Kenneth Kaplan

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Kenneth Kaplan

Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

West Orange Mountain High School

Bachelor's

Brandeis University, 1969

Law

New York University Law School, 1972

Personal

Birthplace

Newark, N.J.

Religion

Jewish

Profession

Real Estate Broker

Contact

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Kenneth Kaplan (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent New Jersey. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Kaplan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kenneth Kaplan was born in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from West Orange Mountain High School. He attended Franklin & Marshall College, earned a bachelor's degree from Brandeis University in 1969, and a law degree from New York University Law School in 1972. His career experience includes working as a real estate broker, lawyer, and retail store owner. He has been affiliated with the Livingston NJ Lions Club and Temple Beth Shalom Men's Club.

Elections

2024

See also: United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. Senate New Jersey

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate New Jersey on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andrew Kim (D)	53.6	2,161,491
		Curtis Bashaw (R)	44.0	1,773,589
		Christina Khalil (G)	1.1	45,443
		Kenneth Kaplan (L)	0.6	24,242
		Patricia Mooneyham (Vote Better Party)	0.4	17,224
	Submit photo	Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party)	0.2	9,806

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,031,795
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Bob Menendez (Independent)
• Nick Carducci (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate New Jersey

Andrew Kim defeated Patricia Campos Medina and Lawrence Hamm in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate New Jersey on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andrew Kim	74.8	392,602
		Patricia Campos Medina	16.1	84,286
		Lawrence Hamm	9.1	47,796

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 524,684
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kevin Cupples (D)
• Tammy Murphy (D)
• Bob Menendez (D)
• Kyle Jasey (D)
• Patrick Merrill (D)
• Joseph Signorello (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate New Jersey

Curtis Bashaw defeated Christine Serrano-Glassner, Justin Murphy, and Albert Harshaw in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate New Jersey on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Curtis Bashaw	45.6	144,869
		Christine Serrano-Glassner	38.4	121,986
		Justin Murphy	11.3	35,954
		Albert Harshaw	4.7	15,064

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 317,873
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Gregg Mele (R)
• Daniel Cruz (R)
• Peter Vallorosi (R)
• Shirley Maia-Cusick (R)
• Michael Estrada (R)
• Alex Zdan (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Kaplan in this election.

2013

See also New Jersey gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2013

Kaplan was a Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 2013. Kaplan lost in the general election on November 5, 2013.

• General Election

On November 5, 2013, Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno (R) won re-election as Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey. They defeated the Buono/Silva (D), Kaplan/Bell (L), Welzer/Alessandrini (I), Sare/Todd (I), Araujo/Salamanca (I), Schroeder/Moschella (I) and Boss/Thorne (I) ticket(s) in the general election.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, 2013
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Chris Christie & Kim Guadagno	60.3%	1,278,932
	Democratic	Barbara Buono & Milly Silva	38.2%	809,978
	Libertarian	Kenneth Kaplan & Brenda Bell	0.6%	12,155
	Independent	Steven Welzer & Patricia Alessandrini	0.4%	8,295
	Independent	Diane Sare & Bruce Todd	0.2%	3,360
	Independent	William Araujo & Maria Salamanca	0.2%	3,300
	Independent	Hank Schroeder & Patricia Moschella	0.1%	2,784
	Independent	Jeff Boss & Robert Thorne	0.1%	2,062
Total Votes				2,120,866
Election Results Via: New Jersey Department of State

Primaries

Incumbent Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono each faced a single opponent in the June 4 primary election. Both candidates secured their party’s nomination with approximately 90 percent of the vote.

Former Atlantic City Councilman Seth Grossman was the only Republican to challenge the first-term governor. Grossman’s campaign focused on criticizing Christie’s policies during his first term. On the Democratic side, Buono faced Troy Webster, an adviser to the mayor of East Orange, who emphasized his commitment to supporting working-class and middle-class families. Both Grossman and Webster received endorsements from the weekly publication NJ Today.

Selection of running mates

After primary elections, New Jersey gubernatorial nominees have 30 days to select a running mate. Shortly after launching his re-election campaign, Governor Chris Christie announced that Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno would again be his running mate. Democratic nominee Barbara Buono announced her selection of Milly Silva, executive vice president of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, as her running mate on July 29. The ticket competed against the incumbent team of Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno, along with several third-party candidates, in the general election held on November 5, 2013.

Polling

Christie was favored to win re-election, with his campaign raising nearly double that of Buono's in the primary and maintaining a double-digit advantage in the polls throughout the election season. In the final week before the general election, polling averages showed him with approximately a 24 percent advantage.

Public financing

Since 1977, New Jersey gubernatorial primary and general election candidates have been eligible to participate in a public funding program. Under this system, candidates who raise a minimum amount of money are dispensed tax-generated funds, controlled by the state election law enforcement commission, in direct proportion to campaign donations given from the public. In the 2013 election cycle, the qualifying threshold for primary election candidates was $380,000. The purpose of the program is to lessen the influence of corporate contributions in elections. On February 2, 2013, then-presumptive Democratic nominee Barbara Buono's campaign reported that it had surpassed the $380,000 mark. By that time, Christie's campaign had raised $2 million. Unlike in the 2009 election, when Christie participated in the public financing program during both the primary and general election phases, he chose to wait until after the 2013 primary to opt into the program. By qualifying, Christie became eligible to receive approximately $8 million in public matching funds. The qualifying terms also required him to participate in two debates with Buono before the general election.

In New Jersey, candidates who qualify for and accept public financing are subject to a spending limit on their gubernatorial campaigns. As of 2013, the maximum allowable expenditure for such candidates was $12.2 million, with a cap of $8.2 million in public matching funds. New Jersey employs a two-to-one matching program for qualified contributions. It is detailed in Title 19 Chapter 25 Sub Chapter 15 of the New Jersey State Statutes.

2012

See also: United States Senate elections in New Jersey, 2012

Kaplan ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. Senate, representing New Jersey. He ran as a Libertarian candidate and lost in the general election on November 6, 2012.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kenneth Kaplan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kaplan's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am the president of KenKap Realty Corp., a commercial real estate brokerage I founded in 2007 after working in the industry for over 25 years. I also have experience in retail business and law. A cum laude graduate of Brandeis University and recipient of a J.D. degree from NYU Law School, I was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1972.

Born in Newark, I grew up in West Orange, and lived in Rockaway and Livingston before moving to my current residence in Parsippany. Thus, I have a life-long familiarity with New Jersey’s people and issues. My community involvement includes membership in the Livingston Lions Club, where I am a past president, and membership in the Men’s Club of Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston, where I am a board member. I am the divorced father of two adult children.

I believe in following the Constitution, and that means smaller government, lower taxes, and more individual liberty.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• The only special interest I represent is yours! I will not be a minion of big business or big labor. No group will have me in their pocket, I will represent you, the individual, my constituent.
• I will champion both your economic freedom and your personal freedom. I will defend the rights of everyone, regardless of race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or social class. I consider bodily autonomy to be a fundamental human right.
• The only responsible way to lower taxes is to cut spending, and I will work to do both.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The federal government is too big and intrudes too much on our lives. It needs to be reined in, guided by the limits specified in the Constitution. The 10th Amendment specifically states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The federal income tax invades our privacy and takes too much of our earnings. It is also unfair. The laws and regulations governing the income tax favor some and hurt others. It must be abolished.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My parents. They were intelligent, hard-working, responsible, and loving. My father had a great sense of humor and my mother was someone who was very sympathetic and understanding. I am lucky to be their son!

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Books:

Non-Fiction: Libertarianism in One Lesson, by David Bergland
Fiction: The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
Film:

The Incredible Bread Machine

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty and transparency are most important. If elected, the candidate must not flip-flop on issues. People vote based on what you say you stand for. It is a betrayal if once elected you don't follow through.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm intelligent, analytical, honest, caring, responsible, have a good sense of humor, and am always open to learning new things. I have a wealth of experience in business and life that will stand me in good stead if I am elected.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Perform the duties of the office conscientiously. A Senator must show up when the Senate is in session, must attend committee meetings, and must review bills before voting on them. He must be responsive to constituent input and be attentive to constituent needs. He must always remember that he is there as a representative, and must strive to represent his constituents to the best of his ability.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave the world better than I found it. Each of us can make a difference in our personal lives. In the Senate I will have the opportunity to make a bigger difference.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember watching the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II with my mother on our black and white TV. My mother told me something important was happening. I was 5 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Newspaper delivery boy for a weekly newspaper. I was 14 years old and did it for about a year.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. It works on so many levels. It is political ideology, action/adventure, science-fiction, and romance all rolled into one book.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

John Galt - He's a principled, genius inventor, and he's good looking too!

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Foo Fighters - The Pretender

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I'm a saver. I have way too much "stuff" in my home.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

We need to come together as a nation. We must banish the "us versus them" mindset that is now rampant among so many Americans. We don't have to agree, but we have to agree to respect each other!

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I see the point of term limits and am not strongly opposed to them, but I would rather let the constituents decide when a legislator's time is up. Because of gerrymandering and relatively few districts being competitive, however, many incumbents tend to take their reelections for granted. Gerrymandering needs to end! More competitive districts will keep legislators on their toes and will enable voters to keep the good ones in office and turn out the bad ones.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The Senate is a legislative body that represents every state of this vast country, yet it is small enough that its members have the opportunity to get to know all their colleagues. It has the potential, lately unrealized, for personal relationships to override partisanship and produce legislation that actually carries out the will of the majority of the people.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think it is more important to have varied life experiences. I am a college and law school graduate, but I also worked in retail sales (men's clothing), drove a limousine, and have done day labor. I am currently a commercial real estate broker. Career politicians tend to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

What do you think of the filibuster?

The filibuster is an archaic relic that should be abolished.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Barry Goldwater was a principled Senator, yet he had friends on the other side of the aisle.

Tell us your favorite joke.

It's not family friendly LOL. Generally, though, I love "dad jokes."

How would you evaluate a judicial nominee?

I would evaluate them on their judicial experience and my perception of their ability to impartially apply the law and obey the Constitution. I would research their prior decisions and consider their testimony during confirmation hearings in making my decision.

What kind of relationships would you build with other senators?

I would be cordial to all and hope to make some close friendships and working relationships as well.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. One must keep one's eye on long term goals. Sometimes give and take is necessary to get there. There will be times when you can't compromise because you would be violating your basic principles, but there are times when you should compromise, because ultimately you will be advancing those principles.

How should the U.S. Senate use its investigative powers?

Judiciously. Investigations should not be a weapon unleashed every time a public figure does something you don't like.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

New Jersey Libertarian Party
Chase Oliver, Libertarian presidential candidate

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees to their Cabinet?

I would look at their academic qualifications, work experience, and character. The President should be able to surround himself with people who have a similar worldview to his own, whether or not I share that view.

What committees interest you?

Finance (Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight) Appropriations (Subcommittee on Defense)
Judiciary (Subcommittee on the Constitution and Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law)

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Aside from items whose release would unreasonably invade the privacy of private citizens or could affect national security (and that should be strictly construed), government records should be readily available to the public so that concerned citizens can review actions and expenditures by the government.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Kenneth Kaplan campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. Senate New Jersey	Lost general	$0	N/A**
Grand total			$0	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

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Candidate

U.S. Senate New Jersey

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Footnotes

[show]

New Jersey's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Cory Booker (D)

Andrew Kim (D)

Representatives

District 1

Donald Norcross (D)

District 2

Jeff Van Drew (R)

District 3

Herbert Conaway (D)

District 4

Chris Smith (R)

District 5

Josh Gottheimer (D)

District 6

Frank Pallone (D)

District 7

Thomas Kean (R)

District 8

Robert Menendez (D)

District 9

Nellie Pou (D)

District 10

LaMonica McIver (D)

District 11

Mikie Sherrill (D)

District 12

Bonnie Coleman (D)

Democratic Party (11)

Republican Party (3)