United States Senate election in New Jersey, 1990

United States Senate election in New Jersey, 1990
November 6, 1990

 
Nominee Bill Bradley Christine Todd Whitman
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 977,810 918,874
Percentage 50.44% 47.40%
County Results
U.S. Senator before election

Bill Bradley
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Bill Bradley
Democratic

The 1990 New Jersey United States Senate election was held on November 6, 1990 to select the Class 2 U.S. Senator from the state of New Jersey. Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Bradley decided to seek re-election and narrowly edged out little-known Republican Christine Todd Whitman.[1]

Candidates

Democratic Party

Republican Party

General election

Campaign

U.S. Senator Bill Bradley didn't realize he was in trouble of winning re-election and the New Jersey voters' anger over taxes and economy until the week prior to the election.

The senator had a major image problem. In the early part of the campaign Bradley was winning easily in the polls, so his staffers told him to play it safe. He sent out television advertisements of himself walking on the beach, shooting a perfect shot on the court, and sitting back in his office with his basketball shoes onto his desk. The advertisements backfired as voters were turned off and thought that he hadn't taken his job as U.S. Senator seriously, at a time when NJ voters were suffering.

Another major problem with Bradley was how Democratic Governor Jim Florio implemented a $2.8 billion tax increase, hurting the state's economy. In addition, Bradley refused to answer questions pertaining to Florio's tax policies.

After Bradley realized he was in trouble he released negative advertisements. They attacked Whitman's own record on taxes, accusing her of favoring tax increases when she was a Somerset County Freeholder. Bradley's image may have been further damaged by his newer advertisements.[2]

Polling

On October 6, a poll found Bradley winning by 36 points.[3]

Results

New Jersey United States Senate election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Bradley (Incumbent) 977,810 50.4%
Republican Christine Todd Whitman 918,874 47.4%
Populist John Kucek 19,978 1.0%
Libertarian Louis Stefanelli 13,988 0.7%
Socialist Workers Don Mackle 7,804 0.4%
Total votes 1,938,454 100.0%
Democratic hold

Results by County

County Bradley votes Bradley % Whitman votes Whitman % Other votes Other %
Atlantic 27.905 58.08% 19,481 40.54% 662 1.38%
Bergen 121,020 49.24% 121,600 49.47% 3,180 1.29%
Burlington 46,912 49.33% 46,287 48.67% 1,901 2.00%
Camden 72,328 56.78% 52,790 41.44% 2,263 1.78%
Cape May 16,627 54.11% 13,528 44.02% 573 1.86%
Cumberland 18,186 56.82% 12,765 39.89% 1,053 3.29%
Essex 93,052 61.09% 56,722 37.24% 2,539 1.67%
Gloucester 35,379 57.01% 25,374 40.89% 1,307 2.11%
Hudson 65,242 65.62% 32,311 32.50% 1,877 1.89%
Hunterdon 10,849 36.11% 18,309 60.94% 886 2.95%
Mercer 45,036 52.28% 39,570 45.94% 1,535 1.78%
Middlesex 80,080 49.49% 77,165 47.69% 4,553 2.81%
Monmouth 74,934 47.62% 80,126 50.92% 2,298 1.46%
Morris 46.928 40.71% 66,369 57.57% 1,983 1.72%
Ocean 54,714 39.90% 76,948 56.12% 5,547 3.98%
Passaic 46.58% 40,312 43,867 50.69% 2,357 2.72%
Salem 10,086 53.99% 7,999 42.82% 596 3.19%
Somerset 27,508 40.30% 38,426 56.30% 2,320 3.40%
Sussex 12.814 38.45% 19,789 59.37% 726 2.18%
Union 66,716 52.11% 57,628 45.38% 3,184 2.51%
Warren 11,722 48.72% 11,820 49.12% 520 2.16%

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1990election.pdf
  2. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/08/nyregion/1990-elections-what-went-wrong-bradley-says-he-sensed-voter-fury-but-it-was-too.html?pagewanted=1
  3. ↑ http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AC&p_theme=ac&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAEA8A6FA1479BE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
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