| Election Name: | 1994 United States Senate election in New Jersey |
| Country: | New Jersey |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1988 United States Senate election in New Jersey |
| Previous Year: | 1988 |
| Next Election: | 2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey |
| Next Year: | 2000 |
| Election Date: | November 8, 1994 |
| Image1: | File:Frank Lautenberg.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Frank Lautenberg |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,033,487 |
| Percentage1: | 50.29% |
| Nominee2: | Chuck Haytaian |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 966,244 |
| Percentage2: | 47.02% |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Frank Lautenberg |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Frank Lautenberg |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1994 United States Senate Election in New Jersey was held November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a third term.
Lautenberg took no part in much of the summer campaign, delegating duties to his campaign director David Eichenbaum. Haytaian became so frustrated with the Senator's absence that he referred to Eichenbaum as Lautenberg's "paid mouthpiece" and his campaign aides began to refer to "Senator Eichenbaum" in their campaign materials.[3]
Haytaian centered his campaign on reducing federal taxes through the institution of a flat federal income tax of 18.5%. Throughout the campaign, Haytaian emphasized taxes and fiscal issues over social issues.[4] Eichenbaum, standing in for Lautenberg, referred to Haytaian's flat tax as a "giveaway to the rich" and criticized Haytaian as a "hypocrite" for previously opposing a flat state tax plan because it would have eliminated home mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions.[3] Haytaian fired back that in 1982, Lautenberg had called a flat tax "the only one that can quickly close the loopholes."[3]
Campaign advertisements for both candidates were highly negative. Both candidates positioned themselves as tough on crime and taxes, which polling showed were the two major issues in the state.[5] Haytaian stressed his support for the death penalty and Lautenberg's opposition.[5]
Abortion was also an issue; Lautenberg supported abortion rights, while Haytaian favored mandatory waiting periods, parental notification for minors, and a ban on federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or where necessary to save the life of a pregnant mother. In the past, Haytaian had supported a constitutional ban.
Lautenberg agreed to two debates on October 15 and 25.[3]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin | Frank Lautenberg (D) | Chuck Haytaian (R) | Other/ Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers-Eagleton[6] | June 14–16, 1994 | 620 LV | ±4.0% | align=center | 57% | 30% | 12% | |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | Aug. 30–Sep. 6, 1994 | 598 LV | ±4.0% | align=center | 52% | 27% | 21% | |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | October 16–20, 1994 | 586 LV | ±4.0% | align=center | 48% | 35% | 17% | |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | November 2–4, 1994 | 780 LV | ±3.5% | align=center | 49% | 35% | 16% |
Haytaian remarked after the race that he was most disappointed by the margins of his losses in Bergen and Middlesex counties.[7]