2001 United States gubernatorial elections explained

Election Name:2001 United States gubernatorial elections
Country:United States
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 United States gubernatorial elections
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2002 United States gubernatorial elections
Next Year:2002
Seats For Election:3 governorships
2 states; 1 territory
Election Date:November 6, 2001
1Blank:Seats up
2Blank:Seats won
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Seats Before1:29
Seats After1:27
Seat Change1: 2
1Data1:2
2Data1:0
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Seats Before2:19
Seats After2:21
Seat Change2: 2
1Data2:0
2Data2:2
Map Size:320px

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 2001, in two states and one territory, as well as other statewide offices and members of state legislatures.

Democrats successfully recaptured the open-seat governorships of Virginia and New Jersey, which were both last won by a Democrat in 1989. Republicans held the governorship of the Northern Mariana Islands. This was a very unusual achievement, given that President Bush was at the peak of his popularity following the September 11 attacks.

Race Summary

States

StateIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
New JerseyDonald DiFrancescoRepublican2001Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
nowrap
VirginiaJim GilmoreRepublican1997Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
nowrap

Territory

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

Virginia, 5.1%

New Jersey

Election Name:2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election
Country:New Jersey
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1997 New Jersey gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1997
Next Election:2005 New Jersey gubernatorial election
Next Year:2005
Election Date:November 6, 2001
Nominee1:Jim McGreevey
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,256,853
Percentage1:56.4%
Nominee2:Bret Schundler
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:928,174
Percentage2:41.7%
Map Size:280px
Governor
Before Election:Richard Codey (acting)
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Jim McGreevey
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election was a race for the Governor of New Jersey. It was held on November 6, 2001. Primaries took place on June 25.[2] Democratic nominee Jim McGreevey won the general election with 56% of the vote[3] — the first majority-elected governor since James Florio in 1989.[4] His Republican opponent in that race was Bret Schundler.[5]

This is also the most recent statewide election in which the Democrat won Monmouth and Ocean counties. This was the first time since 1973 that a Democrat won without carrying Cape May County. McGreevey resigned in November 2004 after admitting that he was a gay man and ethical issues surrounding his governorship; he was succeeded by Senate President Richard Codey, who filled the remainder of McGreevey's term until January 2006.

Virginia

Election Name:2001 Virginia gubernatorial election
Country:Virginia
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1997 Virginia gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1997
Next Election:2005 Virginia gubernatorial election
Next Year:2005
Election Date:November 6, 2001
Turnout:46.4% 3.1[6]
Nominee1:Mark Warner
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:984,177
Percentage1:52.2%
Nominee2:Mark Earley
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:887,234
Percentage2:47.0%
Map Size:300px
Governor
Before Election:Jim Gilmore
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Mark Warner
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2001 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2001. Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Gilmore was barred from seeking a second term; Democratic nominee Mark Warner, the 1996 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, defeated Republican nominee Mark Earley, the Attorney General of Virginia.

Territories

Northern Mariana Islands

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Our Campaigns - CNMI Governor Race - Nov 03, 2001.
  2. News: David M. . Halbfinger . Schundler Wins G.O.P. Primary In New Jersey Governor's Race . . 2001-06-27 . 2009-06-11 .
  3. News: THE 2001 ELECTIONS: GOVERNOR; Democrat Vows to Alter Way 'Business Is Done in Trenton'. 2001-08-07. 2008-03-10. The New York Times. Halbfinger, David M..
  4. News: ON POLITICS; Is McGreevey Following In Florio's Footsteps?. Iver. Peterson. The New York Times. 2004-02-29. 2008-03-11.
  5. News: ON POLITICS; One Pitches From Inside And the Other From Outside. 2001-08-26. 2008-03-10. David M.. Halbfinger. The New York Times.
  6. Web site: Registration/Turnout Statistics . The Commonwealth of Virginia . Virginia Department of Elections . 2016 . July 25, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160816110827/http://elections.virginia.gov/resultsreports/registration-statistics/registrationturnout-statistics/ . August 16, 2016 . dead .