2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of New Jersey. It was held concurrently with the 2020 United States presidential election, as well as various other elections. The primary elections were moved from June 2, 2020, to July 7, 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns. 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 won a second full term against Republican Rik Mehta, narrowly winning Morris County, which no Democratic Senate candidate had carried since 1984 when Senator Bill Bradley swept every county. He also flipped Somerset County, which last voted for a Democrat for this seat in 1984. Booker also received the most votes (2,541,239) in a statewide non-presidential election in New Jersey history.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Cory Booker, incumbent U.S. senator and former candidate for President of the United States in 2020

Eliminated in primary Lawrence Hamm, chairman of the People's Organization for Progress

Withdrew Lisa McCormick, activist and candidate for Senate in 2018 (ran for Congress in New Jersey's 12th congressional district) Harsh Naik

Declined Josh Gottheimer, incumbent U.S. representative for New Jersey's 5th congressional district (ran for re-election) Donald Norcross, incumbent U.S. representative for New Jersey's 1st congressional district (ran for re-election)

Endorsements

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Rikin "Rik" Mehta, pharmaceutical executive and attorney

Eliminated in primary Eugene Anagnos, retired teacher Tricia Flanagan, healthcare policy expert, biotech consultant, Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 Natalie Lynn Rivera, activist, Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 Hirsh Singh, engineer, candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 2017, and candidate for New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in 2018

Withdrawn Navodaya Garepalli Stuart Meissner, former New York Assistant Attorney General and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, SEC Whistleblower Attorney, and Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2013 Gary Rich, former Monmouth County freeholder

Declined Matt Rooney, attorney and political pundit

Endorsements

Results

Other candidates Green Party Nominee Madelyn R. Hoffman, peace activist, 2018 U.S. Senate candidate, 1997 Green Party gubernatorial candidate, and 1996 Green Party Candidate for Vice President

Endorsements

LaRouche was Right Nominee Daniel Burke

Of, By, For! Nominee Veronica Fernandez

Independents Declared Luis Vergara (as a write-in candidate)

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 2, 2020Daily Kos October 30, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020RCPOctober 23, 2020DDHQNovember 3, 2020538November 2, 2020EconomistNovember 2, 2020

Additional general election endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CoryBooker (D) RikMehta (R) Other /UndecidedResearch Co.Research Co.October 31 – November 1, 2020450 (LV)± 4.6%55%32%13%SwayableOctober 23–26, 2020363 (LV)± 6.7%61%39% –Rutgers UniversityRutgers UniversityOctober 19–24, 2020851 (LV)± 4%61%31%9%Stockton UniversityStockton UniversityOctober 7–13, 2020721 (LV)± 3.7%57%32%10%Emerson CollegeEmerson College September 4–7, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4%52% 28% 21%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University April 16–19, 2020 635 (RV) ± 3.9% 55% 32% 11%

with Hirsh Singh Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CoryBooker (D) HirshSingh (R) Other /UndecidedMonmouth University April 16–19, 2020 635 (RV) ± 3.9% 58% 33% 9%

on whether or not respondents would vote to reelect Cory Booker Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Yes No UndecidedQuinnipiacQuinnipiac April 30 – May 4, 2020 941 (RV) ± 3.2%53%36%11%

Results The election was not close, with Booker winning re-election by 16.31%. Key to Booker's landslide victory were heavily populated areas such as Hackensack, Newark, and Trenton. Mehta did well in Ocean County, which is a Republican stronghold, as well as many rural areas of the state. Booker received 2,541,239 votes. Booker was sworn in for a second term on January 3, 2021. His term will expire on January 3, 2027.

By county County Cory BookerDemocratic Rikin MehtaRepublican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Atlantic 71,420 52.64% 61,568 45.38% 2,690 1.98% 9,852 7.26% 135,678 Bergen 280,054 57.94% 195,193 40.38% 8,103 1.68% 84,861 17.56% 483,350 Burlington 150,160 58.76% 102,136 39.97% 3,250 1.27% 48,024 18.79% 255,546 Camden 173,335 66.30% 85,406 32.67% 2,700 1.03% 87,929 33.63% 261,441 Cape May 22,952 41.57% 31,317 56.72% 945 1.71% -8,365 -15.15% 55,214 Cumberland 31,992 52.69% 26,626 43.85% 2,102 3.46% 5,366 8.84% 60,720 Essex 260,604 77.78% 69,750 20.82% 4,715 1.41% 190,854 56.96% 335,069 Gloucester 85,489 50.31% 80,943 47.64% 3,487 2.05% 4,546 2.68% 169,919 Hudson 176,658 73.57% 56,917 23.70% 6,538 2.72% 119,741 49.87% 240,113 Hunterdon 36,728 44.40% 43,951 53.13% 2,041 2.47% -7,223 -8.73% 82,720 Mercer 117,821 68.26% 52,248 30.27% 2,527 1.46% 65,573 37.99% 172,596 Middlesex 221,802 60.61% 135,398 37.00% 8,727 2.38% 86,404 23.61% 365,927 Monmouth 173,609 46.62% 191,700 51.48% 7,045 1.89% -18,091 -4.86% 372,354 Morris 146,148 50.23% 141,373 48.59% 3,453 1.19% 4,775 1.64% 290,974 Ocean 116,036 35.24% 207,751 63.09% 5,501 1.67% -91,715 -27.85% 329,288 Passaic 131,195 60.01% 80,827 36.97% 6,593 3.02% 50,368 23.04% 218,615 Salem 14,515 43.28% 17,910 53.41% 1,111 3.31% -3,395 -10.12% 33,536 Somerset 105,681 57.49% 75,622 41.14% 2,520 1.37% 30,059 16.35% 183,823 Sussex 33,919 39.29% 49,885 57.78% 2,525 2.92% -15,966 -18.49% 86,329 Union 166,997 67.42% 76,677 30.96% 4,014 1.62% 90,320 36.47% 247,688 Warren 24,124 40.45% 33,893 56.83% 1,623 2.72% -9,769 -16.38% 59,640Totals2,541,23957.23%1,817,09140.92%82,2101.85%724,14816.31%4,440,540 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Morris (largest municipality: Parsippany) Somerset (largest municipality: Franklin Township)

By congressional district Booker won nine out of 12 congressional districts in New Jersey, and Mehta won the other three, including one that elected a Democrat. District Booker Mehta Representative62%36%Donald Norcross48%50%Jeff Van Drew49.0%49.4%Andy Kim 43%55%Chris Smith52%46%Josh Gottheimer58%40%Frank Pallone Jr.52%46%Tom Malinowski 74%24%Albio Sires64%33%Bill Pascrell85%13%Donald Payne Jr.52%47%Mikie Sherrill66%32%Bonnie Watson Coleman

2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey

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