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| Turnout | 72.63%[1] ( 2.55%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The2004 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 2, 2004, and was part of the2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose 15 representatives, or electors to theElectoral College, who voted forpresident andvice president. Democratic nomineeJohn Kerry defeated Republican incumbent PresidentGeorge W. Bush by a 6.68% margin of victory in New Jersey. Bush, however, was re-elected to the presidency.
Prior to the election, most news organizations considered New Jersey ablue state that Kerry would win. Due to the impact of theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks and DemocraticGovernorJim McGreevey's resignation following threats of a sexual harassment lawsuit, political observers believed that the presidential contest in New Jersey would be closer than usual. Polls showed SenatorJohn F. Kerry with a slim lead throughout the campaign, and theRepublicans invested some campaign funds in the state.[citation needed]
There were 12 news organizations who made state-by-state predictions of the election. The table below shows their final predictions before Election Day.[2]
| Source | Ranking |
|---|---|
| D.C. Political Report | Lean D |
| Cook Political Report | Likely D |
| Research 2000 | Solid D |
| Zogby International | Likely D |
| Washington Post | Likely D |
| Washington Dispatch | Likely D |
| Washington Times | Solid D |
| The New York Times | Lean D |
| CNN | Likely D |
| Newsweek | Lean D |
| Associated Press | Solid D |
| Rasmussen Reports | Likely D |
Kerry led by small margins in most pre-election polls taken in New Jersey. A final three-poll rolling average showed Kerry leading Bush, 49% to 42%.[3]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George W. Bush (R) | John Kerry (D) | Ralph Nader (I) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[4] | June 11–16, 2003 | 815 RV | ±3.4% | 53% | 37% | – | 1% | 9% |
| Quinnipiac[5] | September 18–22, 2003 | 968 RV | ±3.2% | 48% | 43% | – | 9% | |
| Quinnipiac[6] | November 6–10, 2003 | 1,027 RV | ±3.1% | 46% | 45% | – | 1% | 7% |
| Quinnipiac[7] | May 10–16, 2004 | 1,122 RV | ±2.9% | 44% | 47% | – | 1% | 7% |
| 43% | 46% | 5% | 1% | 6% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[8] | June 15–20, 2004 | 1,167 RV | ±2.9% | 41% | 49% | – | 2% | 7% |
| 40% | 46% | 7% | 0% | 7% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[9] | July 30–August 2, 2004 | 996 RV | ±3.1% | 38% | 52% | – | 2% | 8% |
| 36% | 49% | 6% | 1% | 8% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[10] | August 19–23, 2004 | 887 RV | ±3.3% | 39% | 51% | – | 1% | 8% |
| 39% | 49% | 4% | 1% | 8% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[11] | September 16–19, 2004 | 672 LV | ±3.8% | 48% | 48% | 2% | 0% | 2% |
| 48% | 49% | – | 1% | 2% | ||||
| 943 RV | ±3.2% | 43% | 47% | 3% | 1% | 6% | ||
| Quinnipiac[12] | October 1–4, 2004 | 819 LV | ±3.4% | 46% | 49% | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| 46% | 49% | – | 1% | 4% | ||||
| Quinnipiac[13] | October 14–17, 2004 | 786 LV | ±2.9% | 45% | 49% | 1% | 0% | 4% |
| 45% | 50% | – | 0% | 5% | ||||
| 1,123 RV | ±2.9% | 39% | 46% | 2% | 0% | 12% | ||
| Quinnipiac[14] | October 21–25, 2004 | 852 LV | ±3.4% | 46% | 46% | 2% | 1% | 6% |
| 1,179 RV | ±2.9% | 41% | 45% | 2% | 1% | 12% | ||
| Quinnipiac[15] | October 27–31, 2004 | 984 LV | ±3.1% | 43% | 48% | 2% | 1% | 6% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George W. Bush (R) | Generic Democrat | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[16] | December 3–9, 2002 | 934 RV | ±3.2% | 43% | 45% | 2% | 9% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George W. Bush (R) | Wesley Clark (D) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[5] | September 18–22, 2003 | 968 RV | ±3.2% | 47% | 42% | 11% | |
| Quinnipiac[6] | November 6–10, 2003 | 1,027 RV | ±3.1% | 47% | 45% | 1% | 8% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George W. Bush (R) | Hillary Clinton (D) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[4] | June 11–16, 2003 | 815 RV | ±3.4% | 54% | 38% | 2% | 7% |
| Quinnipiac[5] | September 18–22, 2003 | 968 RV | ±3.2% | 47% | 45% | 8% | |
| Quinnipiac[6] | November 6–10, 2003 | 1,027 RV | ±3.1% | 46% | 45% | 1% | 7% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George W. Bush (R) | Howard Dean (D) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[5] | September 18–22, 2003 | 968 RV | ±3.2% | 50% | 40% | 10% | |
| Quinnipiac[6] | November 6–10, 2003 | 1,027 RV | ±3.1% | 48% | 45% | 1% | 6% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George W. Bush (R) | Dick Gephardt (D) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[5] | September 18–22, 2003 | 968 RV | ±3.2% | 48% | 44% | 8% | |
| Quinnipiac[6] | November 6–10, 2003 | 1,027 RV | ±3.1% | 48% | 45% | 1% | 6% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George W. Bush (R) | Al Gore (D) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[16] | December 3–9, 2002 | 934 RV | ±3.2% | 48% | 45% | 2% | 5% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George W. Bush (R) | Joe Lieberman (D) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac[4] | June 11–16, 2003 | 815 RV | ±3.4% | 53% | 39% | 1% | 7% |
| Quinnipiac[5] | September 18–22, 2003 | 968 RV | ±3.2% | 49% | 44% | 7% | |
| Quinnipiac[6] | November 6–10, 2003 | 1,027 RV | ±3.1% | 46% | 47% | 1% | 5% |
Bush raised $5,934,011 from New Jersey donors,[17] while Kerry raised $6,513,274.[18]
| 2004 United States presidential election in New Jersey[19][20] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | John Kerry | 1,911,430 | 52.92% | 15 | |
| Republican | George W. Bush (Inc.) | 1,670,003 | 46.24% | 0 | |
| Independent | Ralph Nader | 19,418 | 0.54% | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Michael Badnarik | 4,514 | 0.12% | 0 | |
| Constitution | Michael Peroutka | 2,750 | 0.08% | 0 | |
| Green | David Cobb | 1,807 | 0.05% | 0 | |
| Socialist | Walt Brown | 664 | 0.02% | 0 | |
| Socialist Equality | Bill Van Auken | 575 | 0.02% | 0 | |
| Socialist Workers | Roger Calero | 530 | 0.01% | 0 | |
| Totals | 3,611,691 | 100.00% | 15 | ||
| Voter Turnout (Voting age/Registered) | 56%/72% | ||||
| County | John Kerry Democratic | George W. Bush Republican | Various candidates Other parties | Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Atlantic | 55,746 | 52.54% | 49,487 | 46.64% | 864 | 0.81% | 6,259 | 5.90% | 106,097 |
| Bergen | 207,666 | 51.88% | 189,833 | 47.43% | 2,745 | 0.69% | 17,833 | 4.45% | 400,244 |
| Burlington | 110,411 | 53.09% | 95,936 | 46.13% | 1,609 | 0.77% | 14,475 | 6.96% | 207,956 |
| Camden | 137,765 | 62.36% | 81,427 | 36.86% | 1,741 | 0.79% | 56,338 | 25.50% | 220,933 |
| Cape May | 21,475 | 42.31% | 28,832 | 56.80% | 455 | 0.90% | −7,357 | −14.49% | 50,762 |
| Cumberland | 27,875 | 52.41% | 24,362 | 45.81% | 948 | 1.78% | 3,513 | 6.60% | 53,185 |
| Essex | 203,681 | 70.39% | 83,374 | 28.81% | 2,293 | 0.79% | 120,307 | 41.58% | 289,348 |
| Gloucester | 66,835 | 52.23% | 60,033 | 46.91% | 1,096 | 0.86% | 6,802 | 5.32% | 127,964 |
| Hudson | 127,447 | 67.24% | 60,646 | 31.99% | 1,461 | 0.77% | 66,801 | 35.25% | 189,554 |
| Hunterdon | 26,050 | 39.07% | 39,888 | 59.82% | 742 | 1.11% | −13,838 | −20.75% | 66,680 |
| Mercer | 91,580 | 61.25% | 56,604 | 37.86% | 1,326 | 0.89% | 34,976 | 23.39% | 149,510 |
| Middlesex | 166,628 | 56.33% | 126,492 | 42.76% | 2,685 | 0.91% | 40,136 | 13.57% | 295,805 |
| Monmouth | 133,773 | 44.60% | 163,650 | 54.56% | 2,516 | 0.84% | −29,877 | −9.96% | 299,939 |
| Morris | 98,066 | 41.70% | 135,241 | 57.51% | 1,847 | 0.79% | −37,175 | −15.81% | 235,154 |
| Ocean | 99,839 | 38.93% | 154,204 | 60.13% | 2,424 | 0.95% | −54,365 | −21.20% | 256,467 |
| Passaic | 94,962 | 55.43% | 75,200 | 43.90% | 1,149 | 0.67% | 19,762 | 11.53% | 171,311 |
| Salem | 13,749 | 46.17% | 15,721 | 52.79% | 311 | 1.04% | −1,972 | −6.62% | 29,781 |
| Somerset | 66,476 | 47.39% | 72,508 | 51.69% | 1,295 | 0.92% | −6,032 | −4.30% | 140,279 |
| Sussex | 23,990 | 34.54% | 44,506 | 64.08% | 962 | 1.38% | −20,516 | −29.54% | 69,458 |
| Union | 119,372 | 58.66% | 82,517 | 40.55% | 1,613 | 0.79% | 36,855 | 18.11% | 203,502 |
| Warren | 18,044 | 37.43% | 29,542 | 61.28% | 622 | 1.29% | −11,498 | −23.85% | 48,208 |
| Totals | 1,911,430 | 52.92% | 1,670,003 | 46.23% | 30,704 | 0.85% | 241,427 | 6.69% | 3,612,137 |
| Democratic Hold | Republican Hold Gain from Democratic |
Kerry won seven of 13 congressional districts.[21]
| District | Kerry | Bush | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 61% | 39% | Rob Andrews |
| 2nd | 49% | 50% | Frank LoBiondo |
| 3rd | 49% | 51% | Jim Saxton |
| 4th | 44% | 56% | Chris Smith |
| 5th | 43% | 57% | Scott Garrett |
| 6th | 57% | 43% | Frank Pallone Jr. |
| 7th | 47% | 53% | Mike Ferguson |
| 8th | 59% | 41% | Bill Pascrell |
| 9th | 59% | 41% | Steve Rothman |
| 10th | 82% | 18% | Donald Payne |
| 11th | 42% | 58% | Rodney Frelinghuysen |
| 12th | 54% | 46% | Rush Holt Jr. |
| 13th | 69% | 31% | Bob Menendez |
Generally, Kerry was very dominant in the urban centers of the state, particularly inEssex,Hudson, andCamden Counties. Bush won the largely rural parts of the state, such as the Northwest (Hunterdon,Somerset, andMorris) andSalem County in the southwest. He also carried the shore counties ofMonmouth,Ocean, andCape May.
This would also be the first election in which a Northern Democrat carried New Jersey since1960 when fellowMassachusetts DemocratJohn F. Kennedy did so. The previous three Democratic presidential candidates to carry the state were all from theSouth (Lyndon B. Johnson was fromTexas,Bill Clinton fromArkansas, andAl Gore fromTennessee), even though New Jersey is a northern state. This is the first time a president was elected twice without ever carrying any of the state's electoral votes either time, and only the second occasion (after 1860 and 1864) that any president won two terms without ever carrying the state's popular vote either time.
The following were the members of the Electoral College from the state of New Jersey in 2004. All 15 were pledged to support the Democratic ticket of John Kerry andJohn Edwards.[22]
State and district results of the2004 United States presidential election | ||
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