2013 & 2014 NJ Senate Election (s)

the 2013 NJ Senate Election, Following the Death of Popular Longtime Senator Frank Lautenberg, Newark Mayor Cory Booker Would end up seeking and winning the seat in an October special election, held a few weeks ahead of the Gubernatorial election

Due to his eagerness for higher office, Booker attracted many critics, including Representative Frank Pallone and the family of the Desceased Lautenberg, along with other primary rivals such as Rep. Rush D. Holt and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver.

Booker won the Primary with 59% of the vote.

In the General election Steven M. Lonogan, the former Republican Mayor of Bogota attacked Booker for Newark's crime rate and sought to tie Booker to president Obama, whom was increasingly unpopular in the state, in addition to trying to portray Booker as a self interested opportunist who was using the job of Senator as a stepping stone.

But, at the end of the Day NJ's Partisanship carried Booker over the line, leading him to a 10.9% victory over Lonogan

A year Later in 2014 Booker Won reelection over 1978 NJ Senate nominee, Republican Pollitical consultant Jeff Bell. Bell, whom defeated Moderate Senator Clifford P. Chase in the primary had lived in Virginia since he last lost this specific Senate seat in 1978.

But, due to being significantly underfunded, and running a conservative populist campaign against Booker, he ended up losing by 13.5% to the Incumbent, an increase of 2.6% for Booker from 2013.

Nov 4, 2023 Addendum

The 2013 NJ Senate election, A Contest between Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Frm Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan Resulted in the rising African American Democratic Star upgrading from Local into national politics.

This special occurred as a result of the death of Frank Lautenberg in June 2013. He had already announced his retirement with Booker the perceived likely successor

But multiple Dems sought to challenge him in 2013, though due to Booker having most county lines, he beat a splintered opposition of Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) Rush Holt (NJ-12), & Fellow Essex Pol Speaker of the Assembly Sheilah Oliver convincingly with 60% of the vote

Lonegan, a proto-tea party Republican, was given the nomination by the GOP Organization - with this being the result of most people knowing that Booker was going to win

However, once in the General Lonegan, a proto-teapartier Stuck to Campaining on Bookers weaknesses. Those being Crime in Newark and perceived opportunism (such as floating a campaign before lautenberg retired).

This combined with a national downturn in Democratic Fortunes, and extensive campaining by the increasingly upopular President Obama for Booker to result in Booker beating Lonegan by a closer than expected 10.9%

In his 2013 win Cory Booker won 6/12 Congressional Districts to Lonegan's 6/12 CDs, 12/21 Counties to Steve Lonegan's 9/21 Counties and 25/40 Legislative Districts to Lonegan's 15/40 LDs.

Sources:

Nov 4, 2023 Addendum

The 2014 NJ Senate election, Just after one year after Incumbent Senator Cory Booker (D-Newark) won the special election to fill the remainder of Frank Lautenberg's Term Booker beat former Reagan Staffer & 1978 NJ Senate GOP nominee Jeff Bell (R-Leonia) to win a full term for the senate

After Arriving the Senate in 2013, Booker tried to show his bipartisanship, meeting with Republican Firebrands like Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul, and mentioning that he 'didn't run to be New Jersey's Democratic Senator, but New Jersey's Senator'

By Contrast, Jeff Bell, who had been living in Virginia for three Decades as a head of a conservative think tank, came back to his home in Bergen County with the intent to run, and with the help of the Line, won the nomination for this senate seat a second time

In the campaign, With Jeff Bell, having virtually no money ($599K to Booker's $16.9 Million), Bell enphasized conservative Monetary fiscal policy such as returning to the Gold Standard in an unconventional way to get his name out to the voters.

By contrast, Booker enphasized his Bipartisan Bonafides, whilst attacking Bell's desire to return to the gold standard his support for "Voodoo Economics" & Conservative positions on social issues - ensuring that no chances were taken on this race.

And it worked, with Booker Defeating Bell by a modest 13.5%, 2.6% more than his 2013 win against Former Bogota Mayor, Republican Firebrand Steve Lonegan.

In his win Booker won 7/12 Congressional Districts to Bell's 5/12 CDs, 12/21 Counties to Bell's 9/21 Counties and 26/40 Legislative Districts to Bell's 14/40 LDs.

Sources

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/us/politics/new-jersey-election-highlights.html
"Cory Booker Wins First Full Term", Daily Record, Moristown NJ, November 5, 2014, Pgs A1 & A4
- https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/elections/2014/11/04/democrat-cory-booker-re-elected-us-senate/18494309/
2016 Almanac of American Politics