The 2005 New Jersey gubernatorial election was a race to determine the governor of New Jersey. It was held on November 8, 2005. Democratic governor Richard Codey, who replaced Governor Jim McGreevey in 2004 after his resignation, did not run for election for a full term of office.

The primary election was held on June 7, 2005. U.S. senator Jon Corzine won the Democratic nomination without serious opposition. Former West Windsor Mayor Doug Forrester received the Republican nomination with a plurality of 36%. Corzine defeated Forrester in the general election. New Jersey is reliably Democratic at the federal level, but this was the first time since 1977 in which Democrats won more than one consecutive gubernatorial election in the state. This was the first time since 1965 that a Democrat won a gubernatorial race without Ocean County, and the first since 1961 that they did so without Monmouth County.

The 2005 general election also saw a public referendum question on the ballot for the voters to decide whether to create a position of lieutenant governor, alter the state's order of succession, and whether the state's first lieutenant governor would be chosen in the subsequent gubernatorial election held in 2009.Mansnerus, Laura. "On Politics: The Advantage of Having A Lieutenant Governor" in The New York Times (March 27, 2005). Retrieved August 30, 2013.New Jersey State Legislature. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2 (SCR2): "A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Articles II, IV, V, and XI of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey" (2004) and Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 100 (ACR100): "A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Articles II, IV, V and XI of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey" (2005). Retrieved 30 August 2013. Note that The New Jersey State Legislature doesn't provide distinct web addresses for its transactions on specific bills, however, at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp click on "Bills 2004–2005" and search for ACR100 and SCR2 for these bills, vote tallies and historical information regarding their passage. The question passed by a tally of 836,134 votes (56.1%) to 655,333 (43.9%).New Jersey Division of Elections (New Jersey Department of State). "Official List Ballot Questions Tally For November 2005 General Election" (certified 16 December 2005). Retrieved 30 August 2013. To date, this is the most recent election that Salem County voted for the Democratic candidate in a gubernatorial race.

Background Governor Jim McGreevey was elected in 2001 by a large margin but resigned from office in November 2004 after Golan Cipel, an Israeli national and former advisor to the Governor, threatened to bring a lawsuit for sexual harassment, and thus reveal McGreevey was homosexual. Though McGreevey admitted to an "adult consensual affair with another man" on August 12, 2004, he announced that he would not resign from office until November 15, after the fall general election.

McGreevey's decision to delay the effective date of his resignation until after September 3, 2004, avoided a November special election for governor, which would have coincided with the election for President of the United States. The 2004 election between George W. Bush and John Kerry was expected to be competitive, the political aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the state, and some observers speculated that McGreevey's decision to delay his resignation was designed to improve Kerry's political position and preserve Democratic Party control of the office of governor.

Republicans and Democrats alike called upon McGreevey to make his resignation effective immediately. The New York Times editorial board opined, "Mr. McGreevey's strategy to delay resignation does not serve New Jersey residents well. The state will be led by an embattled governor mired in personal and legal problems for three months." On September 15, U.S. District Judge Garrett E. Brown Jr. dismissed Afran v. McGreevey, a lawsuit by Green Party members claiming that the postponement of McGreevey's resignation had left a vacancy, thereby violating New Jerseyans' voting rights.

New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey took office upon McGreevey's resignation and served the remainder of the term until January 17, 2006. At the time of McGreevey's resignation, the New Jersey State Constitution stipulated that the Senate president retains that position while serving as acting governor. In the wake of McGreevey's resignation, and in consideration of other past New Jersey governors who had left office before the end of their terms, the New Jersey legislature passed a resolution establishing a public referendum on the creation of the position of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey effective with the 2009 elections.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jon Corzine, U.S. senatorKornacki, Steve. "Exit everyman: How the Jersey Democratic bosses destroyed Dick Codey and unleashed Chris Christie" in "Politico" (January 28, 2013). Retrieved April 19, 2022

Eliminated in primary James D. Kelly Jr., telecommunications company employee"James D. Kelly Jr." in "Our Campaigns". Retrieved April 19, 2022 Francis X. Tenaglio, former Pennsylvania state representative

Declined Richard Codey, incumbent governor and president of the New Jersey Senate

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RichardCodey JonCorzineOtherUndecided Quinnipiac November 9–15, 2004 814 RV ±3.4% 20% 60% 1% 19% Quinnipiac January 18–24, 2005 433 RV ±4.7% 33% 43% 0% 23%

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Doug Forrester, former mayor of West Windsor and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2002

Eliminated in Primary Todd Caliguire, Bergen County Freeholder Paul DiGaetano, assemblyman from Nutley Steve Lonegan, mayor of Bogota John J. Murphy, Morris County Freeholder and former mayor of Morris Township Bob Schroeder, Washington Township (Bergen County) councilman Bret Schundler, former mayor of Jersey City and nominee for governor in 2001

Declined Chris Christie, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ToddCaliguire PaulDi Gaetano DougForrester SteveLonegan JohnMurphy BobSchroeder BretSchundlerOtherUndecided Quinnipiac January 18–24, 2005 329 RV ±5.4%0%1% 32%0%3%0% 32% 3% 30% Quinnipiac March 9–14, 2005 268 RV ±6.0%0%0% 33%1%2%0%29% 3% 31%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DianeAllen ChrisChristie DougForrester BretSchundlerOtherUndecided Quinnipiac November 9–15, 2004 623 RV ±3.9% 11% 12% 19% 34% 0% 24%

Results

General election

Candidates Wesley Bell, former mayor of Stafford Township (Independent) Hector Castillo, physician and candidate for mayor of Paterson in 2002 (Independent) Jon Corzine, U.S. senator (Democratic) Ed Forchion, Candidate for U.S. representative in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in 2004 (Marijuana) Doug Forrester, businessman, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2002, and former mayor of West Windsor (Republican) Angela Lariscy, candidate for U.S. representative in New Jersey's 13th congressional district in 2004 (Socialist Workers) Michael Latigona, registered nurse and EMT from Marlton (Independent) Jeffrey Pawlowski, former Sayreville borough councilman (Libertarian) Constantino Rozzo, candidate for U.S. representative in New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in 2004 (Socialist) Matthew Thieke, computer software analyst and resident of Maple Shade (Green)

Debates The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission declared that the four candidates would be included in the official gubernatorial debates to be aired on NJN. They included Jeffrey Pawlowski and Hector Castillo. Complete video of debate, September 20, 2005 Complete video of debate, October 18, 2005 Complete video of debate, November 5, 2005

Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball October 25, 2005

Polling

Source DateSamplesizeMarginof error JonCorzine (D) DougForrester (R) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac August 19–23, 2004887 RV±3.3% 50% 27% 2% 21% Quinnipiac November 9–15, 2004 2,235 RV ±2.1% 51% 29% 1% 19%Quinnipiac January 18–24, 2004 1,215 RV ±2.8% 51% 29% 1% 19% Quinnipiac March 9–14, 2005 937 RV ±3.2% 50% 33% 1% 16%RasmussenRasmussen June 8, 2005 47% 40% 5% 8%RutgersRutgers June 12, 2005 43% 33% – –QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 15, 2005 47% 37% – –RasmussenRasmussen July 15, 2005 50% 38% 4% 8%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision July 19, 2005 48% 40% – –Fairleigh Dickinson-PublicMindFairleigh Dickinson-PublicMind July 21, 2005 47% 34% – –RasmussenRasmussen August 7, 2005 45% 37% 5% –QuinnipiacQuinnipiac August 10, 2005 50% 40% – –Strategic VisionStrategic Vision August 18, 2005 50% 40% – –Star-Ledger/Eagleton-RutgersStar-Ledger/Eagleton-Rutgers September 12, 2005 48% 28% – –Strategic VisionStrategic Vision September 16, 2005 47% 36% – –RasmussenRasmussen September 19, 2005 47% 36% 5% –Fairleigh-DickinsonFairleigh-Dickinson September 26, 2005 48% 38% 4% 10%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University September 28, 2005 46% 38% – –QuinnipiacQuinnipiac September 28, 2005 48% 44% – –RasmussenRasmussen October 6, 2005 45% 38% 5% –Star-Ledger/Eagleton-RutgersStar-Ledger/Eagleton-Rutgers October 3–6, 2005 44% 37% – –MaristMarist October 10, 2005 44% 43% – –Survey USASurvey USA October 11, 2005 49% 41% 5% 5%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision October 13, 2005 46% 40% – –QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 19, 2005 50% 43% – –RasmussenRasmussen October 20, 2005 49% 40% 3% –Survey USASurvey USA October 25, 2005 50% 41% 7% 3%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision November 2, 2005 48% 42% – –Fairleigh-DickinsonFairleigh-Dickinson November 2, 2005 44% 40% 3% 13%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac November 2, 2005 50% 38% – –Marist CollegeMarist College November 4, 2005 51% 41% – –Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University November 4, 2005 47% 38% – –RasmussenRasmussen November 6, 2005 44% 39% 5% 12%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac November 7, 2005 52% 45% – –Survey USASurvey USA November 7, 2005 50% 44% 5% 2%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JimMcGreevey (D) DianeAllen (R) ChrisChristie (R) DougForrester (R) BretSchundler (R)OtherUndecidedQuinnipiac July 30–August 2, 2004 996 RV ±3.1% 38% 32% – – – 2% 28% 40% – 27% – – 2% 31% 41% – – 34% – 3% 23% 40% – – – 37% 2% 20%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RichardCodey (D) DianeAllen (R) ChrisChristie (R) DougForrester (R) BretSchundler (R)OtherUndecidedQuinnipiac November 9–15, 2004 2,235 RV ±2.1% 39% 28% – – – 1% 31% 40% – 27% – – 1% 32% 39% – – 32% – 1% 27% 40% – – – 34% 1% 25%Quinnipiac January 18–24, 2004 1,215 RV ±2.8% 53% – – 25% – 1% 22% 54% – – – 26% 1% 20%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JonCorzine (D) DianeAllen (R) ChrisChristie (R) BobFranks (R) BretSchundler (R) ChristineWhitman (R)OtherUndecidedQuinnipiac August 19–23, 2004 887 RV ±3.3% 49% 24% – – – – 2% 24% 53% – 22% – – – 1% 24% 52% – – 24% – – 1% 23% 48% – – – 32% – 1% 19% 48% – – – – 37% 1% 14%Quinnipiac November 9–15, 2004 2,235 RV ±2.1% 51% 25% – – – – 1% 23% 51% – 24% – – – 1% 23% 51% – – – 30% – 1% 18%Quinnipiac January 18–24, 2004 1,215 RV ±2.8% 52% – – – 28% – 1% 18% Quinnipiac March 9–14, 2005 937 RV ±3.2% 50% – – – 34% – 1% 15%

Results

Results by county