1996 NJ Senatorial Election

the 1996 NJ Senatorial Election, Pitting Southern Bergen County Congressman Robert Torricelli (NJ-09) against Hunterdon's Dick Zimmer (NJ-12) resulted in a astounding victory for the Democrat in the first Election that New Jersey was a blue leaning state.

An ambitious Democrat who made a name for himself from his perch on the house foreign relations comittee Robert Torricelli took the first opportunity he had to run for senate upon the retirement of Senator Bill Bradley, who suffered a near upset in 1990

A fierce party loyalist, with an independent streak Torricelli made a name for himself in multiple ways; such as being one of Speaker Jim Wright's most vociferous defenders in '89, supporting the 1991 Gulf war resolution, sponsoring the 1992 Cuban Democract act among other stunts

He ran against moderate congressman, Dick Zimmer, whom was similarly ambitious; a cultural moderate who supported abortion, environmentalism and campaign finance reform, Zimmer was a strong conservative on Taxes (The taxes issue would become a main point of the Zimmer campaign).

In what would lead some analysts to call the race the nastiest race of the country that year, both campaigns charged each other with ethics issues with a relentless onslaught of negative ads throughout the campaign.

In addition to this, Zimmer made a crucial blunder: he did not sufficiently diferenciate himself from Newt Gingrich, nor did he effectively rebuff attacks from Torricelli that he supported the speaker

Despite being Smaller than Bill Clinton's victory on the same day, the connection to Gingrich ws a key cause that resulted in Torricelli's victory,

Of note, once in the senate, and despite campaining on it, - and to the pleasure of liberals- Torricelli was decisive in voting down the Balance budget amendment in his first congress.

In terms of Congressional Districts, Torricelli won 10/13 to Zimmer's 3/13, in terms of Legislative districts Torricelli won 26/40 to Zimmer's 14/40, and in terms of counties Torricelli won 12/21 to Zimmer's 9/21.

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