 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
  Torricelli: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Zimmer: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Elections in New Jersey |
|---|
 |
The 1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Bradley decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. The seat was won by Democratic congressman Robert Torricelli.
Senator Bill Bradley announced on August 17, 1995 that he would not stand for a fourth term. [1]
Initial speculation in the Democratic Party centered on two North Jersey congressmen, Robert Torricelli and Robert Menendez. Torricelli, who had over $1.2 million in campaign funds on hand and had been contacting key players for several weeks in anticipation that Bradley would retire, immediately issued a statement claiming several prominent party members had urged him to run for the seat. [1]
Menendez, who had roughly $165,000 in funds, likewise issued a statement that he would give the race "serious consideration" and "look at it in terms of what's in the best interest of the party and the state." [1] Menendez's decision was further complicated by the fact that Torricelli's district also included part of Hudson County, and many local politicians immediately endorsed Torricelli. [1] In September, he requested that Hudson County politicians refrain from taking sides, given the potential for a competitive primary. [3] Menendez ultimately announced he would not challenge Torricelli in October 1995, fueling immediate speculation that he would campaign for Governor in 1997. [2]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Torricelli | 223,444 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 223,444 | 100.00% | ||
Zimmer announced his campaign before Bradley's announced retirement and was the front-runner from the start, getting endorsements from Republican leaders across the state, including Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Bradley's retirement shook up the race, as several serious contenders, including the popular former Governor Thomas Kean, reconsidered whether to run. [1]
Both DuHaime, a pro-life candidate, and La Rossa, a pro-gun candidate, attempted to portray Zimmer as too liberal, but Zimmer largely ignored his opponents and won the primary easily. [5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dick Zimmer | 144,121 | 68.0% | |
| Republican | Richard DuHaime | 42,155 | 19.9% | |
| Republican | Dick La Rossa | 25,608 | 12.1% | |
| Total votes | 211,884 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic U.S. Representative Robert Torricelli won his party's primary unopposed, and Republican U.S. Representative Dick Zimmer won his party's nomination easily. Torricelli defeated Zimmer in the general election by 10 points, while President Bill Clinton simultaneously carried New Jersey by almost 18% in his reelection bid. Third-party and independent candidates carried 4.8% of the vote.
Like other Democratic candidates around the country, Torricelli tried to tie "Zig-Zag Zimmer" to House Speaker Newt Gingrich and attacked him for flip flopping on his positions on issues like Medicare, gun control and an increase in the minimum wage during the campaign. Zimmer tried to cast his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal with ethical flaws. Military morale was also a part of the campaign.
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [lower-alpha 2] | Margin of error | Robert Torricelli (D) | Dick Zimmer (R) | Other/ Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers-Eagleton | September 6–13, 1995 | 804 A | ±3.5% | 29% | 34% | 37% |
| 707 RV | ±3.5% | 29% | 34% | 36% | ||
| Rutgers-Eagleton | June 13–19, 1996 | 646 RV | ±4.0% | 39% | 31% | 31% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | September 5–11, 1996 | 627 RV | ±4.0% | 38% | 32% | 30% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | October 10–20, 1996 | 810 RV | ±3.5% | 40% | 35% | 25% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | Oct. 29–Nov. 1, 1996 | 810 RV | ±3.5% | 41% | 37% | 19% |
| 508 LV | ±4.5% | 42% | 41% | 17% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [lower-alpha 1] | Margin of error | Jim Florio (D) | Dick Zimmer (R) | Other/ Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers-Eagleton | September 6–13, 1995 | 804 A | ±3.5% | 39% | 42% | 19% |
| 707 RV | ±4.0% | 39% | 43% | 18% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Torricelli | 1,519,328 | 53.12% | ||
| Republican | Dick Zimmer | 1,227,817 | 42.93% | ||
| Independent | Richard J. Pezzullo | 50,971 | 1.78% | ||
| Independent | Paul A. Woomer | 15,183 | 0.53% | ||
| Independent | Olga L. Rodriguez | 14,319 | 0.50% | ||
| Independent | Mark Wise | 13,683 | 0.48% | ||
| Independent | Wilburt Kornegay | 11,107 | 0.39% | ||
| Independent | Steven J. Baeli | 7,749 | 0.27% | ||
| Total votes | 2,860,157 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg was an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served as United States Senator from New Jersey from 1982 to 2001, and again from 2003 until his death in 2013. He was originally from Paterson, New Jersey.
Robert Guy Torricelli is an American attorney and former politician. A Democrat, Torricelli served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 9th district from 1983 to 1997 and as a United States senator from New Jersey from 1997 to 2003.
The 2002 United States Senate elections featured a series of fiercely contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Republican Party, which gained two seats and thus a narrow majority from the Democratic Party in the United States Senate. The Senate seats up for election, known as class 2 Senate seats, were last up for regular election in 1996. The election cycle was held on November 5, 2002, almost fourteen months after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Richard Alan Zimmer is an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey, who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the United States House of Representatives. He was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 1996 and 2008. In March 2010, he was appointed by Governor Chris Christie to head the New Jersey Privatization Task Force.
The 1996 United States Senate elections were held on November 5, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They coincided with the presidential election of the same year, in which Democrat Bill Clinton was re-elected president.
The 1990 United States Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 1990, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. The Democratic Party increased its majority with a net gain of one seat from the Republican Party. The election cycle took place in the middle of President George H. W. Bush's term, and, as with most other midterm elections, the party not holding the presidency gained seats in Congress.
Douglas Robert Forrester is an American businessman and politician from New Jersey. He was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New Jersey in 2002, and the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey in 2005. Forrester was defeated by his two Democratic opponents, Frank Lautenberg and then-U.S. Senator Jon Corzine, respectively. Forrester currently serves as the president of Integrity Health, a health benefits management firm.
The 2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 7, 2006. Bob Menendez, who had served as an interim appointee, was elected to a six-year term in office. He defeated Republican Thomas Kean Jr. in the general election.
The 2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a fifth, non-consecutive term, defeating former Republican congressman Dick Zimmer. Zimmer had also been the nominee for this seat in 1996. As of 2023, this is the last time where both major party nominees for this Senate seat were white men.
Mike Andrew DuHaime, is a political campaign strategist, public affairs executive,.and businessman. A member of the Republican Party, DuHaime served as the Political Director of the Republican National Committee between 2005 and 2007 and was the chief strategist for the Chris Christie's successful campaign for governor of New Jersey, defeating Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine. DuHaime is also a managing director at Mercury Public Affairs, LLC, a national public affairs firm. He served as one of ten members of Gov. Christie's transition team and was the chairman of the authorities subcommittee.
From January 29 to June 4, 1996, voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for president in the 1996 United States presidential election. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, the former Senate majority leader, was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1996 Republican National Convention held from August 12 to 15, 1996, in San Diego, California; Dole resigned from the Senate in June 1996 once he became the presumptive nominee to concentrate on his presidential campaign.
The 2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election was a race for the Governor of New Jersey. It was held on November 6, 2001. Primaries took place on June 25. Democratic nominee Jim McGreevey won the general election with 56% of the vote against Bret Schundler. — the first majority-elected governor since James Florio in 1989. Democrats simultaneously ended Republican control of both houses of the legislature after 10 years.
The 2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg retired rather than seeking a fourth term. Democratic nominee Jon Corzine, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, defeated the Republican U.S. Representative Bob Franks in a close election.
The 2002 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 5, 2002. Former U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg was elected to an open seat over Republican businessman Doug Forrester after incumbent Senator Robert Torricelli dropped out of the race on September 30, facing ethical misconduct allegations, a formal admonishment by the U.S. Senate, and falling poll numbers against Forrester.
Richard Joseph LaRossa is an American Republican Party politician and former television presenter who served two terms in the New Jersey Senate, where he represented the 15th Legislative District from 1992 to 1998.
The 2012 United States Senate election in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
The 2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2018, in order to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez won reelection to a third term over Republican businessman Bob Hugin.
The 2024 United States Senate election in New Jersey will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Primary elections will take place on June 4, 2024. The seat is currently held by Democrat Bob Menendez, who was appointed to the Senate in January 2006 and won his first full term the same year.
The 1991 New Jersey State Senate elections were held on November 5. The election took place mid-way through the term of Governor James Florio. The results were a landslide victory for the Republican Party amidst a tax revolt by New Jersey voters. Democrats picked up only one seat, that of Senator Lee B. Laskin. Republicans picked up eleven Democrat seats, winning control of the Senate for the first time since 1974. This was the first election after the 1990 census.
The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the twelve U.S. representatives from the State of New Jersey, one from all twelve of the state's congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.
