1993 New Jersey gubernatorial election
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 County results key:
Whitman 60–70%
Whitman 50–60%
Whitman <50%
Florio <50%
Florio 50–60%
Florio 60–70% | ||||||||||||||||
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The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 1993 was a race for Governor of New Jersey held on November 2, 1993. Incumbent Democratic governor James Florio was narrowly defeated by Republican Christine Todd Whitman following backlash from voters regarding tax increases that had occurred during Florio's tenure.
Primary elections
Primary elections for the Democratic and Republican parties were held on Tuesday June 8, 1993.
Democratic primary
Florio was unopposed in the June primary election. Former Howell Township postal worker, John Budzash, originally filed to run against Florio in the primary. Budzash, who switched his party registration from Republican to Democratic one day before the filing deadline, led Hands Across New Jersey, a citizens group that protested the state tax increases.[1] He was removed following a complaint from then-state party chair Raymond Lesniak alleging that many of his petition signatures were invalid.[2]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James Florio (inc.) | 200,420 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 200,420 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- W. Cary Edwards, former State Assemblyman and former New Jersey Attorney General
- J. Patrick Gilligan, American Stock Exchange consultant and former Morris Township board of education member[4]
- Charles P. Hoffman, business consultant[4]
- James Wallwork, former State Senator
- Christine Todd Whitman, former Somerset County Freeholder, former Board of Public Utilities president and nominee for the United States Senate in 1990
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Christine Todd Whitman | 159,765 | 39.96 | |
| Republican | W. Cary Edwards | 131,578 | 32.91 | |
| Republican | James Wallwork | 96,034 | 24.02 | |
| Republican | Charles P. Hoffman | 6,695 | 1.67 | |
| Republican | J. Patrick Gilligan | 5,753 | 1.44 | |
| Total votes | 399,825 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- James Florio, Democratic, incumbent Governor of New Jersey
- Christine Todd Whitman, Republican, former Somerset County Freeholder, Board of Public Utilities president
Other independent candidates[5]
- Alene S. Ammond, Hands-On Government, public-relations/advertising executive, former State Senator
- Marilyn Arons, Maximum Citizen Involvement, Public advocate for disabled children
- Tom Blomquist, Conservative, head of the New Jersey Conservative Party
- Pat Daly, Abortion is Murder,
- Pete DiLauro, Common Sense Government, retired New York City Police Department officer
- Tim Feeney, Independent Choice, dentist
- Tom Fuscaldo, Zero Sales Tax, former factory maintenance worker
- Jerry T. Grant, You and I, car salesman
- Kenneth R. Kaplan, Libertarian, industrial/commercial real estate broker
- John L. Kucek, Populist, certified public accountant
- Andrea Lippi, People Purpose Progress, poet
- Richary J. Lynch, Independents 4 Change, Camden businessman
- Joseph Marion, independent, trade association manager
- Mark J. Rahn, Socialist Workers, warehouse worker
- Michael R. Scully, Fresh Start, attorney
- Andrew J. Zemel, Integrity-Common Sense, quality control consultant
- Michael "Mike" Ziruolo, Better Affordable Government, trucking consultant
Campaign
Florio had become unpopular following a 1990 $2.8-billion tax increase though he promised not to raise taxes in his successful 1989 campaign.[6] As a result of the tax increase, Republicans were swept into both houses of the Legislature in 1991. A 1990 bill that was signed into law banning assault weapons was used against Florio in advertisements by the National Rifle Association.[6] A proposal by Whitman to cut income taxes by 30% over three years were met with skepticism from voters.[7]
Polling for the election mostly showed that Florio would be reelected. Polls conducted within a few weeks of the election by The Star-Ledger, The New York Times, the Record of Hackensack, and Rutgers-Eagleton showed Florio besting Whitman by at least eight points.[7] The closest poll near the election was conducted by the Asbury Park Press showing a 38-38 tie with 22% undecided.[8] Undecided and independents tended towards Whitman at the time of the election.[7]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Christine Todd Whitman | 1,236,124 | 49.33% | ||
| Democratic | James Florio (inc.) | 1,210,031 | 48.29% | ||
| Independent | Pat Daly | 10,071 | 0.40% | ||
| Libertarian | Kenneth R. Kaplan | 7,935 | 0.32% | ||
| Conservative | Tom Blomquist | 5,164 | 0.21% | ||
| Independent | Joseph Marion | 4,311 | 0.17% | ||
| Independent | Richary J. Lynch | 4,030 | 0.16% | ||
| Independent | Alene S. Ammond | 3,330 | 0.13% | ||
| Independent | Tim Feeney | 3,306 | 0.13% | ||
| Independent | Michael R. Scully | 3,209 | 0.13% | ||
| Independent | Pete DiLauro | 3,009 | 0.12% | ||
| Independent | Marilyn Arons | 2,884 | 0.12% | ||
| Populist | John L. Kucek | 2,822 | 0.11% | ||
| Independent | Tom Fuscaldo | 2,314 | 0.09% | ||
| Independent | Michael Mike Ziruolo | 2,127 | 0.08% | ||
| Independent | Andrew J. Zemel | 1,530 | 0.06% | ||
| Independent | Andrea Lippi | 1,294 | 0.05% | ||
| Socialist Workers | Mark J. Rahn | 1,242 | 0.05% | ||
| Independent | Jerry T. Grant | 1,231 | 0.05% | ||
| Plurality | 26,093 | 1.04% | |||
| Turnout | 2,505,964 | ||||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ Enda, Jodi (April 16, 1993). "Florio Gets An Opponent For Primary John L. Budzash Co-founded Hands Across New Jersey. He Had Just Registered As A Democrat". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
- ^ Gray, Jerry (April 22, 1993). "Ruling Is Likely to Take Florio Rival Off Ballot". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
- ^ a b "Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Election Held on June 8, 1993" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1993. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
- ^ a b Enda, Jodi (June 8, 1993). "Judgment Day For Gop As Voters Pick An Opponent For Gov. Florio In Camden, There Is A Primary For Mayor And Council. Counties Are Picking Freeholder Nominees. And Every Senate And Assembly Seat Is Up For Grabs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
- ^ Preston, David Lee (October 29, 1993). "Now, For Someone Completely Different Hearing The Many Other Voices For Governor: Ammond To Ziruolo". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
- ^ a b Brownstein, Ronald (November 1, 1993). "Voters Seem Dissatisfied, Uncertain on Election Eve : Campaigns: Gubernatorial, mayoral posts at stake. No sweeping winds of change gauged in off-year races". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
- ^ a b c Mondics, Chris (November 4, 1993). "N.J. Pollsters Regroup And Try To Figure Out What Went Wrong". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
- ^ Jackson, Herb (November 3, 1993). "Whitman Rips Pollsters Who Failed To Predict Her Victory With AM-Elections RDP, BJT". Associated Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
- ^ "Official List – Gubernatorial General Election Returns for Election Held November 2, 1993" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1993. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
- ^ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey (2004 ed.). p. 493. Retrieved June 12, 2015.