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2002 United States Senate election in New Jersey

none

Field	Value
election_name	2002 United States Senate election in New Jersey
country	New Jersey
type	presidential
ongoing	no
previous_election	1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey
previous_year	1996
next_election	2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey
next_year	2008
election_date	November 5, 2002
turnout	46% ( 26pp)
image1	File:Frank Lautenberg.jpg
image_size	150x150px
nominee1	Frank Lautenberg
party1	Democratic Party (United States)
popular_vote1	1,138,193
percentage1	53.88%
image2	3x4.svg
nominee2	Doug Forrester
party2	Republican Party (United States)
popular_vote2	928,439
percentage2	43.95%
map_image
map_caption	Lautenberg:
Forrester:
title	U.S. Senator
before_election	Robert Torricelli
before_party	Democratic Party (United States)
after_election	Frank Lautenberg
after_party	Democratic Party (United States)

Forrester:
The 2002 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 5, 2002. Former U.S. senator Frank Lautenberg was elected to an open seat over Republican businessman Doug Forrester, after incumbent senator Robert Torricelli dropped out of the race on September 30, facing ethical misconduct allegations, a formal admonishment by the U.S. Senate, and falling poll numbers against Forrester. Primary elections were held on June 4. Torricelli was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, while Forrester won a competitive Republican primary over state senators Diane Allen and John Matheussen. Another leading candidate, Essex County Executive James W. Treffinger, dropped out on April 22 amid a federal criminal investigation for bribery.

In the general election, Torricelli, who was the target of a federal ethics probe, steadily fell behind Forrester in public polling and dropped out in late September. The New Jersey Democratic Party sought to replace him with Frank Lautenberg, who had held the state's other U.S. Senate seat from 1982 to 2001. After Forrester's campaign filed legal proceedings aimed at forcing Torricelli's name to remain on the ballot, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Lautenberg could replace Torricelli.

On election day, Lautenberg defeated Forrester by a 9.9% margin, winning a fourth, non-consecutive term as a U.S. senator. At 78, Lautenberg became the oldest non-incumbent to win a Senate election. Lautenberg became the state's junior senator for the second time when he was sworn in on January 3, 2003. Jon Corzine, who had been elected to Lautenberg's old Senate seat in 2000, became the senior senator, as Lautenberg's previous term in the Senate was not counted for purposes of seniority.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Robert Torricelli, incumbent U.S. senator

Although Torricelli would later withdraw from the race, he was unopposed for the Democratic nomination on June 4.

Republican primary

Candidates

Diane Allen, state senator from Moorestown
Doug Forrester, businessman and former mayor of West Windsor (1981–1982)
John J. Matheussen, state senator from Mantua

Withdrew

Guy Gregg, State Assemblyman from Washington Township (Morris County) (withdrew April 8; endorsed Treffinger)
Robert W. Ray, former Whitewater controversy special counsel (withdrew April 8)
James Treffinger, Essex County Executive and candidate for Senate in 2000 (withdrew April 22)

Declined

Lewis Eisenberg, former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Steve Forbes, publisher of Forbes magazine and candidate for president in 1996 and 2000
Thomas Kean, former governor of New Jersey (1982–90)

Campaign

Many Republicans were eager to take on Torricelli, who was the subject of a federal investigation into his fundraising practices in his 1996 election.

James W. Treffinger became the first candidate to officially announce his campaign in November 2001, shortly after the state elections which ended a decade of Republican rule. Much speculation at the time revolved around popular former Governor Thomas Kean, whom party chair Joe Kyrillos referred to as a "star player."

At the April 8 filing deadline, the two trailing candidates, Assemblyman Guy Gregg and attorney Robert Ray, dropped out of the race. Gregg endorsed Treffinger, who seemingly became the front-runner for the nomination.

Results

Aftermath

Treffinger was arrested in October and indicted by U.S. Attorney Chris Christie on twenty counts of extortion, fraud, obstructing a federal investigation, and conspiracy. He pleaded guilty in May 2003 to one count of obstruction and one count of mail fraud.

General election

Candidates

Doug Forrester, businessman and former mayor of West Windsor (Republican)
Ted Glick (Green)
Frank Lautenberg, former U.S. senator (1982–2001) (Democratic)
Elizabeth Macron (Libertarian)
Greg Pason, national secretary of the Socialist Party USA and perennial candidate (Socialist)
Norman E. Wahner (Conservative)

Withdrew

Robert Torricelli, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1997 (Democratic)

Campaign

On July 30, the Senate Ethics Committee issued a letter which "severely admonished" Torricelli for failing to disclose gifts he received and accepted from a donor. In late September, evidence was revealed about the relationship between Toricelli and the donor, and the donor was interviewed on WNBC in a segment dubbed "The Prisoner and the Politician". Torricelli dropped out of the race on September 30 due to ethical problems and poor poll numbers against Forrester, a relatively unknown opponent. Various candidates were sought after to replace Toricelli, including former U.S. senator Bill Bradley, Congressman Bob Menendez and Congressman Frank Pallone. The New Jersey Democratic Party eventually chose former U.S. senator Frank Lautenberg as the party's candidate. In the case of The New Jersey Democratic Party v. Samson, 175 N.J. 178 (2002), Forrester sued to stop Democratic Party efforts to have Lautenberg replace Torricelli. The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled unanimously on October 2 that the party could switch Lautenberg's name in for Sen. Torricelli's on the ballot. Forrester received the endorsement of President George W. Bush.

Complete video of debate, September 5, 2002
Complete video of debate, September 12, 2002
Complete video of debate, October 30, 2002
Complete video of debate, November 2, 2002

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball		November 4, 2002

Polling

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Bob
Torricelli (D)	Doug
Forrester (R)	Other /
Undecided	Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Frank
Lautenberg (D)	Doug
Forrester (R)	Other /
Undecided
Quinnipiac	January 22–28, 2002	1,018 RV	±3.1%	50%	26%	22%
Quinnipiac{{cite news	publisher=Quinnipiac University Polling Institute	date=March 6, 2002	title=Torricelli Strong Leader, But So-So On Other Traits, New Jersey Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Diane Allen Runs Slightly Better In No-Name Pack	access-date=August 28, 2025}}	February 28–March 4, 2002	1,005 RV	±3.1%	53%	26%	21%
Quinnipiac	April 17–22, 2002	837 RV	±3.4%	47%	29%	24%
date=September 2025}}	June 5–9, 2002	626 RV	±4.0%	43%	29%	21%
Quinnipiac	June 11–17, 2002	736 RV	±3.6%	44%	36%	21%
Quinnipiac	July 31–August 6, 2002	879 RV	±3.3%	37%	37%	28%
Torricelli internal	August 2002	? LV	?	40%	40%	20%
Forrester internal	August 19, 2002	? LV	?	35%	47%	18%
SurveyUSA	August 21, 2002	978 RV	±3.3%	37%	48%	15%
date=September 2025}}	September 3–8, 2002	537 LV	±4.0%	37%	33%	30%
Quinnipiac	September 3–10, 2002	1,341 LV	±2.7%	45%	41%	14%
861 LV	±3.3%	44%	48%	9%
date=September 2025}}	September 18–25, 2002	547 RV		34%	41%	26%
Quinnipiac	October 2–6, 2002	514 LV	4.3%	49%	45%	6%
Rutgers-Eagleton	October 3–6, 2002	801 A	±4.0%	46%	40%	14%
530 LV	±4.5%	44%	44%	12%
date=September 2025}}	October 13–17, 2002	793 RV	±3.5%	44%	35%	22%
Quinnipiac	October 16–20, 2002	603 LV	±4.0%	52%	43%	4%
NYT–CBS News	October 19–24, 2002	772 RV	±?	46%	39%	21%
SurveyUSA	October 27–29, 2002	732 LV	±3.7%	51%	41%	8%
Rutgers-Eagleton	October 27–31, 2002	909 RV	±3.5%	51%	34%	14%
458 LV	±3.5%	52%	40%	8%
Quinnipiac	October 28–November 3, 2002	574 LV	±4.1%	50%	39%	11%
Research 2000/The Record	November 1–2, 2002	600 LV	±4.0%	51%	42%	8%

with Diane Allen

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Robert
Torricelli (D)	Diane
Allen (R)	Undecided
Quinnipiac	February 28–March 4, 2002	1,005 RV	±3.1%	49%	30%	20%
Quinnipiac	April 17–22, 2002	837 RV	±3.4%	44%	32%	24%

with Guy Gregg

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Robert
Torricelli (D)	Guy
Gregg (R)	Undecided
Quinnipiac	January 22–28, 2002	1,018 RV	±3.1%	51%	25%	24%
Quinnipiac	February 28–March 4, 2002	1,005 RV	±3.1%	52%	26%	21%

with John Matheussen

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Robert
Torricelli (D)	John
Matheussen (R)	Undecided
Quinnipiac	February 28–March 4, 2002	1,005 RV	±3.1%	52%	28%	20%
Quinnipiac	April 17–22, 2002	837 RV	±3.4%	46%	31%	23%

with Robert Ray

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Robert
Torricelli (D)	Robert
Ray (R)	Undecided
Quinnipiac	February 28–March 4, 2002	1,005 RV	±3.1%	53%	28%	20%

with James Treffinger

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Robert
Torricelli (D)	James
Treffinger (R)	Undecided
Quinnipiac	January 22–28, 2002	1,018 RV	±3.1%	49%	28%	23%
Quinnipiac	February 28–March 4, 2002	1,005 RV	±3.1%	51%	27%	21%
Quinnipiac	April 17–22, 2002	837 RV	±3.4%	45%	29%	26%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin
of error	Frank
Lautenberg (D)	Doug
Forrester (R)	Other /
Undecided
Mellman Group (D)	October 2–3, 2002	44%	33%	23%
Research 2000	October 3–4, 2002	46%	40%	14%
SurveyUSA	October 4, 2002	49%	45%	6%
A&A Research	October 3–5, 2002	52%	45%	3%
Rutgers-Eagleton	October 3–6, 2002	44%	44%	12%
SurveyUSA	October 8–10, 2002	50%	39%	11%
Zogby International	October 9–11, 2002	48%	36%	16%
Fairleigh Dickinson	October 10–15, 2002	48%	41%	11%
Rutgers-Eagleton	October 17–19, 2002	47%	42%	11%
SurveyUSA	October 20–22, 2002	51%	40%	9%
Mason-Dixon/Philadelphia Inquirer	October 22–24, 2002	47%	40%	13%
The New York Times	October 26, 2002	48%	36%	16%
Zogby International	November 2–4, 2002	55%	42%	3%

Results

|[[File:Swing in each NJ county from the 1996-2002 senate elections.svg|250px]]|Shift by county |[[File:Trend in each NJ county from the 1996-2002 senate elections.svg|250px]]|Trend by county | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}|

Democratic Republican

By county

County	Frank Lautenberg
December	Doug Forrester
Republican	Various candidates
Other parties	Margin	Total votes cast	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%	Totals	1,138,193	53.88%	928,439	43.95%	45,972	2.17%	209,754	9.93%	2,112,604
	Atlantic		33,277		53.85%		27,236		44.07%		1,288		2.08%		6,041		9.78%		61,801
	Bergen		139,241		54.81%		110,272		43.40%		4,547		1.79%		28,969		11.41%		254,060
	Burlington		61,476		51.71%		54,846		46.13%		2,563		2.16%		6,630		5.58%		118,885
	Camden		77,640		63.21%		41,628		33.89%		3,564		2.90%		36,012		29.32%		122,832
	Cape May		14,760		44.59484%		17,751		53.63164%		587		1.77352%		-2,991		-9.03680%		33,098
	Cumberland		17,020		54.63534%		13,189		42.33757%		943		3.02709%		3,831		12.29777%		31,152
	Essex		114,624		71.09%		44,072		27.33%		2,541		1.58%		70,552		43.76%		161,237
	Gloucester		41,009		55.474%		31,140		42.124%		1,776		2.402%		9,869		13.350%		73,925
	Hudson		74,127		72.76%		25,194		24.73%		2,560		2.51%		48,933		48.03%		101,881
	Hunterdon		13,890		34.572%		25,124		62.533%		1,163		2.895%		-11,234		-27.961%		40,177
	Mercer		53,675		57.5863%		37,195		39.9054%		2,338		2.5084%		16,480		17.6809%		93,208
	Middlesex		98,019		58.64%		65,128		38.96%		4,009		2.40%		32,891		19.68%		167,156
	Monmouth		79,730		46.24%		88,424		51.28%		4,278		2.48%		-8,694		-5.04%		172,432
	Morris		55,592		40.29%		79,984		57.97%		2,406		1.74%		-29,640		-17.68%		137,982
	Ocean		69,328		45.243%		80,592		52.594%		3,315		2.163%		-11,264		-7.351%		153,235
	Passaic		53,275		56.14%		39,822		41.96%		1,806		1.90%		13,453		14.18%		94,903
	Salem		10,232		50.47%		9,487		46.79%		556		2.74%		745		3.68%		20,275
	Somerset		36,476		43.42%		45,590		54.26%		1,951		2.32%		-9,114		-10.84%		84,017
	Sussex		13,673		34.34%		25,099		63.04%		1,045		2.62%		-11,426		-28.70%		39,817
	Union		70,085		57.73%		49,243		40.56%		2,074		1.71%		20,842		17.17%		121,402
	Warren		11,044		36.16%		17,423		57.05%		2,074		6.79%		-6,379		-20.89%		30,541

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Salem (largest municipality: Pennsville Township)

Notes

References

"General Election Data - 1924 to 2022".
[https://www.vox.com/2015/2/25/8104549/senate-oldest-freshmen Would Ted Strickland be the oldest freshman senator ever elected? Here's his competition.]. Vox. 25 February 2015.
(6 January 2002). "WORTH NOTING; Yet Another Republican Wants to Take on Torricelli". The New York Times.
(9 April 2002). "2 Quit Primary as the G.O.P. Gets Ready for Torricelli". The New York Times.
(2001-11-21). "Treffinger Enters 2002 Race For Torricelli's Senate Seat". [[The New York Times]].
Peterson, Iver. (2002-04-23). "After U.S. Raid, Treffinger Quits Senate Race In New Jersey". The New York Times.
(23 Apr 2002). "Treffinger Drops Out of Senate Race After Search". Los Angeles Times.
"NJ US Senate - R Primary". OurCampaigns.
Mansnerus, Laura. (2002-10-29). "U.S. Charges Essex Leader With Extortion". [[The New York Times]].
(2003-05-30). "Former Essex County Executive James Treffinger Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Justice, Mail Fraud". [[United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey]].
Smothers, Ronald. (2003-05-31). "Treffinger Pleads Guilty To Corruption". [[The New York Times]].
Kocieniewski, This article was reported by David. (2002-07-31). "ETHICS COMMITTEE FAULTS TORRICELLI ON GIFT VIOLATIONS". The New York Times.
Kornacki, Steve. (2013-06-03). "The luckiest day of Frank Lautenberg's life".
"Online NewsHour Update: Torricelli Quits Re-election Bid -- Sept. 30, 2002".
"Online NewsHour: Vote 2002 -- New Jersey Senate Race".
[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020923-3.html Remarks by the President at Doug Forrester for Senate Event], [[White House]] press release dated September 23, 2002
(November 4, 2002). "Senate Races".
(January 30, 2002). "Torricelli At 50 Percent In First Look At Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most New Jersey Voters Say Ethics Probe Has No Impact". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
Peterson, Iver. (10 Mar 2002). "Latest Polling Figures Give Diane Allen a Ray of Hope". The New York Times.
(April 24, 2002). "Republican Challengers Close Gap Against Torricelli, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Torricelli, Gov. McGreevey Stuck With So-So Approvals". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
[https://eagletonpoll.parc.us.com/client/index.html#/search Rutgers-Eagleton]
(June 19, 2002). "GOP Challenger In Striking Distance Of Torricelli, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Senate Race Pits Unknown Vs. Unliked". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
Mansnerus, Laura. (22 Aug 2002). "Polls Suggest Torricelli Has An Even Race". The New York Times.
(August 8, 2002). "Ethics Probe Leaves Torricelli In NJ Horse Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; DEM Defectors Not Moving To GOP Challenger". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
(September 12, 2002). "Forrester Ahead By A Nose In New Jersey Horse Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Vote Against Torricelli, Not For Challenger". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
(October 7, 2002). "Launtenberg Inches Ahead In Jersey Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; 54% Say Democratic Candidate Swap Was Unfair". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
(October 22, 2002). "Lautenberg Widens Lead In Jersey Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Lead Grows Among Independents And Women Voters". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
Stainton, Lilo H.. (23 Oct 2002). "Lautenberg leads Forrester, poll finds". [[Camden Courier-Post]].
(26 Oct 2002). "Democrats Stronger with Lautenberg, Poll Shows". The New York Times.
[https://www.surveyusa.com/2002Elec.html SurveyUSA]
(November 4, 2002). "Lautenberg Has 50-39 % Lead In Jersey Senate Race, Final Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Forrester Gains No Ground In Two Weeks". [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]].
Stile, Charles. (3 Nov 2002). "All the polls pointing to Lautenberg".
"NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive".
"2002 Senate Election (Official Returns)".

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