1960 NJ Presidential Election

The 1960 Presidential Election in New Jersey, a Contest between the Irish Catholic Senator from Massachussets John F. Kennedy and the Protestant Vice President from California Richard M. Nixon returned a victory for Kennedy on the backs of many normally Republican Catholics.

Despite this, Kennedy's strength among Catholics was tempered by his weakness with Italian Americans, which can be showcased in a weaker than expected Showing in Jersey City, which under Boss John V. Kenny did not maintain the same level of Dem Strength as seen during Frank Hague's rule

Another Component that Helped Kennedy was in his Strength Among African Americans compared to 1956 (Though it ended up being less than 1952), which along with the increase in vote share with Catholics allowed him to stem the tide of WASPs for the first time since 1936

Nixon by Contrast, showed strength in the Suburban Italian Dominated Bergen County, and more WASPY (Somerset & Morris) and Protestant German (Sussex, Hunterdon, Warren) Western New Jersey.

Further, Nixon held the line in the GOP Machine Dominated Atlantic County and Eastern Southern Jersey, with Kennedy holding the Western Half of South Jersey due to the high Union Presense in Camden County.

It should be noted however that Catholicism likely hurt Kennedy throughout South Jersey due to the Region's notable Protestant population

In his Victory Kennedy won 8/14 Districts to Nixon's 6/14, and 7/21 Counties to Nixon's 14/21.