| Election Name: | 2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey |
| Country: | New Jersey |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2002 United States Senate election in New Jersey |
| Previous Year: | 2002 |
| Next Election: | 2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey |
| Next Year: | 2013 (special) |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Image1: | File:Frank Lautenberg, official portrait, 112th portrait crop.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Frank Lautenberg |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,951,218 |
| Percentage1: | 56.03% |
| Nominee2: | Dick Zimmer |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,461,025 |
| Percentage2: | 41.95% |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Frank Lautenberg |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Frank Lautenberg |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a fifth, non-consecutive term, defeating former Republican congressman Dick Zimmer, who was also the nominee for this seat in 1996.
In November 2006, Senator Lautenberg had the lowest approval rating of any Democrat running for re-election in 2008 (with 39% approving and 45% disapproving),[1] with his approval improving only slightly to 42% as of September 2007. In the same September 2007 poll conducted by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, voters surveyed decided that Lautenberg does not deserve re-election (46% to 36%) and that he is too old to effectively serve another six years in the Senate (54% to 40%).[2]
Poll results suggested that given the right formula, this could have been a surprise upset race in November 2008. "The poll shows that Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who many voters say is too old to run for another term, would be vulnerable to a strong Republican candidate next year," according to Quinnipiac pollster Clay Richards.[2]
The first poll conducted after the primaries (Rasmussen Reports, June 4, 2008) showed a tighter than expected race between Lautenberg and Zimmer, with the two candidates in a virtual tie.[3]
However, the prevailing political climate at the time of the election was also a major factor. Voter anger was targeted against the GOP, and many Democrats once considered vulnerable managed to hold on.
See main article: 2008 Democratic primary in New Jersey.
| Source | Date | Frank Lautenberg | Rob Andrews | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | Joel Benenson[4] | April 1–2, 2008 | 52% | 21% | ||
| align=left | Rasmussen Reports[5] | May 15, 2008 | 49% | 19% |
| County | Lautenberg | % | Andrews | % | Cresitello | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 4,798 | 45.4% | 5,287 | 50.1% | 472 | 4.5% | |||
| Bergen | 26,848 | 78.9% | 5,645 | 16.6% | 1,554 | 4.6% | |||
| Burlington | 7,757 | 42.4% | 9,483 | 51.8% | 1,059 | 5.8% | |||
| Camden | 5,995 | 16.5% | 29,175 | 80.1% | 1,256 | 3.4% | |||
| Cape May | 1,433 | 45.4% | 1,566 | 49.6% | 159 | 5.0% | |||
| Cumberland | 1,746 | 46.1% | 1,799 | 47.5% | 246 | 6.5% | |||
| Essex | 31,844 | 76.4% | 8,671 | 20.8% | 1,190 | 2.9% | |||
| Gloucester | 3,135 | 17.0% | 14,775 | 80.0% | 563 | 3.0% | |||
| Hudson | 28,446 | 74.8% | 8,233 | 21.7% | 1,343 | 3.5% | |||
| Hunterdon | 2,061 | 58.8% | 1,180 | 33.7% | 264 | 7.5% | |||
| Mercer | 10,093 | 74.0% | 3,053 | 22.4% | 494 | 3.6% | |||
| Middlesex | 17,131 | 62.0% | 7,918 | 28.7% | 2,573 | 9.3% | |||
| Monmouth | 10,570 | 66.3% | 3,568 | 22.4% | 1,808 | 11.3% | |||
| Morris | 8,432 | 65.0% | 3,151 | 24.3% | 1,394 | 10.7% | |||
| Ocean | 8,869 | 57.9% | 5,037 | 32.9% | 1,421 | 9.3% | |||
| Passaic | 9,842 | 79.3% | 1,700 | 13.7% | 872 | 7.0% | |||
| Salem | 928 | 31.9% | 1,734 | 59.6% | 248 | 8.5% | |||
| Somerset | 5,640 | 64.7% | 2,209 | 25.3% | 873 | 10.0% | |||
| Sussex | 1,379 | 52.7% | 784 | 29.9% | 456 | 17.4% | |||
| Union | 15,103 | 67.6% | 6,179 | 27.7% | 1,060 | 4.7% | |||
| Warren | 962 | 47.4% | 630 | 31.0% | 438 | 21.6% |
Official results, New Jersey Division of Elections (PDF, July 11, 2008)
| County | Zimmer | % | Pennacchio | % | Sabrin | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 3,909 | 65% | 1,322 | 22% | 810 | 13% | |||
| Bergen | 5,145 | 30% | 10,761 | 62% | 1,384 | 8% | |||
| Burlington | 8,629 | 63% | 2,869 | 21% | 2,276 | 16% | |||
| Camden | 3,123 | 49% | 2,166 | 34% | 1,036 | 16% | |||
| Cape May | 3,615 | 70% | 1,034 | 20% | 483 | 9% | |||
| Cumberland | 1,566 | 72% | 395 | 18% | 225 | 10% | |||
| Essex | 3,592 | 57% | 2,262 | 36% | 493 | 8% | |||
| Gloucester | 1,206 | 26% | 2,161 | 47% | 1,254 | 27% | |||
| Hudson | 1,487 | 48% | 955 | 31% | 641 | 21% | |||
| Hunterdon | 5,519 | 60% | 2,730 | 30% | 977 | 11% | |||
| Mercer | 2,555 | 56% | 1,538 | 34% | 488 | 11% | |||
| Middlesex | 2,603 | 33% | 4,195 | 54% | 1,021 | 13% | |||
| Monmouth | 7,981 | 56% | 4,630 | 33% | 1,510 | 11% | |||
| Morris | 8,094 | 36% | 12,700 | 56% | 1,855 | 8% | |||
| Ocean | 10,875 | 48% | 4,820 | 21% | 6,778 | 30% | |||
| Passaic | 1,271 | 20% | 4,570 | 72% | 545 | 8% | |||
| Salem | 769 | 47% | 657 | 41% | 193 | 12% | |||
| Somerset | 5,227 | 46% | 4,875 | 43% | 1,170 | 10% | |||
| Sussex | 2,850 | 40% | 3,621 | 51% | 647 | 9% | |||
| Union | 2,896 | 32% | 4,653 | 52% | 1,388 | 15% | |||
| Warren | 1,751 | 46% | 1,632 | 43% | 402 | 11% |
On October 29, 2008, a debate between Lautenberg and Zimmer was held on the radio station NJ 101.5.[12]
On November 1, 2008, the two candidates debated for the second time on New Jersey Network, in the only televised debate agreed to by the Lautenberg campaign.[13]
| Source | Ranking | As of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | The Cook Political Report[14] | October 23, 2008 | ||
| align=left | CQ Politics[15] | October 31, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Rothenberg Political Report[16] | November 2, 2008 | ||
| align=left | Real Clear Politics[17] | October 31, 2008 |
| Source | Date | Frank Lautenberg (D) | Dick Zimmer (R) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | Rasmussen Reports[18] | June 4, 2008 | 45% | 44% | ||
| align=left | Quinnipiac University[19] | June 5–8, 2008 | 47% | 38% | ||
| align=left | Fairleigh Dickinson University[20] | June 17–22, 2008 | 45% | 28% | ||
| align=left | Rasmussen Reports[21] | July 7, 2008 | 49% | 36% | ||
| align=left | Strategic Vision[22] | July 11–13, 2008 | 48% | 32% | ||
| align=left | Monmouth University[23] | July 17–21, 2008 | 45% | 37% | ||
| align=left | Club for Growth[24] | July 30–31, 2008 | 35% | 36% | ||
| align=left | Rasmussen Reports[25] | August 4, 2008 | 51% | 33% | ||
| align=left | Quinnipiac University[26] | August 4–10, 2008 | 48% | 41% | ||
| align=left | Fairleigh Dickinson University[27] | September 4–7, 2008 | 46% | 35% | ||
| align=left | Marist College[28] | September 5–8, 2008 | 51% | 40% | ||
| align=left | The Record[29] / Research 2000[30] | September 9–11, 2008 | 49% | 41% | ||
| align=left | Quinnipiac University[31] | September 10–14, 2008 | 48% | 39% | ||
| align=left | Monmouth University[32] | September 11–14, 2008 | 46% | 36% | ||
| align=left | Strategic Vision[33] | September 14–16, 2008 | 47% | 40% | ||
| align=left | Rasmussen Reports[34] | September 16, 2008 | 49% | 42% | ||
| align=left | Survey USA[35] | September 27–28, 2008 | 51% | 38% | ||
| align=left | Strategic Vision[36] | September 26–28, 2008 | 48% | 41% | ||
| align=left | Fairleigh Dickinson University[37] | September 29 – October 5, 2008 | 50% | 34% | ||
| align=left | Rasmussen Reports | October 7, 2008 | 51% | 37% | ||
| align=left | Survey USA[38] | October 11–12, 2008 | 51% | 38% | ||
| align=left | Monmouth University[39] | October 15–18, 2008 | 52% | 36% | ||
| align=left | Quinnipiac University[40] | October 16–19, 2008 | 55% | 33% | ||
| align=left | Marist College[41] | October 20–21, 2008 | 48% | 41% | ||
| align=left | Strategic Vision[42] | October 24–26, 2008 | 49% | 41% | ||
| align=left | Survey USA[43] | October 29–30, 2008 | 52% | 37% |