With candidates who had never run in a general election, New Jersey Republicans have not won a statewide election since ex-U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Albert Hawkes defeated incumbent William Smathers in 1942.
New Jersey Republicans have lost the last eleven U.S. Senate races; of their candidates, five had no previous general election experience. New Jersey Democrats ran first time general election candidates for statewide office with success in 1973, 1978, 1982 and 2000.
