2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of New Jersey. It was held concurrently with the 2020 United States presidential election, as well as various other elections. The primary elections were moved from June 2, 2020, to July 7, 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns. Incumbent Senator Cory Booker was first elected in a 2013 special election to complete the term of fellow Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who died in office.[1]

2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey

November 3, 2020
 
Nominee Cory Booker Rik Mehta
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,541,239 1,817,091
Percentage 57.2% 40.9%

Booker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Mehta:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40-50%      50%
     No data

U.S. senator before election

Cory Booker
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Cory Booker
Democratic

Booker won a second full term against Republican Rik Mehta, narrowly winning Morris County, which no Democratic Senate candidate had carried since 1984 when Senator Bill Bradley swept every county. Booker also received the most votes (2,541,239) in a statewide non-presidential election in New Jersey history.

Democratic primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Lawrence "Larry" Hamm, chairman of the People's Organization for Progress[3]

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Cory Booker
State officials
Local officials
Organizations
Lawrence "Larry" Hamm
Individuals
Organizations

Results

Results by county:
Booker
  •   Booker—>90%
  •   Booker—80-90%
  •   Booker—70-80%
Democratic primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cory Booker (incumbent) 838,110 87.58%
Democratic Lawrence Hamm 118,802 12.42%
Total votes 956,912 100.0%

Republican primary

Nominee

  • Rikin "Rik" Mehta, pharmaceutical executive and attorney[26]

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined

  • Matt Rooney, attorney and political pundit[38]

Endorsements

Hirsh Singh

Results

Results by county:
  Mehta
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
  •   40–50%
  •   <40%
  Singh
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   <40%
  Flanagan
  •   Flanagan—<40%
Republican primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rik Mehta 154,817 38.01%
Republican Hirsh Singh 146,133 35.88%
Republican Tricia Flanagan 72,678 17.84%
Republican Natalie Lynn Rivera 21,650 5.31%
Republican Eugene Anagnos 12,047 2.96%
Total votes 407,325 100.0%

Other candidates

Nominee

Endorsements

Madelyn R. Hoffman
Elected Officials
  • Corey Teague, member of the Paterson Board of Education[45]
Individuals
  • Chris Hedges, Journalist[45]
  • Jill Stein, physician, activist, and 2012 and 2016 Green Party Presidential Nominee[45]
  • Ajamu Baraka, peace activist, 2016 Green Party Vice Presidential Nominee[45]
  • Howie Hawkins, activist, 2020 Green Party Presidential Nominee[45]
  • Peter Jacob, social worker, Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 7th congressional district, 2016 and 2018[45]
  • Seth Kaper-Dale, pastor, activist, 2017 Green Party Gubernatorial Candidate in New Jersey[45]
  • Cindy Sheehan, peace activist[45]
  • Stef Zamorano, co-producer, The Jimmy Dore Show[45]
  • Margaret Flowers, peace activist, former co-chair of the Green Party[45]
  • Kason Little, social justice activist; Democratic Primary Candidate, Elizabeth City Council At-Large[45]
  • Lisa Savage, teacher, activist, Independent Candidate for US Senate, Maine[45]
  • Herb Tarbous, Democratic Primary Candidate for Middlesex County Clerk[45]
  • Aissa Heath, Democratic Primary Candidate for Union County Freeholder[45]
  • David Schraeger, Peace Activist[45]
  • Kevin Hernández, Democratic Primary Candidate for Hudson County Freeholder District 6[45]
  • Anthony Díaz, co-founder of the Newark Water Coalition; Democratic Primary Candidate for Essex County Freeholder[45]
  • Josh Shapiro, hub coordinator, Sunrise Montclair[45]
  • Margaret Kimberley, activist, author, New York Green Party Member[45]
  • Bob Witanek, peace activist[45]
Radio
  • 89.1 FM WHAR - Free Radio for the Free Thinker[45]
Organizations
  • Black Alliance for Peace[45]
  • Green Party US Latinx Caucus[45]
  • Green Party of Monmouth County[45]
  • Green Party of Ocean County[45]
  • Young Ecosocialists Caucus - NJ[45]
  • Cats of Eastwick[45]

Nominee

Nominee

  • Veronica Fernandez[31]

Declared

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[47] Safe D October 29, 2020
Inside Elections[48] Safe D October 28, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[49] Safe D November 2, 2020
Daily Kos[50] Safe D October 30, 2020
Politico[51] Safe D November 2, 2020
RCP[52] Likely D October 23, 2020
DDHQ[53] Safe D November 3, 2020
538[54] Safe D November 2, 2020
Economist[55] Safe D November 2, 2020

Endorsements

Cory Booker (D)
Senators
State officials
Local officials
Organizations
Unions
Rik Mehta (R)
State officials
Madelyn R. Hoffman (G)
Elected Officials
  • Corey Teague, member of the Paterson Board of Education[45]
Individuals
  • Chris Hedges, journalist[45]
  • Jill Stein, physician, activist, and 2012 and 2016 Green Party Presidential Nominee[45]
  • Ajamu Baraka, peace activist, 2016 Green Party Vice Presidential Nominee[45]
  • Howie Hawkins, activist, 2020 Green Party Presidential Nominee[45]
  • Peter Jacob, social worker, Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 7th congressional district, 2016 and 2018[45]
  • Seth Kaper-Dale, pastor, activist, 2017 Green Party Gubernatorial Candidate in New Jersey[45]
  • Cindy Sheehan, peace activist[45]
  • Stef Zamorano, co-producer, the Jimmy Dore show[45]
  • Margaret Flowers, peace activist, former co-chair of the Green Party[45]
  • Kason Little, social justice activist; Democratic Primary Candidate, Elizabeth City Council At-Large[45]
  • Lisa Savage, teacher, activist, Independent Candidate for US Senate, Maine[45]
  • Herb Tarbous, Democratic Primary Candidate for Middlesex County Clerk[45]
  • Aissa Heath, Democratic Primary Candidate for Union County Freeholder[45]
  • David Schraeger, Peace Activist[45]
  • Kevin Hernández, Democratic Primary Candidate for Hudson County Freeholder District 6[45]
  • Anthony Díaz, co-founder of the Newark Water Coalition; Democratic Primary Candidate for Essex County Freeholder[45]
  • Josh Shapiro, hub coordinator, Sunrise Montclair[45]
  • Margaret Kimberley, activist, author, New York Green Party Member[45]
  • Bob Witanek, peace activist[45]
Radio
  • 89.1 FM WHAR - Free Radio for the Free Thinker[45]
Organizations
  • Black Alliance for Peace[45]
  • Green Party US Latinx Caucus[45]
  • Green Party of Monmouth County[45]
  • Green Party of Ocean County[45]
  • Young Ecosocialists Caucus - NJ[45]
  • Hummus JC[45]
  • Cats of Eastwick[45]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Cory
Booker (D)
Rik
Mehta (R)
Other /
Undecided
Research Co. October 31 – November 1, 2020 450 (LV) ± 4.6% 55% 32% 13%[lower-alpha 3]
Swayable October 23–26, 2020 363 (LV) ± 6.7% 61% 39%
Rutgers University October 19–24, 2020 851 (LV) ± 4% 61% 31% 9%[lower-alpha 4]
Stockton University October 7–13, 2020 721 (LV) ± 3.7% 57% 32% 10% [lower-alpha 5]
Emerson College September 4–7, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 52% 28% 21%[lower-alpha 6]
Monmouth University April 16–19, 2020 635 (RV) ± 3.9% 55% 32% 11%[lower-alpha 7]
Hypothetical polling
with Hirsh Singh
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Cory
Booker (D)
Hirsh
Singh (R)
Other /
Undecided
Monmouth University April 16–19, 2020 635 (RV) ± 3.9% 58% 33% 9%[lower-alpha 8]
on whether or not respondents would vote to reelect Cory Booker
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Yes No Undecided
Quinnipiac April 30 – May 4, 2020 941 (RV) ± 3.2% 53% 36% 11%

Results

Results of the general election by municipality, darker colors indicate higher win percentage:
-Blue municipalities won by Booker
-Red municipalities won by Mehta
-Purple municipality (Teterboro only) Booker and Mehta tied

The election was not close, with Booker winning re-election by 16.31%. Key to Booker's landslide victory was heavily populated areas such as Hackensack, Newark, and Trenton. Mehta did well in Ocean County, which is a Republican stronghold, as well as many rural areas of the state. Booker received 2,541,239 votes. Booker was sworn in for a second term on January 3, 2021. His term will expire on January 3, 2027.

United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2020[63]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Cory Booker (incumbent) 2,541,239 57.23% +1.39%
Republican Rikin Mehta 1,817,091 40.92% -1.41%
Green Madelyn Hoffman 38,288 0.86% +0.18%
Independent Veronica Fernandez 32,290 0.73% N/A
Independent Daniel Burke 11,632 0.26% N/A
Total votes 4,440,440 100.0%
Democratic hold
By county
County Booker votes Booker % Mehta votes Mehta % Other votes Other %
Atlantic[64][65]71,420 52.60% 61,568 45.35% 2,786 2.05%
Bergen[66][67]280,054 57.90% 195,193 40.36% 8,431 1.74%
Burlington[68]150,160 58.72% 102,136 39.94% 3,436 1.34%
Camden[69]173,335 66.25% 85,406 32.64% 2,900 1.11%
Cape May[70]22,952 41.53% 31,317 56.67% 993 1.80%
Cumberland[71]31,992 52.64% 26,626 43.81% 2,161 3.56%
Essex[72]260,604 77.78% 69,750 20.82% 4,715 1.41%
Gloucester[73]85,489 50.25% 80,943 47.58% 3,682 2.16%
Hudson[74]176,658 73.54% 56,917 23.69% 6,648 2.77%
Hunterdon[75]36,728 44.32% 43,951 53.04% 2,188 2.64%
Mercer[76]117,821 68.24% 52,248 30.26% 2,593 2.20%
Middlesex[77]221,802 60.55% 135,398 36.96% 9,110 2.49%
Monmouth[78]173,609 46.62% 191,700 51.48% 7,089 1.90%
Morris[79]146,148 50.18% 141,373 48.54% 3,710 1.27%
Ocean[80]116,036 35.20% 207,751 63.02% 5,882 1.78%
Passaic[81]131,195 59.97% 80,827 36.95% 6,736 3.08%
Salem[82]14,515 43.21% 17,910 53.32% 1,163 3.46%
Somerset[83]105,681 57.45% 75,622 41.11% 2,663 1.45%
Sussex[84]33,918 39.21% 49,884 57.66% 2,706 3.13%
Union[85]166,997 67.37% 76,677 30.93% 4,192 1.69%
Warren[86]24,124 40.39% 33,893 56.75% 1,709 2.86%
Total 2,541,238 57.19% 1,817,090 40.89% 85,493 1.92%

Counties that swung from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Booker won 9 out of the 12 congressional districts in New Jersey, and Mehta won the other 3, including one that elected a Democrat.

District Booker Mehta Representative
1st 62.3% 36.3% Donald Norcross
2nd 47.8% 49.9% Jeff Van Drew
3rd 49.0% 49.4% Andy Kim
4th 43.4% 55.0% Chris Smith
5th 51.7% 46.5% Josh Gottheimer
6th 57.6% 40.1% Frank Pallone Jr.
7th 52.1% 46.3% Tom Malinowski
8th 73.7% 23.8% Albio Sires
9th 64.4% 32.9% Bill Pascrell
10th 85.0% 13.1% Donald Payne Jr.
11th 52.1% 46.5% Mikie Sherrill
12th 66.3% 31.9% Bonnie Watson Coleman

[87]

See also

Notes

  1. General Election write-in candidates have no barriers to or deadlines for qualification in New Jersey
  2. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. "Someone else" with 2%; Undecided with 11%
  4. "Someone else" and "Neither" with 2%; would not vote with 1%; Undecided with 4%
  5. "Other" with 7%; Undecided with 3%
  6. "Someone else" with 5%; Undecided with 16%
  7. "Other" with 1%; "No one" with 0%; Undecided with 10%
  8. "Other" and "No one" with 0%; Undecided with 9%

References

General
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Specific
Official campaign websites
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