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| Elections in New Jersey |
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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.
In November 2006, Senator Lautenberg had the lowest approval rating of any Democrat running for re-election in 2008 (with 39% approving and 45% disapproving), [1] with his approval improving only slightly to 42% as of September 2007. In the same September 2007 poll conducted by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, voters surveyed decided that Lautenberg does not deserve re-election (46% to 36%) and that he is too old to effectively serve another six years in the Senate (54% to 40%). [2]
Poll results suggested that given the right formula, this could have been a surprise upset race in November 2008. "The poll shows that Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who many voters say is too old to run for another term, would be vulnerable to a strong Republican candidate next year," according to Quinnipiac pollster Clay Richards. [2]
The first poll conducted after the primaries (Rasmussen Reports, June 4, 2008) showed a tighter than expected race between Lautenberg and Zimmer, with the two candidates in a virtual tie. [3]
However, the prevailing political climate at the time of the election was also a major factor. Voter anger was targeted against the GOP, and many Democrats once considered vulnerable managed to hold on.
| Source | Date | Frank Lautenberg | Rob Andrews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Benenson | April 1–2, 2008 | 52% | 21% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 15, 2008 | 49% | 19% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Lautenberg | 203,012 | 58.9% | |
| Democratic | Rob Andrews | 121,777 | 35.3% | |
| Democratic | Donald Cresitello | 19,743 | 5.7% | |
| Total votes | 344,532 | 100.0% | ||
| County | Lautenberg | % | Andrews | % | Cresitello | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 4,798 | 45.4% | 5,287 | 50.1% | 472 | 4.5% |
| Bergen | 26,848 | 78.9% | 5,645 | 16.6% | 1,554 | 4.6% |
| Burlington | 7,757 | 42.4% | 9,483 | 51.8% | 1,059 | 5.8% |
| Camden | 5,995 | 16.5% | 29,175 | 80.1% | 1,256 | 3.4% |
| Cape May | 1,433 | 45.4% | 1,566 | 49.6% | 159 | 5.0% |
| Cumberland | 1,746 | 46.1% | 1,799 | 47.5% | 246 | 6.5% |
| Essex | 31,844 | 76.4% | 8,671 | 20.8% | 1,190 | 2.9% |
| Gloucester | 3,135 | 17.0% | 14,775 | 80.0% | 563 | 3.0% |
| Hudson | 28,446 | 74.8% | 8,233 | 21.7% | 1,343 | 3.5% |
| Hunterdon | 2,061 | 58.8% | 1,180 | 33.7% | 264 | 7.5% |
| Mercer | 10,093 | 74.0% | 3,053 | 22.4% | 494 | 3.6% |
| Middlesex | 17,131 | 62.0% | 7,918 | 28.7% | 2,573 | 9.3% |
| Monmouth | 10,570 | 66.3% | 3,568 | 22.4% | 1,808 | 11.3% |
| Morris | 8,432 | 65.0% | 3,151 | 24.3% | 1,394 | 10.7% |
| Ocean | 8,869 | 57.9% | 5,037 | 32.9% | 1,421 | 9.3% |
| Passaic | 9,842 | 79.3% | 1,700 | 13.7% | 872 | 7.0% |
| Salem | 928 | 31.9% | 1,734 | 59.6% | 248 | 8.5% |
| Somerset | 5,640 | 64.7% | 2,209 | 25.3% | 873 | 10.0% |
| Sussex | 1,379 | 52.7% | 784 | 29.9% | 456 | 17.4% |
| Union | 15,103 | 67.6% | 6,179 | 27.7% | 1,060 | 4.7% |
| Warren | 962 | 47.4% | 630 | 31.0% | 438 | 21.6% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dick Zimmer | 84,663 | 45.8% | |
| Republican | Joseph Pennacchio | 74,546 | 40.3% | |
| Republican | Murray Sabrin | 25,576 | 13.8% | |
| Total votes | 184,785 | 100.0% | ||
Official results, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF, July 11, 2008)
| County | Zimmer | % | Pennacchio | % | Sabrin | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 3,909 | 65% | 1,322 | 22% | 810 | 13% |
| Bergen | 5,145 | 30% | 10,761 | 62% | 1,384 | 8% |
| Burlington | 8,629 | 63% | 2,869 | 21% | 2,276 | 16% |
| Camden | 3,123 | 49% | 2,166 | 34% | 1,036 | 16% |
| Cape May | 3,615 | 70% | 1,034 | 20% | 483 | 9% |
| Cumberland | 1,566 | 72% | 395 | 18% | 225 | 10% |
| Essex | 3,592 | 57% | 2,262 | 36% | 493 | 8% |
| Gloucester | 1,206 | 26% | 2,161 | 47% | 1,254 | 27% |
| Hudson | 1,487 | 48% | 955 | 31% | 641 | 21% |
| Hunterdon | 5,519 | 60% | 2,730 | 30% | 977 | 11% |
| Mercer | 2,555 | 56% | 1,538 | 34% | 488 | 11% |
| Middlesex | 2,603 | 33% | 4,195 | 54% | 1,021 | 13% |
| Monmouth | 7,981 | 56% | 4,630 | 33% | 1,510 | 11% |
| Morris | 8,094 | 36% | 12,700 | 56% | 1,855 | 8% |
| Ocean | 10,875 | 48% | 4,820 | 21% | 6,778 | 30% |
| Passaic | 1,271 | 20% | 4,570 | 72% | 545 | 8% |
| Salem | 769 | 47% | 657 | 41% | 193 | 12% |
| Somerset | 5,227 | 46% | 4,875 | 43% | 1,170 | 10% |
| Sussex | 2,850 | 40% | 3,621 | 51% | 647 | 9% |
| Union | 2,896 | 32% | 4,653 | 52% | 1,388 | 15% |
| Warren | 1,751 | 46% | 1,632 | 43% | 402 | 11% |
On October 29, 2008, a debate between Lautenberg and Zimmer was held on the radio station NJ 101.5. [11]
On November 1, 2008, the two candidates debated for the second time on New Jersey Network, in the only televised debate agreed to by the Lautenberg campaign. [12]
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report [13] | Safe D | October 23, 2008 |
| CQ Politics [14] | Likely D | October 31, 2008 |
| Rothenberg Political Report [15] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics [16] | Likely D | October 31, 2008 |
| Source | Date | Frank Lautenberg (D) | Dick Zimmer (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports [17] | June 4, 2008 | 45% | 44% |
| Quinnipiac University | June 5–8, 2008 | 47% | 38% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | June 17–22, 2008 | 45% | 28% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 7, 2008 | 49% | 36% |
| Strategic Vision | July 11–13, 2008 | 48% | 32% |
| Monmouth University | July 17–21, 2008 | 45% | 37% |
| Club for Growth [18] | July 30–31, 2008 | 35% | 36% |
| Rasmussen Reports [19] | August 4, 2008 | 51% | 33% |
| Quinnipiac University | August 4–10, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | September 4–7, 2008 | 46% | 35% |
| Marist College Archived September 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine | September 5–8, 2008 | 51% | 40% |
| The Record / Research 2000 | September 9–11, 2008 | 49% | 41% |
| Quinnipiac University | September 10–14, 2008 | 48% | 39% |
| Monmouth University | September 11–14, 2008 | 46% | 36% |
| Strategic Vision | September 14–16, 2008 | 47% | 40% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 16, 2008 | 49% | 42% |
| Survey USA | September 27–28, 2008 | 51% | 38% |
| Strategic Vision | September 26–28, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | September 29 – October 5, 2008 | 50% | 34% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 7, 2008 | 51% | 37% |
| Survey USA | October 11–12, 2008 | 51% | 38% |
| Monmouth University | October 15–18, 2008 | 52% | 36% |
| Quinnipiac University | October 16–19, 2008 | 55% | 33% |
| Marist College Archived January 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine | October 20–21, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Strategic Vision | October 24–26, 2008 | 49% | 41% |
| Survey USA | October 29–30, 2008 | 52% | 37% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) | 1,951,218 | 56.03% | +2.15% | |
| Republican | Dick Zimmer | 1,461,025 | 41.95% | -2.00% | |
| Independent | Daryl Mikell Brooks | 20,920 | 0.60% | n/a | |
| Libertarian | Jason Scheurer | 18,810 | 0.54% | -0.05 | |
| Independent | J.M. Carter | 15,935 | 0.46% | n/a | |
| Independent | Jeff Boss | 10,345 | 0.30% | n/a | |
| Socialist Workers | Sara Lobman | 9,187 | 0.26% | n/a | |
| Total votes | 3,482,445 | 100.00% | n/a | ||
| 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.
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.
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.
Steven Mark Lonegan is an American businessman and politician who served as mayor of Bogota, New Jersey, from 1996 to 2007. He was also the Republican Party's nominee in the 2013 Special Senate election in New Jersey, which he lost to Cory Booker.
Andy Unanue is the current Managing Partner of AUA Private Equity Partners, an operationally-focused, lower middle-market private equity firm that targets Hispanic-oriented and family-owned companies. Unanue is the former Chief Operating Officer of the family-owned Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.
Anne Evans Estabrook is an American real estate developer who was the frontrunner in the Republican primary for the 2008 United States Senate race in New Jersey before suffering a mini-stroke and withdrawing from the race.
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The race changed yesterday with the surprise withdrawal of Anne Evans Estabrook, a millionaire businesswoman who had courted party leaders for almost a year. Estabrook suffered a mini-stroke on Monday and decided to quickly exit the contest.
Former Goya Foods executive Andrew Unanue, whose campaign was controversy-ridden ever since he announced his candidacy on Easter Sunday, withdrew from the race today and threw his support behind former GOP Rep. Dick Zimmer.
