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Nov. 5,
2013 Governor
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NJ
Dep't of State Division of Elections
Notes: Gov. Chris Christie (R), seen as a likely 2016 presidential candidate, comfortably defeated state Sen. Barbara Buono (D) and six other candidates to claim a second term. Christie and Buono faced only token opposition in the June 4 primaries. Christie had been building a national profile as a Republican governor in a "blue" state. He was mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidate but ruled out a run (+), and he was also mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney (>). That did not happen, but in Aug. 2012 he delivered the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in Tampa (+). Christie's energetic efforts leading the recovery from Superstorm Sandy, which hit the state on Oct. 29, 2012 and was "the costliest natural disaster in the history of New Jersey (>)," boosted his popularity in the Garden State. Buono, who served as the Senate Majority Leader from 2010-12, was elected to the New Jersey Senate in Nov. 2001 representing the 18th District (parts of Middlesex County). Previously she served eight years in the General Assembly (1994-2002). She worked for more than 15 years as a partner and co-founder of a law firm. Buono announced Milly Silva, executive vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, as her running mate on July 29, 2013 (1, 2). According to the campaign, this made it only the third all-female gubernatorial ticket in U.S. history. The two campaigns ran their first ads in May. Christie's ad, "Jersey Proud," presented him as a leader who "made the tough decisions to get New Jersey back on track (>)." The ad highlighted bipartisanship, a key element of his campaign. ("Working with Democrats and Republicans, believing that as long as you stick to your principles, compromise isn’t a dirty word.") There was a list of accomplishments: "Four balanced budgets in a row, with no new taxes for anyone. The best job growth in 12 years. Nearly 130,000 new private sector jobs. Merit pay to reward New Jersey’s best teachers. And the most education funding, ever." The ad concluded on a feel-good note. ("He made us proud to say we're from New Jersey.") Buono meanwhile pointed to "another New Jersey," including 400,000 unemployed and soaring property taxes (>). Christie and Buono debated twice: at William Paterson University in Wayne on Oct. 8, broadcast on WCBS-TV (>), and at Montclair State University on Oct. 15 broadcast on NJTV (>). In his victory speech, Christie hinted at what was to come. "I know that if we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington, DC should tune in their TVs right now, see how it's done (>)," he stated. The Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) reported spending on the gubernatorial campaign totaled $25.9 million compared to $56.1 million in 2009 (>). FollowtheMoney.org reported $26.5 million was raised in the 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial race, less than half the amount raised in 2009 (>). Campaign Managers: Chris Christie: Bill Stepien (April 2013) Deputy chief of staff to Gov. Chris Christie. Campaign manager on Chris Christie's campaign for governor in 2009. National field director on John McCain's presidential campaign from July 2008, after starting as regional campaign manager for NY and NJ from April 2008. National field director on Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign (announced Feb. 14, 2007). National 72-Hour director at the RNC in 2005-06. New Hampshire state field director for President Bush's re-election campaign in 2004. In 2003, Stepien managed Bill Baroni's State Assembly campaign (New Jersey’s only successful Republican State Assembly challenger campaign). He has also worked for Public Opinion Strategies, the Republican polling firm, and on Bob Franks’ 2000 campaign for U.S. Senate and Anthony Bucco's 1997 campaign for State Senate. Barbara Buono: Jonathan Ducote Campaign manager on Val Demings for Congress (FL), 2012. Campaign manager on Susan Bysiewicz for U.S. Senate (CT), 2011-12. Finance director on Alvin Brown for Mayor (Jacksonville), 2011. Campaign manager on Loranne Ausley for CFO (FL), 2010. Staff director for the Select Committee on Economic Recovery in the NC General Assembly, 2009. Campaign manager on Cowell for Treasurer (NC), 2007-08. Research assistant in the NC General Assembly, 2006-08. Campaign manager on Snow for Senate (NC), 2006. Accountant with South Carolina Bank and Trust, 2005-06. Studied accounting at North Carolina State University; president of UNC Association of Student Governments, 2002-04. See also: Harry J. Enten. "Chris Christies' broad appeal sets up historic win in New Jersey. And then?" The Guardian, Sept. 27, 2013. Jarrett Renshaw. "Buono's money woes threaten campaign, cause a change of mind." The Star-Ledger, May 5, 2013. Postscripts: Christie' re-election had a lingering postscript—the Bridgegate scandal (>). The closure of toll lanes on the George Washington Bridge in Sept. 2013 was rumored to be instigated by officials in Christie's administration as punishment of the Mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing Christie, among other reasons. The story, which broke in Jan. 2014, led to multiple investigations and legal proceedings over several years. As expected, Christie did go on to run for president in 2016 (+). |
 
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