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| Turnout | 70.08%[1] ( 1.96%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 County Results
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In2000, the United States presidential election in New Jersey, along with every U.S. state andWashington, D.C., took place on November 7, 2000, as part of the2000 United States presidential election. The major party candidates wereDemocratic Vice PresidentAl Gore of the incumbent administration andRepublicanGovernor of TexasGeorge W. Bush, son of the 41st U.S. president,George H. W. Bush. Owing to theindirect system of voting used in U.S. presidential elections, George W. Bush narrowly defeated Gore inElectoral College votes despite Gore earning a higher percentage of the popular vote.Green Party candidateRalph Nader, the only third-party candidate represented on most states' ballots, came in a distant third.
AlthoughNew Jersey had voted for DemocratBill Clinton in the past two elections (1992 and1996),[2] it was considered a potentialswing state in 2000 because pre-election polling data showed it to be a close race.[3][4] Al Gore won 56 percent of New Jersey's popular vote, beating out George W. Bush by about a sixteen-point margin, with Gore's biggest margins of victory inEssex County andHudson County where he won over seventy percent of the vote. Bush won 7 counties with his biggest margins being just over 57 percent inHunterdon County andSussex County. Nader got over four percent of the vote in several counties in the northwest of the state, while taking just under three percent statewide.[5] This was also the first presidential election since1976, in which New Jersey would back the losing candidate as well. As of the2024 presidential election[update], this is the last election in whichMonmouth County voted for a Democratic presidential candidate. Monmouth however would go on to vote for Bush 4 years later in 2004 during his re-election.[6]
Bush became the first Republican to win the White House without carryingBergen County, Burlington County, or Monmouth County, as well as the state of New Jersey sinceBenjamin Harrison in1888. Bush became the first Republican to win without Union County sinceJames A. Garfield in1880. Bush was the first Republican to ever win the Presidency without Passaic and Gloucester counties, and the only Republican to ever win without Salem County.
New Jersey was one of ten states that backedGeorge H. W. Bush for president in1988 that didn't back George W. Bush in either 2000 or 2004.
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Lamar Alexander | Gary Bauer | Pat Buchanan | George W. Bush | Elizabeth Dole | Steve Forbes | Orrin Hatch | Alan Keyes | John McCain | Dan Quayle | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[7] | July 13–20, 1999 | [data missing] | [data missing] | 7% | 0% | 3% | 57% | 10% | 5% | 2% | – | 4% | 4% | – | 7% |
| Quinnipiac[8] | February 16–21, 2000 | 307 RV | ±5.6% | – | – | – | 41% | – | – | – | 6% | 41% | – | – | 12% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Al Gore (D) | George W. Bush (R) | Ralph Nader (G) | Patrick Buchanan (Ref) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[9] | February 3–8, 1999 | 926 RV | ±3.2% | 41% | 46% | – | – | 3% | 8% |
| Quinnipiac[10] | March 23–29, 1999 | 984 RV | ±3.1% | 40% | 47% | – | – | 13% | |
| Quinnipiac[7] | July 13–20, 1999 | 1,082 RV | ±3.0% | 40% | 51% | – | – | 1% | 9% |
| Quinnipiac[8] | February 16–21, 2000 | 1,109 RV | ±2.9% | 47% | 41% | – | – | 2% | 10% |
| Quinnipiac[11] | March 21–27, 2000 | 1,177 RV | ±2.9% | 50% | 37% | – | – | 3% | 11% |
| 48% | 35% | – | 6% | 1% | 11% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[12] | June 20–26, 2000 | 1,004 RV | ±3.1% | 45% | 40% | – | – | 3% | 12% |
| 41% | 37% | 7% | 3% | 1% | 11% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[13] | July 19–24, 2000 | 910 RV | ±3.3% | 46% | 41% | – | – | 3% | 11% |
| 42% | 38% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 10% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[14] | August 18–22, 2000 | 802 RV | ±3.5% | 52% | 38% | – | – | 2% | 8% |
| 49% | 37% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 8% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[15] | September 26–October 1, 2000 | 820 LV | ±3.4% | 54% | 38% | – | – | 1% | 7% |
| 50% | 36% | 6% | 1% | 0% | 6% | ||||
| 1,045 RV | ±3.0% | 53% | 36% | – | – | 2% | 9% | ||
| 49% | 35% | 6% | 1% | 0% | 9% | ||||
| The New York Times[16] | October 12–15, 2000 | 908 RV | ±3% | 49% | 34% | 8% | 1% | – | 8% |
| Quinnipiac[17] | October 18–23, 2000 | 909 LV | ±3.3% | 47% | 41% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 7% |
| Quinnipiac[18] | October 24–30, 2000 | 793 LV | ±3.5% | 50% | 38% | 5% | 0% | 0% | 7% |
| Quinnipiac[19] | November 1–5, 2000 | 770 LV | ±3.4% | 49% | 41% | 4% | 1% | 0% | 5% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Al Gore (D) | Elizabeth Dole (R) | John McCain (R) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[9] | February 3–8, 1999 | 926 RV | ±3.2% | 42% | 43% | – | 2% | 13% |
| Quinnipiac[10] | March 23–29, 1999 | 984 RV | ±3.1% | 41% | 42% | – | 17% | |
| Quinnipiac[7] | July 13–20, 1999 | 1,082 RV | ±3.0% | 46% | 41% | – | 2% | 11% |
| Quinnipiac[8] | February 16–21, 2000 | 1,109 RV | ±2.9% | 38% | – | 51% | 2% | 11% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bill Bradley (D) | George W. Bush (R) | Elizabeth Dole (R) | John McCain (R) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[9] | February 3–8, 1999 | 926 RV | ±3.2% | 55% | 32% | – | – | 2% | 11% |
| 56% | – | 32% | – | 2% | 10% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[10] | March 23–29, 1999 | 984 RV | ±3.1% | 53% | 35% | – | – | 12% | |
| 59% | – | 28% | – | 13% | |||||
| Quinnipiac[7] | July 13–20, 1999 | 1,082 RV | ±3.0% | 53% | 38% | – | – | 1% | 8% |
| 62% | – | 28% | – | 2% | 8% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[8] | February 16–21, 2000 | 1,109 RV | ±2.9% | 60% | 32% | – | – | 1% | 8% |
| 49% | – | – | 38% | 1% | 12% | ||||
| 2000 United States presidential election in New Jersey[20] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Al Gore | 1,788,850 | 56.13% | 15 | |
| Republican | George W. Bush | 1,284,173 | 40.29% | 0 | |
| Green | Ralph Nader | 94,554 | 2.97% | 0 | |
| Reform | Pat Buchanan | 6,989 | 0.22% | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Harry Browne | 6,312 | 0.20% | 0 | |
| Natural Law | John Hagelin | 2,215 | 0.07% | 0 | |
| Socialist | David McReynolds | 1,880 | 0.06% | 0 | |
| Constitution | Howard Phillips | 1,409 | 0.04% | 0 | |
| Socialist Workers | James Harris | 844 | 0.03% | 0 | |
| Totals | 3,187,226 | 100.00% | 15 | ||
| Voter Turnout (Voting age/Registered) | 50%/68% | ||||
| County | Al Gore Democratic | George W. Bush Republican | Ralph Nader[21] Green | Pat Buchanan[21] Reform | Harry Browne[21] Libertarian | Various candidates[21] Other parties | Margin | Total votes cast | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Atlantic | 52,880 | 58.04% | 35,593 | 39.07% | 2,188 | 2.40% | 171 | 0.19% | 158 | 0.17% | 112 | 0.12% | 17,287 | 18.97% | 91,102 |
| Bergen | 202,682 | 55.27% | 152,731 | 41.65% | 9,688 | 2.64% | 755 | 0.21% | 434 | 0.12% | 431 | 0.12% | 49,951 | 13.62% | 366,721 |
| Burlington | 99,506 | 56.05% | 72,254 | 40.70% | 4,894 | 2.76% | 278 | 0.16% | 463 | 0.26% | 146 | 0.08% | 27,252 | 15.35% | 177,541 |
| Camden | 127,166 | 64.60% | 62,464 | 31.73% | 6,124 | 3.11% | 353 | 0.18% | 550 | 0.28% | 204 | 0.10% | 64,702 | 32.87% | 196,861 |
| Cape May | 22,189 | 46.62% | 23,794 | 49.99% | 1,291 | 2.71% | 187 | 0.39% | 82 | 0.17% | 51 | 0.11% | -1,605 | -3.37% | 47,594 |
| Cumberland | 28,188 | 57.90% | 18,882 | 38.78% | 1,004 | 2.06% | 111 | 0.23% | 130 | 0.27% | 369 | 0.76% | 9,306 | 19.12% | 48,684 |
| Essex | 185,505 | 71.47% | 66,842 | 25.75% | 5,641 | 2.17% | 391 | 0.15% | 286 | 0.11% | 908 | 0.35% | 118,663 | 45.72% | 259,573 |
| Gloucester | 61,095 | 56.94% | 42,315 | 39.44% | 3,196 | 2.98% | 236 | 0.22% | 320 | 0.30% | 136 | 0.13% | 18,780 | 17.50% | 107,298 |
| Hudson | 118,206 | 70.63% | 43,804 | 26.17% | 4,436 | 2.65% | 274 | 0.16% | 253 | 0.15% | 388 | 0.23% | 74,402 | 44.46% | 167,361 |
| Hunterdon | 21,387 | 37.88% | 32,210 | 57.05% | 2,459 | 4.36% | 154 | 0.27% | 181 | 0.32% | 64 | 0.11% | -10,823 | -19.17% | 56,455 |
| Mercer | 83,256 | 61.42% | 46,670 | 34.43% | 4,561 | 3.36% | 274 | 0.20% | 581 | 0.43% | 217 | 0.16% | 36,586 | 26.99% | 135,559 |
| Middlesex | 154,998 | 59.88% | 93,545 | 36.14% | 8,934 | 3.45% | 622 | 0.24% | 449 | 0.17% | 301 | 0.12% | 61,453 | 23.74% | 258,849 |
| Monmouth | 131,476 | 50.15% | 119,291 | 45.51% | 9,059 | 3.46% | 678 | 0.26% | 488 | 0.19% | 1,149 | 0.44% | 12,185 | 4.64% | 262,141 |
| Morris | 88,039 | 42.63% | 111,066 | 53.78% | 6,333 | 3.07% | 473 | 0.23% | 448 | 0.22% | 149 | 0.07% | -23,027 | -11.15% | 206,508 |
| Ocean | 102,104 | 47.18% | 105,684 | 48.84% | 7,354 | 3.40% | 604 | 0.28% | 387 | 0.18% | 260 | 0.12% | -3,580 | -1.66% | 216,393 |
| Passaic | 90,324 | 57.69% | 61,043 | 38.99% | 3,752 | 2.40% | 402 | 0.26% | 199 | 0.13% | 853 | 0.54% | 29,281 | 18.70% | 156,573 |
| Salem | 13,718 | 50.86% | 12,257 | 45.44% | 714 | 2.65% | 75 | 0.28% | 109 | 0.40% | 99 | 0.37% | 1,461 | 5.42% | 26,972 |
| Somerset | 56,232 | 46.71% | 59,725 | 49.61% | 3,776 | 3.14% | 231 | 0.19% | 306 | 0.25% | 107 | 0.09% | -3,493 | -2.90% | 120,377 |
| Sussex | 21,353 | 37.14% | 33,277 | 57.88% | 2,399 | 4.17% | 184 | 0.32% | 151 | 0.26% | 126 | 0.22% | -11,924 | -20.74% | 57,490 |
| Union | 112,003 | 60.10% | 68,554 | 36.78% | 4,945 | 2.65% | 387 | 0.21% | 252 | 0.14% | 232 | 0.12% | 43,449 | 23.32% | 186,373 |
| Warren | 16,543 | 40.55% | 22,172 | 54.34% | 1,806 | 4.43% | 149 | 0.37% | 85 | 0.21% | 46 | 0.11% | -5,629 | -13.79% | 40,801 |
| Totals | 1,788,850 | 56.13% | 1,284,173 | 40.29% | 94,554 | 2.97% | 6,989 | 0.22% | 6,312 | 0.20% | 6,348 | 0.20% | 504,677 | 15.84% | 3,187,226 |
Shift by county
Trend by county
County flipsDemocratic Hold | Republican Hold Gain from Democratic
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Gore won 11 of 13 congressional districts, including four that elected Republicans.[22]
| District | Gore | Bush | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 63.90% | 32.89% | Rob Andrews |
| 2nd | 54.78% | 42.55% | Frank LoBiondo |
| 3rd | 53.45% | 43.41% | Jim Saxton |
| 4th | 52.28% | 44.55% | Chris Smith |
| 5th | 44.64% | 51.69% | Marge Roukema |
| 6th | 57.72% | 38.37% | Frank Pallone Jr. |
| 7th | 54.19% | 42.79% | Bob Franks |
| Mike Ferguson | |||
| 8th | 61.05% | 36.25% | Bill Pascrell |
| 9th | 63.32% | 33.64% | Steve Rothman |
| 10th | 84.70% | 13.72% | Donald Payne |
| 11th | 43.36% | 53.50% | Rodney Frelinghuysen |
| 12th | 50.90% | 45.57% | Rush Holt Jr. |
| 13th | 72.35% | 25.33% | Bob Menendez |
Technically the voters of NJ cast their ballots for electors: representatives to theElectoral College. NJ is allocated 15 electors because it has 13congressional districts and 2senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 15 electors, who pledge to vote for their candidate and his or her running mate. Whoever wins the majority of votes in the state is awarded all 15 electoral votes. Their chosen electors then vote for president and vice president. Although electors are pledged to their candidate and running mate, they are not obligated to vote for them. An elector who votes for someone other than his or her candidate is known as afaithless elector.
The electors of each state and theDistrict of Columbia met on December 18, 2000[23] to cast their votes for president and vice president. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols.
The following were the members of the Electoral College from the state. All were pledged to and voted for Gore and Lieberman:[24]
State and district results of the2000 United States presidential election | ||
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