2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election
The 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2013, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent Republican Governor Chris Christie ran for election to a second term in office. He faced Democratic nominee Barbara Buono and six others in the general election.
Christie won re-election in a landslide, receiving over 60% of the vote and carrying 19 of the state's 21 counties, including 6 that he lost in 2009, with the only two counties voting for Buono being heavily Democratic Hudson and Essex. This is the only statewide election held in New Jersey since the 1988 presidential election in which a Republican earned a majority of the vote. Christie became the first Republican gubernatorial candidate to win a majority of the vote since Thomas Kean's landslide victory in 1985. Christie was sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2014.
Christie won 21% of Black voters and 51% of Latinos., this is the last time Republicans won any statewide election in New Jersey. This is also the last time the counties of Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, Mercer, and Union voted for the Republican candidate in a statewide election, as well as the last time that Somerset and Passaic did so in a gubernatorial election.
Christie was criticized for spending an additional $12–25 million of state money to hold a 2013 [United States Senate special election in New Jersey|special election for United States Senator for New Jersey] 20 days earlier on October 16 instead of simply holding the special election on November 5, concurrent with the already scheduled gubernatorial election. The Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate was Newark mayor Cory Booker. Buono said it was hypocritical, speculating that Booker's presence on the ballot would attract more black and other minority voters who would be likely to vote for Buono.
This is the only gubernatorial election since 1989 in which anyone won over 60% of the vote, and Christie was the first Republican to do so since 1985. Cumberland, Camden, and Union counties voted Republican in a gubernatorial election for the first time since 1985, and Mercer & Passaic since 1993. Buono is the only Democratic nominee for governor since 1985 to never be elected governor and remains the last to receive under a million votes.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Chris Christie, incumbent governor
- Seth Grossman, former Atlantic City Councilman
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Barbara Buono, state senator and former state senate majority leader
- Troy Webster, aide to East Orange mayor Robert Bowser
Removed from primary ballot
- William Araujo, former mayoral candidate in Edison
- Carl Bergmanson, former mayor of Glen Ridge and candidate for governor in 2009
- Jeff Boss, conspiracy theorist and perennial candidate
Declined
- Rob Andrews, U.S. representative
- Chris Bollwage, mayor of Elizabeth
- Cory Booker, mayor of Newark
- Richard Codey, state senator, former state senate president and former governor
- Joseph Cryan, former assembly majority leader
- Brendan Gill, Essex County Freeholder
- Louis Greenwald, Assembly Majority Leader
- Lisa P. Jackson, former Administrator of the United States [Environmental Protection Agency]
- Phil Murphy, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, former Goldman Sachs executive, and future governor of New Jersey
- Sheila Oliver, Speaker of the State Assembly
- Frank Pallone, U.S. representative
- Bill Pascrell, U.S. representative
- Stephen Sweeney, State Senate President
- John Wisniewski, chair of the New Jersey Democratic Party and State Assemblyman
Polling
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Cory Booker | Barbara Buono | Richard Codey | Louis Greenwald | Steve Sweeney | John Wisniewski | Other | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac | January 15–21, 2013 | 616 | ± 4% | — | 10% | 28% | — | 10% | — | 5% | 48% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 300 | ± 5.66% | 46% | 7% | 23% | — | 6% | — | 7% | 10% |
| Quinnipiac | November 19–25, 2012 | n/a | ± n/a% | 41% | 4% | 12% | 1% | — | 1% | 2% | 39% |
Results
General election
Major party candidates
- Barbara Buono, former majority leader of the New Jersey Senate
- Chris Christie, incumbent governor
Minor candidates
- William Araujo, Peace and Freedom
- * Running mate: Maria Salamanca
- Jeff Boss, NSA
- * Running mate: Robert B. Thorne
- Kenneth R. Kaplan, New Jersey Libertarian Party
- * Running mate: Brenda Bell
- Diane W. Sare, Glass-Steagall Now
- * Running mate: Bruce Todd
- Hank Schroeder, Independent
- * Running mate: Patricia Moschella
- Steve Welzer, Green Party of New Jersey
- * Running mate: Patricia Alessandrini
Endorsements
Debates
Polling
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | Barbara Buono | Other | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac | October 30–November 3, 2013 | 1,388 | ± 2.6% | 61% | 33% | 1% | 6% |
| Monmouth | October 30–November 2, 2013 | 1,436 | ± 2.6% | 57% | 37% | 2% | 4% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | October 28–November 2, 2013 | 535 | ± 4.2% | 66% | 30% | — | 4% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | October 24–30, 2013 | 570 | ± 4.1% | 59% | 40% | 1% | — |
| Kean University | October 28, 2013 | ? | ± 3% | 54% | 36% | — | 10% |
| Stockton Polling Institute | October 23–28, 2013 | 804 | ± 3.5% | 56% | 32% | 4% | 8% |
| Quinnipiac | October 21–27, 2013 | 1,203 | ± 2.8% | 64% | 31% | 1% | 5% |
| Quinnipiac | October 10–14, 2013 | 1,938 | ± 2.2% | 62% | 33% | — | 5% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | October 7–13, 2013 | 562 | ± 4.1% | 59% | 33% | — | 8% |
| Monmouth | October 10–12, 2013 | 1,606 | ± 2.5% | 59% | 35% | 2% | 4% |
| Stockton Polling Institute | October 3–8, 2013 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 61% | 28% | — | 11% |
| Rasmussen | October 7, 2013 | 1,000 | ± 3% | 55% | 34% | 4% | 7% |
| Quinnipiac | October 5–7, 2013 | 1,144 | ± 2.9% | 62% | 33% | 1% | 4% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | September 30–October 5, 2013 | 702 | ± 3.7% | 58% | 25% | 2% | 15% |
| Monmouth | September 26–29, 2013 | 615 | ± 4% | 56% | 37% | — | 7% |
| Quinnipiac | September 19–22, 2013 | 1,249 | ± 2.8% | 64% | 30% | 1% | 5% |
| Pulse Opinion Research | September 19, 2013 | 1,000 | ± ? | 52% | 34% | 6% | 8% |
| Stockton Polling Institute | September 15–21, 2013 | 812 | ± 3.4% | 58% | 30% | 1% | 10% |
| Rasmussen | September 10–11, 2013 | 999 | ± 3% | 58% | 32% | 2% | 8% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | September 3–9, 2013 | 568 | ± 4.1% | 55% | 35% | 1% | 8% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | August 21–27, 2013 | 700 | ± 3.7% | 50% | 26% | 6% | 19% |
| Monmouth | August 15–18, 2013 | 777 | ± 3.5% | 56% | 36% | 3% | 6% |
| Quinnipiac | August 1–5, 2013 | 2,042 | ± 2.2% | 58% | 30% | 1% | 11% |
| Quinnipiac | July 2–7, 2013 | 1,068 | ± 3% | 61% | 29% | 1% | 9% |
| Pulse Opinion Research | June 18, 2013 | 1,000 | ± 3% | 58% | 28% | 6% | 8% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | June 10–16, 2013 | 705 | ± 3.7% | 57% | 27% | 2% | 13% |
| Rasmussen | June 12–13, 2013 | 1,000 | ± 3% | 58% | 28% | 4% | 10% |
| Stockton Polling Institute | June 8–13, 2013 | 741 | ± 3.6% | 64% | 25% | 2% | 10% |
| Monmouth | June 10–11, 2013 | 626 | ± 3.9% | 61% | 31% | 4% | 4% |
| Quinnipiac | June 7–9, 2013 | 858 | ± 3.4% | 59% | 29% | 1% | 10% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | June 3–9, 2013 | 763 | ± 3.6% | 59% | 27% | 2% | 12% |
| NBC News/Marist | April 28–May 2, 2013 | 1,080 | ± 3% | 60% | 28% | 1% | 10% |
| Quinnipiac | April 19–22, 2013 | 1,112 | ± 2.9% | 58% | 26% | 1% | 14% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | April 3–7, 2013 | 819 | ± 3.7% | 57% | 27% | — | 16% |
| Harper Polling | March 24–25, 2013 | 760 | ± 3.55% | 58% | 27% | — | 15% |
| Quinnipiac | March 19–24, 2013 | 1,129 | ± 2.9% | 60% | 25% | 1% | 14% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | March 4–10, 2013 | 702 | ± 3.7% | 58% | 22% | — | 20% |
| Quinnipiac | February 13–17, 2013 | 1,149 | ± 2.9% | 62% | 25% | 1% | 13% |
| Monmouth | February 6–10, 2013 | 803 | ± 3.5% | 62% | 20% | 6% | 12% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | January 30–February 3, 2013 | 698 | ± 3.7% | 63% | 21% | — | 16% |
| Quinnipiac | January 15–21, 2013 | 1,647 | ± 2.4% | 63% | 22% | — | 14% |
| Pulse Opinion Research | January 6, 2013 | 1,000 | ± 3% | 55% | 22% | 5% | 18% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | January 2–6, 2013 | 700 | ± 3.7% | 64% | 21% | 1% | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 600 | ± 4% | 60% | 20% | — | 21% |
| Quinnipiac | November 19–25, 2012 | 1,664 | ± 2.4% | 61% | 23% | 1% | 15% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | November 14–17, 2012 | 1,097 | ± 2.9% | 60% | 22% | 2% | 15% |
| Quinnipiac | October 10–14, 2012 | 1,405 | ± 2.6% | 49% | 33% | — | 18% |
with Booker
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | Cory Booker | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 600 | ± 4% | 50% | 36% | — | 14% |
| Quinnipiac | November 19–25, 2012 | 1,664 | ± 2.4% | 53% | 35% | 1% | 11% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | November 14–17, 2012 | 1,103 | ± 2.9% | 53% | 34% | 2% | 11% |
| Quinnipiac | October 10–14, 2012 | 1,405 | ± 2.6% | 46% | 42% | — | 12% |
| Quinnipiac | August 27–September 2, 2012 | 1,560 | ± 2.5% | 47% | 40% | — | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 15–18, 2011 | 480 | ± 4.5% | 43% | 47% | — | 10% |
| Public Policy Polling | January 6–9, 2011 | 520 | ± 4.3% | 42% | 42% | — | 16% |
with Byrne
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | Tom Byrne | Other | Undecided |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | November 14–17, 2012 | 1,095 | ± 2.9% | 58% | 22% | 2% | 18% |
with Codey
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | Richard Codey | Other | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac | January 15–21, 2013 | 1,647 | ± 2.4% | 59% | 30% | — | 11% |
| Pulse Opinion Research | January 6, 2013 | 1,000 | ± 3% | 53% | 28% | 5% | 14% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | January 2–6, 2013 | 700 | ± 3.7% | 59% | 26% | 1% | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 600 | ± 4% | 53% | 31% | — | 16% |
| Quinnipiac | November 19–25, 2012 | 1,664 | ± 2.4% | 57% | 30% | 1% | 12% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | November 14–17, 2012 | 1,099 | ± 2.9% | 56% | 31% | 2% | 12% |
| Quinnipiac | October 10–14, 2012 | 1,405 | ± 2.6% | 47% | 41% | 1% | 11% |
with Greenwald
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | Lou Greenwald | Other | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac | November 19–25, 2012 | 1,664 | ± 2.4% | 62% | 20% | 1% | 15% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | November 14–17, 2012 | 1,098 | ± 2.9% | 60% | 21% | 2% | 18% |
| Quinnipiac | October 10–14, 2012 | 1,405 | ± 2.6% | 50% | 31% | — | 18% |
with Pallone
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | Frank Pallone | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 15–18, 2011 | 480 | ± 4.5% | 43% | 43% | — | 14% |
with Springsteen
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | Bruce Springsteen | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 600 | ± 4% | 61% | 25% | — | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 15–18, 2011 | 480 | ± 4.5% | 42% | 42% | — | 15% |
with Sweeney
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | Stephen Sweeney | Other | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac | January 15–21, 2013 | 1,647 | ± 2.4% | 61% | 25% | 1% | 13% |
| Pulse Opinion Research | January 6, 2013 | 1,000 | ± 3% | 58% | 19% | 7% | 16% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | January 2–6, 2013 | 700 | ± 3.7% | 65% | 19% | 1% | 15% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 26–28, 2012 | 600 | ± 4% | 57% | 20% | — | 23% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 15–18, 2011 | 480 | ± 4.5% | 42% | 40% | — | 18% |
with Wisniewski
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Christie | John Wisniewski | Other | Undecided |
| Quinnipiac | November 19–25, 2012 | 1,664 | ± 2.4% | 62% | 21% | 1% | 15% |
Results
By county
Counties that flipped from Democratic to RepublicanChriste won ten of 12 congressional districts, including four that elected Democrats, although he won the 9th district by a very narrow margin.
| District | Christie | Buono | Representative |
| 57.23% | 41.23% | Rob Andrews | |
| 65% | 33.2% | Frank LoBiondo | |
| 67.9% | 30.73% | Jon Runyan | |
| 68.94% | 29.57% | Chris Smith | |
| 65.2% | 33.27% | Scott Garrett | |
| 59.84% | 38.63% | Frank Pallone Jr. | |
| 69.61% | 28.64% | Leonard Lance | |
| 43.4% | 54.97% | Albio Sires | |
| 49.51% | 49.28% | Bill Pascrell | |
| 26.64% | 72.23% | Donald Payne Jr. | |
| 66.21% | 32.32% | Rodney Frelinghuysen | |
| 57.07% | 41.42% | Rush Holt Jr. |