A general election was held in the U.S. state of New Jersey on November 5, 2013. Primary elections were held on June 4. Every state position was up in this election cycle, which includes all 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly and all 40 seats in the Senate, as well as Governor and Lieutenant Governor. In addition to the State Legislative elections, numerous county offices and freeholders in addition to municipal offices were up for election. There were two statewide ballot questions. Some counties and municipalities may have had local ballot questions as well. Non-partisan local elections, some school board elections, and some fire district elections also happened throughout the year.
Additionally, the 2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey in October was held to fill the seat of Democrat Frank Lautenberg following his death in June 2013.
See main article: 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election |
| Country: | New Jersey |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2009 New Jersey gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2009 |
| Next Election: | 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
| Turnout: | 39.6%[1] (7.3%) |
| Nominee1: | Chris Christie |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Kim Guadagno |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,278,932 |
| Percentage1: | 60.3% |
| Nominee2: | Barbara Buono |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Milly Silva |
| Popular Vote2: | 809,978 |
| Percentage2: | 38.2% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Chris Christie |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Chris Christie |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
Incumbent Republican Governor Chris Christie and Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno won re-election against Democrats Barbara Buono and Milly Silva by a margin of 60.3%–38.2%.
See main article: 2013 New Jersey Senate election.
| Election Name: | 2013 New Jersey State Senate election |
| Country: | New Jersey |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2011 New Jersey State Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2011 |
| Next Election: | 2017 New Jersey State Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
| Seats For Election: | All 40 seats in the New Jersey Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 21 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 2013 |
| Turnout: | 34.4%[2] |
| Image1: | File:Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (cropped).jpg |
| Leader1: | Steve Sweeney |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Leaders Seat1: | District 3 (West Deptford) |
| Last Election1: | 24 |
| Seats1: | 24 |
| Popular Vote1: | 899,672 |
| Percentage1: | 47.4% |
| Swing1: | 3.7% |
| Leader2: | Thomas Kean Jr. |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Leaders Seat2: | District 21 (Westfield) |
| Last Election2: | 16 |
| Seats2: | 16 |
| Popular Vote2: | 988,214 |
| Percentage2: | 52.1% |
| Swing2: | 3.4% |
| Map Size: | x300px |
| Senate President | |
| Before Election: | Stephen M. Sweeney |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Stephen M. Sweeney |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Democrats held their majority in the State Senate, winning 24 seats while Republicans won 16.
See main article: 2013 New Jersey General Assembly election.
| Election Name: | 2013 New Jersey General Assembly election |
| Country: | New Jersey |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2011 New Jersey General Assembly election |
| Previous Year: | 2011 |
| Next Election: | 2015 New Jersey General Assembly election |
| Next Year: | 2015 |
| Seats For Election: | All 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly |
| Majority Seats: | 41 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 2013 |
| Leader1: | Sheila Oliver (stepped down) |
| Swing1: | 2.5% |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Leader Since1: | January 12, 2010 |
| Leaders Seat1: | 34th (East Orange) |
| Last Election1: | 48 |
| Seats1: | 48 |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,828,078 |
| Percentage1: | 48.7% |
| Leader2: | Jon Bramnick |
| Swing2: | 2.7% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Leader Since2: | January 17, 2012 |
| Leaders Seat2: | 21st (Westfield) |
| Last Election2: | 32 |
| Seats2: | 32 |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,907,361 |
| Percentage2: | 50.7% |
| Map Size: | 400px |
| Speaker | |
| Before Election: | Sheila Oliver |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Vincent Prieto |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
All 80 seats in the General Assembly were up for election this year. In each Legislative district, there are two people elected; the top two winners in the general election are the ones sent to the Assembly. Typically, the two members of each party run as a team in each election. After the previous election, Democrats captured 48 seats while the Republicans won 32 seats.
Democrats flipped one seat in the 2nd district and Republicans flipped one in the 1st district, leaving the balance of power unchanged at 48–32, despite Democrats losing the popular vote. This remains the last election in which the party that won control of the General Assembly did not win a majority of votes.
Two statewide questions were on the ballot which were approved by voters:
See main article: 2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey.
| Election Name: | 2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey |
| Country: | New Jersey |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey |
| Previous Year: | 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2014 United States Senate election in New Jersey |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
| Election Date: | October 16, 2013 |
| Turnout: | 24.5%[4] |
| Nominee1: | Cory Booker |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 740,742 |
| Percentage1: | |
| Nominee2: | Steve Lonegan |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 593,684 |
| Percentage2: | 44.0% |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Jeffrey Chiesa |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Cory Booker |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey was held on October 16, 2013, to fill the New Jersey United States Senate Class 2 seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2015. The vacancy resulted from the death of five-term Democratic senator Frank Lautenberg on June 3, 2013.[5] On June 4, 2013, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced that a primary election to fill the vacancy would take place on August 13, 2013 and that a special election would follow on October 16, 2013.[6] Christie appointed Republican New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa to the seat as a placeholder; Chiesa announced at the time of his appointment that he would not be a candidate in the special election.[7]
The primary elections were won by Republican former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan and Democratic Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Booker defeated Lonegan on October 16, 2013, and became the first African-American elected to statewide office in New Jersey. 24.5% of registered voters cast ballots, making this the lowest voter turnout of any statewide election.[4] [8]