1988 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 1988 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a second term with a margin of 8.37%.

1988 United States Senate election in New Jersey

November 8, 1988
 
Nominee Frank Lautenberg Pete Dawkins
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,599,905 1,349,937
Percentage 53.55% 45.18%

County results
Lautenberg:      50–60%      60–70%
Dawkins:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Frank Lautenberg
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Lautenberg
Democratic

General election

Candidates

Campaign

The campaign was full of political mudslinging, with Lautenberg accusing Dawkins of being a carpetbagger, noting his very brief residency in the state,[1] and also accusing Dawkins' campaign of lying about his war record.[2] Dawkins accused Lautenberg of running a smear campaign against, called him a "swamp dog",[3] and criticized him for saying he voted eight times against a senatorial pay raise without mentioning the fact that he did vote once for the pay raise.[2]

Results

United States Senate election in New Jersey, 1988[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank Lautenberg (Incumbent), Secaucus 1,599,905 53.55%
Republican Pete Dawkins, Rumson 1,349,937 45.18%
Independent Joseph F. Job, Rutherford 20,091 0.67%
Libertarian Jerry Zeldin, Laurel Springs 12,354 0.41%
Socialist Workers Thomas A. Fiske, Newark 5,347 0.18%
Majority 249,968 8.37%
Turnout 2,987,634 100.00%
Democratic hold

By county

County Lautenberg % Lautenberg votes Dawkins % Dawkins votes Other % Other votes
Atlantic 54.7% 41,004 44.6% 33,417 0.7% 493
Bergen 52.6% 199,195 45.5% 172,257 1.9% 7,291
Burlington 52.0% 75,513 47.3% 68,657 0.6% 929
Camden 59.1% 110,718 40.1% 75,162 0.8% 1,438
Cape May 46.6% 19,720 52.8% 22,349 0.5% 223
Cumberland 55.4% 25,379 42.9% 19,680 1.7% 771
Essex 65.0% 170,591 32.4% 85,169 2.6% 6,855
Gloucester 53.4% 46,247 42.9% 39,232 1.7% 1,055
Hudson 61.7% 108,355 37.0% 65,092 1.3% 2,270
Hunterdon 41.1% 18,281 57.6% 25,615 1.2% 544
Mercer 61.8% 80,569 37.7% 49,122 0.6% 724
Middlesex 55.1% 141,067 43.8% 112,182 1.1% 2,796
Monmouth 50.8% 117,063 48.3% 111,318 0.8% 1,906
Morris 43.0% 79,237 56.4% 103,843 0.6% 1,057
Ocean 46.0% 84,812 53.2% 98,161 0.8% 1,512
Passaic 52.7% 77,827 45.0% 66,440 2.4% 3,512
Salem 48.8% 12,485 49.1% 12,562 2.1% 534
Somerset 46.4% 47,648 52.5% 53,969 1.1% 1,138
Sussex 38.4% 19,035 60.4% 29,909 1.2% 613
Union 55.0% 109,852 44.1% 88,027 0.9% 1,775
Warren 45.8% 15,307 53.2% 17,774 1.1% 356

See also

References

  1. Otterbourg, Robert (June 26, 1988). "NEW JERSEY OPINION; Carpetbagging is Not a Real Issue". The New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  2. Povich, Elaine S. (October 20, 1988). "New Jersey Senate Race A Mudslide". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  3. May, Clifford D. (October 26, 1988). "For Senate Rivals in Jersey, It's Personal". New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  4. "Our Campaigns - NJ US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1988".
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