1994 United States Senate election in New Jersey
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  Lautenberg: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Haytaian: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in New Jersey |
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The 1994 United States Senate Election in New Jersey was held November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a third term.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Frank Lautenberg, incumbent United States Senator
- Bill Campbell, licensed computer engineer for PSE&G[1]
- Lynne A. Speed, follower of the LaRouche movement from Ridgefield Park[2][1]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) | 151,416 | 80.9% | |
| Democratic | Bill Campbell | 26,066 | 13.94% | |
| Democratic | Lynne A. Speed | 9,563 | 5.11% | |
| Total votes | 187,045 | 100 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Chuck Haytaian, Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly
- Brian T. Kennedy, former State Senator from Manasquan
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chuck Haytaian | 126,768 | 67.32% | |
| Republican | Brian T. Kennedy | 61,532 | 32.68% | |
| Total votes | 188,300 | 100 | ||
General election
Candidates
- Arlene Gold (Natural Law)
- Ben Grindlinger (Libertarian)
- Chuck Haytaian, Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly (Republican)
- Michael Kelly (Keep America First)
- Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers)
- Frank Lautenberg, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)
- Andrea Lippi (Jobs, Property Rights)
- Richard J. Pezzullo (Conservative)
- George Patrick Predham (Damn Drug Dealers)
Campaign
Lautenberg took no part in much of the summer campaign, delegating duties to his campaign director David Eichenbaum. Haytaian became so frustrated with the Senator's absence that he referred to Eichenbaum as Lautenberg's "paid mouthpiece" and his campaign aides began to refer to "Senator Eichenbaum" in their campaign materials.[4]
Haytaian centered his campaign on reducing federal taxes through the institution of a flat federal income tax of 18.5%.[5] Throughout the campaign, Haytaian emphasized taxes and fiscal issues over social issues.[5] Eichenbaum, standing in for Lautenberg, referred to Haytaian's flat tax as a "giveaway to the rich" and criticized Haytaian as a "hypocrite" for previously opposing a flat state tax plan because it would have eliminated home mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions.[4] Haytaian fired back that in 1982, Lautenberg had called a flat tax "the only one that can quickly close the loopholes."[4]
Campaign advertisements for both candidates were highly negative. Both candidates positioned themselves as tough on crime and taxes, which polling showed were the two major issues in the state.[6] Haytaian stressed his support for the death penalty and Lautenberg's opposition.[6]
Abortion was also an issue; Lautenberg supported abortion rights, while Haytaian favored mandatory waiting periods, parental notification for minors, and a ban on federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or where necessary to save the life of a pregnant mother. In the past, Haytaian had supported a constitutional ban.[7]
Debates
Lautenberg agreed to two debates on October 15 and 25.[4]
Endorsements
Federal executive branch officials
- Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States[8]
Individuals
- H. Ross Perot, businessman and independent candidate for President in 1992[9]
Federal legislators
- Newt Gingrich, U.S. Representative from Georgia and House Minority Whip[7]
State executive branch officials
- Christine Todd Whitman, Governor of New Jersey[6]
State legislators
- Willie B. Brown, Assemblyman from New Jersey's 29th legislative district (Democratic)[10]
- John E. Rooney, Assemblyman from New Jersey's 39th legislative district[5]
Local officials
Individuals
- Bob Grant, conservative talk radio host
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Frank Lautenberg (D) |
Chuck Haytaian (R) |
Other/ Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers-Eagleton[12] | June 14–16, 1994 | 620 LV | ±4.0% | 57% | 30% | 12% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton[12] | Aug. 30–Sep. 6, 1994 | 598 LV | ±4.0% | 52% | 27% | 21% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton[12] | October 16–20, 1994 | 586 LV | ±4.0% | 48% | 35% | 17% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton[12] | November 2–4, 1994 | 780 LV | ±3.5% | 49% | 35% | 16% |
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) | 1,033,487 | 50.29% |  3.36
| |
| Republican | Chuck Haytaian | 966,244 | 47.02% |  1.84
| |
| Keep America First | Michael P. Kelly | 14,343 | 0.70% | N/A | |
| Libertarian | Ben Grindlinger | 14,042 | 0.68% | 0.27
| |
| Conservative | Richard J. Pezzullo | 9,387 | 0.46% | N/A | |
| Jobs, Property Rights | Andrea Lippi | 6,303 | 0.31% | N/A | |
| Damn Drug Dealers | George Patrick Predham | 4,226 | 0.20% | N/A | |
| Socialist Workers | Joanne Kuniansky | 3,606 | 0.18% | 
| |
| Natural Law | Arlene Gold | 3,249 | 0.16% | N/A | |
| Majority | 67,243 | 3.27 | −5.10% | ||
| Total votes | 2,054,887 | 100.0% | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Haytaian remarked after the race that he was most disappointed by the margins of his losses in Bergen and Middlesex counties.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Hopefuls enter ring for congressional primaries". The Record. April 15, 1994. p. 7. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
- ^ Sullivan, Joeseph (June 8, 1994). "2 Favorites Nominated for Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Election and voting information". FEC.gov.
- ^ a b c d Sullivan, Joseph F. (October 2, 1994). "THE 1994 CAMPAIGN: NEW JERSEY; As Haytaian Pushes a Flat-Rate Tax, Lautenberg Runs Like an Incumbent". The New York Times. p. 39. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c Peterson, Iver (November 3, 1994). "Haytaian, a Trenton Insider, Seeks Senate as an Outsider". The New York Times. p. A1.
- ^ a b c Peterson, Iver (November 6, 1994). "A Negative Lautenberg and Haytaian". The New York Times. p. 55.
- ^ a b c "Haytaian, Philosophical on Senate Loss, Looks Ahead to a Tough Year in Assembly". The New York Times. November 14, 1994. p. B7. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ Gray, Jerry (June 19, 1994). "Haytaian and Lautenberg Step Up Their Sparring". The New York Times. p. 29. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ Peterson, Iver (November 9, 1994). "Lautenberg Edges Out Haytaian For 3d Term". The New York Times. p. B13.
- ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. (October 14, 1994). "Haytaian Praised From Other Side of the Aisle". The New York Times. p. B5. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ Peterson, Iver (October 11, 1994). "For Haytaian, the Pace Of Running Is Frenetic". The New York Times. p. B7. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Rutgers-Eagleton