The passing of Warren Wilentz means that David Norcross becomes the earliest nominated U.S. Senate candidate currently living. Wilentz was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1966 against Clifford Case, and Norcross was the Republican U.S. Senate candidate against Harrison Williams in 1976.
The oldest living statewide candidate is U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, who turned 86 in January. Former Gov. Brendan Byrne will celebrate his 86th birthday next month.
Living statewide candidates:
1973: Brendan Byrne (Governor)
1976: David Norcross (U.S. Senate)
1977: Byrne and Raymond Bateman (Governor)
1978: Jeff Bell and Bill Bradley (U.S. Senate)
1981: Thomas Kean and Jim Florio (Governor)
1982: Frank Lautenberg (U.S. Senate)
1984: Bradley and Mary Mochary (U.S. Senate)
1985: Kean and Peter Shapiro (Governor)
1988: Lautenberg and Pete Dawkins (U.S. Senate)
1989: Florio and Jim Courter (Governor)
1990: Bradley and Christine Todd Whitman (U.S. Senate)
1993: Florio and Whitman
1994: Lautenberg and Chuck Haytaian (U.S. Senate)
1996: Robert Torricelli and Dick Zimmer (U.S. Senate)
1997: Whitman and James E. McGreevey (Governor)
2000: Jon Corzine and Bob Franks (U.S. Senate)
2001: McGreevey and Bret Schundler (Governor)
2002: Lautenberg and Douglas Forrester (U.S. Senate)
2005: Corzine and Forrester
2006: Robert Menendez and Thomas Kean, Jr. (U.S. Senate)
2008: Lautenberg and Zimmer
2009: Corzine and Christopher Christie (Governor)
2009: Loretta Weinberg and Kim Guadagno (Lt. Governor)
