New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2001

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2001
New Jersey
November 6, 2001
 
Candidate Jim McGreevey Bret Schundler
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,256,853 928,174
Percentage 56.43% 41.68%

County Results
Governor before election

Donald DiFrancesco
Republican

 Elected Governor

Jim McGreevey
Democratic

The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 2001 was a race for the Governor of New Jersey. It was held on November 6, 2001. Primaries took place on June 25.[1][2] Democrat nominee Jim McGreevey won the general election with 56% of the vote[3] — the first majority-elected governor since James Florio.[4] His Republican opponent in that race was Bret Schundler.[5]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim McGreevey 250,404 95.54
Democratic Elliot Greenspan 11,682 4.46
Total votes 262,086 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Towards the end of his tenure as mayor, Schundler served as chairman of the Hudson County Republican Committee, and in 2001, Schundler won the Republican gubernatorial nomination, facing former Congressman Bob Franks, a considerably more moderate Republican who was favored by the party establishment. Franks entered the race in April, two months before the primary, after Gov. Donald DiFrancesco dropped out of the race because of an unending series of newspaper stories highlighting ethics concerns. He was backed by Gov. DiFrancesco's political organization and endorsed by every county Republican committee except Schundler's base in Hudson County.

Schundler employed a more grassroots style of campaigning, visiting many local GOP organizations and forming close relationships with the Young Republicans and the College Republicans, as well as with conservative groups, including those active in homeschooling issues. The grassroots support he built up enabled him to win the nomination by a robust 15-point margin.

Results

Republican Primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bret Schundler 193,342 57.38
Republican Bob Franks 143,606 42.62
Total votes 336,948 100

General election

Candidates[7][8]

Campaign

After winning the primary, Schundler tried to reunite the party by reaching out to the figures who had endorsed Franks. This included having a unity lunch with Franks which was hosted by former Gov. Tom Kean, and retaining New Jersey State Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos as state party chairman. Kyrillos had been appointed by DiFrancesco as state party chairman six weeks before the primary, and he had supported Franks in the primary. However, the party remained split. Jim McGreevey, the Democratic candidate, exploited this division by painting Schundler as too conservative for New Jersey.

Results

New Jersey Gubernatorial Election, 2001[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim McGreevey 1,256,853 56.43% +4.29%
Republican Bret Schundler 928,174 41.68% +0.23%
Independent Bill Schluter 24,084 1.08%
Green Jerry L. Coleman 6,238 0.28% -0.16%
Libertarian Mark Edgerton 4,684 0.21% -4.51%
Independent George Watson, Jr. 2,568 0.12%
Conservative Michael W. Koontz 1,949 0.09% -1.36%
Socialist Costantino Rozzo 1,537 0.07% -0.05%
Socialist Workers Kari Sachs 1,078 0.05% -0.07%
Majority 328,679 14.76% +13.71%
Turnout 2,227,165
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References

  1. ↑ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2001results/01primaryelection/2001-primary-elect-gov-candidate-tallies.pdf
  2. ↑ Halbfinger, David M. (2001-06-27). "Schundler Wins G.O.P. Primary In New Jersey Governor's Race". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  3. ↑ Halbfinger, David M. (2001-08-07). "THE 2001 ELECTIONS: GOVERNOR; Democrat Vows to Alter Way 'Business Is Done in Trenton'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  4. ↑ Peterson, Iver (2004-02-29). "ON POLITICS; Is McGreevey Following In Florio's Footsteps?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  5. ↑ Halbfinger, David M. (2001-08-26). "ON POLITICS; One Pitches From Inside And the Other From Outside". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  6. 1 2 http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2001-primary-elect-gov-candidate-tallies.pdf
  7. ↑ "New Jersey, Senate & Presidential Elections 2008 Results & Polls". NJ.com. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  8. ↑ "New Jersey November 2001 Off Year Election". TheGreenPapers.com. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  9. ↑ http://nj.gov/state/elections/election-results/2001-general-elect-gov-tallies.pdf
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