2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey explained

Election Name:2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey
Country:New Jersey
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1994 United States Senate election in New Jersey
Previous Year:1994
Next Election:2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey
Next Year:2006
Election Date:November 7, 2000
Image1:SenatorJonCorzine (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Jon Corzine
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,511,237
Percentage1:50.11%
Nominee2:Bob Franks
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,420,267
Percentage2:47.10%
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Frank Lautenberg
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Jon Corzine
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg retired rather than seeking a fourth term. Democratic nominee Jon Corzine, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, defeated the Republican U.S. Representative Bob Franks in a close election.

Primary elections were held on June 7. Corzine defeated former Governor Jim Florio in the Democratic primary by a wide margin after a hard-fought campaign in which Corzine spent over $35 million of his own money. Franks narrowly defeated State Senator William Gormley to capture the Republican nomination.

Background

Incumbent Senator Frank R. Lautenberg was first elected in 1982 in an upset victory over Representative Millicent Fenwick. In his two re-election bids, Lautenberg beat Pete Dawkins in 1988 by a 54%-46% margin and held back a challenge from Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian by a smaller margin of 50%-47% in 1994.

In 2000, popular Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman was expected to challenge Lautenberg, and opinion polls showed Lautenberg losing by a large margin to Whitman or popular former Governor Thomas Kean. Lautenberg announced his retirement, but both Whitman and Kean declined to run for the Senate. Lautenberg later regretted his decision and was elected to New Jersey's other Senate seat in 2002 after his colleague, Senator Robert Torricelli, was involved in a campaign finance scandal and prematurely ended his re-election campaign in disgrace.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered

error
James
Florio
Jon
Corzine
Undecided
Quinnipiac[1] July 13–20, 19991,082 RV± 3.0% align=center55%19%26%
QuinnipiacFebruary 16–21, 2000374 RV± 5.1% align=center57%22%21%
Quinnipiac[2] March 21–27, 2000400 RV± 4.9% align=center50%26%24%
Quinnipiac[3] May 1–8, 2000347 RV± 5.3%33% align=center48%19%
Quinnipiac[4] May 17–23, 2000371 LV± 5.1%30% align=center56%14%

Campaign

Corzine spent $35 million of his fortunes into this primary election alone.[5] [6]

During the campaign, Corzine made some controversial off-color statements. Emanuel Alfano, chairman of the Italian-American One Voice Committee, claimed that when introduced to a man with an Italian name who said he was in the construction business, Corzine quipped: "Oh, you make cement shoes!" Alfano also reported that when introduced to a lawyer named David Stein, Corzine said: "He's not Italian, is he? Oh, I guess he's your Jewish lawyer who is here to get the rest of you out of jail."[7] Corzine denied mentioning religion, but did not deny the quip about Italians, claiming that some of his own ancestors were probably Italian or maybe French.[8] [9]

Governor Florio was unpopular during his tenure in office. He signed a $2.8 Billion tax increase in 1990, which resulted in Republicans winning control of the legislature in 1991, and his reelection loss in the 1993 gubernatorial election to Christine Todd Whitman.

Endorsements

Corzine was endorsed by State Senators Raymond Zane, Wayne Bryant, and John Adler. He was also endorsed by U.S. Representative Bob Menendez and U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli.

Florio was endorsed by the New Jersey Democratic Party, Assemblyman Joseph Doria and State Senator John A. Lynch Jr.

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered

error
Murray
Sabrin
Bob
Franks
James
Treffinger
William
Gormley
Brian
Kennedy
Undecided
Quinnipiac[11] March 21–27, 2000348 RV± 5.3%5% align=center14%7%9%6%59%
Quinnipiac[12] May 1–8, 2000311 RV± 5.6%5% align=center18%8%14%-55%

Results

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Franks, a moderate Republican,[14] attacked Corzine for "trying to buy the election and of advocating big-government spending programs that the nation can ill afford." Corzine accused Franks of wanting to "dismantle" the Social Security system because he supported Governor George W. Bush's partial privatization plan.[15]

During the campaign, Corzine refused to release his income tax return records. He claimed an interest in doing so, but he cited a confidentiality agreement with Goldman Sachs. Skeptics argued that he should have followed the example of his predecessor Robert Rubin, who converted his equity stake into debt upon leaving Goldman.[16]

Corzine campaigned for state government programs including universal health care, universal gun registration, mandatory public preschool, and more taxpayer funding for college education.[17] [18] He pushed affirmative action and same-sex marriage.[19] David Brooks considered Corzine so liberal that although his predecessor was also a Democrat, his election helped shift the Senate to the left.[20]

Corzine was accused of exchanging donations to black ministers for their endorsements after a foundation controlled by him and his wife donated $25,000 to an influential black church.[21] Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, the director of the Black Ministers Council, and a notable advocate against racial profiling against minority drivers in traffic stops, was criticized for endorsing Corzine after receiving a large donation from the then candidate.[22]

Franks generally trailed Corzine in the polls until the final week, when he pulled even in a few polls. Corzine spent $63 million, while Franks spent only $6 million.[23]

Debates

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered

error
Jon
Corzine (D)
Bob
Franks (R)
Undecided
Rutgers-Eagleton[24] September 15–21, 1999560 LV±4.0%24%30% align=center47%
Rutgers-EagletonFeb. 28–Mar. 9, 2000626 LV±4.0%24%25% align=center51%
Rutgers-EagletonJune 8–13, 2000579 RV±4.0% align=center43%33%23%
442 LV±5.0% align=center43%36%20%
Quinnipiac[25] June 20–26, 20001,004 RV± 3.1% align=center46%26%28%
Quinnipiac[26] July 19–24, 2000910 RV± 3.3% align=center50%30%20%
Quinnipiac[27] August 18–22, 2000802 RV± 3.5% align=center43%35%22%
Rutgers-EagletonSeptember 6–13, 2000670 RV±4.0% align=center47%32%21%
542 LV±4.5% align=center45%36%19%
QuinnipiacSept. 26–Oct. 1, 2000820 LV± 3.4% align=center48%34%18%
Rutgers-Eagleton[28] October 12–15, 2000482 RV±4.5% align=center45%33%22%
367 LV±5.5% align=center45%37%18%
Quinnipiac[29] October 18–23, 2000909 LV± 3.3% align=center46%41%13%
Rutgers-EagletonOctober 23–26, 2000432 LV±4.5% align=center46%37%17%
Quinnipiac[30] October 24–30, 2000793 LV± 3.5% align=center47%39%14%
Quinnipiac[31] November 1–5, 2000770 LV± 3.4%43% align=center45%12%

with Christine Todd Whitman

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered

error
Christine
Whitman (R)
Frank
Lautenberg (D)
Jim
Florio (D)
Frank
Pallone (D)
Thomas
Byrne (D)
Jon
Corzine (D)
Undecided
Rutgers-EagletonJanuary 7–13, 1999623 RV±4.0%40% align=center42%18%
Rutgers-EagletonApr. 28–May 6, 1999623 RV±4.0% align=center46%39%15%
align=center46%35%18%
align=center46%34%20%
Quinnipiac[32] July 13–20, 19991,082 RV±3.0% align=center52%35%13%
align=center46%32%22%
align=center56%22%22%

with Jim Florio

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered

error
Jim
Florio (D)
Bob
Franks (R)
Bill
Gormley (R)
Jim
Treffinger (R)
Undecided
Rutgers-EagletonSeptember 15–21, 1999560 RV±4.0% align=center41%34%26%
align=center41%33%18%
align=center41%33%18%
Rutgers-EagletonFeb. 28–Mar. 9, 2000626 RV±4.0% align=center36%33%31%
align=center37%32%31%
align=center36%31%33%

Corzine vs. Gormley

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered

error
Bill
Gormley (R)
Jon
Corzine (D)
Undecided
Rutgers-EagletonSeptember 15–21, 1999560 RV±4.0%31%24% align=center45%
Rutgers-EagletonFeb. 28–Mar. 9, 2000626 RV±4.0%27%23% align=center50%

Corzine vs. Treffinger

Franks vs. Byrne

Results

Despite being heavily outspent, Franks lost by only three percentage points, doing better that year than Republican Governor George W. Bush in the presidential election, who obtained just 40.29% of the vote in the state.[33]

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

External links

Official campaign websites (archived)

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120357/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=568 Quinnipiac
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120359/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=570 Quinnipiac
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120400/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=572 Quinnipiac
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120402/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=573 Quinnipiac
  5. News: Franks Accuses Corzine of Trying To Buy His Way Into Senate Seat . . David M. . Halbfinger . October 13, 2000.
  6. News: Franks and Corzine Debate Race, Education and Disclosure . . October 13, 2000.
  7. News: Halbfinger, David M. . March 30, 2000 . Corzine Assailed for Joke About Italian-Americans . New York Times . July 29, 2008.
  8. Web site: Adubato, Steve . Good Faith Politics . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081016123234/http://www.stand-deliver.com/star_ledger/goodfaith.asp . October 16, 2008 . July 20, 2008 . . mdy-all.
  9. News: Peterson, Iver . April 9, 2000 . Around Jon Corzine's Roots, a Casual Indifference to Ethnicity . . July 20, 2008.
  10. Web site: Our Campaigns - Candidate - James W. Treffinger.
  11. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=570 Quinnipiac
  12. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=572 Quinnipiac
  13. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=568 Quinnipiac
  14. Web site: Former Rep. Bob Franks Dies at 58: Lost U.S. Senate Race but Ideas Triumphed by Gregory Hilton. 11 April 2010.
  15. News: Franks Accuses Corzine of Trying To Buy His Way Into Senate Seat . . October 13, 2000.
  16. Web site: The High Price Of Chutzpah: Cheney And Corzine May Be Pushing The Ethical Envelope On Conflict-Of-Interest Rules. That's More Than Daring—It's -Just Plain Galling . July 19, 2008 . August 28, 2000 . Newsweek, Inc. . Newsweek.
  17. Who Wants to Vote for a Multimillionaire? . https://web.archive.org/web/20101122075317/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,46866,00.html . dead . November 22, 2010 . July 17, 2008 . June 7, 2000 . . Time . Derer, Mike.
  18. New Faces In The Senate . https://web.archive.org/web/20101122102740/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998535,00.html . dead . November 22, 2010 . July 18, 2008 . November 20, 2000 . . Time . Morse, Jodie. Nadya Labi. Michel Orecklin.
  19. Web site: The New Jersey Purchase: Jon Corzine's $36 Million Campaign For The Senate . July 19, 2008 . June 12, 2000 . Newsweek, Inc. . Newsweek . Hosenball, Mark.
  20. Web site: Surviving The Coming Clash: With The Left Feeling Frisky, Conservatives Need To Watch Their Step If They Want To Have Their Way. It's Time To Be Patient. . July 20, 2008 . December 25, 2000 . Newsweek, Inc. . Newsweek . Brooks, David.
  21. Ingle pp. 62–63.
  22. News: Jacob, Andrew . Black Minister Criticized for Taking Corzine's Money . New York Times . August 27, 2008 . September 20, 2000 . https://archive.today/20120716031705/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9405E0D7153BF933A1575AC0A9669C8B63 . July 16, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
  23. News: Robert Franks, Former New Jersey Congressman, Dies . . Diane . Cardwell . April 10, 2010.
  24. https://eagletonpoll.parc.us.com/client/index.html#/search Rutgers-Eagleton
  25. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=574 Quinnipiac
  26. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=577 Quinnipiac
  27. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=580 Quinnipiac
  28. News: Poll Finds Corzine Spending is Not a Problem for Voters. The New York Times. 18 October 2000.
  29. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=581 Quinnipiac
  30. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=583 Quinnipiac
  31. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=585 Quinnipiac
  32. https://eagletonpoll.parc.us.com/client/index.html#/search Quinnipiac
  33. News: Newman . Maria . November 10, 2000 . After His Defeat, Franks Looks to the Future . .