Anthony R. Bucco (February 24, 1938 – September 16, 2019) was an AmericanRepublican Party politician who served in theNew Jersey Senate from 1998, where he represented the25th Legislative District until his death. Bucco served as Co-Majority Leader in theNew Jersey Senate with RepublicanRobert Singer and DemocratBernard Kenny when both Republicans and Democrats had 20 seats in theSenate he previously served in theNew Jersey General Assembly from 1995 to 1998. His sonTony Bucco was a member of theNew Jersey General Assembly and was named to succeed him in the State Senate.

Bucco was born on February 24, 1938, and lived in the town ofBoonton for most of his life. He served in theU.S. Army Reserve from 1957 until 1965.^[2] Bucco later resided inBoonton Township, New Jersey.^[3] He married the former Helen Jayne in 1959 and had one son,Anthony Mark.^[2]

On February 8, 2019, Bucco was diagnosed withthroat cancer and was admitted to the hospital.^[4] On September 16, 2019, Bucco died of aheart attack at age 81.^[5]

Bucco served in various local offices before entering theState Legislature. He served on the town of Boonton's Board of Aldermen from 1978 through 1983, served as the town's mayor from 1984 through 1989, and was elected to theMorris CountyBoard of Chosen Freeholders from 1989 through 1992. Bucco also served on the steering committee of the Morris County Economic Development Commission.^[6]

In the2009 legislative elections, Anthony was elected to the seat in the General Assembly previously held by his father.^[7]

Before entering the Senate, Bucco served in theGeneral Assembly, thelower house of the New Jersey Legislature, from 1995 to 1998, where he served as Assistant Majority Whip from 1996 to 1998.^[6] Bucco was first selected by district Republican committee and sworn in January 1995, to fill the remainder of the unexpired term ofRodney P. Frelinghuysen, who resigned his Assembly seat following his election toCongress. During the unexpired term, he served alongsideArthur R. Albohn in the 25th district. In his first Republican primary, Bucco and running mateMichael Patrick Carroll defeated his successor in the AssemblyRick Merkt and then-FreeholderChris Christie along with two other candidates.^[8] Bucco and Carroll were easily elected in the general election and served one full two-year term.

In the 1997 Senate election, Bucco defeated one-termincumbentDemocratic SenatorGordon MacInnes.^[9]

Democrat Rupande Mehta was planning to challenge Bucco for the June 8, 2021 senate primary. Mehta ran in the 2020 special election triggered by Bucco’s death.^[10]

In the Senate Bucco has served as Assistant Majority Leader from 2000 to 2002, Majority Leader from 2002 to 2004, Leader Assistant Minority Leader from 2006 to 2008, Deputy Minority Leader from 2008 to 2010, Republican Budget Officer from 2010 to 2019; he served as Chair of the Republican Conference at the time of his death.

• Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens
• Labor
• Intergovernmental Relations

New Jersey general election, 2017^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Anthony Bucco (Incumbent)	30,659	52.2	34.6
	Democratic	Lisa Bhimani	28,131	47.8	N/A
Total votes			'58,790'	'100.0'

New Jersey general election, 2003^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Anthony Bucco (Incumbent)	22,163	55.1	10.4
	Democratic	Blair B. Mac Innes	18,060	44.9	10.4
Total votes			'40,223'	'100.0'

New Jersey general election, 1997^[17][18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Anthony Bucco	37,048	54.8	5.1
	Democratic	Gordon MacInnes (Incumbent)	29,515	43.7	6.6
	Conservative	Joseph Long	1,033	1.5	N/A
Total votes			'67,596'	'100.0'

New Jersey general election, 1995^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Anthony Bucco (Incumbent)	21,787	30.8	6.1
	Republican	Michael Patrick Carroll	20,215	28.6	2.6
	Democratic	Stephen D. Landfield	12,943	18.3	2.0
	Democratic	Stanley B. Yablonsky	12,795	18.1	3.1
	Conservative	Joseph Long	1,495	2.1	N/A
	Conservative	Jim Spinosa	1,478	2.1	N/A
Total votes			'70,713'	'100.0'

• Senator Anthony Bucco's Official Site
• Senator Bucco's legislative web page,New Jersey Legislature
• New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
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• 1938 births
• 2019 deaths
• American people of Italian descent
• Mayors of places in New Jersey
• Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly
• County commissioners in New Jersey
• Democratic Party New Jersey state senators
• People from Boonton, New Jersey
• People from Boonton Township, New Jersey
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• 21st-century members of the New Jersey Legislature
• 20th-century members of the New Jersey Legislature

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