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Democratic Party primaries in New Jersey, 2018

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Democratic Party primaries, 2018
New Jersey Democratic Party.jpg
Primary Date
June 5, 2018
Federal elections
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate
Democratic primaries for U.S. House
State elections
Democratic primaries for New Jersey legislature
State party
Democratic Party of New Jersey
State political party revenue

Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on their party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.

Heading into the 2018 election, the Democratic Party sought to increase its power at the state and federal levels under the Trump administration. Its membership, however, disagreed on several major policy areas, including healthcare, free trade, education funding, a federal job guarantee, and a proposal to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).[1][2]

Candidates endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee won 31 of 33 primaries in 2018.[3] Democratic Socialists of America member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D) primary victory over incumbent Joseph Crowley (D) in New York's 14th Congressional District was a notable victory for progressive activists.[4][5][6]

Democrats also won a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama for the first time in 30 years and flipped longtime Republican seats in the Wisconsin state Senate and Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District. A record number of Republican congressional retirements also led to large Democratic fields for typically non-competitive seats.[7]

This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that took place in New Jersey on June 5, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.

Battleground primaries

Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.

Federal elections

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate election in New Jersey (June 5, 2018 Democratic primary)
Although incumbent Sen. Bob Menendez won re-election in 2012 by 20 percentage points, his 2015 indictment on corruption charges could draw a primary challenger into the race.[8] Menendez was on trial for allegedly using his office to benefit a campaign donor, in exchange for gifts and campaign contributions.[9] It ended in a mistrial on November 16, 2017, after the jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict following four days of deliberations. "To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I won’t forget you," Menendez said outside of the courthouse.[10]

Menendez raised $5.6 million through the third quarter of 2017 for his re-election bid, nearly half of what he had at this point in his last election cycle.[11]

To see a full list of candidates in the Democratic primary, click "Show more" below.
Show more
Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in New Jersey (June 5, 2018 Democratic primaries)
The 2018 U.S. House of Representatives elections in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2018. Voters elected 12 candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's 12 congressional districts. In 2017, the DCCC identified New Jersey's 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 11th Congressional Districts as targeted races. To see a full list of candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

District 1

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 2

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 3

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 4

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 5

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 6

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 7

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 8

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 9

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 10

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

District 11

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 12

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

State elections

New Jersey Party Control: 1992-2025
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Eight years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D
Senate R R R R R R R R R R S S D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Assembly R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

State party overview

See also: Democratic Party of New Jersey
New Jersey Democratic Party.jpg


State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws. The following table displays the Democratic Party of New Jersey's revenue over a six-year period from 2011 to 2016. Revenue totals are broken down by account type and year. The data was compiled through publicly available state and federal campaign finance reports.

Democratic Party of New Jersey revenue, 2011 to 2016[12][13]
Year Federal account State account(s) Total
2011 $523,182.07 $3,194,540.49 $3,717,722.56
2012 $2,438,854.87 $1,258,546.44 $3,697,401.31
2013 $1,165,933.59 $3,140,285.14 $4,306,218.73
2014 $3,459,917.62 $1,466,063.76 $4,925,981.38
2015 $437,890.83 $2,704,540.65 $3,142,431.48
2016 $4,157,993.76 $1,426,869.73 $5,584,863.49

New Jersey compared to other states

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:

Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016

Primary election scheduling

New Jersey was one of eight states to hold a primary election on June 5, 2018.

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New Jersey utilizes a semi-closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is generally limited to registered party members. Unaffiliated voters can register as party members at the polls on primary election day. Otherwise, a voter must indicate his or her party preference (e.g., via an updated voter registration) no later than the 55th day preceding the primary in order to vote in that party's primary.[14][15]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In New Jersey, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[16]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in New Jersey, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the county in which they are registering for at least 30 days prior to the election. Seventeen-year-olds may register to vote, although they may not vote until they have turned 18. Individuals serving a felony sentence or on probation or parole because of a felony may not register to vote.[17] The voter registration deadline is 21 days before the next election. Registration applications can be downloaded from the state website and mailed to the county commissioner of registration or superintendent of elections.[17] Registration applications are also available at various county offices and state agencies, such as the Division of Elections and Division of Motor Vehicle offices.[18]

Automatic registration

New Jersey enacted automatic voter registration in 2018.[19]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

New Jersey has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

New Jersey does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

In order to register to vote in New Jersey, applicants must be a resident of the county in which they are registering for at least 30 days prior to the election.[20]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

New Jersey does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a false or fraudulent registration may result in a "fine of up to $15,000, imprisonment up to 5 years, or both pursuant to R.S. 19:34-1."[21]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[22] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The New Jersey Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

New Jersey does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. However, if a voter does not provide valid identification at the time of registration, he or she must show identification at the polling place.[23]

Voters can present the following forms of identification:

  • New Jersey driver's license
  • Military or other government ID
  • Student or job ID
  • Store membership card
  • United States Passport,
  • Bank statement
  • Car registration
  • Government check or document
  • Non-photo NJ driver's license
  • Rent receipt
  • Sample Ballot
  • Utility bill
  • Any other official document

Early voting

New Jersey permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail in New Jersey.[24]

To vote absentee/by mail, an application must be received by election officials at least seven days prior to the election if returned by mail. An application can also be submitted in person to county election officials until 3 p.m. on the day before the election. An application can also be submitted online via the state's online voter registration system. A completed absentee/mail-in ballot must then be postmarked by 8:00 p.m. Election Day and received by the county board of elections by 6 days after the election.[24][25]



See also

Federal primaries in New Jersey State primaries in New Jersey New Jersey state party apparatus New Jersey voter information
CongressLogo.png
Flag of New Jersey.png
Seal of New Jersey.png
Election Policy Logo.png

Footnotes

  1. ↑ CNN, "Why a 'federal jobs guarantee' is gaining steam with Democrats," April 26, 2018
  2. ↑ The Atlantic, "What ‘Abolish ICE’ Actually Means," July 11, 2018
  3. ↑ CNBC, "Despite Ocasio-Cortez upset, Democratic primaries have not gone as far left as some argue," June 28, 2018
  4. ↑ New York Times, "There Is a Revolution on the Left. Democrats Are Bracing." July 21, 2018
  5. ↑ New York Times, "Democrats Are Moving Left. Don’t Panic," July 23, 2018
  6. ↑ Time, "How Democrats in Congress Responded to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Surprise Win," June 28, 2018
  7. ↑ CNN, "9 Democratic primaries to watch in 2018," October 26, 2017
  8. ↑ NJ.com, "The 7 Democrats who could take over Menendez's Senate seat," September 10, 2017
  9. ↑ Politico, "Menendez formally seeks mistrial in bribery case," October 29, 2017
  10. ↑ RealClearPolitics, "Menendez: 'To Those Who Were Digging My Political Grave... I Know Who You Are,'" November 16, 2017
  11. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Menendez Reports Lower Fundraising Amid Corruption Trial," October 19, 2017
  12. ↑ New Jersey Campaign Financing and Lobbying Disclosure—Election Law Enforcement Commission, "Searchable Campaign Finance Database," accessed May 2016 (Search terms NJ Republican State Committee and NJ Democratic State Committee)
  13. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidate and Committee Viewer," accessed May 2016 (Search terms New Jersey Republican State Committee and )
  14. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed September 27, 2024
  15. ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Statutes & Rules § 19:23-45," accessed September 27, 2024
  16. ↑ New Jersey Department of State, “Election laws - NJSA - 19:15-2,” accessed August 22, 2024
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 New Jersey Division of Elections, “Register to Vote!” accessed August 22, 2024
  18. ↑ New Jersey Division of Elections, “Where to Register in Person,” accessed August 22, 2024
  19. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, “Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly, No. 2014,” April 13, 2018
  20. ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Voter registration FAQ," accessed August 22, 2024
  21. ↑ New Jersey Voter Information Portal, "New Jersey Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
  22. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  23. ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed August 22, 2024
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 New Jersey Department of State, "Vote by Mail Applications," accessed April 18, 2023
  25. ↑ New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, "Vote-By-Mail," accessed September 27, 2024
v • e
Party primaries by state, 2018
Republican primaries, 2018
Democratic primaries, 2018
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