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2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election

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2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election

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FieldValue
election_name2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election
countryNew Jersey
typePresidential
ongoingno
previous_election1997 New Jersey gubernatorial election
previous_year1997
next_election2005 New Jersey gubernatorial election
next_year2005
election_dateNovember 6, 2001
turnout49% ( 7pp)
image1File:Jim McGreevey 2009 Exodus 7 (cropped).jpg
image_sizex150px
nominee1**Jim McGreevey**
party1Democratic Party (United States)
popular_vote1**1,256,853**
percentage1**56.43%**
image23x4.svg
nominee2Bret Schundler
party2Republican Party (United States)
popular_vote2928,174
percentage241.68%
map_image
map_caption**McGreevey**:
**Schundler**:
titleGovernor
before_electionDonald DiFrancesco
before_partyRepublican Party (United States)
after_electionJim McGreevey
after_partyDemocratic Party (United States)

Schundler:
The 2001 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2001. Primaries took place on June 25. Democratic nominee Jim McGreevey won the general election with 56% of the vote against Republican Bret Schundler, becoming New Jersey's first majority-elected governor since James Florio in 1989. Democrats simultaneously ended Republican control of both houses of the legislature after 10 years. This is also the last statewide election in which Democrats won Monmouth and Ocean counties. This was the first time since 1973 that a Democrat won without carrying Cape May County.

McGreevey, who was sworn in on January 15, 2002, resigned in November 2004 after disclosing both his homosexuality and an alleged extramarital relationship with a man whom he had appointed as one of his advisors. He was succeeded by Senate President Richard Codey, who filled the remainder of McGreevey's term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Jim McGreevey, mayor of Woodbridge, former state senator and nominee for governor in 1997
  • Elliot Greenspan, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche

Withdrew

  • Robert Torricelli, U.S. senator since 1997 (withdrew July 31, 2000)

Declined

  • Frank Pallone, U.S. representative from Long Branch
  • Bill Pascrell, U.S. representative from Paterson

Campaign

Beginning with his loss in the 1997 campaign, Jim McGreevey actively sought support for a second consecutive nomination for governor by courting labor leaders and county party chairmen, whose endorsements were crucial to securing the county line. In late June 2000, he raised $3.2 million for the state party.

In July 2000, U.S. senator Robert Torricelli announced he would challenge McGreevey for the nomination. Torricelli put himself forward as a candidate who could bridge the gap between the northern and southern wings of the party, which remained bitterly divided after the primary election for United States Senate earlier in the year. He quickly secured the support of some labor leaders and minor endorsements in Camden, Morris, Bergen and Burlington counties, and his supporters predicted that he would receive party endorsements in populous Essex and Hudson counties as well, giving him a "stranglehold" on the nomination. However, Torricelli was dogged by ethics complaints stemming from his 1996 campaign, which had resulted in a federal investigation and guilty pleas from six contributors, and his widely publicized investments in several private equity deals. Additionally, his personal style and ambition had drawn many rivals within the state party.

With support from state senators Raymond Lesniak and John A. Lynch Jr., McGreevey was able to block Torricelli from gaining South Jersey county endorsements and lock up the support of organized labor. In late July, the state party published polling which showed that McGreevey led Torricelli among likely primary voters 35 percent to 31 percent, signaling another bitter primary fight. In response, Newark mayor Sharpe James and other Essex County leaders, including state senator Richard Codey, endorsed McGreevey. At the news conference announcing their endorsements, McGreevey swiped at Torricelli, "The Democratic Party is greater than any individual's political ambitions."

On July 31, Torricelli ended his campaign for the nomination, saying that he had been "humbled" by his failure to generate grassroots support and "naive" for believing that "people would put their own interests aside to work toward the goal of something larger." Although party chair Thomas Giblin praised his decision to back out rather than fracture the party, Torricelli declined to immediately endorse McGreevey, instead citing his colleagues Frank Pallone and Bill Pascrell as potential nominees.

Results

Aftermath

Rutgers University political science professor Cliff Zukin observed that Torricelli's decision to enter the race and abruptly withdraw damaged his standing within the state party and his ambitions for the presidency. Ultimately, Torricelli ended his political career in 2002 under the cloud of his campaign finance scandal, when he dropped out of his bid for re-election to the Senate trailing in the general election polls.

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Bob Franks, former U.S. representative from Summit and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2000
  • Bret Schundler, mayor of Jersey City

Withdrew

  • Donald DiFrancesco, president of the New Jersey Senate and acting governor

Declined

  • Jack Collins, speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly since 1996

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin
of errorDonald
DiFrancescoBob
FranksBret
SchundlerOther/
Undecided
QuinnipiacNovember 28–December 4, 2000372 RV±5.1%10%**45%**9%37%
QuinnipiacJanuary 30–February 5, 2001310 RV±5.6%**45%**–16%39%
QuinnipiacFebruary 28–March 4, 2001347 RV±5.3%**46%**–24%29%
QuinnipiacApril 3–9, 2001357 RV±5.2%**39%**–27%34%
QuinnipiacMay 1–8, 2001331 RV±5.4%–**46%**24%30%
QuinnipiacJune 14–18, 2001415 LV±4.8%–39%**54%**8%

Results

General election

Candidates

  • Jerry Coleman (Green)
  • Mark Edgerton (Libertarian)
  • Michael Koontz (Conservative)
  • James McGreevey, former mayor of Woodbridge, State Senator, and nominee for Governor in 1997 (Democratic)
  • Costantino Rozzo (Socialist)
  • Kari Sachs (Socialist Workers)
  • William E. Schluter, state senator from Pennington (Independent)
  • Bret Schundler, mayor of Jersey City (Republican)

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin
of errorJim
McGreevey (D)Bret
Schundler (R)Bill
Schluter (I)Other/
Undecided
QuinnipiacNovember 28–December 4, 20001,261 RV±2.8%**40%**24%—36%
date=September 2025}}January 24–30, 2001649 RV±4.0%**43%**19%—37%
QuinnipiacJanuary 30–February 5, 20011,156 RV±2.9%**46%**22%—36%
QuinnipiacFebruary 28–March 4, 20011,129 RV±2.9%**45%**31%—24%
QuinnipiacApril 3–9, 20011,145 RV±2.9%**43%**27%—30%
date=September 2025}}April 11–17, 2001632 RV±4.0%**46%**22%—32%
QuinnipiacMay 1–8, 20011,181 RV±2.9%**48%**27%—25%
QuinnipiacJune 27–July 1, 2001851 RV±3.4%**48%**35%—17%
QuinnipiacJuly 29–August 5, 20011,235 RV±2.8%**49%**30%—21%
Rutgers-EagletonAugust 15–21, 2001395 LV±5.0%**54%**33%—14%
**48%**29%4%20%
QuinnipiacSeptember 19–24, 20011,406 RV±2.6%**44%**30%—27%
date=September 2025}}September 22–26, 2001424 LV±4.0%**46%**31%—24%
date=September 2025}}October 13–17, 2001449 LV±4.7%**45%**33%—22%
QuinnipiacOctober 10–15, 2001742 LV±3.6%**49%**39%—12%
1,140 RV±2.9%**49%**35%—15%
Quinnipiac{{cite weburl=https://poll.qu.edu/Poll-Release-Legacy?releaseid=516date=October 30, 2001title=McGreevey Over 50 Percent In New Jersey Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Issues Work Against Schundlerpublisher=Quinnipiac University Polling Institute}}October 23–28, 2001746 LV±3.7%**52%**35%—
date=September 2025}}October 30–November 2, 2001746 LV±3.7%**53%**36%—11%
QuinnipiacOctober 29–November 4, 2001505 LV±4.4%**48%**39%—13%

;with Donald DiFrancesco

Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin
of errorJim
McGreevey (D)Donald
DiFrancesco (R)Other/
Undecided
QuinnipiacNovember 28–December 4, 20001,261 RV±2.8%**41%**26%34%
date=September 2025}}January 24–30, 2001649 LV±4.0%**39%**26%35%
QuinnipiacJanuary 30–February 5, 20011,156 RV±2.9%**40%**32%28%
QuinnipiacFebruary 28–March 4, 20011,129 RV±2.9%**41%**37%22%
QuinnipiacFebruary 28–March 4, 20011,145 RV±2.9%**42%**33%24%
date=September 2025}}April 11–17, 2001632 LV±4.0%**44%**26%30%

;with Bob Franks

Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin
of errorJim
McGreevey (D)Bob
Franks (R)Other/
Undecided
QuinnipiacNovember 28–December 4, 20001,261 RV±2.8%**38%**35%28%
QuinnipiacMay 1–8, 20011,181 RV±2.9%**44%**35%21%

Results

|[[File:Swing in each NJ county from the 1997-2001 gubernatorial elections.svg|250px]]|Shift by county |[[File:Trend in each NJ county from the 1997-2001 gubernatorial elections.svg|250px]]|Trend by county | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}|

{{col-start}}

Democratic Republican

Results by county

CountyMcGreevey votesMcGreevey %Schundler votesSchundler %Other votesOther %
Atlantic**38,623****57.5%**27,54741.0%9951.5%
Bergen**140,215****55.1%**111,22143.7%3,1061.2%
Burlington**62,697****55.4%**48,09842.5%2,4372.2%
Camden**78,169****64.6%**40,06333.1%2,7282.3%
Cape May17,11848.5%**17,471****49.5%**7352.1%
Cumberland**19,445****57.7%**13,58340.3%6682.0%
Essex**129,406****71.9%**48,54027.0%2,0831.2%
Gloucester**41,083****58.1%**28,21039.9%1,3922.0%
Hudson**85,074****68.8%**37,44030.3%1,2241.0%
Hunterdon13,91135.3%**23,059****58.4%**2,4846.3%
Mercer**57,513****60.9%**31,70533.6%5,1485.5%
Middlesex**117,061****62.7%**66,74935.7%2,9991.6%
Monmouth**91,838****49.5%**89,98748.5%3,6472.0%
Morris60,94842.8%**79,350****55.8%**1,9421.4%
Ocean**84,538****51.2%**77,72647.1%2,6901.6%
Passaic**62,390****58.1%**43,80640.8%1,2381.2%
Salem**10,837****53.5%**8,87843.8%5402.7%
Somerset39,11045.6%**44,815****52.2%**1,9032.2%
Sussex14,64137.5%**23,478****60.1%**9572.4%
Union**79,682****60.3%**50,78038.4%1,7901.4%
Warren12,55442.3%**15,668****52.8%**1,4324.8%

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

  • Atlantic (largest municipality: Egg Harbor Township)
  • Bergen (largest municipality: Hackensack)
  • Monmouth (largest municipality: Middletown Township)
  • Ocean (largest municipality: Lakewood)
  • Salem (largest municipality: Pennsville Township)

Notes

References

Official campaign websites

References

  1. "General Election Data - 1924 to 2022".
  2. Halbfinger, David M.. (2001-06-27). "Schundler Wins G.O.P. Primary In New Jersey Governor's Race". [[The New York Times]].
  3. Halbfinger, David M.. (2001-11-07). "THE 2001 ELECTIONS: GOVERNOR; Democrat Vows to Alter Way 'Business Is Done in Trenton'". [[The New York Times]].
  4. Peterson, Iver. (2004-02-29). "ON POLITICS; Is McGreevey Following In Florio's Footsteps?". [[The New York Times]].
  5. Kohen, Yael. (August 13, 2004). "McGreevey to quit, declares 'I am a gay American'". [[The New York Sun]].
  6. Kocieniewski. (1 Aug 2000). "Torricelli, Opposed Within Party, Drops New Jersey Governor Bid". [[The New York Times]].
  7. Halbfinger, David M.. (1 Nov 2001). "A Political Rise Built on Discipline; Under McGreevey's Self-Deprecation, The Heart of a True Political Animal". [[The New York Times]].
  8. (April 17, 2008). "Official List Candidates for Governor For June 2001 Primary Election". [[New Jersey Secretary of State]].
  9. (December 6, 2000). "McGreevey, Franks Early Leaders In New Jersey Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Whitman Has Highest Approval In Four Years".
  10. (February 7, 2001). "McGreevey Leads DiFrancesco, Schundler In NJ Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Whitman Scored High On Environment, Low On Race Relations".
  11. (March 8, 2001). "DiFrancesco Closes Gap With McGreevey In NJ Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Bush Jumps Out To 2 -1 Approval Rating".
  12. (April 11, 2001). "DiFrancesco Slips Against McGreevey In NJ Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Schundler Inches Up In Republican Primary".
  13. (May 10, 2001). "McGreevey Leads Franks, Schundler In NJ Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Franks Ahead In Republican Primary, But Race Could Be Close".
  14. (June 20, 2001). "Schundler Leads Franks In New Jersey GOP Primary, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; But GOP Likely Voters Expect Franks To Win".
  15. "New Jersey, Senate & Presidential Elections 2008 Results & Polls". NJ.com.
  16. "New Jersey November 2001 Off Year Election". TheGreenPapers.com.
  17. [https://eagletonpoll.parc.us.com/client/index.html#/search Rutgers-Eagleton]
  18. (July 3, 2001). "McGreevey Leads Schundler In New Jersey Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Education Emerges As Most Important Issue". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
  19. (August 7, 2001). "McGreevey Widens Lead, Close To 50% In NJ Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; DiFrancesco, Torricelli Approval Ratings Up". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
  20. (September 27, 2001). "McGreevey Slips But Still Leads In NJ Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Voters Approve Return To Campaigning". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
  21. (October 17, 2001). "McGreevey Leads 49 - 39 Among NJ Likely Voters, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Schundler Trails Democrat On Most Traits". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
  22. (November 5, 2001). "McGreevey Leads Schundler 48-39 In Jersey Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
  23. (April 17, 2008). "Official List Candidates for Governor For November 2001 General Election". New Jersey Secretary of State.
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