2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey


The 2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey 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 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 and that he is too old to effectively serve another six years in the Senate.
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.
The first poll conducted after the primaries showed a tighter than expected race between Lautenberg and Zimmer, with the two candidates in a virtual tie.
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

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Official results, New Jersey Division of Elections
CountyJ. PennacchioM. SabrinR. Zimmer
Total74,546 25,576 84,663
Atlantic1,322 810 3,909
Bergen10,761 1,384 5,145
Burlington2,869 2,276 8,629
Camden2,166 1,036 3,123
Cape May1,034 483 3,615
Cumberland395 225 1,566
Essex2,262 493 3,592
Gloucester2,161 1,254 1,206
Hudson955 641 1,487
Hunterdon2,730 977 5,519
Mercer1,538 488 2,555
Middlesex4,195 1,021 2,603
Monmouth4,630 1,510 7,981
Morris12,700 1,855 8,094
Ocean4,820 6,778 10,875
Passaic4,570 545 1,271
Salem657 193 769
Somerset4,875 1,170 5,227
Sussex3,621 647 2,850
Union4,653 1,388 2,896
Warren1,632 402 1,751

General election

Candidates

Major

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

Polling

Results