2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey
The New Jersey 2006 U.S. Senate election will be held on November 7, 2006 to determine who will represent New Jersey in the United States Senate for a term that will end in January 2013. The seat was previously held by Democratic Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine. As Governor, Corzine appointed Rep. Robert Menendez, who became New Jersey's first Latino Senator when he was sworn in on January 18, 2006. Menendez is most likely going to be the Democratic nominee in 2006. The two other Democrats who were considering a bid for the nomination, Rob Andrews and Frank Pallone, have chosen to remain in their House seats instead. A March 2006 poll showed Menendez's approval rating at 46%, including a net approval of 8% [1].
Republican candidates
Republican State Senator Thomas Kean, Jr., the son of the former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean, is one of two announced candidates. Kean's father's name recognition makes him the likeliest choice for Republican nominee to face Menendez in the November 2006 election.[2]
Because of Kean's perceived liberalism on social issues, he has been labeled by some conservatives as a Republican in Name Only (RINO). [3] [4] [5] [6] Kean is facing possible primary challenge from conservative Republican John P. Ginty, Associate Director of Index Analysis with Standard & Poor's.[7]. Ginty announced on April 6, 2006, that he had gathered more than 1,200 signatures, more than the 1,000 needed to qualify. [8] The filing deadline is April 10, 2006.
Kean's supporters have argued there is virtually no chance for a pro-life, anti-gay marriage Republican to win a state-wide election in New Jersey, where 66% of the voters are self-identified as pro-choice and polls ill ustrate a distinct majority support marriage rights for homosexuals.
Events leading up to the Republican primary
Kean arrived late to a March 20, 2006, fundraising event for his campaign, after featured guest Vice President Dick Cheney had left, which some accused of him doing deliberately to avoid photographs of the two, together, that could be printed in the media. [9].
On March 27, 2006, at a news conference billed as a "major announcement", [10] Kean called for state and federal tax cuts, asking Menendez and governor Jon Corzine to support them. In response, Matthew Miller, a spokesman for Menendez, said the U.S. senator supports "balanced tax cuts," not just ones that benefit the wealthiest Americans while expanding national debt. [11]
On April 1, 2006, at the Middlesex County Republican Convention, Kean won the endorsement for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate (in other words, Kean was chosen as the county organization recommended candidate for the June primary) over Ginty by a vote of 79% to 21%.[12]
Candidates
Democrats
- Robert Menendez - Senate incumbent and former seven-term Congressman from Union City
- James D. Kelly, Jr. of Chester - Kelly, who got 8.3% of the vote against Jon Corzine in the 2005 Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, is a resident of a group home for the mentally disabled. Kelly filed with 1,300 signatures.
Republicans
- Thomas Kean, Jr. - three-year State Senator, son of former Governor Thomas Kean
- John P. Ginty - Associate Director of Index Analysis with Standard & Poor's
Polling
| Source | Date | Democratic | Republican |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairleigh Dickinson | April 6, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 38% | Thomas Kean Jr.- 42% |
| Rutgers/Eagleton | April 4, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 40% | Thomas Kean Jr.- 35% |
| Zogby | March 31, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 40.1% | Thomas Kean Jr.- 39.7% |
| Rasmussen | March 31, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 39% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 41% |
| Quinnipiac | March 20, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 40% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 36% |
| Strategic Vision | March 10, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 30% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 32% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson | March 6, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 42% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 37% |
| Rasmussen | February 14, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 39% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 36% |
| Zogby | February 14, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 37% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 32% |
| Strategic Vision | February 8, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 28% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 33% |
| Quinnipiac | January 25, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 38% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 36% |
| Rasmussen | January 25, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 35% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 42% |
| Fairleigh-Dickinson | January 16, 2006 | Bob Menendez - 25% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 37% |
| Quinnipiac | December 15, 2005 | Bob Menendez - 44% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 38% |
| Rasmussen | December 7, 2005 | Bob Menendez - 38% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 34% |
| Quinnipiac | November 22, 2005 | Bob Menendez - 41% | Thomas Kean Jr. - 39% |
External links
| Preceded by 2002 |
New Jersey U.S. Senate elections 2006 |
Succeeded by 2008 |
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