The 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent Republican Governor Chris Christie ran for election to a second term in office. He faced Democratic nominee Barbara Buono and six others in the general election.
Christie won re-election in a landslide, receiving over 60% of the vote and carrying 19 of the state's 21 counties, including six that he lost in 2009, with the only two counties voting for Buono being heavily Democratic Hudson and Essex. This is the only statewide election held in New Jersey since the 1988 presidential election in which a Republican earned a majority of the vote. Christie became the first Republican gubernatorial candidate to win a majority of the vote since Thomas Kean's landslide victory in 1985.
Christie won 21% of Black voters, 51% of Latinos, and was sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2014. , this is the last time Republicans won any statewide election in New Jersey. This is also the last time the counties of Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, Mercer, and Union voted for the Republican candidate in a statewide election, as well as the last time that Somerset and Passaic did so in a gubernatorial election.
Christie was criticized for spending an additional $12–25 million of state money to hold a special election for United States senator for New Jersey 20 days earlier on October 16, instead of simply holding the special election on November 5, concurrent with the already scheduled gubernatorial election. The Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate was Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Buono said it was hypocritical, speculating that Booker's presence on the ballot would attract more black and other minority voters who would be likely to vote for Buono.
This is the only gubernatorial election since 1989 in which anyone won over 60% of the vote, and Christie was the first Republican to do so since 1985. Cumberland, Camden, and Union counties voted Republican in a gubernatorial election for the first time since 1985, and Mercer & Passaic since 1993. Buono is the only Democratic nominee for governor since 1985 to never be elected governor and remains the last to receive under a million votes. Despite Christie’s landslide victory in this election, Democrats concurrently retained their majorities in both state legislative chambers.
Republican primary Candidates Declared Chris Christie, incumbent governor Seth Grossman, former Atlantic City councilman
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Barbara Buono, state senator and former state senate majority leader Troy Webster, aide to East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser
Removed from primary ballot William Araujo, former mayoral candidate in Edison Carl Bergmanson, former mayor of Glen Ridge and candidate for governor in 2009 Jeff Boss, conspiracy theorist and perennial candidate
Araujo, Bergmanson, Boss, and Webster had their nominating petitions challenged by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee; only Webster's petitions were found to be valid, therefore allowing his name to remain on the primary ballot with Buono. Araujo and Boss subsequently filed new petitions to run in the general election as independents.
Declined Rob Andrews, U.S. representative Chris Bollwage, mayor of Elizabeth Cory Booker, mayor of Newark (ran for and won a U.S. Senate seat three weeks earlier on October 16) Richard Codey, state senator, former state senate president and former governor Joseph Cryan, former assembly majority leader Brendan Gill, Essex County freeholder Louis Greenwald, Assembly majority leader Lisa P. Jackson, former administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Phil Murphy, U.S. ambassador to Germany, former Goldman Sachs executive, and future governor of New Jersey Sheila Oliver, speaker of the State Assembly Frank Pallone, U.S. representative Bill Pascrell, U.S. representative Stephen Sweeney, State Senate president John Wisniewski, chair of the New Jersey Democratic Party and state assemblyman
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CoryBooker BarbaraBuono RichardCodey LouisGreenwald SteveSweeney JohnWisniewski Other UndecidedQuinnipiacQuinnipiac January 15–21, 2013 616 ± 4% — 10% 28% — 10% — 5% 48%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 300 ± 5.66% 46% 7% 23% — 6% — 7% 10%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac November 19–25, 2012 n/a ± n/a% 41% 4% 12% 1% — 1% 2% 39%
Results
General election
Major party candidates Barbara Buono (Democratic), former majority leader of the New Jersey Senate Running mate: Milly Silva, New Jersey executive vice president for 1199 SEIU Chris Christie (Republican), incumbent governor Running mate: Kim Guadagno, incumbent lieutenant governor
Minor candidates William Araujo, Peace and Freedom Running mate: Maria Salamanca Jeff Boss, NSA Running mate: Robert B. Thorne Kenneth R. Kaplan, New Jersey Libertarian Party Running mate: Brenda Bell Diane W. Sare, Glass-Steagall Now Running mate: Bruce Todd Hank Schroeder, Independent Running mate: Patricia Moschella Steve Welzer, Green Party of New Jersey Running mate: Patricia Alessandrini
Endorsements
Debates Complete video of debate, October 8, 2013 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 15, 2013 - C-SPAN
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Rothenberg Political Report October 25, 2013 Sabato October 24, 2013
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) BarbaraBuono (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac October 30–November 3, 2013 1,388 ± 2.6% 61% 33% 1% 6%MonmouthMonmouth October 30–November 2, 2013 1,436 ± 2.6% 57% 37% 2% 4%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton October 28–November 2, 2013 535 ± 4.2% 66% 30% — 4%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University October 24–30, 2013 570 ± 4.1% 59% 40% 1% —Kean UniversityKean University October 28, 2013 ? ± 3% 54% 36% — 10%Stockton Polling InstituteStockton Polling Institute October 23–28, 2013 804 ± 3.5% 56% 32% 4% 8%Quinnipiac October 21–27, 2013 1,203 ± 2.8% 64% 31% 1% 5%Quinnipiac October 10–14, 2013 1,938 ± 2.2% 62% 33% — 5%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton October 7–13, 2013 562 ± 4.1% 59% 33% — 8%MonmouthMonmouth October 10–12, 2013 1,606 ± 2.5% 59% 35% 2% 4%Stockton Polling InstituteStockton Polling Institute October 3–8, 2013 800 ± 3.5% 61% 28% — 11%RasmussenRasmussen October 7, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 55% 34% 4% 7%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 5–7, 2013 1,144 ± 2.9% 62% 33% 1% 4%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University September 30–October 5, 2013 702 ± 3.7% 58% 25% 2% 15%MonmouthMonmouth September 26–29, 2013 615 ± 4% 56% 37% — 7%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac September 19–22, 2013 1,249 ± 2.8% 64% 30% 1% 5%Pulse Opinion ResearchPulse Opinion Research September 19, 2013 1,000 ± ? 52% 34% 6% 8%Stockton Polling InstituteStockton Polling Institute September 15–21, 2013 812 ± 3.4% 58% 30% 1% 10%Rasmussen September 10–11, 2013 999 ± 3% 58% 32% 2% 8%Rutgers-Eagleton September 3–9, 2013 568 ± 4.1% 55% 35% 1% 8%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University August 21–27, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 50% 26% 6% 19%MonmouthMonmouth August 15–18, 2013 777 ± 3.5% 56% 36% 3% 6%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac August 1–5, 2013 2,042 ± 2.2% 58% 30% 1% 11%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac July 2–7, 2013 1,068 ± 3% 61% 29% 1% 9%Pulse Opinion ResearchPulse Opinion Research June 18, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 58% 28% 6% 8%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University June 10–16, 2013 705 ± 3.7% 57% 27% 2% 13%Rasmussen June 12–13, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 58% 28% 4% 10%Stockton Polling InstituteStockton Polling Institute June 8–13, 2013 741 ± 3.6% 64% 25% 2% 10%MonmouthMonmouth June 10–11, 2013 626 ± 3.9% 61% 31% 4% 4%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 7–9, 2013 858 ± 3.4% 59% 29% 1% 10%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton June 3–9, 2013 763 ± 3.6% 59% 27% 2% 12%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist April 28–May 2, 2013 1,080 ± 3% 60% 28% 1% 10%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac April 19–22, 2013 1,112 ± 2.9% 58% 26% 1% 14%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton April 3–7, 2013 819 ± 3.7% 57% 27% — 16%Harper PollingHarper Polling March 24–25, 2013 760 ± 3.55% 58% 27% — 15%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac March 19–24, 2013 1,129 ± 2.9% 60% 25% 1% 14%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University March 4–10, 2013 702 ± 3.7% 58% 22% — 20%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac February 13–17, 2013 1,149 ± 2.9% 62% 25% 1% 13%MonmouthMonmouth February 6–10, 2013 803 ± 3.5% 62% 20% 6% 12%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton January 30–February 3, 2013 698 ± 3.7% 63% 21% — 16%Quinnipiac January 15–21, 2013 1,647 ± 2.4% 63% 22% — 14%Pulse Opinion Research January 6, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 55% 22% 5% 18%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University January 2–6, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 64% 21% 1% 14%Public Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 60% 20% — 21%Quinnipiac November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 61% 23% 1% 15%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton November 14–17, 2012 1,097 ± 2.9% 60% 22% 2% 15%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 10–14, 2012 1,405 ± 2.6% 49% 33% — 18%
with Booker Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) CoryBooker (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 50% 36% — 14%Quinnipiac November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 53% 35% 1% 11%Rutgers-Eagleton November 14–17, 2012 1,103 ± 2.9% 53% 34% 2% 11%Quinnipiac October 10–14, 2012 1,405 ± 2.6% 46% 42% — 12%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac August 27–September 2, 2012 1,560 ± 2.5% 47% 40% — 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ± 4.5% 43% 47% — 10%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 6–9, 2011 520 ± 4.3% 42% 42% — 16%
with Byrne Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) TomByrne (D) Other UndecidedRutgers-Eagleton November 14–17, 2012 1,095 ± 2.9% 58% 22% 2% 18%
with Codey Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) RichardCodey (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac January 15–21, 2013 1,647 ± 2.4% 59% 30% — 11%Pulse Opinion Research January 6, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 53% 28% 5% 14%Fairleigh Dickinson University January 2–6, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 59% 26% 1% 14%Public Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 53% 31% — 16%Quinnipiac November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 57% 30% 1% 12%Rutgers-Eagleton November 14–17, 2012 1,099 ± 2.9% 56% 31% 2% 12%Quinnipiac October 10–14, 2012 1,405 ± 2.6% 47% 41% 1% 11%
with Greenwald Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) LouGreenwald (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 62% 20% 1% 15%Rutgers-Eagleton November 14–17, 2012 1,098 ± 2.9% 60% 21% 2% 18%Quinnipiac October 10–14, 2012 1,405 ± 2.6% 50% 31% — 18%
with Pallone Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) FrankPallone (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ± 4.5% 43% 43% — 14%
with Springsteen Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) BruceSpringsteen (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 61% 25% — 14%Public Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ± 4.5% 42% 42% — 15%
with Sweeney Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) StephenSweeney (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac January 15–21, 2013 1,647 ± 2.4% 61% 25% 1% 13%Pulse Opinion Research January 6, 2013 1,000 ± 3% 58% 19% 7% 16%Fairleigh Dickinson University January 2–6, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 65% 19% 1% 15%Public Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 57% 20% — 23%Public Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ± 4.5% 42% 40% — 18%
with Wisniewski Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisChristie (R) JohnWisniewski (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac November 19–25, 2012 1,664 ± 2.4% 62% 21% 1% 15%
Results
By county