The 2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey was held on October 16, 2013, to fill the New Jersey United States Senate Class 2 seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2015. The vacancy resulted from the death of 5-term Democratic senator Frank Lautenberg on June 3, 2013. On June 4, 2013, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced that a primary election to fill the vacancy would take place on August 13, 2013, and that a special election would follow on October 16, 2013. Christie appointed Republican New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa to the seat as a placeholder; Chiesa announced at the time of his appointment that he would not be a candidate in the special election.
The primary elections were won by Republican former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan and Democratic Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Booker defeated Lonegan on October 16, 2013, and became the first African American elected to statewide office in New Jersey. 24.5% of registered voters cast ballots, making this the lowest voter turnout of any statewide election.
Background Those who were interested in running in the special primary election were given until June 10 to collect 1,000 signatures in order to appear on the special primary ballots. The primary elections were held on August 13, 2013, to elect the Democratic and Republican nominees. On June 4, 2013, Christie announced he would set the special election on October 16, 2013. His decision was criticized for spending $24 million on the October special election despite the 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election already being scheduled for November 5, 2013. It was thought that Christie took this action to benefit himself politically, believing that likely Democratic nominee Cory Booker's presence on the ballot would inspire higher turnout from minority voters who would also vote for Christie's Democratic gubernatorial opponent, Barbara Buono.
On June 4, 2013, Christie appointed Republican Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa to fill the Senate vacancy, making him the first Republican U.S. senator from New Jersey since Nicholas F. Brady in 1982; Brady, coincidentally, was succeeded by Lautenberg. Chiesa announced that he would not run in the special election.
On June 13, 2013, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court unanimously rejected the Democrats' challenge, which was brought by Somerset County Democratic chairwoman Marguerite M. Schaffer, to force Christie to change the special election date in October to the general election on November 5. They ruled "the Legislature has delegated broad authority to the State's governor" to set the election date. On June 20, 2013, the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to hear a follow-up challenge to the special election date.
New Jersey Democratic state senator Shirley Turner of Lawrenceville introduced legislation to move the general election on November 5 for all statewide offices, including governor, to the same date, October 16, as the U.S. Senate special election. This legislation was introduced in order to avoid spending an additional $12 million for a separate U.S. Senate election in October in addition to the general statewide election in November. A bill, A4237, passed both legislative houses on June 27, 2013. Another bill, A4249, allowing eligible voters who cast ballots on October 16 for senator to also vote early for the November general election, finally passed both legislative houses on June 27. Both bills were sent to Governor Christie for approval or veto with little expectation that either would be signed by Christie into law. Search by "A4237". The governor vetoed both bills on September 9, 2013.
The Christie administration looked into contingency plan options for additional state workers, transportation resources, voting machines and associated hardware, and skilled voting machine technicians in order to avoid any potential conflicts due to the short time span of 20 days between the special election and the general election. Use of any of these options would increase the cost of $12 million for the October election, which would be in addition to $12 million for the August primary, that were both estimated by the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services. Contingency plans would be needed due to potential scheduling and logistical conflicts in the use of the same voting machines for both elections. New Jersey state law requires voting machines to be locked down for 15 days after an election, in case a defeated candidate seeks a recount. Voting machines would also need to be set up several days in advance of the general election. The state has made arrangements to reimburse by December 31, 2013, all necessary expenses after an audit of submitted election costs by each of the County Boards of Elections.
Republican primary Candidates Declared Alieta Eck, former president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, founder of the Zarephath Health Center and health care reform advocate Steve Lonegan, former mayor of Bogota, former state director of Americans for Prosperity and candidate for governor in 2005 and 2009
Declined Jennifer Beck, state senator Jon Bramnick, minority leader of the New Jersey State Assembly Jeffrey Chiesa, incumbent U.S. senator Michael J. Doherty, state senator 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 Leonard Lance, U.S. representative Kevin J. O'Toole, state senator Geraldo Rivera, talk show host
Endorsements
Polling Poll source AlietaEck SteveLonegan Other UndecidedKean UniversityKean University June 18, 2013 321 ±?% 15% 45% 12% 29%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac July 2–7, 2013 330 ±5.4% 5% 62% 1% 32%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac August 1–5, 2013 257 ±6.1% 10% 74% 3% 13%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Cory Booker, mayor of Newark Rush Holt Jr., U.S. representative Sheila Oliver, speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly Frank Pallone, U.S. representative
Declined Rob Andrews, U.S. representative Beth Mason, Hoboken city councilwoman Stephen M. Sweeney, president of the New Jersey Senate
Endorsements
Debates Complete video of debate, August 5, 2013 - C-SPAN
Polling Poll source CoryBooker Rush D.Holt Jr. SheilaOliver FrankPallone Other UndecidedRutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton June 3–9, 2013 364 ±5.1% 55% 8% — 9% — 28%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 7–9, 2013 306 ±5.6% 53% 10% — 9% 1% 27%MonmouthMonmouth June 10–11, 2013 205 ±6.9% 63% 10% 6% 8% — 13%RasmussenRasmussen June 12–13, 2013 416 ±5% 54% 11% 5% 8% 3% 18%Kean University June 18, 2013 366 ±?% 49% 9% 9% 6% 5% 22%Quinnipiac July 2–7, 2013 400 ±4.9% 52% 8% 3% 10% 1% 27%MonmouthMonmouth July 11–14, 2013 403 ±4.9% 49% 8% 3% 12% — 28%Quinnipiac August 1–5, 2013 388 ±5% 54% 15% 5% 17% 1% 8%
Results
Special election Booker enjoyed advantages over Lonegan in fundraising and name recognition. However, he was scrutinized regarding "his personal finances and the terms of his departure from law firm Trenk DiPasquale; the viability of his video startup, Waywire, and the investors behind it; and his behavior on Twitter, including messages to an Oregon stripper". Booker "also drew criticism from the left over his progressive credentials." Booker painted Lonegan as a "tea-party extremist", while Lonegan questioned Booker's performance as Mayor of Newark.
Candidates Major party candidates Cory Booker (Democratic), mayor of Newark Steve Lonegan (Republican), former mayor of Bogota, former state director of Americans for Prosperity and candidate for governor in 2005 and 2009
Other candidates Robert Depasquale, Independent Eugene M. LaVergne, D-R Party Stuart Meissner, Alimony Reform Now Pablo Olivera, Unity is Strength Antonio N. Sabas, Independent Edward C. Stackhouse Jr., Ed the Barber
Debates Complete video of debate, October 9, 2013 - C-SPAN
Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt (D) $2,108,248 $2,582,837 $4,533,079 $0 (R) $129,766 $171,538 $192,586 $101,822 Source: Federal Election Commission Reports through July 24, 2013
Top contributors Cory Booker Contribution Steve Lonegan Contribution Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan $34,800 Lance for Congress $2,000 Time Warner $33,000 Slate Path Capital $23,400 Loews Corporation $20,000 Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, PA $19,050 Lazard $18,500 Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co Inc. $15,600 Walt Disney Company $15,200 Falcon Edge Capital $15,000 Harvest Partners $15,000 Source: OpenSecrets
Top industries Cory Booker Contribution Steve Lonegan Contribution Financial institutions $314,500 Candidate committees $5,000 Lawyers/law firms $156,725 Republican/Conservative $500 Entertainment industry $131,000 Misc Issues $250 Real estate $115,390 Pro-life organizations $250 Business services $63,050 Misc. finance $62,850 Retired $54,700 Nonprofit organizations $48,100 Manufacturing & distributing $42,600 Universities $34,500 Source: OpenSecrets
Predictions Source Rating As of Sabato's Crystal BallJune 27, 2013
Polling Poll source SteveLonegan (R) CoryBooker (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac June 7–9, 2013 858 ±3.4% 27% 54% — 18%Monmouth June 10–11, 2013 560 ±4.2% 37% 53% — 10%Rasmussen June 10–11, 2013 1,000 ±3% 33% 50% — 17%Quinnipiac July 2–7, 2013 1,068 ±3% 30% 53% 1% 16%Quinnipiac August 1–5, 2013 2,042 ±2.2% 29% 54% 1% 16%MonmouthMonmouth August 15–18, 2013 696 ±3.7% 38% 54% 2% 5%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University August 21–27, 2013 700 ±3.7% 22% 50% 4% 23%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton September 3–9, 2013 462 ±4.5% 29% 64% 1% 6%Pulse Opinion ResearchPulse Opinion Research September 19, 2013 1,000 ±? 33% 52% 4% 10%Stockton Polling InstituteStockton Polling Institute September 15–21, 2013 812 ±3.4% 32.3% 58.4% — 9.1%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac September 19–22, 2013 948 ±3.2% 41% 53% 1% 6%MonmouthMonmouth September 26–29, 2013 571 ±4.1% 40% 53% 3% 4%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University September 30 – October 5, 2013 702 ±3.7% 29% 45% 3% 23%Rasmussen October 7, 2013 1,000 ±3% 41% 53% 1% 5%Quinnipiac October 5–7, 2013 899 ±3.3% 41% 53% 1% 5%Stockton Polling InstituteStockton Polling Institute October 3–8, 2013 729 ±3.6% 39% 50% — 11%MonmouthMonmouth October 10–12, 2013 1,393 ±2.6% 42% 52% 2% 4%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton October 7–13, 2013 513 ±4.3% 36% 58% 3% 3%Harper PollingHarper Polling October 13–14, 2013 778 ±3.5% 41% 52% 2% 5%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 10–14, 2013 1,696 ±2.4% 40% 54% — 5%
With Holt Jr. Poll source SteveLonegan (R) Rush D.Holt Jr. (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac June 7–9, 2013 858 ±3.4% 31% 36% 1% 32%Monmouth June 10–11, 2013 560 ±4.2% 41% 44% — 15%Quinnipiac July 2–7, 2013 1,068 ±3% 36% 37% 3% 24%
With Oliver Poll source SteveLonegan (R) SheilaOliver (D) Other UndecidedMonmouth June 10–11, 2013 560 ±4.2% 42% 44% — 14%Quinnipiac July 2–7, 2013 1,068 ±3% 37% 35% 3% 16%
With Pallone Poll source SteveLonegan (R) FrankPallone (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac June 7–9, 2013 858 ±3.4% 29% 39% 2% 31%Monmouth June 10–11, 2013 560 ±4.2% 40% 45% — 14%Quinnipiac July 2–7, 2013 1,068 ±3% 34% 38% 3% 25%
Results Booker defeated Lonegan on October 16, 2013. Booker resigned as mayor of Newark on October 30, 2013, and was sworn in on October 31, 2013, as the junior U.S. senator from New Jersey.
By county