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2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey

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United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2008
← 2002 November 4, 2008 2013 →
 
Nominee Frank Lautenberg Dick Zimmer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,951,218 1,461,025
Percentage 56.0% 42.0%
County Results

Lautenberg:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Zimmer:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Frank Lautenberg
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Lautenberg
Democratic

Elections in New Jersey
Federal government
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Newark
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Mayoral elections

The 2008 United States Senate election in NJ was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a fifth, non-consecutive term.

Background

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.

Democratic primary

Main article: Democratic primary in New Jersey, 2008

Candidates

Polling

Source Date Frank Lautenberg (D) Rob Andrews (D)
Joel Benenson April 1–2, 2008 52% 21%
Rasmussen Reports May 15, 2008 49% 19%

Results

2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate Democratic primary election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Frank Lautenberg 203,012 58.9%
Democratic Rob Andrews 121,777 35.3%
Democratic Donald Cresitello 19,743 5.7%
Turnout 344,532

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate Republican primary election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dick Zimmer 84,663 45.8%
Republican Joseph Pennacchio 74,546 40.3%
Republican Murray Sabrin 25,576 13.8%
Turnout 184,785

Official results, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF, July 11, 2008)

County J. Pennacchio M. Sabrin R. Zimmer
Total 74,546 (40.3%) 25,576 (13.8%) 84,663 (45.8%)
Atlantic 1,322 (21.9%) 810 (13.4%) 3,909 (64.7%)
Bergen 10,761 (62.2%) 1,384 (8.0%) 5,145 (29.8%)
Burlington 2,869 (20.8%) 2,276 (16.5%) 8,629 (62.6%)
Camden 2,166 (34.2%) 1,036 (16.4%) 3,123 (49.4%)
Cape May 1,034 (20.1%) 483 (9.4%) 3,615 (70.4%)
Cumberland 395 (18.1%) 225 (10.3%) 1,566 (71.6%)
Essex 2,262 (35.6%) 493 (7.8%) 3,592 (56.6%)
Gloucester 2,161 (46.8%) 1,254 (27.1%) 1,206 (26.1%)
Hudson 955 (31.0%) 641 (20.8%) 1,487 (48.2%)
Hunterdon 2,730 (29.6%) 977 (10.6%) 5,519 (59.8%)
Mercer 1,538 (33.6%) 488 (10.7%) 2,555 (55.8%)
Middlesex 4,195 (53.7%) 1,021 (13.1%) 2,603 (33.3%)
Monmouth 4,630 (32.8%) 1,510 (10.7%) 7,981 (56.5%)
Morris 12,700 (56.1%) 1,855 (8.2%) 8,094 (35.7%)
Ocean 4,820 (21.4%) 6,778 (30.2%) 10,875 (48.4%)
Passaic 4,570 (71.6%) 545 (8.5%) 1,271 (19.9%)
Salem 657 (40.6%) 193 (11.9%) 769 (47.5%)
Somerset 4,875 (43.2%) 1,170 (10.4%) 5,227 (46.4%)
Sussex 3,621 (50.9%) 647 (9.1%) 2,850 (40.0%)
Union 4,653 (52.1%) 1,388 (15.5%) 2,896 (32.4%)
Warren 1,632 (43.1%) 402 (10.6%) 1,751 (46.3%)

General election

Candidates

Major

Minor

  • Jeff Boss (I)[5]
  • Daryl Mikell Brooks (I)[5]
  • J.M. Carter (I)[5]
  • Carl Peter Klapper (Write In)[6]
  • Sara Lobman (Socialist Workers)[5]
  • Jason Scheurer (Libertarian)[5]

Debates

On October 29, 2008, a debate between Lautenberg and Zimmer was held on the radio station NJ 101.5.[7]

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.[8]

Polling

Source Date Frank Lautenberg (D) Dick Zimmer (R)
Rasmussen Reports 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 July 30–31, 2008 35% 36%
Rasmussen Reports August 4, 2008 51% 33%
Quinnipiac University August 4–10, 2008 48% 41%
Fairleigh Dickinson University September 4–7, 2008 46% 35%
Marist College 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 Sep 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 October 20–21, 2008 48% 41%
Strategic Vision October 24–26, 2008 49% 41%
Survey USA October 29–30, 2008 52% 37%

Results

2008 New Jersey U.S. Senate general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Frank Lautenberg 1,951,218 56.0% +2.1%
Republican Dick Zimmer 1,461,025 42.0% −2.0%
Independent Daryl Mikell Brooks 20,920 1.0% n/a
Libertarian Jason Scheurer 18,810 0.5% n/a
Independent J.M. Carter 15,935 0.5% n/a
Independent Jeff Boss 10,345 0.3% n/a
Socialist Workers Sara Lobman 9,187 0.3% n/a
Majority 490,193
Turnout 3,482,445
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #11152". SurveyUSA. November 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Voters still say Lautenberg is too old". PolitickerNJ.com, September 25, 2007. Accessed April 8, 2008.
  3. ^ "Election 2008: New Jersey Senate - New Jersey Senate Race a Dead Heat", Rasmussen Reports, June 9, 2008. Accessed June 9, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Official results for 2008 primary elections, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF Archived August 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, July 11, 2008)
  5. ^ a b c d e 2008 General Election Candidate Certification, New Jersey Division of Elections. Accessed September 28, 2008
  6. ^ Populist Write-In Candidate for Senate, Carl Peter Klapper, Advocates Adjustable Equity Mortgages, Third Bank of the US to solve financial crisis
  7. ^ Burton, Cynthia. "Lautenberg and Zimmer spar over issues", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 30, 2008.
  8. ^ Schwaneberg, Robert. Lautenberg, Zimmer agree to debate on Nov. 1, The Star-Ledger, October 1, 2008.
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