1982 United States Senate election in New Jersey

none March 2026 September 2023 1982 United States Senate election in New Jersey New Jersey presidential no 62%https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/other/2022-1925-general-election-data.pdf General Election Data - 1924 to 2022 NJ.gov ( 19pp) 1976 United States Senate election in New Jersey 1976 1988 United States Senate election in New Jersey 1988 November 2, 1982 150x150px Frank Lautenberg 1983 congressional photo (3x4 cropped).jpg Frank Lautenberg Democratic Party (United States) 1,117,549 50.94% Portrait of Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick (cropped).jpg Millicent Fenwick Republican Party (United States) 1,047,626 47.75% 280px County results 280px Congressional district resultsOnly top two candidates Lautenberg: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% Fenwick: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% U.S. Senator Nicholas F. Brady Republican Party (United States) Frank Lautenberg Democratic Party (United States) The 1982 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 2, 1982. The seat was effectively vacated by the resignation of Harrison Williams amid scandal in March; his appointed successor, Nicholas F. Brady, did not run. Democratic businessman Frank Lautenberg won the seat in a major upset, defeating a large field of eight Democratic candidates and Republican Millicent Fenwick, a popular, well-known U.S. Representative. Lautenberg's campaign was largely self-funded and overcame early polling leads for Fenwick by outspending her 2-to-1 and emphasizing the persistently poor economic conditions under Republican President Ronald Reagan and the conservative Congress. Background Interim appointment The seat had been occupied by Democrat Harrison A. Williams, who resigned on March 11, 1982, after being implicated in the Abscam scandal. After Williams' resignation, Republican Governor Thomas Kean appointed Republican Nicholas F. Brady to the seat. Brady served in the Senate through the primary and general elections but did not run for the seat himself. Congressional redistricting Republican primary Candidates Millicent Fenwick, U.S. Representative from Bernardsville Jeff Bell, political consultant and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1978 Withdrew Robert J. Morris, anti-communist activist and candidate in 1960POLITICS; DEMOCRATS TURN SENATE PRIMARY INTO FREE-FOR-ALL 2 May 1982 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/02/nyregion/politics-democrats-turn-senate-primary-into-free-for-all.html Sullivan Joseph F. The New York Times (withdrew May 8 and remained neutral)SENATE PRIMARY TAKES A NEW TURN Sullivan Joseph F. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/09/nyregion/senate-primary-takes-a-new-turn.html The New York Times 9 May 1982 9 Aug 2021 Declined Nicholas Brady, incumbent Senator (appointed April 12) and businessman Jim Courter, U.S. Representative from HackettstownWildstein David 2024-08-15 Meet New Jersey's 10 appointed U.S. Senators https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/meet-new-jerseys-10-appointed-u-s-senators/ 2024-08-15 New Jersey Globe en-US Campaign Fenwick, an extremely popular Congresswoman, centered much of her primary campaign on her electability, name recognition, and ability to win down-ballot races for local Republican candidates. Bell framed himself as a strong supporter, or even architect, of President Reagan's economic platform, blaming the Federal Reserve Board's high interest rates for slow economic growth. Fenwick instead blamed the large federal budget deficit and called for cuts to public works spending, while preserving social services. The New York Times therefore framed the race as a referendum on the Reagan administration's economic policies. Bell himself admitted, "If I lose, I think a lot of obituaries are going to be written for Reaganomics."Norman Michael 8 Jun 1982 RALLIES IN NEW JERSEY WIND UP RACES FOR U.S. SENATE https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/08/nyregion/rallies-in-new-jersey-wind-up-races-for-us-senate.html 9 Aug 2021 The New York Times B2 Bell's campaign may have been undercut when President Reagan blamed the federal budget deficit for high inflation, thereby endorsing Fenwick's economic platform, though not the candidate herself. Both Bell and Fenwick supported a freeze on nuclear weapons contingent on the United States surpassing the Soviet Union's arsenal, while Morris opposed a de jure freeze, arguing that a de facto freeze already existed. Morris also supported a sharp increase in military spending to deter Soviet expansion into the Middle East and Western Hemisphere and proposed American intervention in the Falklands War to force both Argentina and the United Kingdom to withdraw, citing the Monroe Doctrine. He also challenged New York City mayor Ed Koch, then running for Governor, to swim from Manhattan to the Jersey Shore to bring attention to pollution. After the first debate, Morris withdrew from the race, saying that he had made his point and did not have the funding to continue. Though he chose to remain neutral, his withdrawal was seen to benefit Bell, a fellow conservative. Bell admitted he had asked Morris to withdraw, though he did not know how much effect this had. Near the end of the primary, Bell unsuccessfully sought the endorsement of Governor Tom Kean. Polling Late in the campaign, Fenwick's aides cited her polling lead at 15 percentage points. Results Fenwick defeated by Bell with 54% of the vote. Bell called Fenwick at 11 P.M. on election night to concede. He maintained his interpretation that his defeat was a referendum on Reaganomics and that Fenwick's victory was a sign that voters rejected Reagan's policies.JERSEY RACES WON BY REP. FENWICK AND LAUTENBERG 9 June 1982 The New York Times A1 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/09/nyregion/jersey-races-won-by-rep-fenwick-and-lautenberg.html 9 Aug 2021 250px|thumb|Results by county: #E27F7F Fenwick #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #FF9A50 Bell #FF9A50 50–60% |center Republican Party primary results Millicent Fenwick Republican Party (United States) 193,683 54.28% Jeff Bell Republican Party (United States) 163,145 45.72% 356,828 100.00 Democratic primary Candidates Angelo Bianchi, former State Banking Commissionerhttps://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/13/nyregion/9-in-jersey-race-for-us-senate-address-elderly.html 9 IN JERSEY RACE FOR U.S. SENATE ADDRESS ELDERLY May 13, 1982 Normal, Michael The New York Times June 25, 2016 Frank Forst, former Jamesburg mayor Frank Lautenberg, financial executive Joseph A. LeFante, former U.S. representative from Bayonne Andrew Maguire, former U.S. representative from Ridgewood Richard D. McAleer, car leasing agent Howard Rosen, attorney Barbara Boggs Sigmund, Mercer County freeholder Cyril Yannarelli, Passaic County freeholder Withdrew Donald Cresitello, former Morristown mayor (withdrew May 27 and endorsed LeFante)https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/28/nyregion/the-region-cresitello-quits-jersey-senate-race.html Cresitello Quits Jersey Senate Race May 28, 1982 The New York Times June 25, 2016 TRENTON, May 27— Former Mayor Donald Cresitello of Morristown withdrew today from the race for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator and endorsed former Representative Joseph A. LeFante of Bayonne. The first candidate to enter the race was Howard Rosen, a lawyer from Millburn. Representatives Andrew Maguire and Joseph LeFante both had large bases in their home counties, Bergen and Hudson respectively. Frank Lautenberg, the CEO of ADP, had no natural political base and had never run for office, but had a well-financed media campaign and courted key endorsements. The last major candidate to join the race was Barbara Boggs Sigmund, a Mercer County Freeholder from Princeton and the daughter of late House Majority Leader Hale Boggs and Congresswoman Lindy Boggs. Sigmund campaigned for the newly drawn 7th congressional district for much of the spring, but joined the Senate race after being recruited by Democratic Congressmen Robert A. Roe, James J. Howard, and William J. Hughes.POLITICS; PRIMARY LEAVES SOME BIG 'IFS' FOR DEMOCRATS Sullivan Joseph F. 13 June 1982 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/13/nyregion/politics-primary-leaves-some-big-ifs-for-democrats.html 9 Aug 2021 The New York Times She announced her campaign just one hour before the filing deadline, on the anniversary of her father's birthday.LEARNING POLITICS BY OSMOSIS 9 May 1982 Hoopes Judith The New York Times 9 Aug 2021 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/09/nyregion/learning-politics-by-osmosis.htmlA POLITICAL BID BY A DAUGHTER OF REP. BOGGS https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/16/nyregion/a-political-bid-by-a-daughter-of-rep-boggs.html UPI The New York Times 16 Feb 1982 9 Aug 2021 Donald Cresitello, a former mayor of Morristown, and Richard McAleer, a car-leasing manager, were also late entries. Campaign The Democratic primary was previewed in The New York Times as a "free-for-all," with ten candidates entering before the April 30 filing deadline and no clear favorite. Lautenberg's campaign was largely self-funded, giving him an advantage in a year when Democratic fundraising was hard to come by following Williams's scandal and James Florio's narrow, expensive loss in the 1981 election for governor. His campaign spending was criticized by LeFante. Sigmund had support from liberals and some labor elements. She ran a spirited, if brief and underfunded campaign, emphasizing her gender and women's issues, arguing a woman was best suited to take on Fenwick in the fall campaign. At her campaign announcement, Sigmund said that a race between herself and Fenwick "would be the most exciting campaign in the country." She also cited women's perceived compassion and mediating skills as beneficial in politics. One Sigmund supporter referred to the primary race as "Snow White and the Nine Dwarfs." Sigmund's campaign likely cost Andrew Maguire the endorsement of Mercer County Democrats and women's groups, two groups that had favored him before her entry. Sigmund may also have cut into Maguire's support with labor and Black voters. Sigmund also drew funding and organizational help from Washington. LeFante's campaign had the key support of the Hudson County Democratic machine, which was expected to deliver him 50,000 votes, about half of what was expected to be necessary to win. Sigmund herself called him the front-runner. Rosen, who spent $1,000,000 and campaigned vigorously, was forced to cease campaigning late in the race due to a kidney ailment. In the final weeks, Maguire focused his campaign on North and Central Jersey, making 32 stops at train stations, shopping malls, and factories. Lautenberg and LeFante both campaigned in North Jersey, while Sigmund campaigned with Anne Clark Martindell and Claude Pepper in Trenton. On election night, the results swung back and forth, with Lautenberg, Maguire, and LeFante each holding the lead several times. Lautenberg claimed victory at 11:40 P.M. and Maguire conceded shortly after. LeFante declined to concede immediately, saying he would wait until Wednesday to re-examine the votes. Results Lautenberg won a narrow victory with 26% of the vote to 23% for Maguire and 20% for LeFante. Sigmund ran fourth with 11%. Lautenberg had no strong regional base, but stayed close enough to Maguire in Bergen and LeFante in Hudson to carry the state on the back of narrow victories throughout the rest of the state. Some Maguire supporters suggested that he would have won had Sigmund not joined the race; the Maguire campaign itself denied this, arguing that Sigmund pulled from all candidates. 250px|thumb|Results by county: #6674de Lautenberg #dfeeff 20–30% #bdd3ff 30–40% #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #dc8c53 Maguire #f9dfcb 30–40% #cc5f11 60–70% #e68ce6 LeFante #fcdffc 30–40% #dc63dc 60–70% #2aacac Sigmund #d0f9f9 20–30% #acf2f2 30–40% #7ddddd 40–50% |center Democratic Party primary resultshttp://www.njelections.org/election-results/1982-primary-results-us-senate.pdf Republican and Democratic Candidates for the Office of United States Senator Secretary of State of New Jersey 1982 June 25, 2016 Frank Lautenberg Democratic Party (United States) 104,666 25.97% Andrew Maguire Democratic Party (United States) 92,878 23.05% Joseph A. LeFante Democratic Party (United States) 81,440 20.21% Barbara Boggs Sigmund Democratic Party (United States) 45,708 11.34% Howard Rosen Democratic Party (United States) 28,427 7.05% Angelo Bianchi Democratic Party (United States) 17,684 4.39% Cyril Yannarelli Democratic Party (United States) 10,188 2.53% Frank Forst Democratic Party (United States) 9,563 2.37% Richard D. McAleer Democratic Party (United States) 8,110 2.01% Donald Cresitello (withdrawn) Democratic Party (United States) 4,295 1.07% 402,959 100.00 Impact of ballot positioning Estimates at the time suggested 5 to 10 percent of ballots were cast for the first name on the ballot regardless of candidate.POLITICS; BALLOT POSITIONS: FIRST OR LAST 18 Jul 1982 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/18/nyregion/politics-ballot-positions-first-or-last.html Sullivan Joseph F. The New York Times The only county Maguire won outside his native Bergen was also the only county where he had the first position, Hunterdon. Likewise, LeFante only won his native Hudson and two counties where he had top position (Cape May and Gloucester). Richard McAleer, who spent no money on his campaign, won more than half his votes in Mercer, Union, and Warren, where he led the ballot. In Union, he finished ahead of higher profile candidates like Sigmund and LeFante. General election Candidates Robert T. Bastien (Grassroots) Millicent Fenwick, U.S. representative from Bernardsville (Republican) Henry Koch (Libertarian) Frank Lautenberg, financial executive (Democratic) Julius Levin (Socialist Labor) Claire Moriarty (Socialist Workers) Rose Zeidwerg Monyek, perennial candidate (Repeal TF 807) Martin E. Wendelken, perennial candidate (Independent) Campaign After the primary, Lautenberg's campaign got off to a rocky start, as polls put Fenwick ahead by as much as 18 points and most figured that she was assured victory in November. Even many Democrats assumed their goal was to keep her margin low enough to preserve Democratic chances for local offices. Lautenberg quipped that his opponent was "the most popular candidate in the country."http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2013/01/7175915/when-lautenbergs-age-met-bookers-ambition-elegy-swamp-dog?page=all When Lautenberg's Age Met Booker's Ambition: An Elegy for the Swamp Dog Kornacki, Steve Steve Kornacki Capital New York January 14, 2013 June 5, 2013 But Lautenberg waged an aggressive, self-funded campaign against Fenwick, outspending her two-to-one. He emphasized partisan differences by tying Fenwick to President Ronald Reagan and Senator Strom Thurmond and attacking her personally, calling her "erratic" and "eccentric." Lautenberg faced an early problem when he claimed that Hudson County Democratic leaders asked him to pay off Joseph A. LeFante's primary campaign debts and barred his staff from U.S. representative Frank J. Guarini's district campaign offices until he paid. Jersey City mayor Gerald McCann denied that he had requested any payment and accused Lautenberg of threatening Hudson County officials by supporting primary challengers in local elections if they withheld their support. In October, the campaign intensified after Lautenberg attacked Fenwick as "a little eccentric," quoting former President Gerald Ford. Lautenberg also said she was "erratic in terms of proposals, work and programs." He denied this was an attack on her age and said he was not challenging her "fitness to serve" but her "ability to do the job."https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-03/frank-lautenberg-limousine-leftist-u-s-senator-dies-at-89.html Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Senator From New Jersey, Dies at 89 Arnold, Laurence Bloomberg News June 3, 2013 June 6, 2013 By the month's end, both candidates acknowledged the race had drawn much closer.https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/28/nyregion/fenwick-lautenberg-race-narrows.html 28 Oct 1982 Norman Michael FENWICK-LAUTENBERG RACE NARROWS 9 Aug 2021 The New York Times Lautenberg compared his campaign to Mario Cuomo's in the summer New York Democratic primary, in which he trailed Ed Koch by a wide margin in all polls but won a major upset.LAUTENBERG SEES UPSET; BAKER HELPS MRS. FENWICK https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/19/nyregion/lautenberg-sees-upset-baker-helps-mrs-fenwick.html 19 Oct 1982 Sullivan Joseph F. The New York Times 9 Aug 2021 B1 Fenwick continued to hammer her independence and criticized Lautenberg for distorting her record. Her campaign was particularly hurt by the Lautenberg campaign's claim that, "If Fenwick goes to the Senate, she'll support voting-rights opponent Strom Thurmond." Fenwick had been a long-time member of the NAACP since before she entered politics and objected strongly to the accusation. Lautenberg responded, "Mrs. Fenwick's anger has apparently overtaken her... I think that when she comes up with that kind of a campaign after complimenting me a couple of weeks ago for my gentlemanly way of campaigning and turns now, instead of defending her record, to talk about mud slinging, shows how desperate she is." He did not withdraw the charges, but instead returned Fenwick's charge of mudslinging: "Mrs. Fenwick's campaign has taken a radical turn, changing from one where she presented herself as a public servant to one where personality became an issue."REP. FENWICK SAYS LAUTENBERG DISTORTS HER RECORD https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/29/nyregion/rep-fenwick-says-lautenberg-distorts-her-record.html 29 Oct 1982 Norman Michael 8 Aug 2021 The New York Times On October 27, Lautenberg held a rally with Ted Kennedy at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark with 1,200 in attendance. Fenwick toured a housing project in East Orange and took interviews with New Jersey Network and a Spanish-language channel. On October 31, after the final debate, Lautenberg campaigned with former Vice President Walter Mondale and Second Lady Joan Mondale. Polling Early polling indicated a large lead for Fenwick, as much as 18 percentage points. However, this polling narrowed considerably by the end of October. Public polls showed Lautenberg had pulled even or ahead. Nevertheless, Fenwick's campaign said internal polling gave her a lead of no less than 5 percentage points and as much as 7. An October survey by the Eagleton Institute of Politics found that six out of seven undecided voters said that Fenwick's sex made no difference and one in ten said they would be more likely to vote for Fenwick because she was a woman. Sixty percent of all voters said sex made no difference, while 26 percent said they preferred a female and 14 percent preferred a male.MRS. FENWICK AND LAUTENBERG FACE DIFFERING IMAGE PROBLEMS The New York Times 17 Oct 1982 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/17/nyregion/mrs-fenwick-and-lautenberg-face-differing-image-problems.html 9 Aug 2021 Belkin Lisa Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesizekey Key:A – all adultsRV – registered votersLV – likely votersV – unclear Marginof error FrankLautenberg (D) MillicentFenwick (R) Other /UndecidedThe Star-Ledger/EagletonJune 13, 1988 DAWKINS NAME RECOGNITION UP: LAUTENBERG RETAINS CLEAR LEAD BUT GAP NARROWED https://eagletonpoll.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/release_06-12-1988.pdf October 21, 2025 Rutgers Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling May–June 1982 822 LV ?% 24% 41% 35%Rutgers-Eagleton PollRutgers-Eagleton PollSeptember 2025 September 14–25, 1982 756 RV ±3.7% 32% 50% 18% 457 LV ±4.7% 32% 51% 17%Rutgers-Eagleton PollSeptember 2025LAUTENBERG SEES JERSEY SENATE RACE AS VIRTUAL TIE https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/30/nyregion/lautenberg-sees-jersey-senate-race-as-virtual-tie.html 30 Oct 1982 9 Aug 2021 Norman Michael The New York Times 32 October 18–23, 1982 500 LV ?% 40% 45% 15%Rutgers-Eagleton PollSeptember 2025 October 24–26, 1982 600 LV ?% 41% 44% 15% Hackensack Record October 27, 1982 ? LV ?% 41% 42% 17% Previously undecided voters Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesizekey Key:A – all adultsRV – registered votersLV – likely votersV – unclear Marginof error FrankLautenberg (D) MillicentFenwick (R) Other /Undecided Rutgers-EagletonSENATE NOMINEES IN JERSEY SEEK INDEPENDENT VOTE Norman Michael The New York Times 2 Nov 1982 B4 9 Aug 2021 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/02/nyregion/senate-nominees-in-jersey-seek-independent-vote.html November 1, 1982 330 LV ±4.0% 45% 46% 11% Debates The second debate, sponsored by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the Birchwood Manor on October 3, centered on economic issues.FENWICK-LAUTENBERG DEBATE FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC ISSUES 7 Oct 1982 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/07/nyregion/fenwick-lautenberg-debate-focuses-on-economic-issues.html Associated Press The New York Times 9 Aug 2021 Fenwick criticized Lautenberg for claiming to have created 16,000 jobs, most of which she said were created by acquisitions. Lautenberg denied this and said his business was created by "hard work." Lautenberg referred to Fenwick's congressional and legislative voting record as "anti-job," criticizing her vote to cut federally underwritten college loans. Fenwick criticized Lautenberg's support of an "American-made" bill that she said would cost 15,000 American jobs. The candidates also disagreed over the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, for which Fenwick voted. Lautenberg said the Act did too little to reduce inflation and that the appropriate way to cut unemployment was to fund technological training and fund transportation. Fenwick said that Lautenberg's criticism of spending cuts "reflects the old appetite for bigger government and more spending." Fenwick did criticize Reagan for imposing sanctions on a Soviet pipeline, expressing sympathy for "Solidarity and Polish dissidents" but saying that the sanctions "cost[] jobs in the United States." Fenwick described Lautenberg's performance in the fifth debate as "kind of pathetic." The sixth and final debate was held on October 31 and "reflected both the apparent closeness of the race and the acrimony that has often marked its final stages." Fenwick emphasized her image and character, and again criticized Lautenberg's campaign as outrageously deceptive. Lautenberg defending his campaign spending as "highlight[ing] her record" and attacked the national Republican slogan of "stay the course." He blamed her criticism on tightening polls.https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/01/nyregion/mrs-fenwick-and-lautenberg-meet-in-final-debate.html MRS. FENWICK AND LAUTENBERG MEET IN FINAL DEBATE 1 Nov 1982 Norman Michael The New York Times 9 Aug 2021 Jobs and the economy remained the major issue. Lautenberg contended that Fenwick supported cuts to Social Security benefits, which she denied. Lautenberg directly defended his campaign literature tying Fenwick to Strom Thurmond, arguing that while he was "not accusing Mrs. Fenwick of anti-voting rights views," her victory would preserve the Republican Senate majority and thereby empower Thurmond. After the debate, Fenwick said she would prefer a new chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee to replace Thurmond. Endorsements Millicent Fenwick (R) Federal executive branch officials Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States Gerald Ford, 38th President of the United States2 IN JERSEY SENATE RACE REAP A SUMMER PROFIT 20 Aug 1982 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/20/nyregion/2-in-jersey-senate-race-reap-a-summer-profit.html 9 Aug 2021 Bill Brock, U.S. Trade Representative and former U.S. Senator from Tennessee U.S. Senators Bob Packwood, U.S. Senator from Oregon U.S. Representatives James Courter, U.S. Representative from Hackettstown Matt Rinaldo, U.S. Representative from Union Township State officials Thomas Kean, Governor of New Jersey Newspapers Asbury Park Press The Bridgewater Courier News Burlington County Times The Trentonian Frank Lautenberg (D) Federal executive branch officials Walter Mondale, former Vice President of the United States U.S. Senators Ted Kennedy, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts Daniel Patrick Moynihan, U.S. Senator from New York Newspapers The Hackensack Record The New Brunswick Home News The New York Times The Philadelphia Inquirer The Trenton Times Results Lautenberg won by 69,923 votes, in what was considered a major upset. General election resultshttp://www.njelections.org/election-results/1982-general-results-us-senate.pdf Votes Cast for the Office of United States Senator Secretary of State of New Jersey 1982 June 25, 2016 Democratic Party (United States) Frank Lautenberg 1,117,549 50.94% 9.72 Republican Party (United States) Millicent Fenwick 1,047,626 47.75% 9.40 Libertarian Party (United States) Henry Koch 9,934 0.45% 0.27 Socialist Labor Party (US) Julius Levin 5,580 0.25% 0.08 Independent politician Martin E. Wendelken 4,745 0.22% N/A Socialist Workers Party (US) Claire Moriarty 3,726 0.17% N/A Grassroots Robert T. Bastien 2,955 0.14% N/A Rose Zeidwerg Monyek Repeal TF 807 1,830 0.08% N/A 2,193,945 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Results by county CountyNJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive https://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-results.shtml 2025-01-16 nj.gov Lautenberg % Lautenberg votes Fenwick % Fenwick votes Other % Other votes Atlantic 53.7% 30,801 44.7% 25,606 1.6% 901 Bergen 48.5% 147,811 50.7% 154,691 0.8% 2,582 Burlington 49.4% 48,035 49.6% 48,215 1.0% 958 Camden 57.9% 75,389 41.0% 53,394 1.2% 1,534 Cape May 43.5% 12,875 55.1% 16,310 1.3% 394 Cumberland 54.4% 17,834 43.5% 14,250 2.1% 689 Essex 60.6% 126,766 38.1% 79,654 1.3% 2,672 Gloucester 54.1% 33,409 44.2% 27,280 1.7% 1,067 Hudson 69.4% 97,636 29.0% 40,766 1.6% 2,306 Hunterdon 32.3% 8,340 65.4% 16,896 2.3% 605 Mercer 54.1% 52,593 44.7% 43,431 1.2% 1,171 Middlesex 53.9% 94,351 44.6% 78,067 1.6% 2,769 Monmouth 47.2% 76,430 51.5% 83,457 1.4% 2,207 Morris 33.1% 41,134 66.1% 82,251 0.8% 1,031 Ocean 44.5% 55,046 54.8% 67,701 0.7% 878Passaic 56.0% 61,397 41.4% 45,353 2.6% 2,891 Salem 49.9% 9,994 47.6% 9,528 2.5% 495 Somerset 31.3% 22,030 68.3% 48,067 0.4% 313 Sussex 36.6% 11,506 62.0% 19,498 1.4% 435 Union 49.97% 83,436 48.6% 81,211 1.4% 2,325 Warren 46.6% 10,736 52.0% 12,000 1.4% 319 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Bergen Burlington Cape May Hunterdon Monmouth Morris Ocean Somerset Sussex Warren 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 Republican #ca0120 Flip Aftermath Brady, who had just a few days left in his appointed term, resigned on December 27, 1982, allowing Lautenberg to take office several days before the traditional swearing-in of senators, which gave him an edge in seniority over the other freshman senators. After her term expired in January, Fenwick retired from electoral politics. President Reagan appointed her United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture and she served from 1983 to 1987. The age issue would be used against Lautenberg in his own re-election bid in 2008. See also 1982 United States Senate elections References 30em 1982 New Jersey Category:1982 New Jersey elections