1994 United States Senate election in New Jersey

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1994 United States Senate election in New Jersey
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  Frank Lautenberg.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Frank Lautenberg Chuck Haytaian
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,033,487966,244
Percentage50.29%47.02%
1994 United States Senate election in New Jersey results map by county.svg
1994 United States Senate election in New Jersey results map by congressional district.svg
Lautenberg:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Haytaian:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Frank Lautenberg
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Lautenberg
Democratic

The 1994 United States Senate Election in New Jersey was held November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a third term.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary Results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) 151,416 80.9%
Democratic Bill Campbell26,06613.94%
Democratic Lynne A. Speed9,5635.11%
Total votes187,045 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary Results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Chuck Haytaian 126,768 67.32%
Republican Brian T. Kennedy 61,53232.68%
Total votes188,300 100

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Lautenberg took no part in much of the summer campaign, delegating duties to his campaign director David Eichenbaum. Haytaian became so frustrated with the Senator's absence that he referred to Eichenbaum as Lautenberg's "paid mouthpiece" and his campaign aides began to refer to "Senator Eichenbaum" in their campaign materials. [4]

Haytaian centered his campaign on reducing federal taxes through the institution of a flat federal income tax of 18.5%. [5] Throughout the campaign, Haytaian emphasized taxes and fiscal issues over social issues. [5] Eichenbaum, standing in for Lautenberg, referred to Haytaian's flat tax as a "giveaway to the rich" and criticized Haytaian as a "hypocrite" for previously opposing a flat state tax plan because it would have eliminated home mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions. [4] Haytaian fired back that in 1982, Lautenberg had called a flat tax "the only one that can quickly close the loopholes." [4]

Campaign advertisements for both candidates were highly negative. Both candidates positioned themselves as tough on crime and taxes, which polling showed were the two major issues in the state. [6] Haytaian stressed his support for the death penalty and Lautenberg's opposition. [6]

Abortion was also an issue; Lautenberg supported abortion rights, while Haytaian favored mandatory waiting periods, parental notification for minors, and a ban on federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or where necessary to save the life of a pregnant mother. In the past, Haytaian had supported a constitutional ban. [7]

Debates

Lautenberg agreed to two debates on October 15 and 25. [4]

Endorsements

Frank Lautenberg

Federal executive branch officials

Individuals

Chuck Haytaian

Federal legislators

State executive branch officials

State legislators

Local officials

  • Albert M. "Bo" Calloway, Trenton City Councilman (Democratic) [11]

Individuals

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Frank
Lautenberg (D)		Chuck
Haytaian (R)		Other/
Undecided
Rutgers-Eagleton [12] [ not specific enough to verify ]June 14–16, 1994620 LV±4.0%57%30%12%
Rutgers-Eagleton [12] [ not specific enough to verify ]Aug. 30–Sep. 6, 1994598 LV±4.0%52%27%21%
Rutgers-Eagleton [12] [ not specific enough to verify ]October 16–20, 1994586 LV±4.0%48%35%17%
Rutgers-Eagleton [12] [ not specific enough to verify ]November 2–4, 1994780 LV±3.5%49%35%16%
  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Results

1994 U.S. Senate Election in New Jersey [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) 1,033,487 50.29% Decrease2.svg 3.36
Republican Chuck Haytaian 966,24447.02%Increase2.svg 1.84
Keep America FirstMichael P. Kelly14,3430.70%N/A
Libertarian Ben Grindlinger14,0420.68%Increase2.svg 0.27
Conservative Richard J. Pezzullo9,3870.46%N/A
Jobs, Property RightsAndrea Lippi6,3030.31%N/A
Damn Drug DealersGeorge Patrick Predham4,2260.20%N/A
Socialist Workers Joanne Kuniansky3,6060.18%Steady2.svg
Natural Law Arlene Gold3,2490.16%N/A
Majority 67,2433.27−5.10%
Total votes2,054,887 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold

Haytaian remarked after the race that he was most disappointed by the margins of his losses in Bergen and Middlesex counties. [7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Hopefuls enter ring for congressional primaries" . The Record . April 15, 1994. p. 7. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ Sullivan, Joeseph (June 8, 1994). "2 Favorites Nominated for Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Election and voting information". FEC.gov.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Sullivan, Joseph F. (October 2, 1994). "THE 1994 CAMPAIGN: NEW JERSEY; As Haytaian Pushes a Flat-Rate Tax, Lautenberg Runs Like an Incumbent". The New York Times . p. 39. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Peterson, Iver (November 3, 1994). "Haytaian, a Trenton Insider, Seeks Senate as an Outsider". The New York Times . p. A1.
  6. 1 2 3 Peterson, Iver (November 6, 1994). "A Negative Lautenberg and Haytaian". The New York Times . p. 55.
  7. 1 2 3 "Haytaian, Philosophical on Senate Loss, Looks Ahead to a Tough Year in Assembly". The New York Times . November 14, 1994. p. B7. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  8. ↑ Gray, Jerry (June 19, 1994). "Haytaian and Lautenberg Step Up Their Sparring". The New York Times . p. 29. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  9. ↑ Peterson, Iver (November 9, 1994). "Lautenberg Edges Out Haytaian For 3d Term". The New York Times. p. B13.
  10. ↑ Sullivan, Joseph F. (October 14, 1994). "Haytaian Praised From Other Side of the Aisle". The New York Times . p. B5. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ Peterson, Iver (October 11, 1994). "For Haytaian, the Pace Of Running Is Frenetic". The New York Times . p. B7. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Rutgers-Eagleton
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