1916 United States Senate election in New Jersey
The United States Senate election of 1916 in New Jersey was held on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Democratic Senator James E. Martine ran for re-election to a second term in office, but was defeated by Republican State Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen Sr. This was the first popular election for United States Senator in New Jersey history, following the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This was the first of four straight elections to this seat in which the incumbent was defeated. Democratic primary. Campaign. Senator Martine drew  a primary challenge from Woodrow Wilson ally John W. Wescott, the state Attorney General. Wescott's strong alliance with President Wilson and Martine's opposition to administration policy on World War I and general Anglophobia led some Democrats to think him vulnerable. Martine had previously said that he would rather retire to his Union County farm than go to the White House "for orders." A minor third candidate from Newark, Frank McDermit, may have drawn away Martine supporters in Essex County. Wescott had the support of the Essex County machine. Results. Martin defeated Wescott by a large margin in Hudson  County and the strong support of ethnic Germans, who approved of his critical stance on Wilson's war policy. Despite strong opposition from the Nugent machine in Essex and McDermit's candidacy, Martine appeared to carry the county narrowly. Given his close alliance with Wilson personally and politically, Wescott's loss was seen as a blow to the administration and Wilson's re-election hopes. Republican primary. Campaign. In the campaign, the statewide party machine backed Murphy. Opponents also accused Frelinghuysen of non-residency, given that his winter home and business were in New York. Frelinghuysen was also opposed by  automobile owners, based on his record as State Senator. On primary day, most observers expected Murphy to win. Results. Frelinghuysen won a surprising victory over Murphy, who managed only a small plurality in his home base of Essex County.