1996Final results
1996 election for U.S. Senate in New Jersey
U.S. Senate · New Jersey
Robert Torricelli (D) won with 52.7% of the vote, defeating Richard Zimmer (R) by 10.1 points.
Robert TorricelliDemocrat · winner
52.7%1,519,154
Richard ZimmerRepublican
42.6%1,227,351
Richard J. PezzulloIndependent
1.8%50,971
Mary Jo ChristianIndependent
0.8%23,949
Paul A. WoomerIndependent
0.5%15,183
Olga L. RodriguezIndependent
0.5%14,319
Mark WiseIndependent
0.5%13,683
Wilburt KornegayIndependent
0.4%11,107
Steven J. BaeliIndependent
0.3%7,749
2,883,466 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Robert TorricelliRichard Zimmer
$9.2M
Raised by the campaign
$8.3M
$9.1M
Spent by the campaign
$8.2M
$77.6K
Cash on hand
$15.4K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Robert Torricelli (D)Richard Zimmer (R)
Also on the ballot: Richard J. Pezzullo (Independent), 1.8%; Mary Jo Christian (Independent), 0.8%; Paul A. Woomer (Independent), 0.5%; Olga L. Rodriguez (Independent), 0.5%; Mark Wise (Independent), 0.5%; Wilburt Kornegay (Independent), 0.4%; Steven J. Baeli (Independent), 0.3%