2012 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2012 United States Senate election in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent senator Bob Menendez became the first Hispanic-American U.S. senator to represent New Jersey in January 2006 when former U.S. senator Jon Corzine appointed him to the seat after having resigned to become governor of New Jersey, following his election in November 2005. In November 2006, after a tough and painful election, Menendez defeated Republican state senator Thomas Kean, Jr. with 53.3% of the vote.

Menendez won re-election to a second full term, becoming the first Democratic Senate candidate to carry Somerset County since Bill Bradley in 1984. This is the only time since 1976 that a candidate for this seat received over 55% of the vote. This election marked the first time that someone won this seat by double digits since 1976 as well. Menendez outperformed President Obama by winning 0.62% more than Obama won in the concurrent presidential election.

Candidates

 * Bob Menendez, incumbent U.S. Senator

Declared

 * David Brown, inventor
 * Joe Kyrillos, State Senator
 * Bader Qarmout, businessman and adjunct professor at the County College of Morris
 * Joseph Rudy Rullo, businessman

Withdrew

 * Ian Linker, attorney
 * Anna Little, former mayor of Highlands and candidate for NJ-06 in 2010

Declined

 * Diane Allen, state senator, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and former news broadcaster
 * Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey and former U.S. Attorney
 * John Crowley, biotechnology executive
 * Michael Doherty, state senator
 * Tim Smith, financial services firm executive and member of the Roxbury Township Council
 * Jay Webber, State Assemblyman and former New Jersey Republican State Committee chairman

Candidates

 * Bob Menendez (Democratic), incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Joe Kyrillos (Republican), state senator
 * Inder "Andy" Soni (America First)
 * Ken Wolski (Green), medical marijuana activist and former nurse
 * Gwen Diakos (Jersey Strong Independents), civilian defense contractor
 * Kenneth R. Kaplan (Libertarian), commercial real estate broker
 * Eugene Martin LaVergne (independent)
 * Daryl Mikell Brooks (Reform Nation), activist
 * Robert "Turk" Turkavage (Responsibility Fairness Integrity), former FBI agent
 * Greg Pason (Socialist), National Secretary of the Socialist Party USA and perennial candidate
 * J. David Dranikoff (Totally Independent Candidate), businessman

Debates
Three debates were scheduled. The first debate took place on October 4, 2012, at Montclair State University. Menendez and Kyrillos participated. The second took place on October 10 at NJ 101.5 studios, Trenton NJ The third was to take place on October 17 at Mercer County Community College
 * External links
 * Complete video of debate, October 4, 2012 - C-SPAN
 * Complete video of debate, October 13, 2012 - C-SPAN

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

 * Somerset (largest municipality: Franklin Township)
 * Salem (largest municipality: Pennsville Township)

By congressional district
Menendez won 9 of 12 congressional districts, including the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th districts, which elected Republicans to the House.