth_name          = Richard James Codey
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1946|11|27}}
| birth_place         = [[Orange, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Mary Jo Codey|Mary Rolli]]|1981}}
| education           = [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
}}
'''Richard James Codey''' (born November 27, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 53rd [[governor of New Jersey]] from 2004 to 2006. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he served in the [[New Jersey Senate]] from 1982 to 2024 and as the President of the Senate from 2002 to 2010. He represented the [[New Jersey's 27th legislative district|27th Legislative District]], which covered the western portions of [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex County]] and the southeastern portion of [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris County]].<!--BEFORE MODIFYING THE NUMBER OF TIMES CODEY HAS SERVED AS ACTING GOVERNOR, NOTE THE FOLLOWING: The above sentence lists only situations where Codey became acting governor due to a permanent gubernatorial vacancy, not when a sitting governor is out of state or temporarily unable to perform their duties as governor. For example, Richard Codey became acting governor on April 12, 2007, but would NOT be listed as another stint as acting governor unless Corzine were to have permanently left office. -->

Codey is the longest-serving state legislator in New Jersey history, having served in the [[New Jersey Legislature]] continuously from January 8, 1974 to January 9, 2024.<ref name="stile">O'Neill, James M.; and Stile, Charles. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/14/richard-codey-nj-longest-serving-legislator-retiring-former-governor/70588871007/ "Sen. Richard Codey, NJ's longest-serving legislator and a former governor, is retiring"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', August 14, 2023. Accessed August 16, 2023. "Former governor and state Sen. Richard J. Codey, the longest-serving legislator in New Jersey history, who held the top post for a 14-month period, announced he will be stepping down after 50 years of service. He said he will finish out the Senate term this year and then retire."</ref>

==Early life and education==
[[File:Maryjocodey.jpg|thumb|Codey's wife and former New Jersey First Lady, [[Mary Jo Codey]]]]
Codey has described himself as "100% [[Irish people|Irish]]".<ref>[http://www.njassemblyrepublicans.com/?p=1518 Rible/Rumana want Thomas Nast off NJ Hall of Fame ballot], New Jersey Assembly Republicans, December 14, 2011. Accessed March 5, 2012. "State Sen. Richard Codey, a former governor who proudly described himself as '100% Irish,' was less quick to judge. 'No one hates a stereotype more than me,' he said. 'But it seems that [Nast] just went along with the thinking of the time. I don't think he should be crucified for that.'"</ref>

Codey grew up in his family's [[funeral home]] in [[Orange, New Jersey|Orange]]. He attended [[Our Lady of the Valley High School]] and transferred to [[Orange High School (New Jersey)|Orange High School]] before switching to [[Oratory Preparatory School]] in [[Summit, New Jersey|Summit]], from which he graduated.<ref>Codey, Richard J. [https://books.google.com/books?id=KpRVuHaGlPoC&pg=PA28 ''Me, Governor?: My Life in the Rough-and-tumble World of New Jersey Politics''], p. 28. Accessed December 3, 2017. "From Saint John's, I went to Our Lady of the Valley High School until my father and the priests agreed that my clowning might be better appreciated elsewhere. Throwing frogs around a biology class with some friends was my final act as a student at the Valley."</ref><ref>[[Terry Golway|Golway, Terry]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/nyregion/health/on-politics-the-bishops-in-codey-have-a-new-target.html "On Politics; The Bishops, in Codey, Have a New Target"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 14, 2004. Accessed January 24, 2022. "He is a graduate of Oratory Prep in Summit, and his wife, Mary Jo, attended Caldwell College and Seton Hall, all Catholic institutions."</ref><ref>Bergmann, Randy. [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/184280228/ "Former governor pulls few punches in book"], ''[[Courier-Post]]'', June 5, 2011. Accessed January 24, 2022, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "He speaks with candor and humor about his academic shortcomings. He attended three high schools, all beginning with the letter 'O' Orange, Our Lady of the Valley and Oratory. (He says his father wanted him to be true to his Irish heritage.)"</ref> 

Codey took over his father's job as a licensed [[funeral director]]. When his father, Donald, became the county [[coroner]], Codey was drafted to help with death scene pickups. Codey remembered, "I was 14, taking bodies out of train wrecks. You grow up quick".<ref name=NNDB>[http://www.nndb.com/people/381/000087120/ Richard J. Codey] NNDB Biography</ref> 

In 1981, he earned a [[bachelor's degree]] from [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.fdu.edu/stories/richard-codey-ba81/|title=Richard Codey, BA,'81, H'05|website=FDU Office of University Advancement}}</ref>

== New Jersey Assembly ==
Codey left the funeral trade to try his hand in politics in 1973 when he was first elected to the [[New Jersey General Assembly|State Assembly]], with [[Eldridge Hawkins]] as his running mate.<ref>{{cite news |first=Wally |last=Edge |title=The one that starts in the 1960s and ends with Codey |work=PolitickerNJ |date=January 7, 2008 |access-date=May 17, 2009 |url=http://www.politickernj.com/one-starts-1960s-and-ends-codey-15122}}</ref> He served in the Assembly from 1974 to 1982. 

== New Jersey Senate ==
Codey was first elected to the [[New Jersey Senate|State Senate]] in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidernj.com/dick-codeys-finest-hour/|title=Dick Codey’s Finest Hour - Insider NJ}}</ref> He rose through the ranks to become Senate President. He first ascended to that post in 2002 and remained in it until 2010. He served on the Legislative Services Commission.<ref name=NJLEG>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/82/senator-codey Senator Richard J. Codey], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 28, 2022.</ref> Codey also has a hockey arena named in his honor, also known as [[South Mountain Arena]] in [[West Orange, New Jersey]].

=== Return to Senate service ===
[[File:Codey3.jpg|thumb|Codey in October 2008]] 
Codey became acting governor of New Jersey upon the resignation of [[Jim McGreevey]] on November 15, 2004.<ref name=codeypromotion /> He served the remainder of McGreevey's unexpired term, remaining governor until January 17, 2006.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/is-murphy-really-new-jerseys-56th-governor-we-have-no-color-on-that/|title=Is Murphy really New Jersey’s 56th governor? We have no color on that|first=David|last=Wildstein|date=February 7, 2022|website=New Jersey Globe}}</ref>

Instead of running for a full term as governor, Codey was re-elected to the [[New Jersey Senate]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/elections/2007/11/27th_district_codey_seeks_anot.html|title=27th District: Codey wins easily|first=Dan |last=Murphy|date=November 7, 2007|website=NJ.com}}</ref> 

In 2009, Codey "was ousted from the Senate president post in a deal brokered by South Jersey Democratic Party leader George E. Norcross III, the state's most powerful unelected Democrat and Codey's arch political enemy for years".<ref name="stile" />

In December 2016, Codey was one of several [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] legislators who supported legislation legalizing [[assisted suicide]].<ref>Alex, Patricia. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2016/12/13/catholic-lawmakers-support-assisted-suicide-despite-faith/95066158/ "Catholic lawmakers support assisted suicide despite faith"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', December 13, 2016. Accessed July 15, 2019. "State Sen. Richard Codey was raised in an apartment upstairs from his family’s funeral home next to an imposing Catholic church in Orange, where the parish, the business and the family were intertwined.... Nonetheless, Codey and other prominent Catholic legislators are breaking with the church in supporting a bill that would allow assisted suicide in New Jersey."</ref>

== Governor of New Jersey ==

=== 2002 ===
Following Governor [[Christine Todd Whitman]]'s resignation in 2001 to become head of the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]], Codey was one of three different senate presidents to serve as acting governor within the one-year period between Whitman's resignation and [[Jim McGreevey]]'s inauguration in January 2002. Codey served in that capacity for three days, from January 12, 2002 to January 15, 2002.<ref>Staff. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AC&p_theme=ac&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F74D0C3B5B93351&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "N.J.'S LINE OF SUCCESSION / A SIMPLE FIX"], ''[[The Press of Atlantic City]]'', November 11, 2002. accessed June 22, 2012. "Thanks to an unusual set of circumstances and a flaw in the state constitution, New Jersey had five different governors over eight days at the beginning of the year. Even for New Jersey, this was pretty bizarre."</ref>

=== 2004 to 2006 ===
Codey became acting governor again with the resignation of [[Jim McGreevey]] on November 15, 2004.<ref name=codeypromotion>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/16/nyregion/16governor.html|title=Transition Ends: A Quiet Goodbye for McGreevey|author=Mansnerus, Laura|author2=Beston, Josh|date=November 16, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528051650/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/16/nyregion/16governor.html|archive-date=May 28, 2015|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

On June 6, 2005, Codey announced revised nutrition guidelines for all state funded public and private schools, eliminating soda, candy, and other products with sugar as the leading ingredient from cafeteria offerings. The law became effective on September 1, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holl |first=John |date=7 June 2005 |title=School Policy in New Jersey to Take Junk Off Lunch Tray |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/07/nyregion/school-policy-in-new-jersey-to-take-junk-off-lunch-tray.html |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

On November 8, 2005, a [[constitutional amendment]] creating the position of [[lieutenant governor of New Jersey]] was passed. The amendment took effect in 2009 election. Codey is the last person to serve simultaneously as governor and senate president.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benson |first=Josh |date=October 25, 2005 |title=New Jersey, Used to Having Governors Leave Early, Considers Need for a Lieutenant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/nyregion/metrocampaigns/new-jersey-used-to-having-governors-leave-early.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=February 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Neill |first1=James M. |last2=Stile |first2=Charles |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Sen. Richard Codey, NJ's longest-serving legislator and a former governor, is retiring |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/14/richard-codey-nj-longest-serving-legislator-retiring-former-governor/70588871007/ |work=[[NorthJersey.com]] |accessdate=February 8, 2024}}</ref>
 
On January 9, 2006, Codey became governor (no longer [[acting governor]]) as a result of his signing legislation that provided that a person who serves as acting governor for a continuous period of at least 180 days will be "Governor of the State of New Jersey" for official and historical purposes. This law was made retroactive to 2001, covering both Codey's service after McGreevey's resignation and the service of [[Donald DiFrancesco]] following the resignation of Governor [[Christine Todd Whitman]] in 2001. This made DiFrancesco New Jersey's 51st governor and Codey the 53rd.<ref>Jones, Richard Lezin. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/nyregion/worth-noting-how-many-governors-does-it-take.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/nyregion/worth-noting-how-many-governors-does-it-take.html"Worth Noting; How Many Governors Does It Take?"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 22, 2006. Accessed January 24, 2022.</ref>

Codey appointed Mary Jane Cooper to be New Jersey's first-ever Inspector General, a position created to root out waste and mismanagement in government. Codey added $7 million in new funding to agencies devoted to public accountability, per the recommendations that resulted from an audit of state ethics codes that he commissioned. In March 2005, Codey cracked down on [[pay to play]] when he signed a law banning campaign contributions by businesses holding state contracts in several circumstances.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Codey Signs Pay-To-Play Ban into Law|publisher=Office of the [[Governor of New Jersey]]|date=March 22, 2005|url=http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=2427}}</ref>

As governor, Codey championed a bill to ban smoking from indoor spaces in the state, more money for stem cell research, increased funding for mental health, and sports.  Codey created a task force to recommend ways to end steroid abuse in high school and college sports in the state. The task force established drug testing for high school athletes on teams that play in the championships, with the state paying for the drug testing program.<ref>Editorial. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/87635027_Fighting_steroid_abuse.html "The Record: Fighting steroid abuse"], ''[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]'', March 15, 2010. Accessed June 22, 2012. "Codey's bill would require the state Department of Education and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to randomly test athletes taking part in championship tournaments."</ref> He also successfully negotiated for [[MetLife Stadium]], which was constructed jointly by the [[New York Giants]] and [[New York Jets]].<ref>Belson, Ken. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/sports/football/11taxes.html "In East Rutherford, N.J., New Football Stadium, but at Whose Cost?"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 10, 2009. Accessed June 24, 2012. "That deal was brokered by Richard J. Codey, the president of the State Senate, who was then acting governor. The agreement broke a logjam among critics on the authority's board who thought the teams were getting a sweetheart deal."</ref>

In December 2005, Codey announced he was not accepting a new state slogan recommended by the State Commerce Department, following a study by a marketing consultant, which was paid for by the state.  He said he felt the slogan "We'll win you over" made the state seem desperate.<ref>[[Mike Kelly (journalist)|Kelly, Mike]]. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNjMmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY4MDY0MzEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5 "A sitcom: Slogan's zeroes"]. ''[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]'', November 1, 2005, accessed April 15, 2007, "Acting Governor Codey could barely contain his disappointment with the proposed "We'll win you over" slogan. Too negative, he complained as he ordered a rewrite. It seems the line caused Codey to recall a desperate moment from his bachelor days, when he asked a hard-to-get woman for a date. She said no, but Codey pleaded for just one date so he could win her over."</ref> Governor Codey openly solicited slogan suggestions from citizens and then choose five finalists, which he opened to a vote from the public. Days prior to leaving the governor's office, Codey announced the winner: "New Jersey: Come See for Yourself".<ref>[http://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=2886 Codey Announces Winning State Tourism Slogan], press release dated January 12, 2006, accessed April 15, 2007. "Governor Richard J. Codey today revealed the people's choice for the state's new tourism slogan: 'New Jersey: Come See for Yourself'."</ref>

Shortly before leaving the governor's office, Codey signed the first legislative moratorium on capital punishment enacted by any state in the nation.<ref>via [[Reuters]]. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x3BPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YQQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3762,2340038&dq=moratorium+on+capital+punishment+codey+new-jersey&hl=en "New Jersey lawmakers approved moratorium on capital punishment"], ''[[Toledo Blade]]'', January 10, 2006. Accessed June 24, 2012.</ref> The moratorium ended with the permanent ban of capital punishment by Codey's successor, Jon Corzine.

Codey served the remainder of McGreevey's unexpired term, remaining governor until January 17, 2006.<ref name="auto"/>

=== Cabinet ===
* [[Virginia Bauer]], Secretary of Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism
* George Hayman, Acting Commissioner of Corrections (as of January 3, 2006)
* [[Donald Bryan]], Acting Commissioner of Banking and Insurance
* Peter Cammarano, Chief of staff to the governor
* [[Bradley Campbell]], Commissioner of Environmental Protection
* Thomas Carver, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development (until October 2005)
* [[James Davy]], Commissioner of Human Services
* [[Lucille Davy]], Acting Commissioner of Education (from September 2005)
* Paul Fader, Chief Counsel to the governor
* [[Jeanne Fox]], President of the Board of Public Utilities
* Col. Joseph Fuentes, Superintendent of the [[New Jersey State Police|State Police]]
* [[Peter C. Harvey]], State Attorney General
* Dr. Fred Jacobs, Commissioner of Health and Senior Services
* Charles Kuperus, Secretary of Agriculture
* John Lettiere, Commissioner of Transportation
* [[Susan Bass Levin]], Commissioner of Community Affairs (until June 2005)
* William Librera, Commissioner of Education (until September 2005)
* [[John McCormac]], State Treasurer
* [[Charles Richman (commissioner)|Charles Richman]], Acting Commissioner of Community Affairs (from June 2005)
* Major Gen. [[Glenn K. Rieth]], [[Adjutant General]]
* [[A.J. Sabath]], Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development (from October 2005)
* Seema Singh, Ratepayer Advocate
* [[Regena Thomas]], [[Secretary of State of New Jersey]]
* Rolando Torres, Commissioner of Personnel

=== 2007 ===
On April 12, 2007, Codey became Acting Governor of New Jersey when Corzine was incapacitated due to serious injuries suffered in a car accident that day. Codey became acting governor since New Jersey did not have the position of [[Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey|lieutenant governor]] until after the 2009 election.<ref>David Kocieniewski and David W. Chen, [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/nyregion/13corzine.html "New Jersey Governor Is Injured in Car Crash"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 13, 2007.</ref> Corzine resumed his duties as governor on May 7, 2007.

=== Public opinion summary ===
As Codey prepared to leave the governor's office, a January 2006 study showed that 48% of voters said the state was "on the wrong track", while 34% said it was headed in the right direction. However, though voters had a negative view of the direction of state, their view of Gov. Codey was strongly positive. In that same study, 68% of voters who recognized Gov. Codey had a favorable opinion of him and the pollsters noted that the outgoing governor had "an impressive 5:1 ratio of favorable to unfavorable opinion".<ref>Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind, (January 12, 2006).[http://publicmind.fdu.edu/060112/index.html Corzine Has Tough Acts to Follow] (press release)</ref>

The [[Obama administration]] approached Codey in 2009 to consider running for governor in Corzine's place if the incumbent withdrew from his reelection bid, citing polls showing that Codey led Republican [[Chris Christie]]. Corzine remained in the race and [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|lost to Christie]].<ref name="margolin20091104">Margolin, Joshua. "[http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/democratic_leaders_nearly_aban.html Gov. Corzine's N.J. re-election bid nearly abandoned as White House concerns grew]" ''The Star-Ledger'', November 4, 2009.</ref>

Even after being out of the governor's office for over five years, Codey continued to make headlines as a prospective candidate for that office. In a FDU PublicMind Poll released September 27, 2011, voters were asked "If you could pick a Democrat to run against [[Chris Christie]] for governor, who would you prefer?" Richard Codey came up as the most adequate candidate at 18% among other well-known Democrats like [[Cory Booker]] and [[Frank Pallone]].<ref>Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind, (September 27, 2011). [http://publicmind.fdu.edu/2011/bounceback/ Christie Approvals Bounce Back] (press release)</ref>

==Personal life==
Codey is married to [[Mary Jo Codey]]. The Codeys have two sons, Kevin and Chris.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2013/11/sen_richard_codey_and_wife_mary_jo_announce_codey_fund_for_mental_health.html|title=Sen. Richard Codey and wife, Mary Jo, announce Codey Fund for Mental Health|first=Susan |last=Livio|website=NJ.com|date=November 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Legacy==
In 2004, South Mountain Arena ice rink, located next to [[Turtle Back Zoo]] in [[West Orange, New Jersey]], was renamed to [[Richard J. Codey Arena]] in his honor. The rink was the former practice facility of the [[New Jersey Devils]] from 1986-2007 and is currently home to the New Jersey Daredevils special hockey team, New Jersey Devils youth hockey team, and Seton Hall University and Seton Hall men's hockey teams. It is also the practice facility of the [[New York Sirens]] of the [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] (PWHL).

== Electoral history ==
=== New Jersey Senate ===
{{Election box begin no change 
|title = [[2021 New Jersey elections|New Jersey general election, 2021]]<ref name="GeneralResults">{{cite web |title=Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 06/08/2021 Election |url=https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2021/2021-official-general-results-state-senate.pdf |publisher=[[Secretary of State of New Jersey]] |access-date=December 12, 2021 |date=November 30, 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
| votes = 50,604
| percentage = 64.87
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Adam Kraemer
| votes = 27,409
| percentage = 35.13
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 78,013
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin
| title = [[New Jersey elections, 2017|New Jersey general election, 2017]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| candidate = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 43,066
| percentage = 69.7
| change = {{increase}} 10.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| candidate = Pasquale Capozzoli
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 18,720
| percentage = 30.3
| change = {{decrease}} 10.4
}}
{{Election box total
| votes =61,786
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=[[New Jersey State Senate election, 2013|New Jersey general election, 2013]]}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 34,291
  |percentage = 59.3
  |change     = {{decrease}} 2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Lee S. Holtzman
  |votes      = 23,581
  |percentage = 40.7
  |change     = {{increase}} 2.5
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 57,872
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=New Jersey general election, 2011}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 27,089
  |percentage = 61.8
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = William H. Eames
  |votes      = 16,741
  |percentage = 38.2
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 43,830
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 2007}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 23,631
  |percentage = 78.8
  |change     = {{increase}} 13.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Joseph A. Fischer
  |votes      = 6,368
  |percentage = 21.2
  |change     = {{decrease}} 13.0
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 29,999
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 2003}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 17,220
  |percentage = 65.8
  |change     = {{increase}} 1.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bobbi Joan Bennett
  |votes      = 8,958
  |percentage = 34.2
  |change     = {{increase}} 1.4
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 26,178
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=New Jersey general election, 2001}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 35,237
  |percentage = 64.7
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jared Silverman
  |votes      = 17,871
  |percentage = 32.8
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate no change|
  |party      = African-Americans For Justice
  |candidate  = Donald Page
  |votes      = 1,359
  |percentage = 2.5
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 54,467
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 1997}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 35,770
  |percentage = 79.5
  |change     = {{increase}} 4.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard R. Klattenberg
  |votes      = 9,250
  |percentage = 20.5
  |change     = {{decrease}} 4.4
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 45,020
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 1993}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 33,138
  |percentage = 75.1
  |change     = {{increase}} 7.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Dr. Zal Velez
  |votes      = 10,979
  |percentage = 24.9
  |change     = {{decrease}} 7.0
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 44,117
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=New Jersey general election, 1991}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 19,677
  |percentage = 68.1
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Eugene J. Byrne
  |votes      = 9,202
  |percentage = 31.9
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 28,879
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 1987}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 17,064
  |percentage = 76.4
  |change     = {{increase}} 1.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Felix Graziano
  |votes      = 5,270
  |percentage = 23.6
  |change     = {{decrease}} 1.2
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 22,334
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 1983}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 18,943
  |percentage = 75.2
  |change     = {{increase}} 1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = James J. Brown
  |votes      = 6,255
  |percentage = 24.8
  |change     = {{decrease}} 1.3
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 25,198
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=New Jersey general election, 1981}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey
  |votes      = 30,403
  |percentage = 73.9
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard E. Koehler
  |votes      = 10,737
  |percentage = 26.1
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 41,140
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

=== New Jersey Assembly ===
{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 1979}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 14,320
  |percentage = 36.1
  |change     = {{decrease}} 0.2
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Mildred Barry Garvin]] (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 12,910
  |percentage = 32.5
  |change     = {{decrease}} 0.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Leonard P. Messina Sr.
  |votes      = 6,079
  |percentage = 15.3
  |change     = {{decrease}} 0.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Timothy A. Gaylord Jr.
  |votes      = 5,143
  |percentage = 13.0
  |change     = {{decrease}} 0.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = U.S. Labor Party
  |candidate  = Janet C. Mandel
  |votes      = 479
  |percentage = 1.2
  |change     = {{increase}} 1.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard S. Roth
  |votes      = 445
  |percentage = 1.1
  |change     = {{increase}} 0.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = U.S. Labor Party
  |candidate  = Lynne Speed
  |votes      = 320
  |percentage = 0.8
  |change     = {{increase}} 0.6
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 39,696
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 1977}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 25,605
  |percentage = 36.3
  |change     = {{increase}} 0.4
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Mildred Barry Garvin]]
  |votes      = 23,430
  |percentage = 33.2
  |change     = {{increase}} 0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Daniel Di Benedetto
  |votes      = 11,322
  |percentage = 16.1
  |change     = {{increase}} 1.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jeffrey A. Gerson
  |votes      = 9,484
  |percentage = 13.4
  |change     = {{decrease}} 0.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Katherine E. Florentine
  |votes      = 242
  |percentage = 0.3
  |change     = {{decrease}} 1.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard S. Roth
  |votes      = 204
  |percentage = 0.3
  |change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = U.S. Labor Party
  |candidate  = Lynne Speed
  |votes      = 127
  |percentage = 0.2
  |change     = {{decrease}} 1.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = U.S. Labor Party
  |candidate  = Dennis Speed
  |votes      = 117
  |percentage = 0.2
  |change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 70,531
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=New Jersey general election, 1975}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 22,618
  |percentage = 35.9
  |change     = {{increase}} 0.2
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Eldridge Hawkins]] (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 20,830
  |percentage = 33.1
  |change     = {{steady}} 0.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Conrad N. Koch
  |votes      = 9,069
  |percentage = 14.4
  |change     = {{decrease}} 2.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Raymond Findley Jr.
  |votes      = 8,563
  |percentage = 13.6
  |change     = {{decrease}} 1.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kenneth R. Kaplan
  |votes      = 1,069
  |percentage = 1.7
  |change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = U.S. Labor Party
  |candidate  = Kenneth Mandel
  |votes      = 852
  |percentage = 1.4
  |change     = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 63,001
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=New Jersey general election, 1973}} 
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Richard Codey
  |votes      = 30,282
  |percentage = 35.7
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Eldridge Hawkins]]
  |votes      = 28,102
  |percentage = 33.1
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John F. Trezza
  |votes      = 13,978
  |percentage = 16.5
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Monroe Jay Lustbader]]
  |votes      = 12,502
  |percentage = 14.7
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 84,864
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.richardjcodey.com/ Richard Codey's 2011 Campaign web page]
*[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/82/senator-codey New Jersey legislative web page], [[New Jersey Legislature]]
*''New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms''
**[http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2016.pdf 2016] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2015.pdf 2015] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2014.pdf 2014] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2013.pdf 2013] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2012.pdf 2012] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2011.pdf 2011] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2010.pdf 2010] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2009.pdf 2009] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2008.pdf 2008] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2007.pdf 2007] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2006.pdf 2006] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2005.pdf 2005] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/CodeyR2004.pdf 2004]
*[http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_new_jersey/col2-content/main-content-list/title_codey_richard.html New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey], [[National Governors Association]]
*[http://www.njsendems.com/senator.asp?sid=27 New Jersey Senate Democrats Website Biography]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051030122850/http://www.njvoterinfo.org/cb/codey.html New Jersey Voter Information Website 2003]
* {{C-SPAN|1013011}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-nj-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John A. Lynch Jr.]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the [[New Jersey Senate]]|years=1998–2022}}
{{s-vac|next=[[Leonard Lance]]<br>2004}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Donald DiFrancesco]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of the [[New Jersey Senate]]|years=2002–2008|alongside=[[John O. Bennett|John Bennett]] (2002–2004)}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bernard Kenny]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Bernard Kenny]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of the [[New Jersey Senate]]|years=2008–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Stephen M. Sweeney|Steve Sweeney]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[John O. Bennett|John Bennett]]<br>Acting}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of New Jersey]]<br>Acting|years=2002}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim McGreevey]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim McGreevey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of New Jersey]]|years=2004–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jon Corzine]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim McGreevey]]|as=Former Governor}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Chris Christie]]|as=Former Governor}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors of New Jersey}}
{{Presidents of the New Jersey Senate}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Codey, Richard}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
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[[Category:Politicians from Orange, New Jersey]]
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