2012 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2012 United States Senate election in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

Incumbent senator Bob Menendez became the first Hispanic-American U.S. senator to represent New Jersey in January 2006 when former U.S. senator Jon Corzine appointed him to the seat, having resigned to become governor of New Jersey after winning in 2005. In 2006, Menendez defeated Republican state senator Thomas Kean, Jr. with 53.3% of votes.

Menendez won re-election to a second full term, becoming the first Democratic Senate candidate to carry Somerset County since Bill Bradley in 1984. This is the only time since 1976 that a candidate for this seat received over 55% of the vote. This election marked the first time that someone won this seat by double digits since 1976 as well. Menendez outperformed President Obama in the concurrent presidential race by 0.62%.

Democratic primary

Candidates Bob Menendez, incumbent U.S. senatorMenendez for Senate 2012

Polling Poll source BobMenendez Someoneelse UnsureFairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University March 5–11, 2012 404 ±5.0% 30% 37% 33%

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared David Brown, inventor Joe Kyrillos, state senator Bader Qarmout, businessman and adjunct professor at the County College of Morris Joseph Rudy Rullo, businessman

Withdrew Ian Linker, attorney Anna Little, former mayor of Highlands and candidate for NJ-06 in 2010

Declined Diane Allen, state senator, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and former news broadcasterSen. Diane Allen on lessons from the campaign trail | NJ.com Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey and former U.S. attorney John Crowley, biotechnology executive Michael Doherty, state senator Tim Smith, financial services firm executive and member of the Roxbury Township Council Jay Webber, state assemblyman and former New Jersey Republican State Committee chairman

Polling Poll source MichaelDoherty KimGuadagno WoodyJohnson TomKean Jr. JosephKyrillos AnnaLittle TimSmith Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 300 ±5.7% 7% 10% 9% 36% 3% 4% 2% — 30%

Results

General election Candidates Daryl Mikell Brooks (Reform Nation), activist Gwen Diakos (Jersey Strong Independents), civilian defense contractor J. David Dranikoff (totally independent candidate), businessman Kenneth R. Kaplan (Libertarian), commercial real estate broker Joe Kyrillos (Republican), state senator Eugene Martin LaVergne (independent) Bob Menendez (Democratic), incumbent U.S. senator Greg Pason (Socialist), national secretary of the Socialist Party USA and perennial candidate Inder "Andy" Soni (America First) Robert "Turk" Turkavage (Responsibility Fairness Integrity), former FBI agent Ken Wolski (Green), medical marijuana activist and former nurse

Debates Three debates were scheduled. The first took place on October 4, 2012, at Montclair State University. Menendez and Kyrillos participated. The second took place on October 10 at NJ 101.5 studios in Trenton. The third was to take place on October 17 at Mercer County Community College.

External links Complete video of debate, October 4, 2012 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 13, 2012 - C-SPAN

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Bob Menendez (D) $10,243,864 $2,325,178 $10,345,365 $0 Joseph Kyrillos (R) $3,106,536 $1,132,232 $1,974,302 $50,236 Kenneth R. Kaplan (L) $800 $0 $800 $0 Source: Federal Election CommissionBob Menendez Campaign FinancesJoseph Kyrillos Campaign FinancesKenneth R. Kaplan

Top contributors [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=NJS1 OpenSecrets Bob Menendez Contribution Joseph Kyrillos Contribution Lowenstein Sandler $116,160 McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP $133,098 Greenberg Traurig $78,250 Allied Management Inc $22,000 NORPAC $70,550 Connell Foley $18,250 Prudential Financial $66,800 Maser Consulting $17,250 DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole $48,150 B&L Tire $15,000 Kindred Healthcare $48,000 Berkeley College $15,000 Verizon Communications $47,050 CJ Hesse $15,000 Medco Health Solutions $41,249 GlobalTel $15,000 DLA Piper $41,000 Langer Transport Corp $15,000 Dade Medical College $40,000 Fgi Finance $14,000

Top industries Contributors by Industry (opensecrets.org) Bob Menendez Contribution Joe Kyrillos Contribution Lawyers/law firms $1,633,843 Lawyers/law firms $312,845 Real estate $1,096,684 Retired $103,900 Lobbyists $578,182 Financial institutions $98,200 Financial institutions $532,651 Real estate $98,150 Health professionals $524,810 Health professionals $62,100 Retired $411,525 Business services $60,250 Construction services $388,550 Construction services $54,300 Pharmaceuticals/health products $353,250 Universities $51,250 Insurance $338,550 General contractors $39,500 Leadership PACs $328,244 Misc. business $38,550

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2012 Real Clear Politics November 5, 2012

Polling Poll source BobMenendez (D) JosephKyrillos (R) Other UndecidedFairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University January 3–9, 2011 802 ±3.5% 41% 29% — 30%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ±4.5% 48% 29% — 23%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University September 19–25, 2011 800 ±3.5% 49% 28% — 22%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University January 2–8, 2012 800 ±3.5% 43% 31% — 26%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton February 9–11, 2012 914 ±3.3% 44% 22% 1% 26%Survey USASurvey USA February 24–26, 2012 533 ±4.3% 46% 31% — 23%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac February 21–27, 2012 1,396 ±2.6% 49% 34% 1% 14%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University March 5–11, 2012 396 ±2.6% 43% 33% — 23%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac April 3–9, 2012 1,607 ±2.4% 44% 35% 1% 20%Fairleigh Dickinson/PublicMindFairleigh Dickinson/PublicMind April 30 – May 6, 2012 400 ±5% 42% 33% — 24%Quinnipiac May 9–14, 2012 1,582 ±2.5% 45% 35% 2% 19%Quinnipiac July 9–14, 2012 1,623 ±2.5% 47% 34% 1% 16%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University July 18–22, 2012 535 LV ±2.5% 44% 35% 1% 19%Monmouth University July 23–27, 2012 849 RV ±2.5% 45% 33% 1% 22%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton August 23–25, 2012 688 LV ±3.7% 47% 35% 8% 10%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipaic University August 27 – September 2, 2012 1,471 LV ±2.5% 50% 40% — 10%Quinnipiac University September 6–12, 2012 706 LV ±2.5% 50% 36% — 16%Philadelphia InquirerPhiladelphia Inquirer September 9–12, 2012 600 LV ±2.5% 43% 32% — 12%Monmouth University September 19–23, 2012 613 LV ±2.5% 49% 34% — 15%Philadelphia InquirerPhiladelphia Inquirer October 4–8, 2012 604 LV ±4% 49% 35% — 15%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 10–14, 2012 1,319 LV ±2.7% 55% 37% — 15%StocktonStockton October 12–18, 2012 811 LV ±3.5% 52% 30% — 18%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 17–18, 2012 577 LV ±4.2% 53% 33% 5% 9%Philadelphia InquirerPhiladelphia Inquirer October 23–25, 2012 601 LV ±4% 50% 32% — 18%

Poll source BobMenendez (D) JenniferBeck (R) Other UndecidedFairleigh Dickinson University January 3–9, 2011 802 ±3.5% 42% 29% — 29%

Poll source BobMenendez (D) LouDobbs (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 6–9, 2011 520 ±4.3% 47% 35% — 18%

Poll source BobMenendez (D) LouDobbs (I) Other UndecidedFairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University January 4–10, 2010 801 ±3.5% 37% 34% — 28%

Poll source BobMenendez (D) MichaelDoherty (R) Other UndecidedFairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University February 23 – March 1, 2010 801 ±3.5% 40% 27% 8% 25%Fairleigh Dickinson University January 3–9, 2011 802 ±3.5% 40% 30% — 30%Public Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ±4.5% 48% 35% — 17%Fairleigh Dickinson University September 19–25, 2011 800 ±3.5% 49% 30% — 22%

Poll source BobMenendez (D) KimGuadagno (R) Other UndecidedFairleigh Dickinson University January 3–9, 2011 802 ±3.5% 47% 26% — 27%Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling January 6–9, 2011 520 ±4.3% 45% 30% — 24%Public Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ±4.5% 48% 34% — 18%

Poll source BobMenendez (D) WoodyJohnson (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ±4.5% 48% 30% — 22%

Poll source BobMenendez (D) TomKean Jr. (R) Other UndecidedFairleigh Dickinson University January 23 – February 1, 2010 801 ±3.5% 35% 45% 2% 15%Fairleigh Dickinson University February 23 – March 1, 2010 801 ±3.5% 38% 39% 6% 17%Fairleigh Dickinson University January 3–9, 2011 802 ±3.5% 44% 34% — 22%Public Policy Polling January 6–9, 2011 520 ±4.3% 41% 39% — 19%Public Policy Polling July 15–18, 2011 480 ±4.5% 44% 39% — 16%

Poll source BobMenendez (D) AnnaLittle (R) Other UndecidedFairleigh Dickinson University January 2–8, 2012 800 ±3.5% 43% 31% — 26%Survey USA February 24–26, 2012 533 ±4.3% 48% 29% — 23%

Results

By county County Bob MenendezDecember Joe KyrillosRepublican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Atlantic 61,464 58.19% 42,378 40.12% 1,792 1.70% 19,086 18.07% 105,634 Bergen 201,870 57.33% 144,709 41.09% 5,558 1.58% 57,161 16.24% 352,137 Burlington 121,211 59.05% 82,374 40.13% 1,670 0.81% 38,837 18.92% 205,255 Camden 148,925 69.47% 62,734 29.26% 2,722 1.27% 86,191 40.21% 214,381 Cape May 19,965 46.35% 22,281 51.73% 826 1.92% -2,316 -5.38% 43,072 Cumberland 31,367 63.74% 16,795 34.13% 1,051 2.14% 14,572 29.61% 49,213 Essex 213,404 78.86% 53,009 19.59% 4,211 1.56% 160,395 59.27% 270,624 Gloucester 74,271 57.16% 52,591 40.48% 3,072 2.36% 21,680 16.68% 129,934 Hudson 139,910 79.35% 32,876 18.64% 3,545 2.01% 107,034 60.71% 176,331 Hunterdon 24,676 39.29% 36,000 57.33% 2,123 3.38% -11,324 -18.04% 62,799 Mercer 97,964 67.73% 43,793 30.28% 2,890 1.99% 54,171 37.45% 144,647 Middlesex 178,686 63.42% 97,730 34.69% 5,344 1.90% 80,956 28.73% 281,760 Monmouth 120,154 44.67% 144,366 53.67% 4,444 1.65% -24,212 -9.00% 268,964 Morris 93,209 44.42% 114,078 54.36% 2,561 1.22% -20,869 -9.94% 209,848 Ocean 99,362 42.10% 132,413 56.11% 4,229 1.79% -33,051 -14.01% 236,004 Passaic 105,286 64.91% 54,149 33.38% 2,780 1.71% 51,137 31.53% 162,215 Salem 15,044 52.51% 12,555 43.82% 1,050 3.67% 2,489 8.69% 28,649 Somerset 70,264 51.57% 63,349 46.49% 2,645 1.94% 6,915 5.08% 136,258 Sussex 25,212 38.03% 38,250 57.70% 2,831 4.27% -13,038 -19.67% 66,293 Union 125,635 66.92% 58,929 31.39% 3,180 1.69% 66,706 35.53% 187,744 Warren 17,904 41.83% 24,046 56.17% 856 2.00% -6,142 -14.34% 42,806Totals1,987,68058.87%1,329,53439.37%59,4351.76%658,14619.50%3,376,649 County that flipped from Republican to Democratic Somerset (largest municipality: Franklin Township) Salem (largest municipality: Pennsville Township)

By congressional district Menendez won nine of 12 congressional districts, including three that elected Republicans to the House. District Menendez Kyrillos Representative1st 66.7% 31.7%Rob Andrews2nd54.6%43.3%Frank LoBiondo3rd 51.9% 46.8%Jon Runyan4th 44.8% 53.5%Chris Smith5th49.3%48.8%Scott Garrett 6th 60.7% 37.4%Frank Pallone7th 46.1% 51.8%Leonard Lance8th80.4%17.7%Bill Pascrell (112th Congress)Albio Sires (113th Congress)9th70.4%27.9%Steve Rothman (112th Congress)Bill Pascrell (113th Congress)10th 88.0% 10.7%Donald Payne Jr.11th 47.5% 50.8%Rodney Frelinghuysen12th 66.0% 32.2%Rush Holt Jr.

See also 2012 United States Senate elections 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

References

External links New Jersey Division of Elections Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation Candidate issue positions at On the Issues

Official campaign websites (archived) Ken Kaplan for U.S. Senate Gwen Diakos for U.S. Senate Joe Kyrillos for U.S. Senate