The 1997 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1997. In the Democratic primary, state senator and Woodbridge Township mayor James McGreevey defeated pre-U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews by 9,993 votes. In the general election, Republican Governor Christine Todd Whitman defeated McGreevey by 26,953 votes. Whitman won 46.87% of the vote, with Democratic nominee James McGreevey receiving 45.82% and Libertarian Murray Sabrin receiving 4.7%.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

[[File:1997 New Jersey gubernatorial Democratic primary results map by county.svg|thumb|280px|Democratic primary results by county {{legend|#7996e2|McGreevey}} {{legend|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend|#5bc75b|Andrews}} {{legend|#5bc75b|50–60%}} {{legend|#41b742|60–70%}} {{legend|#309a30|70–80%}} {{legend|#217821|80–90%}} {{legend|#f9d440|Murphy}} {{legend|#ffe680|40–50%}} {{legend|#f4c200|60–70%}}

General election

Candidates

Campaign

In June, a 60-second radio ad paid for by the New Jersey Republican Party focused on the 30% income tax cut and 180,000 new jobs. Whitman's ads blamed McGreevey for the state's auto insurance rates. The Whitman campaign emphasized the drops in unemployment, violent crime and welfare rolls during her term. Other ads took aim at McGreevey's record on taxes, particularly his support for former Gov. Jim Florio's (D) tax increase. The RNC criticized former Gov. Jim Florio (D) in an ad October, calling his 1990 tax increase a result of electing "liberal Democrats". In September, McGreevey unveiled two TV ads criticizing Whitman and focusing on property taxes, auto insurance rates, pension bond debts, and education standards. The Democratic National Committee also spent $1 million during the home stretch of the campaign on television ads for Democratic candidates statewide. In October, a poll found that voters of NJ called auto insurance the most important issue in the campaign, and property taxes second.

Polling

Results

This was the first gubernatorial election in the state since 1949 where a Republican won without Passaic County.

Results by county