Democrats Select Whitman Challenger

State Sen. Jim McGreevey, who voted for the infamous 1990 tax increase that doomed the state’s last Democratic governor, won the party’s primary to challenge Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. McGreevey defeated Rep. Robert Andrews and former prosecutor Michael Murphy for the chance to take on the popular, tax-cutting Republican governor. With 94% of districts reporting, McGreevey had 140,232 votes, or 40%, Andrews had 132,203 votes, or 37% and Murphy had 74,847 votes, or 21%. Whitman spent $3 million on advertisements reminding voters she delivered a 30% income tax cut a year ahead of schedule.