2012 United States presidential election in New Jersey
November 6, 2012
 
Nominee Barack Obama Mitt Romney
Party Democratic Republican
Home state Illinois Massachusetts
Running mate Joe Biden Paul Ryan
Electoral vote 14 0
Popular vote 2,126,610 1,478,749
Percentage 58.25% 40.50%
President before election

Barack Obama
Democratic

 Elected President

Barack Obama
Democratic

The 2012 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Voters in the state chose 14 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan.

Due to the difficulty of getting to polling places because of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, voters who were displaced were allowed to vote electronically. Officials were not prepared for the 15 minutes that it took to validate each request, and were deluged by voters who were not displaced asking to vote electronically, so voting was extended until Friday, November 9, at 8 PM. Requests had to be submitted by 5 PM.[1] It is likely that Obama's response to the hurricane, approved by 77% of Obama voters (with 8% disapproving and 15% unsure) and 44% (with 21% disapproving and 35% unsure) of Romney's voters, boosted his performance in New Jersey, which was hit hard by the superstorm.[2]

New Jersey was won by President Obama with 58.25% of the vote to Romney's 40.50%, a 17.75% margin of victory, an increase from 15.53% in 2008.[3] New Jersey was 1 of just 6 states to swing in President Obama's favor between 2008 and 2012, giving him the largest vote share for a Democratic presidential nominee in the state since Lyndon Johnson's 1964. Obama won over many municipalities in northeastern New Jersey that voted Republican in 2008.

As of the 2020 presidential election, this is the last time a Democrat has won Salem County.

Primary elections

Democratic primary

Incumbent Barack Obama ran unopposed[4] in the Democratic primary held on June 5, 2012. He received 283,673 votes[5] according to the Secretary of State, though county clerks' websites report write-in votes as well. The state's 172 delegates voted unanimously for Obama at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.[6]

Republican primary

2012 New Jersey Republican presidential primary
June 5, 2012 (2012-06-05)
 
Candidate Mitt Romney Ron Paul
Party Republican Republican
Home state Massachusetts Texas
Delegate count 50 0
Popular vote 188,121 24,017
Percentage 81.3% 10.4%

The Republican primary occurred on June 5, 2012.[7][8]

New Jersey sent 50 delegates to the Republican National Convention on August 5, 2012. All 50 delegates were awarded by a winner-take-all statewide vote. New Jersey Republican Party rules obligate and require the delegates to cast their vote for the winner of the primary on the first 3 ballots at the convention.[9]

New Jersey Republican primary, 2012[5]
Candidate Votes Percentage Delegates
Mitt Romney 188,121 81.3% 50
Ron Paul 24,017 10.4% 0
Rick Santorum 12,115 5.2% 0
Newt Gingrich 7,212 3.1% 0
Pledged leaders: 3
Total: 231,465 100.0% 50
Key:Withdrew prior to contest

General election

Candidate ballot access

[10]

Results

2012 United States presidential election in New Jersey[3]
Party Candidate Running mate Votes Percentage Electoral votes
Democratic Barack Obama Joe Biden 2,126,610 58.25% 14
Republican Mitt Romney Paul Ryan 1,478,749 40.50% 0
Libertarian Gary Johnson Jim Gray 21,045 0.58% 0
Green Jill Stein Cheri Honkala 9,888 0.27% 0
Constitution Virgil Goode Jim Clymer 2,064 0.06% 0
Justice Rocky Anderson Luis J. Rodriguez 1,724 0.05% 0
NSA Did 911 Jeff Boss Bob Pasternak 1,007 0.03% 0
Socialist Workers James Harris Maura Deluca 710 0.02% 0
American Third Position Merlin Miller Harry Bertram 664 0.02% 0
Socialism and Liberation Peta Lindsay Yari Osorio 521 0.01% 0
Totals 3,640,292 100.00% 14
Voter Turnout (Registered) 66.4%
Results of the general election by municipality, darker colors indicate higher win percentage:
-Blue municipalities won by Obama
-Red municipalities won by Romney

Results by county

County Barack Obama
Democratic		 Mitt Romney
Republican		 Various candidates
Other parties		 Margin Total votes cast
#  % #  % #  % #  %
Atlantic 65,600 57.88% 46,522 41.04% 1,222 1.08% 19,078 16.84% 113,344
Bergen 212,754 55.12% 169,070 43.80% 4,166 1.08% 43,684 11.32% 385,990
Burlington 126,377 58.42% 87,401 40.40% 2,561 1.18% 38,976 18.02% 216,339
Camden 153,682 68.02% 69,476 30.75% 2,791 1.23% 84,206 37.27% 225,949
Cape May 21,657 45.03% 25,781 53.61% 655 1.36% -4,124 -8.58% 48,093
Cumberland 34,055 61.51% 20,658 37.31% 656 1.18% 13,397 24.20% 55,369
Essex 237,035 77.95% 64,767 21.30% 2,269 0.75% 172,268 56.65% 304,071
Gloucester 74,013 54.59% 59,456 43.86% 2,101 1.55% 14,557 10.73% 135,570
Hudson 153,108 77.45% 42,369 21.43% 2,217 1.12% 110,739 56.02% 197,694
Hunterdon 26,876 40.34% 38,687 58.07% 1,061 1.59% -11,811 -17.73% 66,624
Mercer 104,377 67.19% 47,355 30.48% 3,623 2.33% 57,022 36.71% 155,355
Middlesex 190,555 63.13% 107,310 35.55% 3,995 1.32% 83,245 27.58% 301,860
Monmouth 133,820 46.84% 148,000 51.81% 3,847 1.35% -14,180 -4.97% 285,667
Morris 100,563 43.98% 125,279 54.79% 2,805 1.23% -24,716 -10.81% 228,647
Ocean 102,300 40.62% 146,475 58.16% 3,079 1.22% -44,175 -17.54% 251,854
Passaic 115,926 63.62% 64,523 35.41% 1,765 0.97% 51,403 28.21% 182,214
Salem 14,719 49.69% 14,334 48.39% 570 1.92% 385 1.30% 29,623
Somerset 74,592 52.10% 66,603 46.52% 1,985 1.38% 7,989 5.58% 143,180
Sussex 26,104 38.28% 40,625 59.57% 1,465 2.15% -14,521 -21.29% 68,194
Union 139,752 66.52% 68,314 32.52% 2,022 0.96% 71,438 34.00% 210,088
Warren 18,745 41.27% 25,744 56.69% 926 2.04% -6,999 -15.42% 45,415
Totals2,126,61058.25%1,478,74940.50%45,7811.25%647,86117.75%3,651,140

Results by congressional district

Obama won 8 of 12 congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.[11]

District Obama Romney Representative
1st 65% 34% Rob Andrews
2nd 54% 45% Frank LoBiondo
3rd 52% 47% Jon Runyan
4th 45% 54% Chris Smith
5th 49% 51% Scott Garrett
6th 61% 37% Frank Pallone Jr.
7th 46% 53% Leonard Lance
8th 78% 21% Albio Sires
9th 68% 31% Bill Pascrell
10th 88% 12% Donald Payne Jr.
11th 47% 52% Rodney Frelinghuysen
12th 67% 32% Rush Holt Jr.

Analysis

New Jersey was one of just six states that voted more Democratic in 2012 than it had in 2008. In 2008, Obama won the state by roughly 602,000 votes, whereas in 2012, this margin increased to about 648,000 votes. Obama's increased statewide margin owed itself to larger Democratic margins in several central and northern counties. In Middlesex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union Counties collectively, Obama netted nearly 45,000 additional votes compared to 2008. Outside of these four counties, most others in the state had comparable margins to 2008.

Turnout patterns relative to 2008 arguably helped Obama increase his statewide margin. Every county cast fewer votes in 2012 than in 2008, but not uniformly so. Perhaps due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, conservative Monmouth County saw the largest percentage decrease in votes cast from 2008, with Ocean County also witnessing a substantial decline in votes cast. In the northwestern part of the state, strongly Republican Sussex and Warren County experienced moderately lower turnout. In terms of raw votes cast, Passaic County, which is strongly Democratic, came closest to its 2008 figures, with just 5,000 fewer votes cast in 2012 than in 2008.

Obama's improved performance was quite unusual as his performance worsened in most other areas of the nation (particularly the Midwest and Rust Belt). It is likely this was due to his widely approved response to Hurricane Sandy, which had a devastating effect on the state, causing two million households to lose power, destroying 346,000 homes,[12] and causing blockades on bridges and roads for up to two weeks.[13] Obama's response to the so-called superstorm also likely contributed to his improved performance. According to a poll conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post, not only did 77% of Obama's voters approve of his handling of the storm (with 8% disapproving and 15% unsure), he also received a plurality amongst Romney voters, with 44% approving of his handling, 21% disapproving, and 35% unsure.[2] Another poll by the Pew Research Center found that 67% of registered voters approved of Obama's response with only 15% disapproving.[14] Chris Christie, the state's Republican governor called Obama's response to the hurricane "outstanding" and praised him for his frequent coordination with the New Jersey government, potentially boosted his popularity amongst Republican voters.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New Jersey's email voting suffers major glitches, deadline extended to Friday". Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Clement, Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott (October 31, 2012). "WaPo-ABC tracking poll: High marks for President Obama on Hurricane Sandy response". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 3, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 "New Jersey Division of Elections Official General Election Results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 9, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Official List Candidates for president For PRIMARY ELECTION 06/05/2012 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State - Division of Elections. April 12, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Official List Candidates for president For PRIMARY ELECTION 06/05/2012 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State - Division of Elections. July 23, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  6. ↑ "New Jersey Democratic Delegation 2012". The Green Papers. November 17, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Primary and Caucus Printable Calendar". CNN. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Presidential Primary Dates" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  9. ↑ "2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions". The Green Papers. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Official List Candidates for president For GENERAL ELECTION 11/06/2012 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State - Division of Elections. September 13, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  12. ↑ Chris Smith (New Jersey politician) (January 2, 2013). "Floor statement on Sandy supplemental" (PDF). United States House of Representatives.
  13. ↑ Star-Ledger, Mike Frassinelli/The (November 2, 2012). "N.J. to get $10M in emergency relief to repair roads, bridges in wake of Sandy". nj. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  14. ↑ Cassidy, John (November 4, 2012). "How Much Did Hurricane Sandy Help Obama?". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  15. ↑ Robillard, Kevin. "Christie heaps praise on Obama". POLITICO. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
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