2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey will be held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of New Jersey, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The Primary elections were moved from June 2, 2020, to July 7, 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns (link 2020 United States presidential election in New Jersey.)

2020 United States Senate election in New Jersey

November 3, 2020

Nominee Cory Booker Rik Mehta Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent U.S. senator Cory Booker Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Senator Cory Booker is running for a second full term. Booker previously was a candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. New Jersey election law allowed him to run for both the U.S. Senate and U.S. President simultaneously, but he suspended his presidential campaign on January 13, 2020 and confirmed his intention for reelection to his Senate seat.[1][2]

The Republican candidate is Rik Mehta.[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Cory Booker, incumbent U.S. Senator and former candidate for President of the United States in 2020[4]

Eliminated in primary

• Lawrence "Larry" Hamm, chairman of the People's Organization for Progress[5]

Withdrew

• Lisa McCormick, activist and candidate for Senate in 2018[6] (Running for Congress in New Jersey's 12th congressional district)
• Harsh Naik[7]

Declined

• Josh Gottheimer, incumbent U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 5th congressional district[8] (running for re-election)[9]
• Donald Norcross, incumbent U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 1st congressional district[8][10] (running for re-election)[11]

Endorsements

Cory Booker
Organizations Brady Campaign[12] Coalition to Stop Gun Violence[13] End Citizens United[14] Giffords[15] Humane Society of the United States Legislative Fund[16] League of Conservation Voters[17] NARAL Pro-Choice America[18] National Organization for Women[19] Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund[20] Planned Parenthood[21] Sierra Club[22]

Lawrence "Larry" Hamm
Individuals Cornel West, philosopher, political activist, and social critic[23] Organizations Progressive Democrats of America[24]

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

Candidates

Nominee

• Rik Mehta, pharmaceutical executive and attorney, law professor[26]

Eliminated in primary

• Eugene Anagnos, retired teacher[27]
• Tricia Flanagan, healthcare policy expert, biotech consultant, Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018[28]
• Natalie Lynn Rivera, activist, Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018[29]
• Hirsh Singh, engineer, candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 2017, and candidate for New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in 2018[30]

Withdrawn

• Navodaya Garepalli[31][32]
• Stuart Meissner, former New York Assistant Attorney General and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, SEC Whistleblower Attorney, and Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2013[33][34][35]
• Gary Rich, former Monmouth County freeholder[36][37]

Declined

• Matt Rooney, attorney and political pundit[38]

Endorsements

Rik Mehta

Former state officials Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey (2010–2018)[39] County Republican Party organizations Bergen County[39] Burlington County[39] Essex County[39] Hudson County[39] Hunterdon County[40] Gloucester County[39] Mercer County[39] Middlesex County[39] Monmouth County[39] Morris County[39] Passaic County[39] Salem County[39] Somerset County[39] Sussex County[39] Union County[41] Warren County[39]

Hirsh Singh
County Republican Party organizations Atlantic County[42] Burlington County[42] Cape May County[43] Ocean County[43]

Results

Results by county:

Mehta

•   Mehta—60–70%
•   Mehta—50–60%
•   Mehta—40–50%
•   Mehta—<40%

Singh

•   Singh—<40%
•   Singh—60–70%
•   Singh—70–80%

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

Green Party

Nominee

• Madelyn R. Hoffman, peace activist, 2018 U.S. Senate candidate, 1997 Green Party gubernatorial candidate, and 1996 Green Party Candidate for Vice President[44]

Endorsements

Madelyn R. Hoffman

Individuals Chris Hedges, Journalist [45] Herb Tarbous, Democratic Primary Candidate for Middlesex County Clerk [46] Aissa Heath, Democratic Primary Candidate for Union County Freeholder [47] David Schraeger, Peace Activist [48] Kevin Hernández, Democratic Primary Candidate for Hudson County Freeholder District 6 [49] Radio 89.1 FM WHAR - Free Radio for the Free Thinker [50] Organizations Black Alliance for Peace [51]

LaRouche was Right

Nominee

• Daniel Burke[31]

Of, By, For!

Nominee

• Veronica Fernandez[31]

Independents

Declared

• Luis Vergara[31] (as a write-in candidate) [lower-alpha 1][52]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[53]	Safe D	July 23, 2020
Inside Elections[54]	Safe D	July 10, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[55]	Safe D	August 5, 2020
Daily Kos[56]	Safe D	July 22, 2020
Politico[57]	Safe D	July 6, 2020
RCP[58]	Likely D	August 6, 2020
Niskanen[59]	Safe D	July 26, 2020
270towin[60]	Safe D	August 6, 2020

Endorsements

Cory Booker (D)
Organizations Brady Campaign[12] Coalition to Stop Gun Violence[13] End Citizens United[14] Giffords[15] Humane Society of the United States Legislative Fund[16] Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs[61] League of Conservation Voters[17] NARAL Pro-Choice America[18] National Organization for Women[19] Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund[20] Planned Parenthood[21] Sierra Club[22]

Rik Mehta (R)
State officials Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey (2010–2018)[62] Anthony M. Bucco, state senator (2019-present)[63]

Madelyn R. Hoffman (G)

Individuals Chris Hedges, Journalist [64] Herb Tarbous, Democratic Primary Candidate for Middlesex County Clerk [65] Aissa Heath, Democratic Primary Candidate for Union County Freeholder [66] David Schraeger, Peace Activist [67] Kevin Hernández, Democratic Primary Candidate for Hudson County Freeholder District 6 [68] Radio 89.1 FM WHAR - Free Radio for the Free Thinker [69] Organizations Black Alliance for Peace [70]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 2]	Margin of error	Cory Booker (D)	Rik Mehta (R)	Other / Undecided
Monmouth University	April 16–19, 2020	635 (RV)	± 3.9%	55%	32%	13%

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% 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 Apr 30 – May 4, 2020 941 (RV) ± 3.2% 53% 36% 11%

Results

United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2020

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Cory Booker (incumbent)
	Republican	Rik Mehta
	Green	Madelyn Hoffman
	LaRouche was Right	Daniel Burke
	Of, By, For!	Veronica Fernandez
	Write-in
Total votes				100.0%

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

References

1. Biryukov, Nikita (February 1, 2019). "Booker won't say if he's running two races in 2020". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
2. "Sen. Cory Booker suspends presidential campaign". ABC News.
3. Jonathan D. Salant (July 10, 2020). "This Republican will challenge Cory Booker for Senate this fall after just winning GOP primary". NJ Advance Media. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
4. Kelsey, Adam; Harper, Averi (January 13, 2020). "Sen. Cory Booker suspends presidential campaign". ABC News. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
5. Akinyele, Bashir Muhammad (December 21, 2019). "Larry Hamm for United States Senate". Patch. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
6. "FEC For 2: Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). FEC.gov. December 12, 2018.
7. "NAIK, HARSH VASANT MR". FEC.gov. October 18, 2018.
8. Wildstein, David (March 26, 2018). "If Booker or Murphy run in 2020 - New Jersey Globe". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
9. Biryukov, Nikita (September 2, 2019). "Gottheimer declines to say which Republican he'd like to face in 2020". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
10. "INSIDERNJ's 2020 Congressional Sketch Pad: A Thumbnail Guide to All Developing Contests". August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
11. "INSIDERNJ's 2020 Congressional Sketch Pad: A Thumbnail Guide to All Developing Contests". August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
12. Brown, Kris (February 24, 2020). "Brady Endorses Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) for Re-Election". Brady.
13. "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Endorses Gun Violence Survivors, Speaker Pelosi, Congressional Allies". Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. March 23, 2020.
14. Muller, Tiffany (January 21, 2020). "End Citizens United Endorses 39 Candidates 10 Years After Citizens United Decision". End Citizens United.
15. "Giffords Endorses Slate of Senators Running to Bring a Gun Safety Majority to the US Senate". Giffords. May 8, 2020.
16. Society, Humane. "2020 Endorsements". Humane Society Legislative Fund.
17. Connnon, Courtnee (May 19, 2020). "LCV Action Fund Endorses Senator Cory Booker for Re-election". League of Conservation Voters.
18. "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Cory Booker for Re-Election to U.S. Senate". NARAL Pro-Choice America. January 31, 2020.
19. "2020 Federal Endorsements - NOW PAC". nowpac.org.
20. "Six Environmental Champions Win NRDC Action Fund Endorsements". www.nrdcactionfund.org. May 18, 2020.
21. "2020 Endorsements". plannedparenthoodaction.org.
22. "Sierra Club #ClimateVoter Guide: Endorsements". Sierra Club. July 16, 2012.
23. "Cornel West endorses Lawrence Hamm for U.S. Senate". New Jersey Globe. May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
24. Progressive Democrats of America. "2020 Endorsements". Retrieved July 3, 2020 – via PDAmerica.
25. "2020-official-primary-results-us-senate.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
26. Biryukov, Nikita (October 17, 2019). "Morris lawyer announces U.S. Senate bid". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
27. Biryukov, Nikita (March 30, 2020). "Former teacher launches surprise U.S. Senate bid". New Jersey Globe.
28. Biryukov, Nikita (April 26, 2019). "Tricia Flanagan seeking GOP nod against Booker". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
29. Wildstein, David (April 25, 2019). "Natalie Lynn Rivera will challenge Cory Booker". New Jersey Globe. Sea of Reeds Media. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
30. Wildstein, David (April 24, 2019). "Hirsh Singh will challenge Cory Booker for U.S. Senate". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
31. "New Jersey Senate 2020 Race". Open Secrets. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
32. "13 changes to the candidate list". The Green Papers. February 14, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
33. Wildstein, David (August 22, 2019). "Republican Stuart Meissner considers bid for U.S. Senate against Booker". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
34. Avila, Joseph De (September 23, 2019). "Former Prosecutor Launches Bid for Cory Booker's Senate Seat". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
35. "Meissner to drop U.S. Senate bid against Booker". New Jersey Globe. February 11, 2020.
36. Rich, Gary. "Statement from Republican US Senate Candidate Gary Rich". InsiderNJ. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
37. Wildstein, David (February 4, 2020). "Report: Gary Rich drops U.S. Senate bid". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
38. Wildstein, David (January 22, 2019). "What about Matt Rooney as Booker foe?". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
39. "Governor Chris Christie Endorses Rik Mehta for U.S Senate". Insider NJ. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
40. "Hunterdon County Officials Unanimously Endorse Rik Mehta for U.S Senate (press release)". Insider NJ. June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
41. "Union County Republican Mayors Endorse Rik Mehta for U.S Senate (press release)". Insider NJ. June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
42. Wildstein, David (June 9, 2020). "Christie endorses Mehta for U.S. Senate". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
43. Wildstein, David (March 12, 2020). "Singh wins Cape May GOP line". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
44. "Green Party Leader Madelyn Hoffman will run for the US Senate in 2020, hoping to unseat Cory Booker, who will be running for reelection". Insider NJ. June 19, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
45. Endorsements and Pledges - Hoffman For Senate 2020 "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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51. Endorsements and Pledges - Hoffman For Senate 2020 "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved July 22, 2020.
52. "New Jersey - Senate". FEC. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
53. "2020 Senate Race Ratings for April 19, 2019". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
54. "2020 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
55. "2020 Senate race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
56. "Daily Kos Elections releases initial Senate race ratings for 2020". Daily Kos Elections. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
57. "2020 Election Forecast". Politico. November 19, 2019.
58. "Battle for White House". RCP. April 19, 2019.
59. "2020 Negative Partisanship and the 2020 Congressional Elections". Niskanen Center. April 28, 2020.
60. "2020 Senate Map Based on Polls". 270towin.com. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
61. "Meet the 2020 Candidates". Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs.
62. "U.S. Senate Candidate in NJ Rik Mehta Gets Significant Endorsement from Former Governor Chris Christie". India West.
63. Stilton, Phil (June 23, 2020). "Bucco, Hoven, Cabana, Asdal, Hill Stanzilis, Chegwidden Endorse Rik Mehta for U.S. Senate". Shore News Network.
64. Endorsements and Pledges - Hoffman For Senate 2020 "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved June 23, 2020.
65. Endorsements and Pledges - Hoffman For Senate 2020 "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved July 10, 2020.
66. Endorsements and Pledges - Hoffman For Senate 2020 "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved July 22, 2020.
67. Endorsements and Pledges - Hoffman For Senate 2020 "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved July 22, 2020.
68. Endorsements and Pledges - Hoffman For Senate 2020 "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved August 1, 2020.
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70. Endorsements and Pledges - Hoffman For Senate 2020 "Endorsements and Pledges". Retrieved July 22, 2020.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Cory Booker (D) for Senate
• Daniel Burke (LR) for Senate
• Veronica Fernandez (OBF) for Senate
• Madelyn R. Hoffman (G) for Senate
• Rik Mehta (R) for Senate