Ralph C. DeRose (September 7, 1928 – December 21, 2011) was an American Democratic Party official who served in the New Jersey Senate and twice sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey.
[1] Byrne later appointed him to serve as a Commissioner of the Waterfront Commission of New York and New Jersey.
[3] DeRose resigned in 1977 to challenge Byrne in the Democratic gubernatorial primary; he finished third with 99,948 votes (17%).
Byrne won with 175,448 (30%), and U.S. Rep. Robert Roe finished second with 134,116 (23%).
U.S. Rep. James Florio finished fourth with 87,743 votes (15%), followed by ex-State Labor Commissioner Joseph Hoffman with 58,835 (10%) and State Sen. Raymond Garramone with 6,602 (1%).