New Jersey held the first primary of the 2005/2006 cycle on Tuesday when voters went to the polls to select their gubernatorial nominees. Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine easily won his party’s nod with 88 percent against two unknown challengers. Republicans held the far more interesting contest.
Businessman and 2002 Senate nominee Doug Forrester won the GOP nomination, taking 36 percent in a seven-way field. Former Jersey City Mayor and 2001 gubernatorial nominee Bret Schundler placed second with 31 percent, followed by Morris County Freeholder John Murphy with 11 percent. The remaining four candidates were in single digits.
In 2002, Forrester challenged Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Torricelli, who was embroiled in a fundraising scandal and was under investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee. Post-Labor Day surveys showed that Forrester, then a political newcomer, had pulled even or ahead of Torricelli. On September 30, Torricelli dropped out of the race and the party tapped former Sen. Frank Lautenberg as its new candidate. Lautenberg prevailed in the general election, 54 percent to 44 percent. Forrester put about $8 million of his own money
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