New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2001

New Jersey Gubernatorial election, 2001

November 6, 2001

125px Candidate Jim McGreevey Bret Schundler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,126,853 1,058,174 Percentage 56.1% 41.1%

County Results

Governor before election Donald DiFrancesco Republican Elected Governor Jim McGreevey Democratic

The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 2001 was a race for the Governor of New Jersey. It was held on November 6, 2001. Primaries took place on June 25. Democrat nominee Jim McGreevey won the general election with 56% of the vote — the first majority-elected governor since James Florio. His Republican opponent in that race was Bret Schundler.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Jim McGreevey, 1997 Democratic nominee for Governor, former State Senator, Woodbridge Mayor
• Elliot Greenspan

Results

Democratic Primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim McGreevey	250,404	95.54
	Democratic	Elliot Greenspan	11,682	4.46
Total votes			262,086	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bob Franks, former U.S. Congressman
• Bret Schundler, Mayor of Jersey City

Campaign

Towards the end of his tenure as mayor, Schundler served as chairman of the Hudson County Republican Committee, and in 2001, Schundler won the Republican gubernatorial nomination, facing former Congressman Bob Franks, a considerably more moderate Republican who was favored by the party establishment. Franks entered the race in April, two months before the primary, after Gov. Donald DiFrancesco dropped out of the race because of an unending series of newspaper stories highlighting ethics concerns. He was backed by Gov. DiFrancesco's political organization and endorsed by every county Republican committee except Schundler's base in Hudson County.

Schundler employed a more grassroots style of campaigning, visiting many local GOP organizations and forming close relationships with the Young Republicans and the College Republicans, as well as with conservative groups, including those active in homeschooling issues. The grassroots support he built up enabled him to win the nomination by a robust 15-point margin.

Results

Republican Primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bret Schundler	193,342	57.38
	Republican	Bob Franks	143,606	42.62
Total votes			336,948	100

General election

Candidates

• James McGreevey (D)
• Bret Schundler (R)
• William E. Schluter (I)
• Jerry Coleman (G)
• Mark Edgerton (L)
• Michael Koontz (C)
• Costantino Rozzo (S)
• Kari Sachs (SW)

Campaign

After winning the primary, Schundler tried to reunite the party by reaching out to the figures who had endorsed Franks. This included having a unity lunch with Franks which was hosted by former Gov. Tom Kean, and retaining New Jersey State Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos as state party chairman. Kyrillos had been appointed by DiFrancesco as state party chairman six weeks before the primary, and he had supported Franks in the primary. However, the party remained split. Jim McGreevey, the Democratic candidate, exploited this division by painting Schundler as too conservative for New Jersey.

Results

New Jersey Gubernatorial Election, 2001

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim McGreevey	1,126,853	56.11%	+4.29%
	Republican	Bret Schundler	1,058,174	41.10%	+0.23%
	Independent	Bill Schluter	24,084	1.08%
	Green	Jerry L. Coleman	6,238	0.28%	-0.16%
	Libertarian	Mark Edgerton	4,684	0.21%	-4.51%
	Independent	George Watson, Jr.	2,568	0.12%
	Conservative	Michael W. Koontz	1,949	0.09%	-1.36%
	Socialist	Costantino Rozzo	1,537	0.07%	-0.05%
	Socialist Workers	Kari Sachs	1,078	0.05%	-0.07%
Majority			328,679	14.76%	+13.71%
Turnout			2,227,165
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing