Closest U.S. Senate elections in New Jersey
The closest U.S. Senate election in New Jersey history was in 1954, a margin of 0.19 points. Clifford P. Case beat Charles R. Howell, 861,528 to 858,158. Next closest are 1948 (2.7 points) and 2000 (3.0 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race New Jersey has held, special elections included, see the New Jersey U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in New Jersey history?
The New Jersey Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1954, 0.19 points. Clifford P. Case beat Charles R. Howell, 861,528 to 858,158. The next closest were 1948 (2.7 points) and 2000 (3.0 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for New Jersey’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the New Jersey Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first New Jersey election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1954 | Clifford P. Case R def. Charles R. Howell D | 861,528 – 858,158 | 0.19 points |
| 2 | 1948 | Robert C. Hendrickson R def. Archibald S. Alexander D | 934,720 – 884,414 | 2.7 points |
| 3 | 2000 | Jon S. Corzine D def. Bob Franks R | 1,511,237 – 1,420,267 | 3.0 points |
| 4 | 1990 | Bill Bradley D def. Christine Todd Whitman R | 977,810 – 918,874 | 3.0 points |
| 5 | 1982 | Frank R. Lautenberg D def. Millicent Fenwick R | 1,117,549 – 1,047,626 | 3.2 points |
| 6 | 1994 | Frank R. Lautenberg D def. Garabed Chuck Haytaian R | 1,033,487 – 966,244 | 3.3 points |
| 7 | 1958 | Harrison A. Williams Jr. D def. Robert W. Kean R | 966,832 – 882,287 | 4.5 points |
| 8 | 1918 | Walter E. Edge R def. George Lamonte D | 179,022 – 153,743 | 7.1 points |
| 9 | 1942 | Albert W. Hawkes R def. William H. Smathers D | 648,855 – 559,851 | 7.3 points |
| 10 | 1988 | Frank R. Lautenberg D def. Peter M. Dawkins R | 1,599,905 – 1,349,937 | 8.4 points |
| 11 | 2006 | Robert Menendez D def. Thomas H. Kean Jr. R | 1,200,843 – 997,775 | 9.0 points |
| 12 | 2024 | Andy Kim D def. Curtis Bashaw R | 2,161,491 – 1,773,589 | 9.6 points |
| 13 | 2002 | Frank R. Lautenberg D def. Douglas R. Forrester R | 1,138,193 – 928,439 | 9.9 points |
| 14 | 1996 | Robert G. Torricelli D def. Dick Zimmer R | 1,519,154 – 1,227,351 | 10.1 points |
| 15 | 1936 | William H. Smathers D def. William Warren Barbour R | 916,414 – 740,088 | 10.6 points |
| 16 | 1922 | Edward I. Edwards D def. Joseph S. Frelinghuysen R | 451,832 – 362,699 | 10.8 points |
| 17 | 1940 | William Warren Barbour R def. James H. Cromwell D | 1,029,331 – 823,893 | 11.0 points |
| 18 | 2018 | Robert Menendez D def. Bob Hugin R | 1,711,654 – 1,357,355 | 11.2 points |
| 19 | 1970 | Harrison A. Williams Jr. D def. Nelson G. Gross R | 1,157,074 – 903,026 | 11.9 points |
| 20 | 1952 | H. Alexander Smith R def. Archibald S. Alexander D | 1,293,597 – 1,011,187 | 11.9 points |
| 21 | 1978 | Bill Bradley D def. Jeffrey Bell R | 1,082,960 – 844,200 | 12.2 points |
| 22 | 1960 | Clifford P. Case R def. Thorn Lord D | 1,483,832 – 1,151,385 | 12.5 points |
| 23 | 2014 | Cory A. Booker D def. Jeffrey Bell R | 1,043,866 – 791,297 | 13.5 points |
| 24 | 2008 | Frank R. Lautenberg D def. Dick Zimmer R | 1,951,218 – 1,461,025 | 14.1 points |
| 25 | 1928 | Hamilton F. Kean R def. Edward I. Edwards D | 841,752 – 608,623 | 16.0 points |