1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey
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 County results Torricelli: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Zimmer: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in New Jersey |
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 Federal government |
 State government |
 Newark |
 Jersey City |
 Hoboken |
 Atlantic City |
The 1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Bradley decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. The seat was won by Democratic congressman Robert Torricelli.
Democratic primary[]
Candidates[]
- Robert Torricelli, U.S. Representative from Englewood
Declined[]
- Bill Bradley, incumbent Senator since 1979
Results[]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Torricelli | 223,444 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 223,444 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary[]
Candidates[]
- Richard DuHaime, Passaic County Freeholder
- Dick LaRossa, State Senator from Ewing
- Dick Zimmer, U.S. Representative from Delaware Township
Campaign[]
Zimmer was the front-runner from the start, getting endorsements from Republican leaders across the state, including Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. Both DuHaime, a pro-life candidate, and La Rossa, a pro-gun candidate, attempted to portray Zimmer as too liberal, but Zimmer largely ignored his opponents and won the primary easily.[2]
Results[]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dick Zimmer | 144,121 | 68.0% | |
| Republican | Richard DuHaime | 42,155 | 19.9% | |
| Republican | Dick La Rossa | 25,608 | 12.1% | |
| Total votes | 211,884 | 100.0% | ||
General election[]
Candidates[]
- Robert Torricelli (D), U.S. Representative
- Dick Zimmer (R), U.S. Representative
Campaign[]
Democratic U.S. Representative Robert Torricelli won his party's primary unopposed, and Republican U.S. Representative Dick Zimmer won his party's nomination easily. Torricelli defeated Zimmer in the general election by 10 points, while President Bill Clinton simultaneously carried New Jersey by almost 18% in his reelection bid. Third-party and independent candidates carried 4.8% of the vote.
Like other Democratic candidates around the country, Torricelli tried to tie "Zig-Zag Zimmer" to House Speaker Newt Gingrich and attacked him for flip flopping on his positions on issues like Medicare, gun control and an increase in the minimum wage during the campaign. Zimmer tried to cast his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal with ethical flaws. Military morale was also a part of the campaign.
Polling[]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Robert Torricelli (D) |
Dick Zimmer (R) |
Other/ Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers-Eagleton | September 6–13, 1995 | 804 A | ±3.5% | 29% | 34% | 37% |
| 707 RV | ±3.5% | 29% | 34% | 36% | ||
| Rutgers-Eagleton | June 13–19, 1996 | 646 RV | ±4.0% | 39% | 31% | 31% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | September 5–11, 1996 | 627 RV | ±4.0% | 38% | 32% | 30% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | October 10–20, 1996 | 810 RV | ±3.5% | 40% | 35% | 25% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | Oct. 29–Nov. 1, 1996 | 810 RV | ±3.5% | 41% | 37% | 19% |
| 508 LV | ±4.5% | 42% | 41% | 17% |
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Jim Florio (D) |
Dick Zimmer (R) |
Other/ Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers-Eagleton | September 6–13, 1995 | 804 A | ±3.5% | 39% | 42% | 19% |
| 707 RV | ±4.0% | 39% | 43% | 18% |
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
Results[]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Torricelli | 1,519,328 | 52.7% | ||
| Republican | Dick Zimmer | 1,227,817 | 42.6% | ||
| Independent | Richard J. Pezzullo | 50,971 | 1.8% | ||
| Independent | Paul A. Woomer | 15,183 | 0.5% | ||
| Independent | Olga L. Rodriguez | 14,319 | 0.5% | ||
| Independent | Mark Wise | 13,683 | 0.5% | ||
| Independent | Wilburt Kornegay | 11,107 | 0.4% | ||
| Independent | Steven J. Baeli | 7,749 | 0.3% | ||
| Total votes | 2,860,157 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
See also[]
- 1996 United States Senate elections
References[]
- ^ a b https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/1996/1996-primary-election-results-us-senate.pdf
- ^ Pulley, Brett (5 June 1996). "U.S. Senate Race in New Jersey Narrows to Zimmer and Torricelli". The New York Times.
- 1996 United States Senate elections
- United States Senate elections in New Jersey
- 1996 New Jersey elections