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1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey

1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey
← 1990 November 5, 1996 2002 →
 
Nominee Robert Torricelli Dick Zimmer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,519,328 1,227,817
Percentage 53.12% 42.93%
Torricelli:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Zimmer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Bill Bradley
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert Torricelli
Democratic

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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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declined

Campaign

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]

Results

1996 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Torricelli 223,444 100.00%
Total votes 223,444 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declined

Campaign

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]

Results

1996 Republican U.S. Senate primary[4]
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%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

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.

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[b] 		Margin
of error 		Robert
Torricelli (D) 		Dick
Zimmer (R) 		Other/
Undecided
Rutgers-Eagleton[6] September 6–13, 1995 804 A ±3.5% 29% 34% 37%
707 RV ±3.5% 29% 34% 36%
Rutgers-Eagleton[6] June 13–19, 1996 646 RV ±4.0% 39% 31% 31%
Rutgers-Eagleton[6] September 5–11, 1996 627 RV ±4.0% 38% 32% 30%
Rutgers-Eagleton[6] October 10–20, 1996 810 RV ±3.5% 40% 35% 25%
Rutgers-Eagleton[6] Oct. 29–Nov. 1, 1996 810 RV ±3.5% 41% 37% 19%
508 LV ±4.5% 42% 41% 17%
  1. ^ Only top two candidates
  2. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Jim
Florio (D) 		Dick
Zimmer (R) 		Other/
Undecided
Rutgers-Eagleton[6] September 6–13, 1995 804 A ±3.5% 39% 42% 19%
707 RV ±4.0% 39% 43% 18%
  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Results

General election results
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

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wilson, Greg (August 17, 1995). "Bradley bows out; Menendez, Torricelli eye his Senate seat". The Jersey Journal. p. 1. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Weiss, Peter (October 24, 1995). "No delays next time". The Jersey Journal. p. 2. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Weiss, Peter (September 12, 1995). "Menendez still in hunt". The Jersey Journal. p. 2. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "US Senate Primary Election Returns for election held June 4, 1996" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State - Division of Elections.
  5. ^ Pulley, Brett (June 5, 1996). "U.S. Senate Race in New Jersey Narrows to Zimmer and Torricelli". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Rutgers-Eagleton
Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_United_States_Senate_election_in_New_Jersey