- New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1997
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New Jersey Gubernatorial election, 1997 
1993 ← November 4, 1997 → 2001 
Candidate Christine Todd Whitman Jim McGreevey Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,133,394 1,107,968 Percentage 46.87% 45.82%
County Results
Governor before election
Elected Governor
Elections in New Jersey 
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Hoboken The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 1997 was a race for Governor of New Jersey. It was held on November 4, 1997. In the Democratic primary state senator and Woodbridge Township mayor James McGreevey defeated pre-primary front-runner Rep. Rob Andrews by 9,993 votes. Polls during the last month of the race showed incumbent Gov. Christine Todd Whitman (R) with only a slim lead[citation needed]. On election night Whitman prevailed over McGreevey by a margin of 26,953 votes. Republican nominee and incumbent Governor Christine Todd Whitman won re-election by a 1.05% margin, winning 46.87% of the vote, and with Democratic nominee James McGreevy receiving 45.82% and Libertarian Murray Sabrin receiving 4.7%.
Contents
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jim McGreevey, Mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey State Senator
- Rob Andrews, U.S. Congressman
- Michael Murphy, Morris County Prosecutor
- Frank C. Marmo, perennial candidate
Results
Democratic primary results[1] Party Candidate Votes Percentage Democratic Jim McGreevey 148,153 39.86% Democratic Rob Andrews 138,160 37.17% Democratic Michael Murphy 79,172 21.30% Democratic Frank C. Marmo 6,189 1.67% Totals 371,674 100% Republican primary
Candidates
- Christine Todd Whitman, incumbent Governor of New Jersey
Results
Republican Party primary results[2] Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Christine Todd Whitman (inc.) 147,731 100.00% Totals 147,731 100.00% General election
Candidates
- James McGreevey (D), State Senator and Mayor of Woodbridge
- Christine Todd Whitman (R), incumbent Governor
Campaign
In June, a 60-second radio ad paid for by the New Jersey Republican Party focused on the 30% income tax cut and 180,000 new jobs. Whitman ads blamed McGreevey for the state's auto insurance rates. The Whitman campaign emphasized the drops in unemployment, violent crime and welfare rolls during her term. Other ads took aim at McGreevey's record on taxes, particularly his support for former Gov. Jim Florio's (D) tax increase. The RNC criticized former Gov. Jim Florio (D) in an ad October, calling his 1990 tax increase a result of electing "liberal Democrats".
In September, McGreevey unveiled two TV ads criticizing Whitman and focusing on property taxes, auto insurance rates, pension bond debts and education standards. The DNC also spent $1 million during the home stretch of the campaign on television ads for Democratic candidates statewide[citation needed].
Polling
Source Month Whitman (R) McGreevey (D) Quinnipiac College June 47% 33% Newark Star Ledger June 49% 33% Quinnipiac College July 46% 39% Asbury Park Press August 35% 33% New York Times September 44% 35% Mason Dixon September 46% 36% Quinnipiac College September 49% 37% Newark Star-Ledger September 47% 35% Quinnipiac College October 45% 37% Mason Dixon October 46% 37% Newark Star-Ledger October 42% 38% New York Post October 39% 35% New York Post November 39% 37% Reuters November 38% 38% Mason Dixon November 44% 41% Issues
In October, a poll found that voters of NJ called auto insurance the most important issue in the campaign, and property taxes second[citation needed].
Debates
Three debates on October 18, 21 and 24, Whitman, McGreevey and Sabrin traded barbs on their dueling auto insurance plans, property taxes, state spending and the Atlantic City tunnel, a $215 million project for which a private investor gave $55 million[citation needed].
Results
New Jersey Gubernatorial Election, 1997[3] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Republican Christine Todd Whitman (inc.) 1,133,394 46.87% -2.46% Democratic Jim McGreevey 1,107,968 45.82% +10.62% Libertarian Murray Sabrin 114,172 4.72% +4.40% Conservative Richard J. Pezzullo 34,906 1.44% +1.24% Green Madelyn R. Hoffman 10,703 0.44% Independent Michael Perrone, Jr. 6,805 0.28% Socialist Workers Robert B. Miller 2,816 0.12% +0.07% Socialist Greg Pason 2,800 0.12% Natural Law Lincoln Norton 2,540 0.11% Independent Nuncie A. Ripa, Jr. 2,240 0.09% Majority 25,426 1.05% +0.01% Turnout 2,418,344 Republican hold Swing References
Sources
Categories:- New Jersey gubernatorial elections
- New Jersey elections, 1997
- United States gubernatorial elections, 1997
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