2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2018, in order to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez won election to a third term over Republican businessman Bob Hugin, after the former's criminal trial ended in a mistrial.

The candidate filing deadline for Democratic and Republican candidates was April 2, 2018, and the primary election was held on June 5, 2018. The deadline for independent candidates was June 5, 2018. Despite the race being rated as a tossup by some political pundits, including The Cook Political Report, Menendez was reelected by an 11.2% margin. However, Hugin was the first Republican Senate candidate to carry Atlantic and Gloucester counties since 1972, and the first Republican to do so in this seat since 1970.

Menendez was later convicted of separate federal corruption charges in 2024 and resigned from the Senate.

Democratic primary While he never lost support from any major New Jersey officials, after a mistrial was declared in Senator Menendez's corruption trial, party figures across New Jersey lined up with public endorsements of his reelection bid, including the "full support" of Governor Phil Murphy. He formally declared his intention to run for reelection on March 28, 2018, alongside Governor Murphy and Senator Cory Booker.

Candidates Nominee Bob Menendez, incumbent U.S. senator

Eliminated in primary Lisa McCormick, activist and candidate for Union County Clerk in 2010

Withdrew Michael Starr Hopkins, attorney

Declined Rush D. Holt Jr., former U.S. representative Donald Norcross, U.S. representative Mikie Sherrill, retired Navy helicopter pilot and former federal prosecutor (running for NJ-11) Robert Torricelli, former U.S. senator

Results

Republican primary Bob Hugin launched his primary campaign on February 13 in Springfield. He began advertising on television two weeks later, attacking Menendez on the airwaves, and was soon considered the presumptive nominee. His opponent, Brian Goldberg, attempted to connect himself to President Donald Trump and his supporters by inserting the president's abbreviated slogan, "MAGA", into his ballot slogans and aligning himself with other pro-Trump, anti-establishment candidates. Goldberg also attacked Hugin's running mates, urging Republicans to write in the deceased Charlton Heston in primary races where a Republican congressional candidate was running unopposed. Ultimately, Hugin won overwhelmingly with a majority of votes in each of the state's 21 counties.

Candidates Nominee Bob Hugin, businessman and former executive chairman of Celgene Corporation

Eliminated in primary Brian D. Goldberg, businessman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014

Withdrew Rich Pezzullo, businessman (endorsed Bob Hugin, running for NJ-6) Hirsh Singh, aerospace engineer and candidate for governor in 2017 (running for NJ-2) Dana Wefer, former chairwoman of the Hoboken Housing Authority and candidate for governor in 2017 (did not submit enough petition signatures)

Declined Jon Bramnick, Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly (endorsed Hugin) Jack Ciattarelli, former state assemblyman and candidate for governor in 2017 Michael J. Doherty, state senator Kim Guadagno, former lieutenant governor and nominee for governor in 2017 Thomas Kean Jr., Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006 Joe Kyrillos, former state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012 Tom MacArthur, U.S. representative (endorsed Hugin) Bill Spadea, radio and TV show host; nominee for NJ-12 in 2004 Jerry Watson Jay Webber, state assemblyman and former chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee (running for NJ-11)

Endorsements

Results

Libertarian Party Candidates Murray Sabrin, Ramapo College finance professor, Anisfield School of Business

Endorsements

Green Party Madelyn R. Hoffman, peace activist and 1997 Green Party gubernatorial candidate

Independents Candidates Tricia Flanagan (New Day NJ), consultant Kevin Kimple (Make it Simple), small business owner Natalie Rivera (For the People), social services coordinator Hank Schroeder (Economic Growth), perennial candidate

Withdrew Muhammad Usman

General election Debates Complete video of debate, October 24, 2018

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of October 17, 2018Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handBob Hugin (R)$30,289,561$27,714,323$2,575,238Bob Menendez (D)$11,631,183$11,225,693$1,832,385Source: Federal Election Commission

Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018Inside Elections November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018CNNOctober 1, 2018RealClearPoliticsOctober 3, 2018Fox NewsOctober 30, 2018 ^Highest rating given

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BobMenendez (D) BobHugin (R) MurraySabrin (L) Other UndecidedChange ResearchChange Research November 2–4, 2018 1,006 – 51% 41% – – –Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University October 29 – November 4, 2018 1,115 ± 4.0% 55% 40% – 1% 4%Stockton UniversityStockton University October 25–31, 2018 598 ± 4.0% 51% 39% 3% 4% 1%Vox Populi Polling October 27–29, 2018 814 ± 3.4% 54% 46% – – –Emerson CollegeEmerson College October 24–26, 2018 659 ± 4.0% 47% 42% – 4% 7%Rutgers-EagletonRutgers-Eagleton October 12–19, 2018 496 LV ± 5.1% 51% 46% – 1% 2% 896 RV ± 3.8% 48% 45% – 1% 5%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University October 10–16, 2018 873 ± 4.3% 51% 44% – 0% 5%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 11–15, 2018 527 ± 4.3% 49% 40% 1% 2%Madelyn Hoffman (G) with 1%, other with 1% 8%National Research Inc. (R-Hugin)National Research Inc. (R-Hugin) October 6–9, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 42% 40% – – –YouGovYouGov October 2–5, 2018 845 – 49% 39% – 4% 8%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University September 25 – October 2, 2018 1,058 ± 4.1% 53% 42% – 0% 5%Vox Populi Polling September 29 – October 1, 2018 794 ± 3.5% 52% 48% – – –Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University September 26–30, 2018 508 LV ± 4.3% 43% 37% – 1% 19% 746 RV ± 3.9% 37% 32% – 1% 29%Stockton UniversityStockton University September 19–27, 2018 531 ± 4.3% 45% 43% 3% 5% 2%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University August 15–20, 2018 908 ± 4.6% 43% 37% – 2% 16%Gravis Marketing (L-Sabrin)Gravis Marketing (L-Sabrin) August 14–15, 2018 753 ± 3.6% 40% 30% 7% – 22%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing July 6–10, 2018 563 ± 4.1% 43% 41% – – 16%Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University May 16–21, 2018 856 ± 3.5% 28% 24% – 1% 46%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University April 6–10, 2018 632 ± 3.9% 53% 32% – 7% 7%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University March 8–12, 2018 1,052 ± 4.2% 49% 32% – 1% 15%

Kean vs. Andrews Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RobAndrews (D) ThomasKean (R) UndecidedHarper PollingHarper Polling March 24–25, 2013 760 ± 3.6% 17% 33% 50%

Codey vs. Kyrillos Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RichardCodey (D) JoeKyrillos (R) UndecidedHarper Polling March 24–25, 2013 760 ± 3.6% 34% 25% 41%

Results

By county County Bob MenendezDecember Bob HuginRepublican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Atlantic 44,617 47.43% 45,954 48.85% 3,502 3.72% -1,337 -1.42% 94,073 Bergen 188,235 54.69% 146,406 42.54% 9,542 2.77% 41,829 12.15% 344,183 Burlington 98,749 52.78% 82,240 43.96% 6,111 3.27% 16,509 8.82% 187,100 Camden 113,137 61.82% 63,279 34.58% 6,600 3.61% 49,858 27.24% 183,016 Cape May 14,555 35.78% 24,823 61.03% 1,299 3.19% -10,268 -25.25% 40,677 Cumberland 19,386 48.29% 19,244 47.93% 1,517 3.78% 142 0.36% 40,147 Essex 194,068 76.52% 53,537 21.11% 6,028 2.38% 140,531 55.41% 253,633 Gloucester 52,203 46.36% 56,090 49.81% 4,309 3.83% -3,887 -3.45% 112,602 Hudson 132,180 76.35% 36,087 20.84% 4,863 2.81% 96,093 55.51% 173,130 Hunterdon 24,823 39.32% 36,116 57.21% 2,195 3.48% -11,293 -17.89% 63,134 Mercer 80,773 63.71% 41,225 32.52% 4,785 3.77% 39,548 31.19% 126,783 Middlesex 148,806 58.21% 98,764 38.64% 8,051 3.15% 50,042 19.57% 255,621 Monmouth 112,383 42.99% 140,628 53.79% 8,408 3.22% -28,245 -10.80% 261,419 Morris 93,763 43.60% 114,783 53.38% 6,492 3.02% -21,020 -9.78% 215,038 Ocean 75,597 33.72% 141,902 63.29% 6,723 3.00% -66,305 -29.57% 224,222 Passaic 86,242 57.75% 58,382 39.10% 4,700 3.15% 27,860 18.65% 149,324 Salem 9,060 38.04% 13,687 57.47% 1,068 4.485% -4,627 -19.43% 23,815 Somerset 70,359 51.67% 61,373 45.07% 4,450 3.27% 8,986 6.60% 136,182 Sussex 20,229 33.23% 37,720 61.96% 2,926 4.81% -17,491 -28.73% 60,875 Union 117,937 64.22% 60,758 33.09% 4,938 2.69% 57,179 31.13% 183,633 Warren 14,452 35.59% 24,357 59.99% 1,794 4.42% -9,905 -24.40% 97,103Totals1,711,65454.01%1,357,35542.83%100,3013.16%354,29911.18%3,169,310 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Atlantic (largest municipality: Egg Harbor Township) Gloucester (largest municipality: Washington Township) Salem (largest municipality: Pennsville Township)

By congressional district Menendez won six of 12 congressional districts. Hugin, however, won the remaining six, including five that elected Democrats.

District Menendez Hugin Representative 58% 38%Donald Norcross 43% 53%Jeff Van Drew 44% 52%Andy Kim 41% 56%Chris Smith 47%50%Josh Gottheimer 56% 41%Frank Pallone 46% 51%Tom Malinowski 77% 20%Albio Sires 64% 33%Bill Pascrell 85% 12%Donald Payne Jr. 47% 50%Mikie Sherrill 63% 34%Bonnie Watson Coleman

References

External links Candidates at Vote Smart Candidates at Ballotpedia Campaign finance at FEC Campaign finance at OpenSecrets

Official campaign websites Tricia Flanagan (I) for Senate Madelyn Hoffman (G) for Senate

Kevin Kimple (I) for Senate Bob Menendez (D) for Senate Murray Sabrin (L) for Senate