2005 NJ Gubernatorial Election

The 2005 New Jersey Gubernatorial Election was a bitter and personal contest between former Goldman Sachs Executive and Senior NJ Senator Jon Corzine and 2002 NJ Senate Runner up Doug Forrester, resulting in the former's win in the first time Democrats would hold Drumthwacket for 8 years since Brendan Byrne.

After taking an increasingly leading roll in the NJ Democratic party, a path to the governorship began to open up due to Jim McGreevey's pending resignation as governor due to a scandal where he had sexual relations with an appointee who was not qualified to hold the position.

Due to NJ Laws, Corzine, Camden County Dem Chair George Norcross and other state leaders urged McGreevey to resign in order to avoid a 14 month, or 5 year governorship of Senate President Richard Codey.

McGreevey steadfastly refused too, resining well into the period past the deadline to assuring a Codey governorship.

To this effect, Corzine had to secure the nomination the old fassion way, by muscling everyone else out, and that he did. With his enourmas war chest he turned away potential candidates such as congressman Rob Andrews and even forced Dick Codey to not run for a full term as Governor

Forrester didn't exactly have a cakewalk to the nomination, but, after 2001 Gov nominee Bret Schundler had bested party bosses for the 2001 Gob Nomination, they were ready and, after a $10 million campaign, and a 36-31% win, the 2002 Senate nominee was now the 2005 Gubernatorial nominee.

The General Election Campaign started simple enough, with both candidates proposing different means to deal with the State's high property tax rates, and charges that both plans were unfeasible or unsustainable, but the charges quickly shifted to cutting personal attacks.

Forrester Charged Corzine with seeking a governement subsidy as part of a group to buy the NJ Nets, and Corzine charged that Forresters' firm benefitted from government contracts given by people Forrester had donated money too.

By the end, the campaign was so tense that Forrester ran an ad that quoted Corzine's ex wife that ended with "Jon let his family down, and he'll probably let New Jersey down too"

But the tide was shifting against Rs in New Jersey, and Forrester lost by 10.5%,after Bush lost NJ by 6.7% the year prior in 2004

In his victory, Corzine carried 8/13 Congressional districts to Forrester's 5/13, 25/40 LDs to Forrester's 15/40, and 13/21 Counties to Forrester's 8/21.

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