New Jersey was won by Democratic nominee John Kerry by a 6.68% margin of victory. Prior to the election, most news organizations considered it as a state Kerry would win, or a blue state. Due to the impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks, however, and GovernorJames McGreevey's resignation following threats of a sexual harassment lawsuit, the state was considered a potentially closer than usual race. Polls showed Senator John F. Kerry with a slim lead throughout the campaign and the Republicans invested some campaign funds in the state. In the end, Kerry carried New Jersey by a somewhat comfortable margin, albeit narrower than usual for most other 21st-century Democrats.
This is the first time since 1880 in which the Republican nominee won the popular vote without New Jersey, and the first time it voted for the popular vote loser since 1976. To date, this is the last election in which the Republican candidate won Somerset County.
