1976 United States presidential election in New Jersey

Last updated

1976 United States presidential election in New Jersey
Flag of New Jersey.svg
  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  
  Gerald Ford presidential portrait (cropped 2).jpg Jimmy Carter 1977 cropped.jpg
Nominee Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Michigan Georgia
Running mate Bob Dole Walter Mondale
Electoral vote170
Popular vote1,509,6881,444,653
Percentage50.08%47.92%

New Jersey Presidential Election Results 1976.svg
County Results

President before election

Gerald Ford
Republican

Elected President

Jimmy Carter
Democratic

The 1976 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 2, 1976. All 50 states and the District of Columbia, were part of the 1976 United States presidential election. Voters chose 17 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

Contents

New Jersey was won by the Republican nominees, incumbent President Gerald Ford of Michigan and his running mate Senator Bob Dole of Kansas. Ford and Dole defeated the Democratic nominees, Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia and his running mate Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota.

Ford narrowly carried New Jersey with 50.08% of the vote to Carter's 47.92%, a victory margin of 2.16%. [1] Anti-war former Democratic Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, running as an Independent presidential candidate, came in a distant third, with 1.09%.

New Jersey weighed in for this election as about 4% more Republican than the national average. New Jersey in this era was a swing state with a slight Republican lean, and Gerald Ford, a moderate Republican, held enough appeal among New Jersey's many moderate suburban voters to carry the state 50–48 even as Jimmy Carter narrowly won nationally by a 50–48 margin. As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last time a Democrat won the presidency without carrying New Jersey. The state would not vote for a losing candidate again until 2000, and for the loser of the popular vote until 2004.

Results

1976 United States presidential election in New Jersey
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
Republican Gerald Ford (incumbent)1,509,68850.08%17
Democratic Jimmy Carter 1,444,65347.92%0
Independent Eugene McCarthy 32,7171.09%0
Libertarian Roger MacBride 9,4490.31%0
American Independent Lester Maddox 7,7160.26%0
Socialist Labor Julius Levin 3,6860.12%0
Communist Gus Hall 1,6620.06%0
U.S. Labor Lyndon LaRouche 1,6500.05%0
Socialist Workers Peter Camejo 1,1840.04%0
People's Margaret Wright 1,0440.03%0
Prohibition Ben Bubar 5540.02%0
Socialist Frank Zeidler 4690.02%0
Totals3,014,472100.0%17
Voter Turnout (Voting age/Registered)58%/80%

Results by county

CountyGerald Ford
Republican
Jimmy Carter
Democratic
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %# %
Atlantic 36,73345.56%41,96552.05%1,9322.40%-5,232-6.49%80,630
Bergen 237,33155.86%180,73842.54%6,7841.60%56,59313.32%424,853
Burlington 60,96048.07%63,30949.92%2,5512.01%-2,349-1.85%126,820
Camden 82,80142.33%108,85455.65%3,9562.02%-26,053-13.32%195,611
Cape May 19,49853.18%16,48944.97%6801.85%3,0098.21%36,667
Cumberland 20,53540.84%29,16558.00%5871.17%-8,630-17.16%50,287
Essex 133,91142.40%174,43455.23%7,4672.36%-40,523-12.83%315,812
Gloucester 34,88846.33%38,72651.43%1,6882.24%-3,838-5.10%75,302
Hudson 92,63643.55%116,24154.64%3,8531.81%-23,605-11.09%212,730
Hunterdon 19,61659.50%12,59238.20%7582.30%7,02421.30%32,966
Mercer 58,45344.67%69,62153.20%2,7822.13%-11,168-8.53%130,856
Middlesex 113,53947.14%122,85951.01%4,4661.85%-9,320-3.87%240,864
Monmouth 110,10454.29%88,95643.87%3,7301.84%21,14810.42%202,790
Morris 105,92161.45%63,74936.98%2,7031.57%42,17224.47%172,373
Ocean 77,87556.93%56,41341.24%2,4931.82%21,46215.69%136,781
Passaic 85,10251.20%76,19445.84%4,9302.97%8,9085.36%166,226
Salem 11,63946.60%12,82651.35%5122.05%-1,187-4.75%24,977
Somerset 51,26057.15%36,25840.43%2,1732.42%15,00216.72%89,691
Sussex 23,61360.19%14,75937.62%8572.18%8,85422.57%39,229
Union 118,01951.56%106,26746.42%4,6162.02%11,7525.14%228,902
Warren 15,25450.67%14,23847.29%6132.04%1,0163.38%30,105
Totals1,509,68850.08%1,444,65347.92%60,1312.00%65,0352.16%3,014,472

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Analysis

Reflecting the closeness of the statewide result, Ford and Carter virtually split New Jersey's 21 counties: Ford won 11 counties to Carter's 10. The native Southerner Jimmy Carter performed unusually well among rural voters in South Jersey, winning 6 out of 7 of the southernmost counties in the state. Carter's strongest county by vote share was rural Cumberland County in the far south of the state by the Delaware border, where he won 58–41. However his comfortable victories in more populous traditional Democratic base counties are what made him competitive statewide: in Essex County, he won 55–42, in Hudson County, he won 55–44, and in Mercer County, he won 53–45. He also won heavily populated Middlesex County, but by a narrow 51–47 margin.

The Northern moderate Ford, however, edged out Carter statewide with comfortable victories in heavily populated suburban counties which were dominated by moderate Republicans. In most presidential elections in this era, the most Republican county in the state would usually be rural, sparsely populated Sussex County. While Ford did win Sussex County decisively by a 60–38 margin, Ford's strongest county by vote share was actually suburban Morris County, where he beat Carter 61–37. In suburban Monmouth County, Ford won 54–44. Other important victories for Ford were in fairly populated Ocean County, which he won 57–41, and Passaic County, which he won 51–46. However Ford's biggest prize was very heavily populated Bergen County, which went decisively to Ford by a 56–43 margin. This was the first time since 1916 that a Democrat won the presidency without Passaic County.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 United States presidential election</span>

The 1976 United States presidential election was the 48th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 2, 1976. The Democratic nominee, former Georgia governor Jimmy Carter, narrowly defeated incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford. This was the first presidential election since 1932 in which the incumbent was defeated, as well as the only Democratic victory of the six presidential elections between 1968 and 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 United States presidential election in California</span>

The 1976 United States presidential election in California took place on November 2, 1976, as part of the 1976 United States presidential election. State voters chose 45 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span>

The 1996 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 5, 1996, and was part of the 1996 United States presidential election. Voters chose 15 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. The major contenders were incumbent Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican Senator from Kansas Bob Dole, with Reform Party candidate Ross Perot – listed as an "Independent" in New Jersey – running a distant third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 United States presidential election in Vermont</span>

The 1980 United States presidential election in Vermont took place on November 4, 1980, as part of the 1980 United States presidential election which was held throughout all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Voters chose three representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Vermont voted for the Republican nominee Ronald Reagan of California and his running mate George H.W. Bush of Texas. Reagan took 44.37% of the vote to incumbent Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s 38.41%, a victory margin of 5.96%. Independent John Anderson took 14.90%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 United States presidential election in New York</span>

The 1980 United States presidential election in New York took place on November 4, 1980. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were part of the 1980 United States presidential election. Voters chose 41 electors to the Electoral College, which voted for President and Vice President.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 United States presidential election in Vermont</span>

The 1976 United States presidential election in Vermont took place on November 2, 1976, as part of the 1976 United States presidential election which was held throughout all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Voters chose three representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 United States presidential election in New York</span>

The 1976 United States presidential election in New York took place on November 2, 1976. All 50 states and the District of Columbia, were part of the 1976 United States presidential election. Voters chose 41 electors to the Electoral College, which voted for President and Vice President. New York was won by Democratic Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, in a narrow victory against incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford, who failed to gain the presidency through formal election that year. Carter was running with Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale, and President Ford had selected Kansas Senator Bob Dole. The presidential election of 1976 was a very partisan election in New York, with more than 99% of the electorate voting for either Carter or Ford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 United States presidential election in Massachusetts</span>

The 1980 United States presidential election in Massachusetts took place on November 4, 1980, as part of the 1980 United States presidential election, which was held throughout all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose 14 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. By an exceptionally narrow margin, Massachusetts was carried by the Republican nominee, former Governor Ronald Reagan of California, over incumbent Democratic President Jimmy Carter of Georgia. Also contesting the state was independent candidate Congressman John B. Anderson of Illinois, who won an unexpectedly solid 15.15%, mostly from disaffected Democratic voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 United States presidential election in Massachusetts</span>

The 1976 United States presidential election in Massachusetts took place on November 2, 1976, as part of the 1976 United States presidential election, which was held throughout all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose 14 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span>

The 1980 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 4, 1980. All 50 states and the District of Columbia, were part of the 1980 United States presidential election. Voters chose seventeen electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span>

The 1968 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 5, 1968. All 50 states and the District of Columbia, were part of the 1968 United States presidential election. Voters chose 17 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span> New Jersey presidential election

The 1960 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 8, 1960. All 50 states were part of the 1960 United States presidential election. Voters chose 16 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span>

The 1948 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 2, 1948. All contemporary 48 states were part of the 1948 United States presidential election. Voters chose 16 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1944 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span>

The 1944 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 7, 1944. All contemporary 48 states were part of the 1944 United States presidential election. Voters chose 16 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1940 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span>

The 1940 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 5, 1940. All contemporary 48 states were part of the 1940 United States presidential election. Voters chose 16 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1932 United States presidential election in New Jersey</span>

The 1932 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 8, 1932. All contemporary 48 states were part of the 1932 United States presidential election. Voters chose 16 electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 United States presidential election in New Hampshire</span>

The 1980 United States presidential election in New Hampshire took place on November 4, 1980, as part of the 1980 United States presidential election, which was held throughout all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 United States presidential election in New Hampshire</span>

The 1976 United States presidential election in New Hampshire took place on November 2, 1976, as part of the 1976 United States presidential election, which was held throughout all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 United States presidential election in Connecticut</span>

The 1976 United States presidential election in Connecticut took place on November 2, 1976. All 50 states and The District of Columbia, were part of the 1976 United States presidential election. Connecticut voters chose eight electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 United States presidential election in Illinois</span>

The 1976 United States presidential election in Illinois was held on November 2, 1976. All 50 states and The District of Columbia, were part of the 1976 United States presidential election. State voters chose 26 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

References

  1. "1976 Presidential General Election Results - New Jersey". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved November 16, 2013.