New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1997
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 1997 was a race for Governor of New Jersey
. It was held on November 4, 1997. In the Democratic primary state senator and Woodbridge Township
mayor James McGreevey defeated pre-primary front-runner Rep. Rob Andrews
by 9,993 votes. Polls during the last month of the race showed incumbent Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
(R) with only a slim lead. On election night Whitman prevailed over McGreevey by a margin of 26,953 votes. Republican nominee and incumbent Governor Christine Todd Whitman
won re-election by a 1.05% margin, winning 46.87% of the vote, and with Democratic nominee James McGreevy receiving 45.82% and Libertarian
Murray Sabrin
receiving 4.7%.
In September, McGreevey unveiled two TV ads criticizing Whitman and focusing on property taxes, auto insurance rates, pension bond debts and education standards. The DNC also spent $1 million during the home stretch of the campaign on television ads for Democratic candidates statewide.
http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1997&fips=34&off=5&elect=0&f=0
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. It was held on November 4, 1997. In the Democratic primary state senator and Woodbridge Township
Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
-Communities:Many distinct communities exist within Woodbridge Township. Several of these communities have their own ZIP codes, and many are listed by the United States Census Bureau as census-designated places, but they are all unincorporated areas and neighborhoods within the Township that,...
mayor James McGreevey defeated pre-primary front-runner Rep. Rob Andrews
Rob Andrews
Robert Ernest "Rob" Andrews is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Camden County and parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County....
by 9,993 votes. Polls during the last month of the race showed incumbent Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
(R) with only a slim lead. On election night Whitman prevailed over McGreevey by a margin of 26,953 votes. Republican nominee and incumbent Governor Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
won re-election by a 1.05% margin, winning 46.87% of the vote, and with Democratic nominee James McGreevy receiving 45.82% and Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
Murray Sabrin
Murray Sabrin
Murray Sabrin is a professor of finance in the Anisfield School of Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey,. In 2008 he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in New Jersey, the seat currently held by Democrat Frank Lautenberg...
receiving 4.7%.
Candidates
- Jim McGreeveyJim McGreeveyJames Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
, Mayor of Woodbridge TownshipWoodbridge Township, New Jersey-Communities:Many distinct communities exist within Woodbridge Township. Several of these communities have their own ZIP codes, and many are listed by the United States Census Bureau as census-designated places, but they are all unincorporated areas and neighborhoods within the Township that,...
, New Jersey State Senator - Rob AndrewsRob AndrewsRobert Ernest "Rob" Andrews is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Camden County and parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County....
, U.S. Congressman - Michael Murphy, Morris CountyMorris County, New JerseyMorris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
Prosecutor - Frank C. Marmo, perennial candidate
Results
Results
Candidates
- James McGreevey (D), State Senator and Mayor of Woodbridge
- Christine Todd WhitmanChristine Todd WhitmanChristine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
(R), incumbent Governor
Campaign
In June, a 60-second radio ad paid for by the New Jersey Republican Party focused on the 30% income tax cut and 180,000 new jobs. Whitman ads blamed McGreevey for the state's auto insurance rates. The Whitman campaign emphasized the drops in unemployment, violent crime and welfare rolls during her term. Other ads took aim at McGreevey's record on taxes, particularly his support for former Gov. Jim Florio's (D) tax increase. The RNC criticized former Gov. Jim Florio (D) in an ad October, calling his 1990 tax increase a result of electing "liberal Democrats".In September, McGreevey unveiled two TV ads criticizing Whitman and focusing on property taxes, auto insurance rates, pension bond debts and education standards. The DNC also spent $1 million during the home stretch of the campaign on television ads for Democratic candidates statewide.
Polling
| Source | Month | Whitman (R) | McGreevey (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac College | June | 47% | 33% |
| Newark Star Ledger | June | 49% | 33% |
| Quinnipiac College | July | 46% | 39% |
| Asbury Park Press | August | 35% | 33% |
| New York Times | September | 44% | 35% |
| Mason Dixon | September | 46% | 36% |
| Quinnipiac College | September | 49% | 37% |
| Newark Star-Ledger | September | 47% | 35% |
| Quinnipiac College | October | 45% | 37% |
| Mason Dixon | October | 46% | 37% |
| Newark Star-Ledger | October | 42% | 38% |
| New York Post | October | 39% | 35% |
| New York Post | November | 39% | 37% |
| Reuters | November | 38% | 38% |
| Mason Dixon | November | 44% | 41% |
Issues
In October, a poll found that voters of NJ called auto insurance the most important issue in the campaign, and property taxes second.Debates
Three debates on October 18, 21 and 24, Whitman, McGreevey and Sabrin traded barbs on their dueling auto insurance plans, property taxes, state spending and the Atlantic City tunnel, a $215 million project for which a private investor gave $55 million.Results
Sources
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/njgov/results.htmhttp://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1997&fips=34&off=5&elect=0&f=0