2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2018, in order to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez won reelection to a third term over Republican businessman Bob Hugin.

The candidate filing deadline was April 2, 2018, for Democratic and Republican candidates, and the primary election was held on June 5, 2018. The deadline for independent candidates was June 5, 2018.

Despite the race being rated as a tossup by some political pundits, including The Cook Political Report, Menendez was reelected by an 11.2% margin. However, Hugin was the first Republican Senate candidate to carry Atlantic and Gloucester counties since Clifford Case's landslide victory in 1972.

Democratic primary
While he never lost support from any major New Jersey officials, after a mistrial was declared in Senator Menendez's corruption trial, party figures across New Jersey lined up with public endorsements of his reelection bid, including the "full support" of Governor Phil Murphy. He formally declared his intention to run for reelection on March 28, 2018, alongside Governor Murphy and Senator Cory Booker.

Nominee

 * Bob Menendez, incumbent U.S. Senator

Eliminated in Primary

 * Lisa McCormick, activist and candidate for Union County Clerk in 2010

Withdrew

 * Michael Starr Hopkins, attorney

Declined

 * Rush D. Holt Jr., former U.S. Representative
 * Donald Norcross, U.S. Representative
 * Robert Torricelli, former U.S. Senator

Results
[[File:NJ U.S. Senate Democratic primary, 2018.svg|thumb|225px|Results by county Map legend

{{legend|#1666cb|Menendez—70–80%}}

{{legend|#4389e3|Menendez—60–70%}}

{{legend|#86b6f2|Menendez—50–60%}}

{{legend|#73d873|McCormick—50–60%}}

{{legend|#42ca42|McCormick—60–70%}}
 * center]]

Republican primary
Bob Hugin launched his primary campaign on February 13 in Springfield. He began advertising on television two weeks later, attacking Menendez on the airwaves, and was soon considered the presumptive nominee. His opponent, Brian Goldberg, attempted to connect himself to President Donald Trump and his supporters by inserting the President's abbreviated slogan, "MAGA", into his ballot slogans and aligning himself with other pro-Trump, anti-establishment candidates. Goldberg also attacked Hugin's running mates, urging Republicans to write in the deceased Charlton Heston in primary races where a Republican congressional candidate was running unopposed. Ultimately, Hugin won overwhelmingly with a majority of votes in each of the state's 21 counties.

Nominee

 * Bob Hugin, businessman and former executive chairman of Celgene Corporation

Eliminated in Primary

 * Brian D. Goldberg, businessman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014

Withdrew

 * Rich Pezzullo, businessman (endorsed Bob Hugin, running for NJ-6)
 * Hirsh Singh, aerospace engineer and candidate for governor in 2017 (running for NJ-2)
 * Dana Wefer, former chairwoman of the Hoboken Housing Authority and candidate for governor in 2017 (did not submit enough petition signatures)

Declined

 * Jon Bramnick, Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly (endorsed Hugin)
 * Jack Ciattarelli, former state assemblyman and candidate for governor in 2017
 * Michael J. Doherty, state senator
 * Kim Guadagno, former lieutenant governor and nominee for Governor in 2017
 * Thomas Kean Jr., Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006
 * Joe Kyrillos, former state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012
 * Tom MacArthur, U.S. Representative (endorsed Hugin)
 * Bill Spadea, radio and TV show host; nominee for NJ-12 in 2004
 * Jerry Watson
 * Jay Webber, state assemblyman and former chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee (running for NJ-11)

Results
[[File:NJ U.S. Senate Republican primary, 2018.svg|thumb|225px|Results by county Map legend

{{legend|#782121|Hugin—80–90%}}

{{legend|#a02c2c|Hugin—70–80%}}

{{legend|#c83737|Hugin—60–70%}}

{{legend|#d35f5f|Hugin—50–60%}}
 * center]]

Candidates

 * Murray Sabrin, Ramapo College finance professor, Anisfield School of Business

Green Party

 * Madelyn R. Hoffman, peace activist and 1997 Green Party gubernatorial candidate

Candidates

 * Tricia Flanagan (New Day NJ), consultant
 * Kevin Kimple (Make it Simple), small business owner
 * Natalie Rivera (For the People), social services coordinator
 * Hank Schroeder (Economic Growth), perennial candidate

Withdrew

 * Muhammad Usman

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, October 24, 2018

Predictions
^Highest rating given

Polling

 * Kean vs. Andrews


 * Codey vs. Kyrillos

Results by county
2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey results map by municipality.svg Map legend

{{legend|#002B84|Menendez—>90%}}

{{legend|#0645B4|Menendez—80–90%}}

{{legend|#1666CB|Menendez—70–80%}}

{{legend|#4389E3|Menendez—60–70%}}

{{legend|#86B6F2|Menendez—50–60%}}

{{legend|#B9D7FF|Menendez—<50%}}

{{legend|#F2B3BE|Hugin—<50%}}

{{legend|#E27F90|Hugin—50–60%}}

{{legend|#CC2F4A|Hugin—60–70%}}

{{legend|#D40000|Hugin—70–80%}}

{{legend|#AA0000|Hugin—80–90%}}

{{legend|#800000|Hugin—>90%}} ]]


 * Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
 * Atlantic (largest municipality: Egg Harbor Township)
 * Gloucester (largest municipality: Washington Township)
 * Salem (largest municipality: Pennsville Township)

Results by congressional district
Menendez won 6 of 12 congressional districts. Hugin, however, won the remaining 6, including five won by Democrats.