1970 United States Senate election in New Jersey

none March 2026 September 2023 1970 United States Senate election in New Jersey New Jersey Presidential no 70%https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/other/2022-1925-general-election-data.pdf General Election Data - 1924 to 2022 NJ.gov ( 18pp) 1964 United States Senate election in New Jersey 1964 1976 United States Senate election in New Jersey 1976 November 3, 1970 150x150px Harrison Williams(D-NJ).jpg Harrison A. Williams Democratic Party (United States) 1,157,074 54.02% Nelson Gross 1970 (cropped).jpg Nelson G. Gross Republican Party (United States) 903,026 42.16% 1970 United States Senate election in New Jersey results map by county.svg 280px County resultsWilliams: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70%Gross: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% U.S. senator Harrison A. Williams Democratic Party (US) Harrison A. Williams Democratic Party (US) The 1970 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democrat Harrison A. Williams defeated Republican nominee Nelson G. Gross with 54.02% of the vote. Primary elections were held on June 2, 1970.https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/1920-1970//1970-primary-election.pdf 1970 Primary Election Results Secretary of State of New Jersey 1970 May 4, 2019 Williams held off a challenge from the Hudson County party organization in the form of State Senator Frank Guarini, while Gross prevailed over two candidates without organizational support.The New York Times Williams and Gross Win Jersey Senate Primaries Sullivan Ronald 3 Jun 1970 https://www.nytimes.com/1970/06/03/archives/williams-and-gross-win-jersey-senate-primaries-williams-and-gross.html 23 Mar 2022 Background Harrison Williams was first elected to the United States Senate in 1958; he narrowly defeated Hoboken mayor John Grogan in the Democratic primary and U.S. representative Robert Kean in the general election. He was re-elected in a landslide in 1964. In 1968, Williams was formally censured by the New Jersey chapter of the NAACP after he addressed their annual convention drunk. After the censure, leaders in both parties saw Williams as politically vulnerable, with Republicans hoping to gain his seat and Middlesex County Democratic boss David Wilentz weighing replacing him on the ballot.1970-05-21 Williams, a Nondrinker Since '68, Tells of Past (Published 1970) https://www.nytimes.com/1970/05/21/archives/williams-a-nondrinker-since-68-tells-of-past.html 2025-08-08 en Democratic primary Candidates Frank Joseph Guarini, state senator from Hudson County Harrison A. Williams, incumbent U.S. senator since 1959 Campaign Guarini ran as the candidate of the powerful Hudson County machine. As in 1958, the machine hoped to defeat Williams by running up a large margin in Hudson County, which accounted for the majority of the state's Democratic vote. Guarini campaigned on themes that echoed Republican President Richard Nixon's 1968 campaign, calling himself a candidate who would uphold “law and order” and a champion of the “silent majority” and the “forgotten taxpayer." Guarini also emphasized his Italian ancestry.Williams and Gross Favored in Jersey 31 May 1970 23 Mar 2022 https://www.nytimes.com/1970/05/31/archives/williams-and-cross-favored-in-jersey.html The New York Times Sullivan Ronald In a May interview with The New York Times, Williams confessed to past struggles resulting from alcoholism and said that he had been sober for eighteen months, shortly after his disastrous NAACP speech. The interview prompted Guarini campaign manager Arthur J. Sills to claim the party should not "risk" supporting a former alcoholic. Sills was rebuked by most of the party leadership in New Jersey, including former governor Richard J. Hughes, under whom Sills had served as Attorney General. Hughes praised Williams's courage, and he denounced Guarini as "someone who crawled out of the woodwork" and Sills for trying to inject “the meanest kind of issue” into the race. Hughes further suggested Sills, who used a wheelchair due to polio, “ought to be the last man in the world to hurt anybody with a disease, illness or handicap.” Of all primary candidates in either party, Williams took the strongest stance against American involvement in the Vietnam War; he called for unilateral withdrawal within one year. Guarini also supported withdrawal but contended that the United States should have gone into Vietnam to win instead of “tying the generals' hands.” Williams received the unified support of organized labor late in the campaign. After Senator Ralph Yarborough unexpectedly lost the Democratic primary in Texas to Lloyd Bentsen on May 2, Williams became the potential next chair of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. As a result, national labor unions flooded New Jersey with donations and volunteers in support of Williams.Wildstein David 2019-09-02 Labor: How a Texas primary helped focus unions on Pete Williams https://newjerseyglobe.com/labor/labor-how-a-texas-primary-helped-focus-unions-on-pete-williams/ 2025-08-08 New Jersey Globe en-US Results Democratic primary results Harrison A. Williams (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 190,692 65.59% Frank Joseph Guarini Democratic Party (United States) 100,045 34.41% 290,737 100.00 Williams won the primary easily; he nearly finished even with Guarini in Hudson County. Republican primary Candidates Joseph T. Gavin Nelson G. Gross, chair of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and former assemblyman from Saddle River James A. Quaremba, Ridgewood attorney Declined Joseph Maraziti, State Senator from Morris Countyhttps://www.nytimes.com/1970/04/09/archives/gross-quits-as-gop-chairman-in-jersey-to-run-for-the-senate.html GROSS QUITS AS G.O.P. CHAIRMAN IN JERSEY TO RUN FOR THE SENATE 9 Apr 1970 20 Aug 2021 44 The New York Times Campaign Nelson Gross resigned his position as party chairman on April 9 to enter the race for Senate with the full-backing of Governor William T. Cahill. Cahill's support discouraged any serious contenders from challenging Gross in the primary. Gross also had the support of President Richard Nixon. As a member of the New Jersey delegation to the 1968 Republican National Convention, Gross had flipped from favorite son Clifford Case to support Nixon and helped secure his nomination. Gross was nonetheless privately criticized as a poor choice by some Republicans due to his ongoing investigation by the United States Department of Justice for involvement with a Mafia-backed labor union. The investigation was led by U.S. Attorney Frederick Bernard Lacey, who had been personally recommended to the Nixon administration by Senator Clifford Case. Case and Gross had been on uneven terms since Gross undermined Case's "favorite son" status at the 1968 Republican National Convention by bringing Bergen County delegates into the Nixon column. On the war issue, Gross advocated for congressional restriction on the American incursion into Cambodia, but withheld calling for unilateral withdrawal, pending a fact-finding trip he pledged to take after the primary. Quaremba defended the Nixon administration's policy. Quaremba emphasized his Italian ancestry in the campaign. Joseph Gavin did not campaign actively. He ran only to provide a Senate heading on the ballot line for Assemblyman Walter T. Smith, who was running for the U.S. House of Representatives. By the end of the campaign, observers said that Gross had an "insurmountable" lead over Quaremba. He largely ignored Quaremba's campaign and spent the final week of the primary filming television ads for the general election. Results Although Gross won the primary easily, his margin was less than expected by many observers. Republican officials attributed the large vote against him to his position on the Vietnam War and support for restrictions on the Nixon administration.1970-06-04 Williams Campaigns (Published 1970) https://www.nytimes.com/1970/06/04/archives/williams-campaigns-gross-begins-vietnam-trip.html 2025-08-08 en Republican primary results Nelson G. Gross Republican Party (United States) 150,662 65.39% James A. Quaremba Republican Party (United States) 43,547 18.90% Joseph T. Gavin Republican Party (United States) 36,208 15.71% 230,417 100.00 General election Candidates Nelson G. Gross, former chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and State Assemblyman (Republican) Joseph F. Job, Bergen County Sheriff (Independent)Bergen Sheriff Plans to Run For Senate as Independent 23 Apr 1970 https://www.nytimes.com/1970/04/23/archives/bergen-sheriff-plans-to-run-for-senate-as-independent.html The New York Times 29 20 Aug 2021 Jules Levin (Socialist Labor) Joseph S. Mans (Independent) William J. O'Grady (Independent) Harrison A. Williams, incumbent Senator since 1959 (Democratic) Campaign thumb|left|Gross campaigned with President Richard Nixon in Ocean Grove on October 17. Gross assailed Williams as a "radical liberal" and implied that he was involved in "influence peddling" for having sponsored special bills for about 70 Chinese seamen who jumped ship in the United States.Test for G.O.P. in Jersey https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/15/archives/test-for-gop-in-jersey-williams-given-edge-in-senate-race-but-will.html 15 Oct 1970 20 Aug 2021 Sullivan Ronald The New York Times 53 In mid-October, President Richard Nixon campaigned for Gross as part of a one-day swing through Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin and New Jersey. Debates Williams declined numerous calls for debates. Endorsements Harrison Williams Newspapers The New York Times The New Jersey Senate Race 19 Oct 1970 https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/19/archives/the-new-jersey-senate-race.html 20 Aug 2021 The New York Times In our opinion, the case for the re‐election of Senator Williams is clear and persuasive... Senator Williams is far and away the better choice. The Trenton Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/26/archives/gross-vows-to-seek-us-aid-for-jersey.html Gross Vows to Seek U.S. Aid for Jersey 26 Oct 1970 The New York Times 20 Aug 2021 44 The Star-Ledger Nelson Gross U.S. executive branch officials Richard Nixon, 37th president of the United States Newspapers The Hackensack Record The Newark Sunday News Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror HarrisonWilliams (D) NelsonGross (R) Other Undecided RSCCPoll released by the Gross campaign. October 15, 1970 ? ± ?% 36% 32% 3% 29% Results 1970 United States Senate election in New Jerseyhttps://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/1920-1970//1970-general-election.pdf 1970 General Election Results Secretary of State of New Jersey 1970 May 4, 2019 Democratic Party (United States) Harrison A. Williams (incumbent) 1,157,074 54.02% 7.89 Republican Party (United States) Nelson G. Gross 903,026 42.16% 4.84 Independent politician Joseph F. Job 58,992 2.75% N/A Independent politician William J. O'Grady 12,938 0.60% N/A Independent politician Joseph S. Mans 6,066 0.28% N/A Socialist Labor Party of America Jules Levin 4,009 0.19% 0.11 254,048 2,142,105 Democratic Party (United States) By county By county yes #B0CEFF;line-height:135%; none County Williams votes Williams % Gross votes Gross % Other votes Other % Atlantic27,61847.5%28,59249.1%1,9663.4% Bergen163,21249.9%128,59139.3%35,34610.8% Burlington37,38252.6%32,64045.9%1,0441.5% Camden65,59753.5%55,48345.2%1,5861.2% Cape May9,59142.0%12,79756.1%4261.8% Cumberland17,60553.3%15,16945.9%2430.7% Essex146,12959.2%94,61538.3%6,1092.5% Gloucester25,58647.2%28,34152.2%3350.6% Hudson121,34568.0%51,87929.1%5,1852.9% Hunterdon9,55645.4%11,16153.0%3391.6% Mercer53,08458.7%35,88139.7%1,4271.5% Middlesex101,45859.7%65,30538.4%3,1941.9% Monmouth65,00350.7%59,97746.8%3,1622.4% Morris50,61544.8%58,70252.0%3,5373.1% Ocean30,50944.8%35,97552.8%1,6352.4% Passaic67,68353.0%52,21740.9%7,7486.0% Salem10,30251.6%9,57748.0%710.3% Somerset28,73947.7%29,88549.6%1,6512.8% Sussex10,03043.5%12,70655.1%3431.5% Union104,39256.5%73,74939.9%6,4913.5% Warren11,63853.9%9,78445.3%1670.8% Total1,157,07454.0%903,02642.2%82,0053.8% Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Atlantic Cape May Hunterdon Gloucester Ocean Somerset NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive https://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-results.shtml 2025-01-16 nj.gov References 1970 New Jersey United States Senate