2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey

none March 2026 November 2017 2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey New Jersey presidential no 2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey 2000 2012 United States Senate election in New Jersey 2012 November 7, 2006 48%https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/other/2022-1925-general-election-data.pdf General Election Data - 1924 to 2022 NJ.gov ( 22pp) File:Robert Menendez official photo (cropped).jpg 150x150px Bob Menendez Democratic Party (United States) 1,200,843 53.37% File:Rep. Tom Kean official photo, 118th Congress (cropped).jpg Thomas Kean Jr. Republican Party (United States) 997,775 44.34% 280px County results 280px Congressional district results 280px Municipality results Menendez: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933E5 80–90% #0D0596 >90% Kean: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% U.S. Senator Bob MenendezIn January 2006, Menendez was appointed by Governor and former Senator Jon Corzine to succeed Corzine in this seat after his election to the Governorship. Democratic Party (United States) Bob Menendez Democratic Party (United States) The 2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 7, 2006. Bob Menendez, who had served as an interim appointee, was elected to a first full six-year term in office. He defeated Republican Thomas Kean Jr. in the general election. The seat was previously held by Democrat Jon Corzine, who resigned in January 2006 after being sworn in as Governor of New Jersey and appointed Menendez, a U.S. Representative, to the vacant seat. Filing for the primary closed on April 10. The primary election was held June 6.New Jersey Election Deadlines, Politics1.com, accessed June 7, 2006 Menendez and Kean both won their primaries with minimal opposition. Menendez was the first Latino elected to statewide office. Kean would later be elected to the U.S House of Representatives in 2022. Democratic primary Candidates James D. Kelly, telecommunications worker and candidate for Governor in 2005 Bob Menendez, interim U.S. senator and former U.S. representative from Union City Results 2006 Democratic Senate Primaryhttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=231602 NJ US Senate – D Primary Our Campaigns 15 March 2020 Democratic Party (United States) Bob Menendez (incumbent) 159,604 84.03% Democratic Party (United States) James D. Kelly 30,340 15.97% 189,944 100.00% Republican primary Candidates John P. Ginty, associate director with Standard & Poor's Thomas Kean, Jr., state senator from Westfield and son of former governor Thomas Kean Ginty represented the conservative wing of the New Jersey Republican Party. Kean ran as a moderate.Chen David W. 2006-09-16 A Kean on the Ballot? What Else Is New? https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/16/nyregion/16kean.html 2024-06-01 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Campaign A showdown between Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO) conservatives and a group of insurgent moderate Republican critics ignited into a shoving match between supporters, with Kean temporarily refusing to accept the BCRO endorsement of his candidacy, and refusing to run with the organization slate of nominees for the offices of County Executive, Surrogate, and Freeholder. As a result, Ginty was drafted by Bergen County conservatives to fill out the conservative slate of candidates in Bergen County for the Republican primary.N.J. GOP Senate Candidate Faces Threat in June Primary, Fox News, April 25, 2006 Kean eventually accepted the BCRO endorsement.July 2022 On March 20, Kean arrived late to a fundraising event for his campaign, after featured guest Vice President Dick Cheney had left, which someJuly 2022 accused of him doing deliberately to avoid the chance of photographs of the two together.Cheney, but no candidate, at fundraiser, United Press International, March 21, 2006 On March 27, at a news conference billed as a "major announcement," Kean called for state and federal tax cuts, asking Menendez and Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine to support them.Tom Kean for U.S. Senate press release http://www.tomkean.com/today/index.cfm?e=user.media.article&messageID=67 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060617185823/http://www.tomkean.com/today/index.cfm?e=user.media.article&messageID=67 June 17, 2006 March 27, 2006 mdy-all In response, a spokesman for Menendez said the senator supports "balanced tax cuts," not just ones that benefit the wealthiest Americans while expanding national debt. On April 1, at the Middlesex County Republican Convention, Kean won the Middlesex County Republican Organization endorsement for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate over Ginty by a vote of 79% to 21%. On May 2, Ginty publicly called on Kean to stop soliciting the endorsement of the Sierra Club, which he termed an "environmental extremist group with a deep history of involvement in left-wing causes."Daily Record https://archive.today/20130121102054/http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060503/COLUMNISTS01/605030304/1100/COLUMNISTS January 21, 2013 , May 3, 2006 Ginty announced that he favors oil exploration in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, something that Kean and Menendez both opposed.https://archive.today/20070314120010/http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY5MzkxNjkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky Senate long-shot stands firm on policing border, The Record, May 25, 2006 Results 2006 Republican Senate Primaryhttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6826 NJ US Senate – R Primary Our Campaigns 15 March 2020 Republican Party (United States) Thomas Kean Jr. 129,794 75.63% Republican Party (United States) James P. Ginty 41,828 24.37% 171,622 100.00% General election Candidates Daryl Mikell Brooks, candidate for New Jersey's 12th congressional district in 2004Long-shot for U.S. Senate says online networking ‘for campaigning only’ https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035351/http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17118027&BRD=1697&PAG=461&dept_id=44551&rfi=6 September 30, 2007, Trentonian, August 28, 2006 (Poor People's Campaign) J.M. Carter, minister and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2000Vote-USA J. M. Carter Previous Candidate for U.S. Senate, New Jersey https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NJ&Id=NJCarterJM 2024-06-01 vote-usa.org (God We Trust) Len Flynn, activisthttp://lenflynnforsenate.org/ Len Flynn for US Senate. Libertarian Party https://web.archive.org/web/20061025191903/http://lenflynnforsenate.org/ 2006-10-25 deadhttp://www.njlp.org/ THE NEW JERSEY LIBERTARIAN PARTY https://web.archive.org/web/20061205034416/http://www.njlp.org/ 2006-12-05 deadhttp://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/flynn_opening.jsp Hall Institute of Public Policy New Jersey Public Policy Virtual Debate https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043137/http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/flynn_opening.jsp 2007-09-27 dead (Libertarian) Ed Forchion, marijuana legalization activistHall Institute of Public Policy | New Jersey | Public Policy | Virtual Debate http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/forchion_opening.jsp dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070504224500/http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/forchion_opening.jsp 4 May 2007 15 January 2022 www.hallnj.org (Marijuana) Thomas Kean Jr., state senator from Westfield and son of former governor Thomas Kean (Republican) Angela L. Lariscy, sewing machine operator and trade unionistHall Institute of Public Policy | New Jersey | Public Policy | Virtual Debate http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/lariscy_opening.jsp dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043131/http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/lariscy_opening.jsp 27 September 2007 15 January 2022 www.hallnj.org (Socialist Workers) Bob Menendez, interim U.S. senator and former U.S. representative from Union City (Democratic) Gregory Pason, activist and former union officialHall Institute of Public Policy | New Jersey | Public Policy | Virtual Debate http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/pason_opening.jsp dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043113/http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/pason_opening.jsp 27 September 2007 15 January 2022 www.hallnj.org (Socialist) N. Leonard Smith, former Camden County freeholder, retired teacher, and Korean War veteranHall Institute of Public Policy | New Jersey | Public Policy | Virtual Debate http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/smith_opening.jsp dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070311134351/http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/smith_opening.jsp 11 March 2007 15 January 2022 www.hallnj.org (Solidarity, Defend Life) Campaign The general election contest largely pitted Kean, running a campaign critical of Menendez's reputation for ethical ambiguity, against Menendez, who focused on national political issues, including the unpopularity of George W. Bush and the Iraq War in New Jersey. Kean and the Republican Party focused their campaign on Menendez's poor ethical reputation. In 2005, op-eds in The New York Times and the Star-Ledger complained of bossism by Menendez, claiming he runs Hudson County as a political machine."New Jersey's New Senator", The New York Times, December 9, 2005Tom Moran, The Past May Haunt Future For Menendez, The Star-Ledger, November 23, 2005Raymond Hernandez, "Menendez's Moment of Truth", The New York Times, January 16, 2005 The Bergen Record made an issue of Menendez's campaign spending, claiming the majority of his recent spending was not for traditional campaign activities.Herb Jackson, "Fund Raising Is Menendez's Meal Ticket," The Record (Bergen County), March 12, 2006 In mid-summer,July 2022 Jon Corzine and the Democratic state legislature held a brief shutdown of state government, which ultimately resulted in a sales tax increase. On June 13, Kean held a fundraiser in Ocean County featuring First Lady Laura Bush, at which both Kean and Bush noted Kean's political distance from President George W. Bush, claiming that Senator Menendez seems to confuse the two."Kean draws Laura Bush for Campaign Fundraiser", Star-Ledger, June 10, 2006 On June 16, at a New Jersey Association of Counties speaking event in Atlantic City, Kean and his aides beat a hasty retreat from the ballroom engagement and "stampeded" into an elevator in an abortive attempt to avoid the press, only to exit on the same floor as they had entered. Kean declined to answer questions about the scathing attacks on his integrity which his opponent had delivered minutes earlier, instead opting to repeat "a few slogans."Josh Gohlke, "Kean ducks confrontation", The Record (Bergen County), June 17, 2006 In late June, the Associated Press reported that Kean's campaign was planning to produce a film accusing Menendez of involvement in a New Jersey mob-connected kickback scheme "despite public records and statements disputing that claim." The AP noted that "[f]our former federal prosecutors who oversaw the case have said Menendez was never involved in any wrongdoing.""GOP's Kean Plans 'Swift Boat'-Style Film", Associated Press, June 30, 2006 The New York Times reported that the charges conflicted with historical accounts and records portraying Menendez as a crusader against the very corruption of which he stood accused.Jim Dwyer, "New Jersey Senator's Rival Faults Him in 80's Corruption Case, but History Disagrees", The New York Times, June 25, 2006 The film was never completed."Kean Campaign Cancels Film on Menendez, Producer Says", The New York Times, November 3, 2006. Accessed April 5, 2008. On August 27, two Republican state lawmakers filed an ethics complaint against Menendez, alleging he broke conflict-of-interest rules as a State Senator and U.S. Representative rented property out to a nonprofit agency that receives federal funds. Menendez helped the organization win designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center in 1998. That designation allowed the agency to receive additional federal grants.September 8, 2006 Feds probe Menendez rental deal: Senator took in at least $300,000 from nonprofit in Union City The Star-Ledger http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1157696151222550.xml&coll=1 live January 15, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20150410103615/http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-8%2F1157696151222550.xml&coll=1 April 10, 2015 Menendez allies noted that the organization in question, the North Hudson Community Action Corp., which provides social services and health care to the poor and was founded in 1960, had received federal funding for years before Menendez was in Congress, and receives its funding based on mathematical formulas.Gohlke, Josh August 26, 2006 GOP calls Menendez rent profits unethical http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTgxNjEw dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070309214228/http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTgxNjEw March 9, 2007 September 23, 2006 northjersey.com Menendez maintains that he rented the property out below market-value because "he was supportive of its work".August 25, 2006 Agency was paying rent to its champion: Menendez denies Kean's charge that role of landlord poses conflict The Star-Ledger http://www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-4/1156486000219130.xml live January 15, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20160408202102/http://www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-4%2F1156486000219130.xml April 8, 2016 The total rent collected over nine years was over $300,000. Menendez questioned the timing of the complaints: "We have seen an orchestrated series of leaks, bogus ethics complaints and outright fabrications since the beginning of this campaign."Menendez questions timing of reported federal probe https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225142/http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/newjersey/story/6732308p-6602304c.html September 26, 2007 , Press of Atlantic City, September 8, 2006"Pair accuse Menendez in conflict", The Star-Ledger, August 28, 2006 Menendez maintained that he received verbal clearance from the House Ethics Committee in 1994 before entering a lease agreement with the nonprofit. On September 8, Menendez identified Mark Davis as the House Ethics Committee lawyer whom he consulted, but Roll Call reported that Davis left the ethics committee in 1993, prompting Menendez campaign spokesman Matt Miller to offer an alternate explanation: "It was his recollection that he talked to him about this, but it must have been someone else. It was 12 years ago.""Menendez defends himself, denounces timing of probe", The Star-Ledger, September 9, 2006 In September, U.S. Attorney Chris Christie subpoenaed records from the nonprofit. Some Democrats criticized the investigation, particularly the timing of the investigation and news leaks, as politically motivated. Governor Corzine said the investigation "has the appearance of being less than objective".Chen David W. September 16, 2006 U.S. Attorney Emerges as a Legal, and Political, Force The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/16/nyregion/16christie.html live March 27, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20210115031752/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/16/nyregion/16christie.html January 15, 2021 Kean said his campaign "absolutely" did not have any contact at any point with Christie or his office regarding the probe. On September 15, The Star-Ledger reported that on the same day in 2005 that Kean voted to preserve a $40 million tax exemption for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, he collected $13,300 in contributions from 17 company executives and their family members.Deborah Howlett, "Democrats question donations to Kean: Horizon gave $13,300 on day of a big vote" https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190013/http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-4%2F115829883967690.xml&coll=1&thispage=1 March 3, 2016, The Star-Ledger, September 15, 2006 The report noted that Kean aides denied any connection between the votes and the contributions.July 2022 On September 28, The Star-Ledger reported that Menendez had fired his closest political adviser, Donald Scarinci, for seeking favors on Menendez's behalf. A 1999 recording revealed Scarinci asking a Hudson County psychiatrist, Oscar Sandoval, to hire another physician as a favor to Menendez. Scarinci also stated that he had helped Davila Colon, a former Menendez staffer, get a job with Carl Goldberg, a developer and major Menendez fundraiser. A spokesperson for the Menendez campaign stated that "Scarinci was using Menendez's name without his authorization or his knowledge.""Menendez dumps a close adviser caught on tape seeking "favors""April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes, The Star-Ledger, September 28, 2006 Around that time, Democratic blog Blue Jersey alleged that a member of the Kean campaign was posing as a disillusioned Democrat when posting comments critical of Menendez on the site. Major newspapers corroborated the claim, reporting that the IP address used to make the comments was identical to one used by Kean campaign spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker in official emails. Both Hazelbaker and Kean denied that she had been involved but did not explain the connection.A Blog Suspects That an Aide to Kean Posted Jabs at Menendez, The New York Times, September 21, 2006Kean aide denies a hand in blog hits on Menendez, Star-Ledger, September 21, 2006 The same IP address was also used to make multiple edits to Wikipedia pages linking Menendez to the accusations of corruption that were a centerpiece of Kean's campaign strategy.Edits made by 70.90.20.85, Wikipedia, September 21, 2006 In October, the Kean campaign drew scrutiny over its relationship with opposition researcher Christopher Lyon. Kean staffers denied that Lyon worked for Kean directly. "I think the selective outrage here is a little laughable," said Hazelbaker, who added that Mr. Menendez's former law partner, who was at his side when he was sworn in as a senator, had been convicted of dealing cocaine.Laura Mansnerus and Mike McIntire October 5, 2006 A Behind-the-Scenes Player Draws Notice in New Jersey https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/nyregion/05hudson.html April 11, 2008 The New York Times The Kean headquarters was vandalized the night before the general election. Vandals chained and locked the doors to the headquarters and broke off keys within the locks, attempting to hinder the Kean campaign. The Menendez campaign denied any involvement.MSN http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/11/07/11670.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20061107200615/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/11/07/11670.aspx November 7, 2006 Debates/forums Complete video of debate, June 25, 2006 Complete video of forum, October 20, 2006 In mid-September, Menendez declined a national debate with Kean on the popular Sunday morning talk-show, Meet the Press. A Menendez spokesperson stated that he preferred to focus on local citizens and press. Menendez did agree to take place in three locally aired debates with Kean to be aired between October 7–17."Menendez declines national debate" https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205122/http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-4%2F1158212896223780.xml&coll=1 March 3, 2016, The Star-Ledger, September 14, 2006 Kean withdrew from the October 14 debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, insisting on a national TV debate as a condition of his participation."Kean demands adding a national TV debate vs. Menendez" https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212710/http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-4%2F1159937582298970.xml&coll=1 March 3, 2016, The Star-Ledger, October 4, 2006 Both candidates agreed to participate in a virtual debate sponsored by the nonpartisan Hall Institute of Public Policy. Beginning in July and running through Election Day in November, the institute submitted questions to the candidates and then posted their responses on its website.Hall Institute of Public Policy - NJ https://web.archive.org/web/20081120021552/http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/debate_about.jsp November 20, 2008, accessed September 12, 2006 Endorsements The Sierra Club, which had endorsed both candidates in past races, endorsed Menendez, citing his "15-year, extremely strong record on many federal [environmental] issues — often achieving a League of Conservation Voters voting record of 100%.""Menendez Endorsed for US Senate" https://web.archive.org/web/20071127094751/http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/njs_sierran/2006q4/page_all.pdf November 27, 2007 , from The Jersey Sierran, October–December 2006 The New Jersey Educational Association PAC also endorsed Menendez.(Press Release) "NJEA PAC Congressional Endorsements," August 5, 2006. Polling Opinion polling for the 2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey.chart Opinion polling for the 2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey.tab 700px Source Date Menendez (D) Kean Jr. (R)QuinnipiacQuinnipiac November 22, 2005 41% 39%RasmussenRasmussen https://web.archive.org/web/20051231024531/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005/New%20Jersey%20Senate%20Dec%208.htm December 31, 2005 December 7, 2005 38% 34%Quinnipiac December 15, 2005 44% 38%Fairleigh DickinsonFairleigh Dickinson January 16, 2006 25% 37%RasmussenRasmussen January 25, 2006 35% 42%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac January 25, 2006 38% 36%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) February 8, 2006 28% 33%RasmussenRasmussen February 14, 2006 39% 36%Fairleigh DickinsonFairleigh Dickinson March 6, 2006 42% 37%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) March 10, 2006 30% 32%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac March 20, 2006 40% 36%RasmussenRasmussen March 31, 2006 39% 41%Rutgers/EagletonRutgers/Eagleton April 4, 2006 40% 35%Fairleigh DickinsonFairleigh Dickinson April 6, 2006 38% 42%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) April 14, 2006 32% 34%RasmussenRasmussen April 18, 2006 36% 43%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac April 18–24, 2006 40% 34%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) May 12–14, 2006 35% 35%RasmussenRasmussen May 26, 2006 37% 40%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 7–13, 2006 43% 36%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) June 16–18, 2006 38% 36%Rutgers/EagletonRutgers/Eagleton https://web.archive.org/web/20060702152615/http://eagletonpoll.rutgers.edu/polls/release_06-22-06.pdf July 2, 2006 June 23, 2006 42% 38%RasmussenRasmussen June 27, 2006 46% 40%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) July 12, 2006 43% 37%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University July 17, 2006 38% 37%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac July 17, 2006 38% 40%Fairleigh DickinsonFairleigh Dickinson July 20, 2006 43% 40%Public Opinion Strategies (R)Public Opinion Strategies (R) August 2, 2006 38% 39%RasmussenRasmussen https://web.archive.org/web/20060821183313/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/July%202006/newJerseySenate.htm August 21, 2006 August 4, 2006 44% 38%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) August 17, 2006 42% 40%Fairleigh DickinsonFairleigh Dickinson August 30, 2006 39% 43%RasmussenRasmussen August 31, 2006 39% 44%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) September 14, 2006 40% 44%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac September 20, 2006 45% 48%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University September 24, 2006 38% 44%RasmussenRasmussen September 25, 2006 40% 41%Rutgers/EagletonRutgers/Eagleton https://web.archive.org/web/20061220010515/http://eagletonpoll.rutgers.edu/polls/release_09_28_06.pdf December 20, 2006 September 28, 2006 45% 44%WNBC/Marist PollWNBC/Marist Poll September 30, 2006 37% 42%Mason-Dixon/MSNBCMason-Dixon/MSNBC October 2, 2006 44% 41%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) October 5, 2006 41% 46%Fairleigh DickinsonFairleigh Dickinson October 5, 2006 46% 39%USA Today/GallupUSA Today/Gallup October 6, 2006 46% 43%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 12, 2006 49% 45%RasmussenRasmussen October 14, 2006 42% 39%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 22, 2006 48% 39%Mason-Dixon/McClatchy-MSNBCMason-Dixon/McClatchy-MSNBC October 24, 2006 45% 42%Los Angeles Times/BloombergLos Angeles Times/Bloomberg October 24, 2006 45% 41%Bennett, Petts & Blumenthal (D)Bennett, Petts & Blumenthal (D) October 23–25, 2006 45% 36%RasmussenRasmussen October 25, 2006 45% 45%CBS News/New York TimesCBS News/New York Times October 26, 2006 40% 39%Rasmussen October 30, 2006 49% 44%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) October 31, 2006 43% 42%CNN/Opinion Research CorporationCNN/Opinion Research Corporation October 31, 2006 51% 44%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 31, 2006 49% 44%Rutgers/EagletonRutgers/Eagleton https://web.archive.org/web/20061205225621/http://eagletonpoll.rutgers.edu/polls/release_11_02_06.pdf December 5, 2006 November 2, 2006 46% 42%Reuters/Zogby InternationalReuters/Zogby International November 2, 2006 49% 37%Fairleigh Dickinson/PublicMindFairleigh Dickinson/PublicMind November 2, 2006 48% 38%RasmussenRasmussen https://web.archive.org/web/20070224203145/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/November%202006/NewJerseySenate.htm February 24, 2007 November 3, 2006 48% 43%WNBC/Marist PollWNBC/Marist Poll https://web.archive.org/web/20061127223214/http://www.maristpoll.marist.edu/NJ/NJElection2006_061104.htm November 27, 2006 November 4, 2006 50% 42%Monmouth University/GannettMonmouth University/Gannett November 5, 2006 45% 42%Mason-Dixon/MSNBC-McClatchyMason-Dixon/MSNBC-McClatchy November 5, 2006 48% 41%USA Today/GallupUSA Today/Gallup November 5, 2006 50% 40%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) November 6, 2006 49% 42%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac November 6, 2006 48% 43%OnPoint Polling and ResearchOnPoint Polling and Research November 6, 2006 50% 41% After the publication of an August 4 poll showing Menendez ahead, Kean appeared to surge into the lead according to subsequent polls by varying degrees, but within the margin of error. The Daily Record of Morristown suggested that Kean's early lead was attributable to voters confusing him with his father, Tom Kean Sr., a popular former governor of the state who later chaired the 9/11 Commission. In one poll, Kean and Menendez were statistically tied until respondents were informed that it was not Tom Sr. who was running, upon which Menendez opened up a lead of nine percentage points.Fred Snowflack, https://archive.today/20130121064151/http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060906/COLUMNISTS01/609060311/1100/NEWS01 "Some are confusing Kean Jr. with his dad", Daily Record (Morristown), September 6, 2006 On the heels of an advertising blitz, Menendez reclaimed the lead in late polling. In light of to the race's volatility, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, Congressional Quarterly, and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball shifted the race from "Leans Democratic" to "Toss-Up" or "No Clear Favorite" in their early September revisions despite the state's historically strong Democratic tilt."2006 Senate Ratings" https://web.archive.org/web/20061024061303/http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_sen_ratings_sept7.pdf October 24, 2006 , Cook Political Report, September 7, 2006"Senate Balance of Power Scorecard Details" https://web.archive.org/web/20071012234612/http://www.cqpolitics.com/risk_rating_senate.html October 12, 2007 , Congressional Quarterly, retrieved on September 15, 2006"Sabato's Crystal Ball - 2006 Senate", Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball, retrieved on September 15, 2006 A September 2006 SurveyUSA poll showed Menendez's approval rating at 40% and disapproval rating at 40% with 20% undecided, resulting in a net approval of 0%.SurveyUSA News Poll, SurveyUSA, September 18, 2006APPROVAL RATINGS FOR ALL 100 U.S. SENATORS AS OF 09/26/06, SurveyUSA, September 26, 2006 The poll also found that Governor Jon Corzine received an approval rate of only 43%, with 48% of the state disapproving.APPROVAL RATINGS FOR ALL 50 GOVERNORS AS OF 09/21/06 Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006 https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_sen_ratings_nov6.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20080605093937/https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_sen_ratings_nov6.pdf June 5, 2008 September 30, 2021 The Cook Political Report Tossup November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal BallElection Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2006110601/ June 25, 2021 Sabato's Crystal Ball Tilt D November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report2006 Senate Ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2006-senate-ratings6 June 25, 2021 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report Lean D November 6, 2006 Real Clear PoliticsElection 2006 https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/writeup/election_2006-21.html June 25, 2021 Real Clear Politics Lean D November 6, 2006 Results United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2006Official List: Candidates for US Senate For November 2006 General Election https://web.archive.org/web/20071126194306/http://www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/2006results/06generalelection/2006_official-senate_tallies.pdf November 26, 2007 , New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 4, 2006. Accessed September 26, 2007. Democratic Party (United States) Bob Menendez (incumbent) 1,200,843 53.37% +3.26% Republican Party (United States) Thomas Kean, Jr. 997,775 44.34% -2.76% Libertarian Party (United States) Len Flynn 14,637 0.65% +0.41% US Marijuana Party Edward Forchion 11,593 0.52% Independent politician J.M. Carter 7,918 0.35% +0.15% Independent politician N. Leonard Smith 6,243 0.28% Independent politician Daryl Brooks 5,138 0.23% Socialist Workers Party (United States) Angela Lariscy 3,433 0.15% +0.03 Socialist Party USA Gregory Pason 2,490 0.11% 203,068 9.03% 2,250,070 39.47% Democratic Party (United States) 3.26% By county County2006 Senate Election (Official Returns) Commonwealth of New Jersey by county https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2006/2006_official-senate_tallies.pdf Bob MenendezDecember Thomas Kean, Jr.Republican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Atlantic 34,251 50.71% 31,784 47.05% 1,512 2.24% 2,467 3.66% 70,014 Bergen 139,564 53.44% 118,199 45.26% 3,388 1.30% 21,365 8.18% 261,151 Burlington 65,788 51.76% 58,725 46.21% 2,577 2.03% 7,063 5.55% 127,090 Camden 81,577 61.68% 47,732 36.09% 2,960 2.24% 33,845 25.59% 132,269 Cape May 14,038 40.93% 19,506 56.87% 757 2.21% -5,468 -15.94% 34,301 Cumberland 16,243 53.01% 13,537 44.18% 860 2.81% 2,706 8.83% 30,640 Essex 122,751 72.06% 45,266 26.57% 2,333 1.37% 77,485 45.49% 170,350 Gloucester 42,766 52.51% 36,559 44.89% 2,117 2.60% 6,207 7.62% 81,442 Hudson 27,536 75.13% 88,696 23.32% 1,832 1.55% 61,160 51.81% 118,064 Hunterdon 16,873 38.15% 25,531 57.73% 1,823 4.12% -8,658 -19.58% 62,799 Mercer 56,111 60.01% 34,958 37.39% 2,435 2.60% 21,153 22.62% 142,041 Middlesex 102,198 57.92% 68,734 38.96% 5,512 3.12% 33,464 18.96% 176,444 Monmouth 81,672 44.68% 96,247 52.65% 4,882 2.67% -14,575 -7.97% 182,801 Morris 61,431 41.00% 85,656 57.17% 2,738 1.83% -24,225 -16.17% 149,825 Ocean 64,621 39.85% 92,819 57.24% 4,730 2.92% -28,198 -17.39% 162,170 Passaic 58,333 57.20% 41,998 41.19% 1,642 1.61% 16,335 16.01% 101,973 Salem 9,898 46.52% 10,576 49.71% 802 3.77% -678 -3.19% 21,276 Somerset 42,242 46.01% 46,720 50.89% 2,839 3.09% -4,478 -4.88% 91,801 Sussex 14,839 34.68% 26,185 61.19% 1,769 4.13% -11,346 -26.51% 42,793 Union 75,166 57.65% 52,496 40.26% 2,732 2.10% 22,670 17.39% 130,394 Warren 10,785 37.18% 17,011 58.64% 1,212 4.18% -6,226 -21.46% 29,008Totals1,200,84353.37%997,77544.34%51,4522.29%203,0689.03%2,250,070 County that flipped from Republican to Democratic Bergen (largest municipality: Hackensack) Burlington (largest municipality: Evesham Township) NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive https://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-results.shtml 2025-01-16 nj.gov right 280px Swing by county 280px Trend relative to the state by county Legend #d40000 Republican — >15% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5−15% #ff2a2a Republican — +10−12.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5−10% #ff8080 Republican — +5−7.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5−5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0−2.5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0−2.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5−5% #77e3ff Democratic — +5−7.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #09ceff Democratic — +10−12.5% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5−15% #00a1c8 Democratic — >15% 280px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip Republican #f48882 Hold Analysis According to The New York Times, Kean was defeated in part because he "built a campaign around his portrayal of Mr. Menendez as a shady, self-dealing, machine-produced Hudson County boss who hangs out with criminals. When asked about his views on Social Security or the Iraq war, Mr. Kean frequently mentioned that his opponent was 'under federal criminal investigation.'"Mansnerus Laura 12 November 2006 ON POLITICS; Sometimes, the Mud Sticks to the Thrower en The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/nyregion/on-politics-sometimes-the-mud-sticks-to-the-thrower.html 23 July 2018 A later Times editorial said, "The Republican candidate, Thomas Kean Jr., based his campaign almost exclusively on negative ads and attack-dog accusations against his Democratic opponent, Robert Menendez. For a while, it looked like the strategy might pay off, but in the end Senator Menendez was elected by a comfortable margin. Voters in several polls criticized Mr. Kean's strategy."New York Times, November 19, 2006, "The Low Road, Revisited" Kean likely also suffered from the unpopularity of Republican President George W. Bush and the Iraq War. Some pollstersJuly 2022 demonstrated that concerns over the Iraq War and discontent with President Bush solidified the Democratic base in October's advertising blitz and won over enough independents to seal off the fate of the Republican nominee.Dan Cassino, Krista Jenkins and Peter J. Woolley, "Measuring "What if?" Standard versus priming methods for polling counterfactuals https://archive.today/20120715033333/http://surveypractice.org/2008/11/25/measuring-%E2%80%9Cwhat-if%E2%80%9D-standard-versus-priming-methods-for-polling-counterfactuals/%23more-435 July 15, 2012," Survey Practice. Vol. I, No. 4, Nov. 2008. On the eve of the election, a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll reported that 65% of likely voters said that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake, "including nine of ten Democrats and six of ten independents."FDU PublicMind, "Iraq Weighs Heavily on New Jersey Voters," November 1, 2006. Retrieved 04.25.11. Observers also pointed out that "from the beginning, [Menendez] made much of his 2002 vote against the Iraq War Resolution, often referring to it as one of the most important votes of his career. He made it clear as well that he intended to make the race a referendum on the President."Peter J. Woolley and Dan Cassino, "Why Menendez Won," The Polling Report, Vol. 22, No. 22, (November 27, 2006), pp. 1, 5-6. The ethical issues raised during the campaign did convince U.S. Attorney Chris Christie to open a criminal investigation into Menendez. In 2015, Menendez was indicted on unrelated federal corruption charges, which were dropped in 2018. The United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics "severely admonished" him. See also 2006 United States Senate elections Notes References External links Official campaign websites (Archived) Bob Menendez for Senate Tom Kean for Senate Greg Pason for Senate New Jersey 2006 Category:2006 New Jersey elections