2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of New Jersey. It was held concurrently with the 2020 United States presidential election, as well as various other elections. The primary elections were moved from June 2, 2020, to July 7, 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns.

2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey
November 3, 2020
 
Nominee Cory Booker Rik Mehta
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,541,178 1,817,052
Percentage 57.23% 40.92%
County results
Booker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Mehta:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Cory Booker
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Cory Booker
Democratic

Elections in New Jersey
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
Senate elections
General Assembly elections
Newark
Mayoral elections
Jersey City
Mayoral elections
Hoboken
Mayoral elections
Atlantic City
Mayoral elections

Incumbent Cory Booker, a member of the Democratic Party and a former 2020 presidential candidate, won a second full term. The Republican nominee was Rik Mehta.[1]

Democratic primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary
  • Lawrence "Larry" Hamm, chairman of the People's Organization for Progress[3]

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements
Cory Booker
State officials
Local officials
Organizations
Lawrence "Larry" Hamm
Individuals
Organizations

Results
Results by county:
Democratic primary results[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cory Booker (incumbent) 838,110 87.58%
Democratic Lawrence Hamm 118,802 12.42%
Total votes 956,912 100.0%

Republican primary

Nominee
  • Rik Mehta, pharmaceutical executive and attorney[25]

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined
  • Matt Rooney, attorney and political pundit[37]

Endorsements
Rik Mehta
Former state officials
County Republican Party organizations
Hirsh Singh
County Republican Party organizations

Results
Results by county:
Republican primary results[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rik Mehta 154,817 38.01%
Republican Hirsh Singh 146,133 35.88%
Republican Tricia Flanagan 72,678 17.84%
Republican Natalie Lynn Rivera 21,650 5.31%
Republican Eugene Anagnos 12,047 2.96%
Total votes 407,325 100.0%

Other candidates

Nominee

Endorsements
Madelyn R. Hoffman
Elected Officials
  • Corey Teague, member of the Paterson Board of Education[44]
Individuals
  • Chris Hedges, Journalist[44]
  • Jill Stein, physician, activist, and 2012 and 2016 Green Party Presidential Nominee[44]
  • Ajamu Baraka, peace activist, 2016 Green Party Vice Presidential Nominee[44]
  • Howie Hawkins, activist, 2020 Green Party Presidential Nominee[44]
  • Peter Jacob, social worker, Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 7th congressional district, 2016 and 2018[44]
  • Seth Kaper-Dale, pastor, activist, 2017 Green Party Gubernatorial Candidate in New Jersey[44]
  • Cindy Sheehan, peace activist[44]
  • Stef Zamorano, co-producer, the Jimmy Dore show[44]
  • Margaret Flowers, peace activist, former co-chair of the Green Party[44]
  • Kason Little, social justice activist; Democratic Primary Candidate, Elizabeth City Council At-Large[44]
  • Lisa Savage, teacher, activist, Independent Candidate for US Senate, Maine[44]
  • Herb Tarbous, Democratic Primary Candidate for Middlesex County Clerk[44]
  • Aissa Heath, Democratic Primary Candidate for Union County Freeholder[44]
  • David Schraeger, Peace Activist[44]
  • Kevin Hernández, Democratic Primary Candidate for Hudson County Freeholder District 6[44]
  • Anthony Díaz, co-founder of the Newark Water Coalition; Democratic Primary Candidate for Essex County Freeholder[44]
  • Josh Shapiro, hub coordinator, Sunrise Montclair[44]
  • Margaret Kimberley, activist, author, New York Green Party Member[44]
  • Bob Witanek, peace activist[44]
Radio
  • 89.1 FM WHAR - Free Radio for the Free Thinker[44]
Organizations
  • Black Alliance for Peace[44]
  • Green Party US Latinx Caucus[44]
  • Green Party of Monmouth County[44]
  • Green Party of Ocean County[44]
  • Young Ecosocialists Caucus - NJ[44]
  • Hummus JC[44]
  • Cats of Eastwick[44]

Nominee

Nominee
  • Veronica Fernandez[30]

Declared

General election

Predictions
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[46] Safe D August 17, 2020
Inside Elections[47] Safe D September 18, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[48] Safe D August 5, 2020
Daily Kos[49] Safe D August 31, 2020
Politico[50] Safe D September 9, 2020
RCP[51] Likely D September 17, 2020
Niskanen[52] Safe D September 15, 2020
DDHQ[53] Safe D September 16, 2020
538[54] Safe D September 18, 2020

Endorsements
Cory Booker (D)
Senators
State officials
Local officials
Organizations
Unions
Rik Mehta (R)
State officials
Madelyn R. Hoffman (G)
Elected Officials
  • Corey Teague, member of the Paterson Board of Education[44]
Individuals
  • Chris Hedges, Journalist[44]
  • Jill Stein, physician, activist, and 2012 and 2016 Green Party Presidential Nominee[44]
  • Ajamu Baraka, peace activist, 2016 Green Party Vice Presidential Nominee[44]
  • Howie Hawkins, activist, 2020 Green Party Presidential Nominee[44]
  • Peter Jacob, social worker, Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 7th congressional district, 2016 and 2018[44]
  • Seth Kaper-Dale, pastor, activist, 2017 Green Party Gubernatorial Candidate in New Jersey[44]
  • Cindy Sheehan, peace activist[44]
  • Stef Zamorano, co-producer, the Jimmy Dore show[44]
  • Margaret Flowers, peace activist, former co-chair of the Green Party[44]
  • Kason Little, social justice activist; Democratic Primary Candidate, Elizabeth City Council At-Large[44]
  • Lisa Savage, teacher, activist, Independent Candidate for US Senate, Maine[44]
  • Herb Tarbous, Democratic Primary Candidate for Middlesex County Clerk[44]
  • Aissa Heath, Democratic Primary Candidate for Union County Freeholder[44]
  • David Schraeger, Peace Activist[44]
  • Kevin Hernández, Democratic Primary Candidate for Hudson County Freeholder District 6[44]
  • Anthony Díaz, co-founder of the Newark Water Coalition; Democratic Primary Candidate for Essex County Freeholder[44]
  • Josh Shapiro, hub coordinator, Sunrise Montclair[44]
  • Margaret Kimberley, activist, author, New York Green Party Member[44]
  • Bob Witanek, peace activist[44]
Radio
  • 89.1 FM WHAR - Free Radio for the Free Thinker[44]
Organizations
  • Black Alliance for Peace[44]
  • Green Party US Latinx Caucus[44]
  • Green Party of Monmouth County[44]
  • Green Party of Ocean County[44]
  • Young Ecosocialists Caucus - NJ[44]
  • Hummus JC[44]
  • Cats of Eastwick[44]

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 2]		 Margin
of error		 Cory
Booker (D)		 Rik
Mehta (R)		 Other /
Undecided
Research Co. October 31 – November 1, 2020 450 (LV) ± 4.6% 55% 32% 13%[lower-alpha 3]
Swayable October 23–26, 2020 363 (LV) ± 6.7% 61% 39% –
Rutgers University October 19–24, 2020 851 (LV) ± 4% 61% 31% 9%[lower-alpha 4]
Stockton University October 7–13, 2020 721 (LV) ± 3.7% 57% 32% 10% [lower-alpha 5]
Emerson College September 4–7, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 52% 28% 21%[lower-alpha 6]
Monmouth University April 16–19, 2020 635 (RV) ± 3.9% 55% 32% 11%[lower-alpha 7]
New Jersey's 2nd congressional district
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 2]		 Margin
of error		 Cory
Booker (D)		 Rik
Mehta (R)		 Other /
Undecided
Monmouth University September 26–October 1, 2020 588 (RV) ± 4.1% 47% 39% 13%[lower-alpha 8]
48% 40%[lower-alpha 9] 12%
47% 41%[lower-alpha 10] 12%
Hypothetical polling
with Hirsh Singh
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 2]		 Margin
of error		 Cory
Booker (D)		 Hirsh
Singh (R)		 Other /
Undecided
Monmouth University April 16–19, 2020 635 (RV) ± 3.9% 58% 33% 9%[lower-alpha 11]
on whether or not respondents would vote to reelect Cory Booker
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 2]		 Margin
of error		 Yes No Undecided
Quinnipiac April 30 – May 4, 2020 941 (RV) ± 3.2% 53% 36% 11%

Results
Results of the general election by municipality, darker colors indicate higher win percentage:
-Blue municipalities won by Booker
-Red municipalities won by Metha
-Purple municipality (Teterboro only) Booker and Metha tied

The election was not close, with Booker winning re-election by 16.31%. Key to Booker's landslide victory was heavily populated areas such as Hackensack, Newark, and Trenton. Booker also narrowly won Morris County, which no Democratic Senator had ever carried since 1984 when Senator Bill Bradley swept every county. Mehta did well in Ocean County, which is a Republican stronghold, as well as many rural areas of the state. Booker made history as the highest vote earner in a statewide non-presidential election in New Jersey. Booker received 2,541,178 votes. Booker was sworn in for a second term on January 3, 2021. His term will expire on January 3, 2027.

United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2020[63]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Cory Booker (incumbent) 2,541,178 57.23% +1.39%
Republican Rikin Mehta 1,817,052 40.92% -1.41%
Green Madelyn Hoffman 38,288 0.86% +0.18%
Independent Veronica Fernandez 32,290 0.73% N/A
Independent Daniel Burke 11,632 0.26% N/A
Total votes 4,440,440 100.0%
Democratic hold

Results by county
County Booker votes Booker % Mehta votes Mehta % Other votes Other %
Atlantic[64][65]71,420 52.60% 61,568 45.35% 2,786 2.05%
Bergen[66][67]280,054 57.90% 195,193 40.36% 8,431 1.74%
Burlington[68]150,160 58.72% 102,136 39.94% 3,436 1.34%
Camden[69]173,335 66.25% 85,406 32.64% 2,900 1.11%
Cape May[70]22,952 41.53% 31,317 56.67% 993 1.80%
Cumberland[71]31,992 52.64% 26,626 43.81% 2,161 3.56%
Essex[72]260,604 77.78% 69,750 20.82% 4,715 1.41%
Gloucester[73]85,489 50.25% 80,943 47.58% 3,682 2.16%
Hudson[74]176,658 73.54% 56,917 23.69% 6,648 2.77%
Hunterdon[75]36,728 44.32% 43,951 53.04% 2,188 2.64%
Mercer[76]117,821 68.24% 52,248 30.26% 2,593 2.20%
Middlesex[77]221,802 60.55% 135,398 36.96% 9,110 2.49%
Monmouth[78]173,609 46.62% 191,700 51.48% 7,089 1.90%
Morris[79]146,148 50.18% 141,373 48.54% 3,710 1.27%
Ocean[80]116,036 35.20% 207,751 63.02% 5,882 1.78%
Passaic[81]131,195 59.97% 80,827 36.95% 6,736 3.08%
Salem[82]14,515 43.21% 17,910 53.32% 1,163 3.46%
Somerset[83]105,681 57.45% 75,622 41.11% 2,663 1.45%
Sussex[84]33,918 39.21% 49,884 57.66% 2,706 3.13%
Union[85]166,997 67.37% 76,677 30.93% 4,192 1.69%
Warren[86]24,124 40.39% 33,893 56.75% 1,709 2.86%
Total 2,541,238 57.19% 1,817,090 40.89% 85,493 1.92%

Counties that swung from Republican to Democratic

See also

Notes
  1. General Election write-in candidates have no barriers to or deadlines for qualification in New Jersey
  2. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. "Someone else" with 2%; Undecided with 11%
  4. "Someone else" and "Neither" with 2%; would not vote with 1%; Undecided with 4%
  5. "Other" with 7%; Undecided with 3%
  6. "Someone else" with 5%; Undecided with 16%
  7. "Other" with 1%; "No one" with 0%; Undecided with 10%
  8. "Other" with 4%; "No one" with 1%; Undecided with 8%
  9. With a likely voter turnout model featuring higher turnout than in the 2016 presidential election
  10. With a likely voter turnout model featuring lower turnout than in the 2016 presidential election
  11. "Other" and "No one" with 0%; Undecided with 9%

References
  1. Jonathan D. Salant (July 10, 2020). "This Republican will challenge Cory Booker for Senate this fall after just winning GOP primary". NJ Advance Media. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  2. Kelsey, Adam; Harper, Averi (January 13, 2020). "Sen. Cory Booker suspends presidential campaign". ABC News. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  3. Akinyele, Bashir Muhammad (December 21, 2019). "Larry Hamm for United States Senate". Patch. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  4. "FEC For 2: Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). FEC.gov. December 12, 2018.
  5. "NAIK, HARSH VASANT MR". FEC.gov. October 18, 2018.
  6. Wildstein, David (March 26, 2018). "If Booker or Murphy run in 2020 - New Jersey Globe". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  7. Biryukov, Nikita (September 2, 2019). "Gottheimer declines to say which Republican he'd like to face in 2020". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  8. "INSIDERNJ's 2020 Congressional Sketch Pad: A Thumbnail Guide to All Developing Contests". August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  9. "INSIDERNJ's 2020 Congressional Sketch Pad: A Thumbnail Guide to All Developing Contests". August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  10. "HCDO, Hudson Mayors All in for Joe Biden and Entire Column B Team in July Primary". www.insidernj.com. June 25, 2020.
  11. Brown, Kris (February 24, 2020). "Brady Endorses Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) for Re-Election". Brady.
  12. "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Endorses Gun Violence Survivors, Speaker Pelosi, Congressional Allies". Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. March 23, 2020.
  13. Muller, Tiffany (January 21, 2020). "End Citizens United Endorses 39 Candidates 10 Years After Citizens United Decision". End Citizens United.
  14. "Giffords Endorses Slate of Senators Running to Bring a Gun Safety Majority to the US Senate". Giffords. May 8, 2020.
  15. Society, Humane. "2020 Endorsements". Humane Society Legislative Fund.
  16. Connnon, Courtnee (May 19, 2020). "LCV Action Fund Endorses Senator Cory Booker for Re-election". League of Conservation Voters.
  17. "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Cory Booker for Re-Election to U.S. Senate". NARAL Pro-Choice America. January 31, 2020.
  18. "2020 Federal Endorsements - NOW PAC". nowpac.org.
  19. "Six Environmental Champions Win NRDC Action Fund Endorsements". www.nrdcactionfund.org. May 18, 2020.
  20. "2020 Endorsements". plannedparenthoodaction.org.
  21. "Sierra Club #ClimateVoter Guide: Endorsements". Sierra Club. July 16, 2012.
  22. "Cornel West endorses Lawrence Hamm for U.S. Senate". New Jersey Globe. May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  23. Progressive Democrats of America. "2020 Endorsements". Retrieved July 3, 2020 – via PDAmerica.
  24. "2020-official-primary-results-us-senate.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  25. Biryukov, Nikita (October 17, 2019). "Morris lawyer announces U.S. Senate bid". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  26. Biryukov, Nikita (March 30, 2020). "Former teacher launches surprise U.S. Senate bid". New Jersey Globe.
  27. Biryukov, Nikita (April 26, 2019). "Tricia Flanagan seeking GOP nod against Booker". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  28. Wildstein, David (April 25, 2019). "Natalie Lynn Rivera will challenge Cory Booker". New Jersey Globe. Sea of Reeds Media. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  29. Wildstein, David (April 24, 2019). "Hirsh Singh will challenge Cory Booker for U.S. Senate". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  30. "New Jersey Senate 2020 Race". Open Secrets. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  31. "13 changes to the candidate list". The Green Papers. February 14, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  32. Wildstein, David (August 22, 2019). "Republican Stuart Meissner considers bid for U.S. Senate against Booker". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  33. Avila, Joseph De (September 23, 2019). "Former Prosecutor Launches Bid for Cory Booker's Senate Seat". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  34. "Meissner to drop U.S. Senate bid against Booker". New Jersey Globe. February 11, 2020.
  35. Rich, Gary. "Statement from Republican US Senate Candidate Gary Rich". InsiderNJ. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  36. Wildstein, David (February 4, 2020). "Report: Gary Rich drops U.S. Senate bid". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  37. Wildstein, David (January 22, 2019). "What about Matt Rooney as Booker foe?". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  38. "Governor Chris Christie Endorses Rik Mehta for U.S Senate". Insider NJ. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  39. "Hunterdon County Officials Unanimously Endorse Rik Mehta for U.S Senate (press release)". Insider NJ. June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  40. "Union County Republican Mayors Endorse Rik Mehta for U.S Senate (press release)". Insider NJ. June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  41. Wildstein, David (June 9, 2020). "Christie endorses Mehta for U.S. Senate". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  42. Wildstein, David (March 12, 2020). "Singh wins Cape May GOP line". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  43. "Green Party Leader Madelyn Hoffman will run for the US Senate in 2020, hoping to unseat Cory Booker, who will be running for reelection". Insider NJ. June 19, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  44. "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  45. "New Jersey - Senate". FEC. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  46. "2020 Senate Race Ratings for April 19, 2019". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  47. "2020 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  48. "2020 Senate race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  49. "Daily Kos Elections releases initial Senate race ratings for 2020". Daily Kos Elections. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  50. "2020 Election Forecast". Politico. November 19, 2019.
  51. "Battle for White House". RCP. April 19, 2019.
  52. "2020 Negative Partisanship and the 2020 Congressional Elections". Niskanen Center. April 28, 2020.
  53. "2020 Senate Elections Model". Decision Desk HQ. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  54. Silver, Nate (September 18, 2020). "Forecasting the race for the Senate". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  55. "Endorsements | Warren Democrats". elizabethwarren.com.
  56. "2020 Endorsements".
  57. "Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Endorses Senator Cory Booker for U.S. Senate". Everytown. June 30, 2020.
  58. "Our 2020 Endorsements". Working Families Party.
  59. {{cite web |title=NJ’s Largest Health Care Union Releases List of 2020 Endorsed Candidates |url=https://www.hpae.org/2020/07/njs-largest-health-care-union-releases-list-of-2020-endorsed-candidates/
  60. "U.S. Senate - Education Votes". educationvotes.nea.org.
  61. "U.S. Senate Candidate in NJ Rik Mehta Gets Significant Endorsement from Former Governor Chris Christie". India West.
  62. Stilton, Phil (June 23, 2020). "Bucco, Hoven, Cabana, Asdal, Hill Stanzilis, Chegwidden Endorse Rik Mehta for U.S. Senate". Shore News Network.
  63. "Official General Election Results: U.S. Senate" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  64. "2020 General Election Results (Excluding write-ins)". Atlantic County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  65. "County Summary (Write-In Total)" (PDF). Atlantic County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  66. "2020 General Election Results (Excludes Write-In Votes)". Bergen County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  67. "Bergen County Precinct Summary (Includes Write-Ins)" (PDF). Bergen County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  68. "Burlington County Official Election Results". Burlington County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  69. "Official Election Results" (PDF). Camden County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  70. "Official Election Results". Cape May County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  71. "2020 General Official Election Results". Cumberland County’s Clerk Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  72. "2020 General Official Election Results". Essex County’s Clerk Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  73. "November 3rd General Election". Gloucester County’s Clerk Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  74. "Official Results". Hudson County’s Clerk Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  75. "Election Summary Report" (PDF). Hunterdon County’s Clerk Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  76. "2020 General Election Results". Mercer County’s Clerk Office. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  77. "Election Results 2020". Middlesex County’s Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  78. "2020 General Election Results". Monmouth County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  79. "Morris County Election Results". Morris County’s Clerk Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  80. "2020 General Election Results". Ocean County’s Clerk Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  81. "Passaic County Official Results" (PDF). Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  82. "Official Summary Report" (PDF). Salem County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  83. "Somerset County Results 2020". Somerset County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  84. "Sussex County Results". Sussex County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  85. "Union County Election Results". Union County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  86. "Official Election Results" (PDF). Warren County Clerk’s Office. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
Official campaign websites
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.