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2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey

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2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey

← 2000 November 7, 2006 2012 →
  Robert Menendez official photo (cropped).jpg Rep. Tom Kean official photo, 118th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee Bob Menendez Thomas Kean Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,200,843 997,775
Percentage 53.3% 44.3%

2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey results map by county.svg
County results
Menendez:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Kean:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Menendez
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Menendez
Democratic

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 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.[1] Menendez and Kean both survived nominal intra-party challenges.

Menendez was the first Latino elected to statewide office. As of 2023, this is the most recent U.S. Senate election in New Jersey decided by a single digit percentage margin.

Discover more about 2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey related topics

Bob Menendez

Bob Menendez

Robert Menendez is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from New Jersey, a seat he has held since 2006. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first appointed to the U.S. Senate by Governor Jon Corzine, and chaired the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 2013 to 2015, and again since 2021.

Thomas Kean Jr.

Thomas Kean Jr.

Thomas Howard Kean Jr. is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from New Jersey's 7th congressional district since 2023. He represented New Jersey's 21st legislative district in the New Jersey Senate from 2003 to 2022, serving as minority leader from 2008 to 2022. A member of the Republican Party, Kean is the son of former New Jersey governor Thomas Kean.

Democratic Party (United States)

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States. Founded in 1828, it was predominantly built by Martin Van Buren, who assembled politicians in every state behind war hero Andrew Jackson, making it the world's oldest active political party. Its main political rival has been the Republican Party since the 1850s, with both parties being big tents of competing and often opposing viewpoints. Modern American liberalism — a variant of social liberalism — is the party's majority ideology. The party also has notable centrist, social democratic, and left-libertarian factions.

Jon Corzine

Jon Corzine

Jon Stevens Corzine is an American financial executive and retired politician who served as a United States Senator from New Jersey from 2001 to 2006 and the 54th governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. Corzine ran for a second term as governor but lost to Republican Chris Christie. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously worked at Goldman Sachs; after leaving politics, he was CEO of MF Global from 2010 until its collapse in 2011.

Governor of New Jersey

Governor of New Jersey

The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official residence of the governor is Drumthwacket, a mansion located in Princeton, New Jersey. The governor’s office is located inside of the New Jersey State House in Trenton, making New Jersey notable as the executive’s office is located in the same building as the legislature. New Jersey is also notable for being one of the few states in which the governor’s official residence is not located in the state capital.

Latin America

Latin America

Latin America is a cultural concept denoting the Americas where Romance languages—languages derived from Latin—are predominantly spoken. The term was coined in the nineteenth century, to refer to regions in the Americas that were ruled by the Spanish, Portuguese and French empires. The term does not have a precise definition, but it is "commonly used to describe South America, Central America, Mexico, and the islands of the Caribbean." In a narrow sense, it refers to Spanish America, Brazil, French West Indies and French Antillean Creole speaking Caribbean countries. The term "Latin America" is broader than categories such as Hispanic America, which specifically refers to Spanish-speaking countries; and Ibero-America, a term not generally used that specifically refers to Spanish, French and French Creole-speaking countries and Portuguese-speaking countries sometimes leaving French and British excolonies aside.

Background

Senator Jon Corzine was elected Governor in 2005 and took office in January 2006. Upon his inauguration, he resigned from the Senate and appointed Bob Menendez, a U.S. Representative from Union City, to complete the remaining year of his term.

Upon his appointment, Menendez became the first Hispanic to hold a U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

2006 Democratic Senate Primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Menendez (incumbent) 159,604 84.03%
Democratic James D. Kelly 30,340 15.97%
Total votes 189,944 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Ginty represented the conservative wing of the New Jersey Republican Party. Kean ran as a moderate.

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.[3] Kean eventually accepted the BCRO endorsement.

Ginty's entrance into the primary complicated matters for Kean, who had to consider moving to the right to secure the Republican nomination, something that would likely hamper his chances of defeating Menendez in November. Kean's supporters argued there is virtually no chance for an anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage Republican to win a statewide election in New Jersey, where 66% of the voters self-identified as pro-abortion and polls illustrate a distinct majority supported gay marriage.

On March 20, Kean arrived late to a fundraising event for his campaign, after featured guest Vice President Dick Cheney had left, which some accused of him doing deliberately to avoid the chance of photographs of the two together.[4]

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.[5] 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."[6] Ginty announced that he favors oil exploration in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, something that Kean and Menendez both opposed.[7]

Results

2006 Republican Senate Primary[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Kean Jr. 129,794 75.63%
Republican James P. Ginty 41,828 24.37%
Total votes 171,622 100.00%

Discover more about Republican primary related topics

Westfield, New Jersey

Westfield, New Jersey

Westfield is a town in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Manhattan. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 31,032, an increase of 716 (+2.4%) from the 2010 census count of 30,316, which in turn reflected an increase of 672 (+2.3%) from the 29,644 counted in the 2000 census.

Thomas Kean

Thomas Kean

Thomas Howard Kean is an American businessman, academic administrator and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Kean served as the 48th governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Following his tenure as governor, Kean served as the president of Drew University for 15 years, retiring in 2005.

Bergen County, New Jersey

Bergen County, New Jersey

Bergen County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the county's population was 955,732, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 50,616 (+5.6%) from the 2010 census count of 905,116, which in turn reflected an increase of 20,998 (2.4%) from the 884,118 counted in the 2000 census. Located in the northeastern corner of New Jersey and its Gateway Region, Bergen County and its many inner suburbs constitute a highly developed part of the New York City metropolitan area, bordering the Hudson River; the George Washington Bridge, which crosses the Hudson, connects Bergen County with Manhattan.

Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney

Richard Bruce Cheney is an American politician and businessman who served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. He is currently the oldest living former U.S. vice president, following the death of Walter Mondale in 2021.

Governor of New Jersey

Governor of New Jersey

The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official residence of the governor is Drumthwacket, a mansion located in Princeton, New Jersey. The governor’s office is located inside of the New Jersey State House in Trenton, making New Jersey notable as the executive’s office is located in the same building as the legislature. New Jersey is also notable for being one of the few states in which the governor’s official residence is not located in the state capital.

Jon Corzine

Jon Corzine

Jon Stevens Corzine is an American financial executive and retired politician who served as a United States Senator from New Jersey from 2001 to 2006 and the 54th governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. Corzine ran for a second term as governor but lost to Republican Chris Christie. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously worked at Goldman Sachs; after leaving politics, he was CEO of MF Global from 2010 until its collapse in 2011.

Middlesex County, New Jersey

Middlesex County, New Jersey

Middlesex County is located in central New Jersey, United States, extending inland from the Raritan Valley region to the northern portion of the Jersey Shore. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county's population was enumerated at 863,162, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 53,304 (6.6%) from the 809,858 residents counted at the 2010 census. Middlesex is New Jersey's third-most populous county and is part of the New York metropolitan area. Many communities within the county serve as commuter towns to and from New York City and other points north.

Sierra Club

Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is an environmental organization with chapters in all 50 United States, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The club was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by Scottish-American preservationist John Muir, who became the first president as well as the longest-serving president, at approximately 20 years in this leadership position. The Sierra Club operates only in the United States and holds the legal status of 501(c)(4) nonprofit social welfare organization. Sierra Club Canada is a separate entity.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in northeastern Alaska, United States on traditional Gwich'in lands. It consists of 19,286,722 acres (78,050.59 km2) in the Alaska North Slope region. It is the largest national wildlife refuge in the country, slightly larger than the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is administered from offices in Fairbanks. ANWR includes a large variety of species of plants and animals, such as polar bears, grizzly bears, black bears, moose, caribou, wolves, eagles, lynx, wolverine, marten, beaver and migratory birds, which rely on the refuge.

Republican Party (United States)

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP, is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. The GOP was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists who opposed the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which allowed for the potential expansion of chattel slavery into the western territories. It has been the main political rival of the Democratic Party since the mid-1850s. Like them, the Republican Party is a big tent of competing and often opposing ideologies. Presently, the Republican Party contains prominent conservative, centrist, populist, and right-libertarian factions.

Thomas Kean Jr.

Thomas Kean Jr.

Thomas Howard Kean Jr. is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from New Jersey's 7th congressional district since 2023. He represented New Jersey's 21st legislative district in the New Jersey Senate from 2003 to 2022, serving as minority leader from 2008 to 2022. A member of the Republican Party, Kean is the son of former New Jersey governor Thomas Kean.

General election

Candidates

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 President George W. Bush and the Iraq War in New Jersey.

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.[17]

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."[18]

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.[19][20][21] The Bergen Record made an issue of Menendez's campaign spending, claiming the majority of his recent spending was not for traditional campaign activities.[22]

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."[23] 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.[24] The film was never completed.[25]

In mid-summer, Jon Corzine and the Democratic-controlled state legislature held a brief shutdown of state government, which ultimately resulted in a sales tax increase.

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.[26] 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.[27] Menendez maintains that he rented the property out below market-value because "he was supportive of its work".[28] 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."[29][30] Menendez maintained that he received verbal clearance from the House Ethics Committee in 1994 before entering a lease agreement with the nonprofit.[29]

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."[31] 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".[29][32] Kean said his campaign "absolutely" did not have any contact at any point with Christie or his office regarding the probe.[31]

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.[33] The report noted that Kean aides denied any connection between the votes and the contributions.

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."[34]

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.[35][36] 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.[37]

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.[38]

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.[39]

Debates/forums

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.[40] 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.[41]

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.[42]

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%."[43]

The New Jersey Educational Association PAC also endorsed Menendez.[44]

Polling

Source Date Menendez (D) Kean Jr. (R)
Quinnipiac November 22, 2005 41% 39%
Rasmussen December 7, 2005 38% 34%
Quinnipiac December 15, 2005 44% 38%
Fairleigh Dickinson January 16, 2006 25% 37%
Rasmussen January 25, 2006 35% 42%
Quinnipiac January 25, 2006 38% 36%
Strategic Vision (R) February 8, 2006 28% 33%
Rasmussen February 14, 2006 39% 36%
Fairleigh Dickinson March 6, 2006 42% 37%
Strategic Vision (R) March 10, 2006 30% 32%
Quinnipiac March 20, 2006 40% 36%
Rasmussen March 31, 2006 39% 41%
Rutgers/Eagleton April 4, 2006 40% 35%
Fairleigh Dickinson April 6, 2006 38% 42%
Strategic Vision (R) April 14, 2006 32% 34%
Rasmussen April 18, 2006 36% 43%
Quinnipiac April 18–24, 2006 40% 34%
Strategic Vision (R) May 12–14, 2006 35% 35%
Rasmussen May 26, 2006 37% 40%
Quinnipiac June 7–13, 2006 43% 36%
Strategic Vision (R) June 16–18, 2006 38% 36%
Rutgers/Eagleton June 23, 2006 42% 38%
Rasmussen June 27, 2006 46% 40%
Strategic Vision (R) July 12, 2006 43% 37%
Monmouth University July 17, 2006 38% 37%
Quinnipiac July 17, 2006 38% 40%
Fairleigh Dickinson July 20, 2006 43% 40%
Public Opinion Strategies (R) August 2, 2006 38% 39%
Rasmussen August 4, 2006 44% 38%
Strategic Vision (R) August 17, 2006 42% 40%
Fairleigh Dickinson August 30, 2006 39% 43%
Rasmussen August 31, 2006 39% 44%
Strategic Vision (R) September 14, 2006 40% 44%
Quinnipiac September 20, 2006 45% 48%
Monmouth University September 24, 2006 38% 44%
Rasmussen September 25, 2006 40% 41%
Rutgers/Eagleton September 28, 2006 45% 44%
WNBC/Marist Poll September 30, 2006 37% 42%
Mason-Dixon/MSNBC October 2, 2006 44% 41%
Strategic Vision (R) October 5, 2006 41% 46%
Fairleigh Dickinson October 5, 2006 46% 39%
USA Today/Gallup October 6, 2006 46% 43%
Quinnipiac October 12, 2006 49% 45%
Rasmussen October 14, 2006 42% 39%
Monmouth University October 22, 2006 48% 39%
Mason-Dixon/McClatchy-MSNBC October 24, 2006 45% 42%
Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg October 24, 2006 45% 41%
Bennett, Petts & Blumenthal (D) October 23–25, 2006 45% 36%
Rasmussen October 25, 2006 45% 45%
CBS News/New York Times October 26, 2006 40% 39%
Rasmussen October 30, 2006 49% 44%
Strategic Vision (R) October 31, 2006 43% 42%
CNN/Opinion Research Corporation October 31, 2006 51% 44%
Quinnipiac October 31, 2006 49% 44%
Rutgers/Eagleton November 2, 2006 46% 42%
Reuters/Zogby International November 2, 2006 49% 37%
Fairleigh Dickinson/PublicMind November 2, 2006 48% 38%
Rasmussen Archived February 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine November 3, 2006 48% 43%
WNBC/Marist Poll November 4, 2006 50% 42%
Monmouth University/Gannett November 5, 2006 45% 42%
Mason-Dixon/MSNBC-McClatchy November 5, 2006 48% 41%
USA Today/Gallup November 5, 2006 50% 40%
Strategic Vision (R) November 6, 2006 49% 42%
Quinnipiac November 6, 2006 48% 43%
OnPoint 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. Some attributed Kean's early strong showing in the polls to uninformed voters confusing him with his father, the popular former governor and 9/11 Commission chairman.[45]

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.[46][47][48]

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%.[49][50] The poll also found that Governor Jon Corzine received an approval rate of only 43%, with 48% of the state disapproving.[51]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[52] Tossup November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[53] Tossup November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[54] Lean D November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[55] Lean D November 6, 2006

Results

United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2006[56]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Menendez (incumbent) 1,200,843 53.37% +3.26%
Republican Thomas Kean, Jr. 997,775 44.34% -2.76%
Libertarian Len Flynn 14,637 0.65% +0.41%
Marijuana Edward Forchion 11,593 0.52%
Independent J.M. Carter 7,918 0.35% +0.15%
Independent N. Leonard Smith 6,243 0.28%
Independent Daryl Brooks 5,138 0.23%
Socialist Workers Angela Lariscy 3,433 0.15% +0.03
Socialist Gregory Pason 2,490 0.11%
Majority 203,068 9.03%
Turnout 2,250,070 39.47%
Democratic hold Swing 3.26%

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New Jersey's 12th congressional district

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Ed Forchion

Ed Forchion

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Bob Menendez

Bob Menendez

Robert Menendez is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from New Jersey, a seat he has held since 2006. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first appointed to the U.S. Senate by Governor Jon Corzine, and chaired the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 2013 to 2015, and again since 2021.

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Ocean County, New Jersey

Ocean County, New Jersey

Ocean County is a county located along the Jersey Shore in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The county borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Its county seat is Toms River. Since 1990, Ocean County has been one of New Jersey's fastest-growing counties. As of the 2020 United States census, the county was the state's sixth-most-populous county, with a population of 637,229, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 60,662 (+10.5%) from the 2010 census count of 576,567, which in turn reflected an increase of 65,651 (+12.8%) from the 2000 census population of 510,916. The county was the fastest-growing county in New Jersey between 2000 and 2010 in terms of increase in the number of residents and second-highest in the percentage of growth. Ocean County was established on February 15, 1850, from portions of Monmouth County, with the addition of Little Egg Harbor Township which was annexed from Burlington County on March 30, 1891. The most populous municipality is Lakewood Township, with 135,158 residents in 2020, up from 92,843 at the 2010 Census while Jackson Township covers 100.62 square miles (260.6 km2), the largest total area of any municipality in the county.

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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.'"[57] A later Times editorial stated, "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."[58]

Kean likely also suffered from the unpopularity of Republican President George W. Bush and the Iraq War. Some pollsters 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.[59] 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."[60] 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."[61]

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 federal corruption charges, which were dropped in 2018. The United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics "severely admonished" him.

Discover more about Analysis related topics

The New York Times

The New York Times

The New York Times, also referred to as the Gray Lady, is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2022 to comprise 740,000 paid print subscribers, and 8.6 million paid digital subscribers. It also is a producer of popular podcasts such as The Daily. Founded in 1851, it is published by The New York Times Company. The Times has won 132 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any newspaper, and has long been regarded as a national "newspaper of record". For print, it is ranked 18th in the world by circulation and 3rd in the United States. The newspaper is headquartered at The New York Times Building in Times Square, Manhattan.

George W. Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush is an American retired politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party and the Bush family, he previously served as the 46th governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

Iraq War

Iraq War

The Iraq War was a protracted armed conflict in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 that began with the invasion of Iraq by the United States-led coalition that overthrew the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein. The conflict continued for much of the next decade as an insurgency emerged to oppose the coalition forces and the post-invasion Iraqi government. US troops were officially withdrawn in 2011. The United States became re-involved in 2014 at the head of a new coalition, and the insurgency and many dimensions of the armed conflict are ongoing. The invasion occurred as part of the George W. Bush administration's war on terror following the September 11 attacks, despite no connection between Iraq and the attacks.

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university with its main campuses in Madison, New Jersey. Founded in 1942, Fairleigh Dickinson University offers more than 100 degree programs. In addition to two campuses in New Jersey, the university has a campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, one in Wroxton, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, and an online platform. Fairleigh Dickinson University is New Jersey's largest private institution of higher education, with over 12,000 students.

Chris Christie

Chris Christie

Christopher James Christie is an American politician, lawyer, political commentator, lobbyist, and former federal prosecutor who served as the 55th governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018.

United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics

United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics

The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics is a select committee of the United States Senate charged with dealing with matters related to senatorial ethics. It is also commonly referred to as the Senate Ethics Committee. Senate rules require the Ethics Committee to be evenly divided between the Democrats and the Republicans, no matter who controls the Senate, although the chairman always comes from the majority party. The leading committee member of the minority party is referred to as Vice Chairman rather than the more common Ranking Member.

Source: "2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, January 25th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_United_States_Senate_election_in_New_Jersey.

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External links
Official campaign websites (Archived)

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