# 2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey

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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, defeating former Republican congressman Dick Zimmer, who was also the nominee for this seat in 1996. This election, alongside the concurrent Senate election in Minnesota, was the last U.S. Senate election in which both major party candidates were Jewish.

## Background

In November 2006, Senator Lautenberg had the lowest approval rating of any Democrat running for re-election in 2008 (with 39% approving and 45% disapproving), 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 (46% to 36%) and that he is too old to effectively serve another six years in the Senate (54% to 40%).
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 (Rasmussen Reports, June 4, 2008) 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

* Rob Andrews, U.S. Representative from Haddon Heights
* Donald Cresitello, Mayor of Morristown
* Frank Lautenberg, incumbent U.S. Senator

### Polling

| Source | Date | Frank Lautenberg | Rob Andrews |
| Joel Benenson | April 1–2, 2008 | 52% | 21% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 15, 2008 | 49% | 19% |

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) | 203,012 | 58.9% |
| | Democratic | Rob Andrews | 121,777 | 35.3% |
| | Democratic | Donald Cresitello | 19,743 | 5.7% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 344,532 | 100.0% |

#### Results by county

Results by county :
| County | Lautenberg | % | Andrews | % | Cresitello | % |
| Atlantic | 4,798 | 45.4% | 5,287 | 50.1% | 472 | 4.5% |
| Bergen | 26,848 | 78.9% | 5,645 | 16.6% | 1,554 | 4.6% |
| Burlington | 7,757 | 42.4% | 9,483 | 51.8% | 1,059 | 5.8% |
| Camden | 5,995 | 16.5% | 29,175 | 80.1% | 1,256 | 3.4% |
| Cape May | 1,433 | 45.4% | 1,566 | 49.6% | 159 | 5.0% |
| Cumberland | 1,746 | 46.1% | 1,799 | 47.5% | 246 | 6.5% |
| Essex | 31,844 | 76.4% | 8,671 | 20.8% | 1,190 | 2.9% |
| Gloucester | 3,135 | 17.0% | 14,775 | 80.0% | 563 | 3.0% |
| Hudson | 28,446 | 74.8% | 8,233 | 21.7% | 1,343 | 3.5% |
| Hunterdon | 2,061 | 58.8% | 1,180 | 33.7% | 264 | 7.5% |
| Mercer | 10,093 | 74.0% | 3,053 | 22.4% | 494 | 3.6% |
| Middlesex | 17,131 | 62.0% | 7,918 | 28.7% | 2,573 | 9.3% |
| Monmouth | 10,570 | 66.3% | 3,568 | 22.4% | 1,808 | 11.3% |
| Morris | 8,432 | 65.0% | 3,151 | 24.3% | 1,394 | 10.7% |
| Ocean | 8,869 | 57.9% | 5,037 | 32.9% | 1,421 | 9.3% |
| Passaic | 9,842 | 79.3% | 1,700 | 13.7% | 872 | 7.0% |
| Salem | 928 | 31.9% | 1,734 | 59.6% | 248 | 8.5% |
| Somerset | 5,640 | 64.7% | 2,209 | 25.3% | 873 | 10.0% |
| Sussex | 1,379 | 52.7% | 784 | 29.9% | 456 | 17.4% |
| Union | 15,103 | 67.6% | 6,179 | 27.7% | 1,060 | 4.7% |
| Warren | 962 | 47.4% | 630 | 31.0% | 438 | 21.6% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Joseph Pennacchio, State Senator from Rockaway Township
* Murray Sabrin, professor at Ramapo College and perennial candidate
* Dick Zimmer, former U.S. Representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1996

#### Withdrew

* Anne Evans Estabrook, real estate developer
* Andrew Unanue, former Goya Foods executive (endorsed Zimmer)

#### Declined

* Kip Bateman, State Senator from Neshanic Station
* Mehmet Oz, cardiologist

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dick Zimmer | 84,663 | 45.8% |
| | Republican | Joseph Pennacchio | 74,546 | 40.3% |
| | Republican | Murray Sabrin | 25,576 | 13.8% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 184,785 | 100.0% |
Official results, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF, July 11, 2008)

#### Results by county

| County | Zimmer | % | Pennacchio | % | Sabrin | % |
| Atlantic | 3,909 | 65% | 1,322 | 22% | 810 | 13% |
| Bergen | 5,145 | 30% | 10,761 | 62% | 1,384 | 8% |
| Burlington | 8,629 | 63% | 2,869 | 21% | 2,276 | 16% |
| Camden | 3,123 | 49% | 2,166 | 34% | 1,036 | 16% |
| Cape May | 3,615 | 70% | 1,034 | 20% | 483 | 9% |
| Cumberland | 1,566 | 72% | 395 | 18% | 225 | 10% |
| Essex | 3,592 | 57% | 2,262 | 36% | 493 | 8% |
| Gloucester | 1,206 | 26% | 2,161 | 47% | 1,254 | 27% |
| Hudson | 1,487 | 48% | 955 | 31% | 641 | 21% |
| Hunterdon | 5,519 | 60% | 2,730 | 30% | 977 | 11% |
| Mercer | 2,555 | 56% | 1,538 | 34% | 488 | 11% |
| Middlesex | 2,603 | 33% | 4,195 | 54% | 1,021 | 13% |
| Monmouth | 7,981 | 56% | 4,630 | 33% | 1,510 | 11% |
| Morris | 8,094 | 36% | 12,700 | 56% | 1,855 | 8% |
| Ocean | 10,875 | 48% | 4,820 | 21% | 6,778 | 30% |
| Passaic | 1,271 | 20% | 4,570 | 72% | 545 | 8% |
| Salem | 769 | 47% | 657 | 41% | 193 | 12% |
| Somerset | 5,227 | 46% | 4,875 | 43% | 1,170 | 10% |
| Sussex | 2,850 | 40% | 3,621 | 51% | 647 | 9% |
| Union | 2,896 | 32% | 4,653 | 52% | 1,388 | 15% |
| Warren | 1,751 | 46% | 1,632 | 43% | 402 | 11% |

## General election
### Candidates
#### Major

* Frank Lautenberg, incumbent U.S. Senator
* Dick Zimmer, former U.S. Representative

#### Minor

* Jeff Boss (I)
* Daryl Mikell Brooks (I)
* J.M. Carter (I)
* Carl Peter Klapper (Write In)
* Sara Lobman (Socialist Workers)
* Jason Scheurer (Libertarian)

### Debates

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.

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Safe D | October 23, 2008 |
| CQ Politics | Likely D | October 31, 2008 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics | Likely D | October 31, 2008 |

### Polling

| Source | Date | Frank Lautenberg (D) | Dick Zimmer (R) |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 4, 2008 | 45% | 44% |
| Quinnipiac University | June 5–8, 2008 | 47% | 38% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | June 17–22, 2008 | 45% | 28% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 7, 2008 | 49% | 36% |
| Strategic Vision | July 11–13, 2008 | 48% | 32% |
| Monmouth University | July 17–21, 2008 | 45% | 37% |
| Club for Growth | July 30–31, 2008 | 35% | 36% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 4, 2008 | 51% | 33% |
| Quinnipiac University | August 4–10, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | September 4–7, 2008 | 46% | 35% |
| Marist College | September 5–8, 2008 | 51% | 40% |
| The Record / Research 2000 | September 9–11, 2008 | 49% | 41% |
| Quinnipiac University | September 10–14, 2008 | 48% | 39% |
| Monmouth University | September 11–14, 2008 | 46% | 36% |
| Strategic Vision | September 14–16, 2008 | 47% | 40% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 16, 2008 | 49% | 42% |
| Survey USA | September 27–28, 2008 | 51% | 38% |
| Strategic Vision | September 26–28, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | September 29 – October 5, 2008 | 50% | 34% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 7, 2008 | 51% | 37% |
| Survey USA | October 11–12, 2008 | 51% | 38% |
| Monmouth University | October 15–18, 2008 | 52% | 36% |
| Quinnipiac University | October 16–19, 2008 | 55% | 33% |
| Marist College | October 20–21, 2008 | 48% | 41% |
| Strategic Vision | October 24–26, 2008 | 49% | 41% |
| Survey USA | October 29–30, 2008 | 52% | 37% |

### Results

2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Frank Lautenberg (incumbent) | 1,951,218 | 56.03% | +2.15% |
| | Republican | Dick Zimmer | 1,461,025 | 41.95% | −2.00% |
| | Independent | Daryl Mikell Brooks | 20,920 | 0.60% | n/a |
| | Libertarian | Jason Scheurer | 18,810 | 0.54% | −0.05 |
| | Independent | J.M. Carter | 15,935 | 0.46% | n/a |
| | Independent | Jeff Boss | 10,345 | 0.30% | n/a |
| | Socialist Workers | Sara Lobman | 9,187 | 0.26% | n/a |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,482,445 | 100.00% | n/a |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |