Career
DeRose was elected to the State Senate in 1971. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1973, finishing third with 95,085 votes (22%), behind Brendan Byrne with 193,120 votes (45%) and Ann Klein with 116,705 (27%). Byrne later appointed him to serve as a Commissioner of the Waterfront Commission of New York and New Jersey.
In 1975, Byrne tried to remove DeRose from the post, and cut DeRose"s $30,500 salary.
DeRose resigned in 1977 to challenge Byrne in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. He finished third with 99,948 votes (17%).
Robert Roe finished second with 134,116 (23%). United States. James Florio finished fourth with 87,743 votes (15%), followed by ex-State Labor Commissioner Joseph Hoffman with 58,835 (10%) and State Senator.
Raymond Garramone with 6,602 (1%).