1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey

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.

1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey

← 1990 November 5, 1996 2002 →

Nominee Robert Torricelli Dick Zimmer Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,519,328 1,227,817 Percentage 53.12% 42.93%

County results Congressional district results[a] Torricelli:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Zimmer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Bill Bradley Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Robert Torricelli, U.S. representative from Englewood

Declined

• Rob Andrews, U.S. representative from Bellmawr^[1]
• Bill Bradley, incumbent senator since 1979 (declined August 17, 1995)^[1]
• James Florio, former governor of New Jersey
• Ray Lesniak, state senator from Elizabeth^[1]
• Jim McGreevey, state senator and mayor of Woodbridge^[1]
• Bob Menendez, U.S. representative from Union City^[1] (declined October 21, 1995)^[2]

Campaign

Senator Bill Bradley announced on August 17, 1995, that he would not stand for a fourth term.^[1]

Initial speculation in the Democratic Party centered on two North Jersey congressmen, Robert Torricelli and Robert Menendez. Torricelli, who had over $1.2 million in campaign funds on hand and had been contacting key players for several weeks in anticipation that Bradley would retire, immediately issued a statement claiming several prominent party members had urged him to run for the seat.^[1]

Menendez, who had roughly $165,000 in funds, likewise issued a statement that he would give the race "serious consideration" and "look at it in terms of what's in the best interest of the party and the state."^[1] Menendez's decision was further complicated by the fact that Torricelli's district also included part of Hudson County, and many local politicians immediately endorsed Torricelli.^[1] In September, he requested that Hudson County politicians refrain from taking sides, given the potential for a competitive primary.^[3] Menendez ultimately announced he would not challenge Torricelli in October 1995, fueling immediate speculation that he would campaign for governor in 1997.^[2]

Results

1996 Democratic U.S. Senate primary^[4]

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

Declined

• Michael Chertoff, former United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey^[1]
• Thomas Kean, former governor^[1]
• Marge Roukema, U.S. representative from Ridgewood^[1]
• Bret Schundler, mayor of Jersey City^[1]

Campaign

Zimmer announced his campaign before Bradley's announced retirement, and was the front-runner from the start, getting endorsements from Republican leaders across the state, including Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Bradley's retirement shook up the race, as several serious contenders, including the popular former Governor Thomas Kean, reconsidered whether to run.^[1]

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.^[5]

Results

1996 Republican U.S. Senate primary^[4]

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, U.S. representative from Englewood (Democratic)
• Dick Zimmer, U.S. representative from Delaware Township (Republican)

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[b]	Margin of error	Robert Torricelli (D)	Dick Zimmer (R)	Other/ undecided
Rutgers-Eagleton[6]	September 6–13, 1995	804 A	±3.5%	29%	34%	37%
		707 RV	±3.5%	29%	34%	36%
Rutgers-Eagleton[6]	June 13–19, 1996	646 RV	±4.0%	39%	31%	31%
Rutgers-Eagleton[6]	September 5–11, 1996	627 RV	±4.0%	38%	32%	30%
Rutgers-Eagleton[6]	October 10–20, 1996	810 RV	±3.5%	40%	35%	25%
Rutgers-Eagleton[6]	Oct. 29–Nov. 1, 1996	810 RV	±3.5%	41%	37%	19%
		508 LV	±4.5%	42%	41%	17%

1. Only top two candidates
2. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Jim Florio (D)	Dick Zimmer (R)	Other/ Undecided
Rutgers-Eagleton[6]	September 6–13, 1995	804 A	±3.5%	39%	42%	19%
		707 RV	±4.0%	39%	43%	18%

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Torricelli	1,519,328	53.12%
	Republican	Dick Zimmer	1,227,817	42.93%
	Independent	Richard J. Pezzullo	50,971	1.78%
	Independent	Paul A. Woomer	15,183	0.53%
	Independent	Olga L. Rodriguez	14,319	0.50%
	Independent	Mark Wise	13,683	0.48%
	Independent	Wilburt Kornegay	11,107	0.39%
	Independent	Steven J. Baeli	7,749	0.27%
Total votes			2,860,157	100.00%
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1996 United States Senate elections