United States Senate election in New Jersey (June 5, 2018 Democratic primary)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 16
- Early voting: Sept. 22 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: No
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2020 →
← 2014
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| U.S. Senate, New Jersey |
|---|
 |
| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: April 2, 2018 |
| Primary: June 5, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: Bob Menendez (Democrat) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in New Jersey |
| Race ratings |
Inside Elections: Likely Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
| See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th New Jersey elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 |
A Democratic Party primary election took place on June 5, 2018 in New Jersey to determine which Democrat would run in the state's November 6, 2018, general election.
This page focuses on the Democratic primary. For an overview of the election in general, click here.
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.[1] Menendez was on trial for allegedly using his office to benefit a campaign donor, in exchange for gifts and campaign contributions.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4]
Candidates and election results
Incumbent Bob Menendez defeated Lisa McCormick in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate New Jersey on June 5, 2018.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate New Jersey
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bob Menendez | 62.3 | 262,477 |
 | Lisa McCormick | 37.7 | 158,998 | |
| Total votes: 421,475 | |||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Campaign finance
The table below contains data from FEC Quarterly October 2017 reports. It includes only candidates who reported at least $10,000 in campaign contributions as of September 30, 2017.[5]
Democrats
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Two of 21 New Jersey counties—9.5 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Gloucester County, New Jersey | 0.48% | 10.77% | 12.16% | ||||
| Salem County, New Jersey | 15.00% | 1.31% | 3.92% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won New Jersey with 55.5 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 41.4 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, New Jersey voted Democratic 46.67 percent of the time and Republican 53.33 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, New Jersey voted Democratic all five times.
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in New Jersey heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in New Jersey.
- Democrats held seven of 12 U.S. House seats in New Jersey, and Republicans held five.
State executives
- As of May 2018, Democrats held five of 14 state executive positions. The other nine positions were held by nonpartisan officials.
- The governor of New Jersey was Democrat Phil Murphy.
State legislature
- Democrats controlled both chambers of the New Jersey State Legislature. They had a 54-26 majority in the state Assembly and a 25-15 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- New Jersey was a Democratic trifecta, meaning that the Democratic Party held the governorship, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state Assembly.
2018 elections
- See also: New Jersey elections, 2018
New Jersey held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- The Class 1 U.S. Senate seat held by Bob Menendez (D)
- All 12 U.S. House seats
- Local judicial offices
- Local school boards
- Municipal elections in Newark and Essex County
Demographics
| Demographic data for New Jersey | ||
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 8,935,421 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 7,354 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 68.3% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 13.5% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 9% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 19% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 88.6% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 36.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $72,093 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 12.7% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in New Jersey. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
As of July 2016, New Jersey had a population of approximately 9 million people, and its three largest cities were New Jersey (pop. est. 283,000), Jersey City (pop. est. 265,000), and Paterson (pop. est. 147,000).[6][7]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in New Jersey from 2000 to 2016.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in New Jersey every year from 2000 to 2016.
| Election results (President of the United States), New Jersey 2000-2016[8] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton |
55.5% |  Donald Trump |
41.4% | 14.1% |
| 2012 | Barack Obama |
58.4% | Mitt Romney |
40.6% | 17.8% |
| 2008 | Barack Obama |
57.2% | John McCain |
41.7% | 15.5% |
| 2004 | John Kerry |
52.9% | George W. Bush |
46.2% | 6.7% |
| 2000 | Al Gore |
56.1% | George W. Bush |
40.3% | 15.8% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in New Jersey from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
| Election results (U.S. Senator), New Jersey 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014[9] | Cory Booker |
55.8% | Jeff Bell |
42.3% | 13.5% |
| 2012[10] | Bob Menendez |
58.9% | Joseph Kyrillos |
39.4% | 19.5% |
| 2008[11] | Frank Lautenberg |
56.0% | Dick Zimmer |
42.0% | 14.0% |
| 2006[12] | Bob Menendez |
53.3% | Thomas Kean Jr. |
44.3% | 9.0% |
| 2002[13] | Frank Lautenberg |
53.9% | Doug Forrester |
44.0% | 9.9% |
| 2000[14] | Jon Corzine |
50.1% | Bob Franks |
47.1% | 3.0% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2001-2017
This chart shows the results of the five gubernatorial elections held between 2001 and 2017. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in New Jersey, and, unlike most states, they take place in odd years.
| Election results (Governor), New Jersey 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2017[15] | Phil Murphy |
56.0% | Kim Guadagno |
41.9% | 14.1% |
| 2013[16] | Chris Christie |
60.3% | Barbara Buono |
38.2% | 22.1% |
| 2009[17] | Chris Christie |
48.5% | Jon Corzine |
44.9% | 3.6% |
| 2005[18] | Jon Corzine |
53.5% | Doug Forrester |
43.0% | 10.5% |
| 2001[19] | Jim McGreevey |
56.4% | Bret Schundler |
41.7% | 14.7% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
| Congressional delegation, New Jersey 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Republicans | Republicans (%) | Democrats | Democrats (%) | Balance of power |
| 2016[20] | 5 |
41.7% | 7 |
58.3% | D+2 |
| 2014[9] | 6 |
50.0% | 6 |
50.0% | Even |
| 2012[10] | 6 |
50.0% | 6 |
50.0% | Even |
| 2010[21] | 6 |
46.2% | 7 |
53.8% | D+1 |
| 2008[11] | 5 |
38.5% | 8 |
61.5% | D+3 |
| 2006[12] | 6 |
46.2% | 7 |
53.8% | D+1 |
| 2004[22] | 6 |
46.2% | 7 |
53.8% | D+1 |
| 2002[13] | 6 |
46.2% | 7 |
53.8% | D+1 |
| 2000[14] | 6 |
46.2% | 7 |
53.8% | D+1 |
Trifectas, 1992-2018
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
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 |
,
See also
- United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2018
- United States Senate election in New Jersey (2018 Republican primary)
- United States Senate elections, 2018
- United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ NJ.com, "The 7 Democrats who could take over Menendez's Senate seat," September 10, 2017
- ↑ Politico, "Menendez formally seeks mistrial in bribery case," October 29, 2017
- ↑ RealClearPolitics, "Menendez: 'To Those Who Were Digging My Political Grave... I Know Who You Are,'" November 16, 2017
- ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Menendez Reports Lower Fundraising Amid Corruption Trial," October 19, 2017
- ↑ FEC, "Federal Election Commission," accessed November 5, 2017
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts New Jersey," March 27, 2018
- ↑ World Population Review, "Population of Cities in New Jersey (2018)," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ US Election Atlas, "United States Presidential Election Results," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 New Jersey Secretary of State, "2014 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 New Jersey Secretary of State, "2012 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 New Jersey Secretary of State, "2008 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 New Jersey Secretary of State, "2006 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 New Jersey Secretary of State, "2002 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 New Jersey Secretary of State, "2000 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2017 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2013 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2009 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2005 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2001 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2016 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2010 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2004 Election Information Archive," accessed March 27, 2018
