2014 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2014 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of New Jersey. Incumbent Senator Cory Booker was first elected in a 2013 special election to complete the term of fellow Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who died in office. Booker defeated Jeff Bell to win a first full term.

Democratic primary Candidates Declared Cory Booker, incumbent U.S. Senator

Withdrew Antonio Sabas, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2013 (ran as an independent)

Declined Rob Andrews, U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008 Robert M. Gordon, state senator Patrick J. Kennedy, former U.S. Representative from Rhode Island Beth Mason, Hoboken City Councilwoman Bill Pascrell, U.S. Representative Ronald Rice, state senator Stephen M. Sweeney, president of the New Jersey Senate

Polling

Poll source RobAndrews CoryBooker Rush D.Holt Jr. FrankPallone StephenSweeney Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 300 ± 5.6% 17% 48% — 13% — 11% 11%Merriman-RiverMerriman-River January 7–9, 2013 1,170 ± 2.9% 10% 48% — 8% 6% — 28%Fairleigh DickinsonFairleigh Dickinson March 4–10, 2013 323 ± 5.5% — 50% 7% 4% — 6% 32%

Poll source CoryBooker FrankLautenberg Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 300 ± 5.6% 59% 22% — 18%Fairleigh DickinsonFairleigh Dickinson January 2–6, 2013 700 ± 3.7% 42% 20% 17% 21%Merriman-River January 7–9, 2013 1,170 ± 2.9% 48% 21% — 31%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac January 15–21, 2013 616 ± 4% 51% 30% 1% 18%

Poll source CoryBooker FrankLautenberg FrankPallone AlanRosenthal StephenSweeney Other UndecidedMonmouthMonmouth February 6–10, 2013 ± 7.1% 40% 25% 4% 2% 2% 5% 22%

Results

Republican primary 2013 nominee Steve Lonegan announced in his concession speech that he would not run again for the seat in the 2014 race. The top-tier candidates for the Republican primary, Thomas Kean Jr. and Jay Webber also declined to run in early January 2014, leaving Jon Bramnick and Michael J. Doherty as the remaining candidates with established credentials and fundraising abilities able to start a United States Senate campaign. On January 9, 2014, Brian D. Goldberg, a West Orange resident and New Jersey businessman, announced that he would seek the Republican nomination. The following week, on January 17, 2014, both Bramnick and Doherty announced that they would not be running for United States Senate.

On January 27, 2014, Freehold Township businessman Richard J. "Rich" Pezzullo announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination. Pezzullo had previously run for the US Senate in 1996 as the Conservative Party candidate. On February 4, 2014, conservative political consultant Jeff Bell announced his bid for the nomination. Bell was the nominee for the Senate in 1978, having defeated incumbent senator Clifford Case in the Republican primary and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in 1982. Ramapo College professor Murray Sabrin, who ran for the Senate in 2000 and 2008, announced another run on February 13. Former FBI agent Robert Turkavage, who ran as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012, had declared his candidacy. However, he got stuck in a traffic jam when he attempted to turn in his petitions shortly before the deadline, and was forced to withdraw.

On March 4, Richard Pezzullo won the Union County Convention on the first ballot, going on to then win the line in Camden County and Republican stronghold Monmouth County. Opponent Brian Goldberg won the party lines in conventions in Ocean, Atlantic, Cumberland, Mercer, and Somerset Counties. Murray Sabrin won only the Middlesex line, and Jeffrey Bell made no convention appearances and contested no lines. Three candidates – Brian Goldberg, Richard Pezzullo and Murray Sabrin – claimed the Burlington county line, though only Goldberg claimed to have won the line. Goldberg was given the county line with no convention in Essex, Passaic, and Hudson Counties. Robert Turkavage won the convention in Hunterdon County, but the line transferred to Goldberg after Turkavage dropped out of the race.

Jeff Bell received significant support from the conservative American Principles Fund, who ran a direct mail operation that cost over $80,000, and the National Organization for Marriage, a conservative traditional marriage group, who paid for $6,000 of automated calling.

Candidates Declared Jeff Bell, political consultant, nominee for this seat in 1978 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1982 Brian D. Goldberg, businessman Richard J. "Rich" Pezzullo, businessman and perennial candidate Murray Sabrin, professor at Ramapo College and perennial candidate

Withdrew Robert Turkavage, former FBI agent and Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012

Declined Jeffrey Chiesa, former U.S. senator Jack Ciattarelli, state assemblyman Roger Daley, former Middlesex County Freeholder, former judge on the New Jersey Superior Court and candidate for Middlesex County Freeholder in 2013 Alieta Eck, former president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, founder of the Zarephath Health Center and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2013 Scott Garrett, U.S. Representative Jon Hanson, former chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Chris Isola, former Marine Thomas Kean Jr., Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2006 Joe Kyrillos, state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012 Susanne LaFrankie, former television news reporter Frank LoBiondo, U.S. Representative Steve Lonegan, state director of Americans for Prosperity, former mayor of Bogota, candidate for governor in 2005 and 2009 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2013 Bill Palatucci, attorney and member of the Republican National Committee Joe J. Plumeri, businessman Geraldo Rivera, talk show host David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and former New Jersey Attorney General Jay Webber, state assemblyman

Results

County Bell Pezzullo Goldberg Sabrin Total Votes Total % Total % Total % Total % Atlantic 1,115 17.85% 744 11.91% 4,030 64.50% 359 5.75% 6,248 Bergen 4,833 56.63% 1,501 17.59% 953 11.17% 1,248 14.62% 8,535 Burlington 4,208 39.12% 3,220 24.58% 1,577 12.04% 4,097 31.27% 13,102 Camden 2,121 36.05% 2,566 43.62% 299 5.08% 897 15.25% 5,883 Cape May 2,011 60.70% 740 22.34% 245 7.40% 317 9.57% 3,313 Cumberland 436 23.34% 301 16.11% 1,038 55.58% 93 4.98% 1,868 Essex 904 20.45% 1,035 23.42% 2,161 48.89% 320 7.24% 4,420 Gloucester 1,213 29.43% 1,280 31.06% 714 17.33% 914 22.18% 4,121 Hudson 642 21.89% 285 9.70% 1,225 41.71% 785 26.73% 2,937 Hunterdon 2,426 28.29% 2,604 30.37% 2,118 24.70% 1,426 16.63% 8,574 Mercer 927 26.16% 377 10.64% 1,331 37.56% 909 25.65% 3,544 Middlesex 1,738 26.31% 1,338 20.25% 1,531 23.18% 1,999 30.26% 6,606 Monmouth 2,096 19.26% 5,999 55.11% 497 4.57% 2,293 21.07% 10,885 Morris 5,206 37.09% 3,197 22.77% 1,280 9.12% 4,355 31.02% 14,038 Ocean 3,389 17.51% 3,570 18.45% 10,840 56.02% 1,552 8.02% 19,351 Passaic 1,194 20.64% 1,015 17.55% 2,414 41.74% 1,161 20.07% 5,784 Salem 332 25.50% 389 29.88% 78 5.99% 503 38.63% 1,302 Somerset 3,399 36.35% 1,577 16.86% 3,122 33.39% 1,253 13.40% 9,351 Sussex 1,465 26.68% 2,451 44.64% 292 5.32% 1,282 23.35% 5,490 Union 1,162 19.37% 3,117 51.96% 283 4.72% 1,437 23.95% 5,999 Warren 1,871 48.15% 794 20.43% 238 6.12% 983 25.30% 3,886

General election Debates Complete video of debate, October 24, 2014

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt (D) $16,534,557 $14,742,187 $2,583,176 $5,266 (R) $373,577 $282,459 $91,116 $11,788

Endorsements

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014

Polling Poll source CoryBooker (D) JeffBell (R) Other UndecidedRasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 17–18, 2014 750 ± 4% 48% 35% 4% 13%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University June 25–29, 2014 717 ± 3.7% 43% 23% 15% 17%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 2,645 ± 3.4% 50% 43% 1% 6%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University July 31 – August 4, 2014 1,148 ± 2.9% 47% 37% 1% 16%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18 – September 2, 2014 2,244 ± 3% 52% 37% 2% 10%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University September 1–7, 2014 721 ± 3.7% 42% 29% 1% 27%Richard Stockton CollegeRichard Stockton College September 5–8, 2014 807 ± 3.5% 49% 36% 3% 12%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University September 25–29, 2014 1,058 ± 3% 51% 40% 1% 8%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 2,011 ± 3% 51% 37% 0% 12%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 2–5, 2014 477 ± 4.5% 53% 38% 2% 7%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University October 13–19, 2014 525 ± 4.3% 56% 40% 1% 3%Richard Stockton CollegeRichard Stockton College October 18–22, 2014 806 ± 3.5% 57% 33% 5% 5%CBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 1,868 ± 4% 51% 39% 0% 9%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 30 – November 2, 2014 750 ± 3.6% 54% 40% 1% 5%

With Andrews Poll source RobAndrews (D) KimGuadagno (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 35% 34% — 31%

With Booker Poll source CoryBooker (D) KimGuadagno (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 42% 39% — 19%

Poll source CoryBooker (D) GeraldoRivera (R) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University February 13–17, 2013 1,149 ± 2.9% 59% 23% 2% 17%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University March 4–10, 2013 702 ± 3.7% 52% 21% — 26%

Poll source CoryBooker (D) MurraySabrin (R) Other UndecidedMonmouth UniversityMonmouth University February 19–23, 2014 690 ± 3.7% 58% 25% 1% 15%

With Bradley Poll source BillBradley (D) JeffBell (R) Other UndecidedFairleigh Dickinson University October 13–19, 2014 525 ± 4.3% 57% 36% 0% 7%

With Lautenberg Poll source FrankLautenberg (D) KimGuadagno (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 48% 33% — 19%

With Pallone Poll source FrankPallone (D) KimGuadagno (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 26–28, 2012 600 ± 4% 22% 42% — 36%

Results

By county