The 2002 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 5, 2002. Former U.S. senator Frank Lautenberg was elected over Republican businessman Doug Forrester. Democratic incumbent Robert Torricelli dropped out of the race on September 30 in the face of ethical misconduct allegations, a formal admonishment by the Senate Ethics Committee, and poor public polling.
Primary elections were held on June 4. Torricelli, the target of a federal ethics probe, was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Forrester won a competitive Republican primary over state senators Diane Allen and John Matheussen. Another leading candidate, Essex County executive James W. Treffinger, dropped out on April 22 amid a federal criminal investigation for bribery.
In the general election, Torricelli steadily fell behind Forrester in public polling and dropped out in late September. The New Jersey Democratic State Committee replaced him with Frank Lautenberg, who had held the state's other Senate seat from 1982 until 2001. Forrester's campaign filed legal proceedings aimed at forcing Torricelli's name to remain on the ballot, but the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled unanimously on October 2 that Lautenberg could replace Torricelli.
On election day, Lautenberg defeated Forrester by a 9.9 percentage point margin to win a fourth, non-consecutive term as U.S. senator. At 78, Lautenberg became the oldest non-incumbent to win a Senate election. Lautenberg became the state's junior senator for the second time when he was sworn in on January 3, 2003, as his previous terms in the Senate were not counted for purposes of seniority.
This was the last time a replacement nominee in a Senate race went on to win the general election until the 2026 United States Senate election in Maine.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Robert Torricelli, incumbent U.S. senator since 1997
Results
Although Torricelli would later withdraw from the race, he was unopposed for the Democratic nomination on June 4.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Diane Allen, state senator from Moorestown since 1998
- Doug Forrester, businessman and former mayor of West Windsor (1981–82)
- John J. Matheussen, state senator from Mantua since 1992
Withdrew
- Guy R. Gregg, assemblyman from Washington Township (Morris County) and former Assembly majority whip (withdrew April 8; endorsed Treffinger)
- Robert Ray, former Whitewater controversy special counsel (withdrew April 8)
- James W. Treffinger, Essex County executive and candidate for Senate in 2000 (withdrew April 22)
Declined
- Lewis Eisenberg, former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Steve Forbes, publisher of Forbes magazine and candidate for president in 1996 and 2000
- Thomas Kean, former governor of New Jersey (1982–90)
Campaign
Many Republicans were eager to take on Torricelli, who was the subject of a federal investigation into his fundraising practices in his 1996 election.
James W. Treffinger became the first candidate to officially announce his campaign in November 2001, shortly after the state elections which ended a decade of Republican rule. Much speculation at the time revolved around popular former Governor Thomas Kean, whom party chair Joe Kyrillos referred to as a "star player."
At the April 8 filing deadline, the two trailing candidates, Assemblyman Guy Gregg and attorney Robert Ray, dropped out of the race. Gregg endorsed Treffinger, who seemingly became the front-runner for the nomination. However, Treffinger's campaign collapsed less than two weeks later, when his office was raided by federal agents as part of an investigation into his acceptance of campaign contributions in exchange for public contracts. Many state and national Republicans withdrew their support from Treffinger. Four days after the raid, he withdrew from the race.
Aftermath
Treffinger was arrested in October and indicted by U.S. Attorney Chris Christie on twenty counts of extortion, fraud, obstructing a federal investigation, and conspiracy. He pleaded guilty in May 2003 to one count of obstruction and one count of mail fraud.
General election
Candidates
- Doug Forrester, businessman and former mayor of West Windsor (Republican)
- Ted Glick (Green)
- Frank Lautenberg, former U.S. senator (1982–2001) (Democratic)
- Elizabeth Macron (Libertarian)
- Greg Pason, national secretary of the Socialist Party USA and perennial candidate (Socialist)
- Norman E. Wahner (Conservative)
Withdrew
- Robert Torricelli, incumbent U.S. senator since 1997 (Democratic)
Campaign
On July 30, the United States Senate Ethics Committee issued a letter which "severely admonished" Torricelli for failing to disclose gifts he received and accepted from a donor. In late September, evidence was revealed about the relationship between Torricelli and the donor, and the donor was interviewed on WNBC in a segment dubbed "The Prisoner and the Politician". Torricelli dropped out of the race on September 30 due to ethical problems and poor poll numbers against Forrester, a relatively unknown opponent.
Replacement nominee and lawsuit
Various candidates were sought after to replace Torricelli, including former U.S. senator Bill Bradley and current U.S. representatives Bob Menendez and Frank Pallone. The New Jersey Democratic State Committee eventually chose former U.S. senator Frank Lautenberg as the party's candidate. In The New Jersey Democratic Party v. Samson, 175 N.J. 178 (2002), Forrester sued to prevent Lautenberg from replacing Torricelli on the ballot. On October 2, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Democratic Party had the right to nominate Lautenberg.
Endorsements
Forrester received the endorsement of President George W. Bush.
Debates
- Complete video of debate, September 5, 2002
- Complete video of debate, September 12, 2002
- Complete video of debate, October 30, 2002
- Complete video of debate, November 2, 2002
Polling
% supportDate01020304050601/28/20029/8/200210/17/200211/3/2002Bob Torricelli (D)Doug Forrester (R)Other/UndecidedPolling results for the 2002 U.S Senate elec...
Results
By county
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Salem (largest municipality: Pennsville Township)