mate Joann H. Smith, with both candidates receiving more than $25,000 each in campaign funding from the $1.1 million spent by the New Jersey Republican State Committee to support candidates statewide. In 1989, he won re-election to a second term. After spending two terms in the Assembly, he retired to run for the seat in the New Jersey Senate in 1991. Tenure Kyrillos strongly opposed Democratic Governor Jim Florio's tax increases, citing his opposition to "the Florio tax plan" repeatedly in his campaign advertising. He also opposed the Abbott districts. Committee assignments Assembly Education Committee New Jersey Senate (1992–2018) Elections In 1991, Kyrillos decided to run for the 13th District seat in the New Jersey Senate. He defeated incumbent appointed Senator James T. Phillips 68%-32%. In 1993, after redistricting, he won re-election to a second term with 64% of the vote. In 1997, he won re-election to a third term with 63% of the vote. After redistricting, the 13th district became more competitive. In 2001, he won re-election to a fourth term (two-year term) with 64% of the vote. He won re-election to a fifth term in 2003 against former State Assemblyman Bill Flynn 54%-41%. In 2007, he won re-election to a sixth term with 61% of the vote. In 2011, he won re-election to a seventh term, defeating Hazlet Mayor Chris Cullen, 60%-37%. Tenure When Republicans held the legislative majority in the Statehouse, Kyrillos served as Majority Conference Leader and chaired standing committees on economic development and coastal resources. Kyrillos was ranking member of the Economic Growth, Judiciary and Legislative Oversight committees. On October 25, 2016, Kyrillos told Observer.com that he would not seek a re-election for the 2017 State Senate elections. He was succeeded by Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon in 2018. Committee assignments Senate Natural Resources and Tourism Committee (Chairman) Senate Economic Growth Committee Senate Judiciary Committee Senate Oversight Committee Other positions Senate Majority Conference Leader New Jersey Republican State Committee (Chairman) District 13 Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The Assembly representatives from the 13th District for the 2014–2015 Legislative Session were: Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, and Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon Other political activities 1992 congressional election In 1992, Kyrillos ran for the United States House of Representatives but was defeated by incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone in a competitive