Jon Corzine won the New Jersey governor's seat in 2005, deciding to run for the seat after then Gov. James E. McGreevey announced in 2004 he had had an extramarital affair with a man and would resign. Corzine sought the seat and defeated Republican Doug Forrester with 54 percent of the vote, and decided to seek re-election in 2009, a race he eventually lost to Republican Chris Christie, a former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

Corzine faced only token opposition in the June 2009 Democratic primary, and officially kicked off his re-election bid on primary night when he appeared on stage with Vice President Joe Biden, who made it clear that the Obama administration has a stake in the election.

Obama made three campaign appearances for Corzine, including two in the race's closing weeks, but that was not enough to help the governor win another term, as Christie capitalized on voter anxiety about jobs and the economy and their unhappiness with Corzine's overall performance in office Prior to becoming governor, Corzine held a U.S. Senate seat, 2001-2006. Corzine won the June 2000 primary for the seat with 58 percent of the vote over former Gov. Jim Florio, then went on to defeat Republican Rep. Bob Franks in the general election, 50 percent to 47 percent.

(Last updated by Bruce Shipkowski on November 19, 2009.)

Frank Lautenberg was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1982 with 51 percent of the vote, defeating Republican U.S. Rep. Millicent Fenwick. He was re-elected in 1988 with 54 percent of the vote over Republican Pete Dawkins and defeated state Assembly Speaker Garabed Haytaian with 50 percent of the vote in 1994.

He retired in January of 2001 after three terms but came out of retirement in 2002 to replace Sen. Robert Torricelli on the ballot. He was elected in the general election that year, defeating Douglas Forrester by winning 54 percent of the vote.

Lautenberg won re-election in 2008 over former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer with 56 percent of the vote.

Prioer to his Senate career, Lautenberg was a board member at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 1978-1982.

(Last updated by Kimberly Hefling on March 30, 2009.)

Robert Menendez was tapped by John Corzine to complete the balance of Corzine's Senate term in late 2005, after the former senator was elected New Jersey governor.

Menendez defeated Republican Tom Kean Jr., son of former Gov. Thomas H. Kean, by 8 percentage points in 2006 to win a full, six-year Senate term.

In 1986, Menendez was elected mayor of Union City and also a state assemblyman from Hudson County.

In March 1991 he was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the death of state Sen. Christopher Jackman and was elected to a full term in November 1991.

Menendez was elected to the U.S. House in 1992 with 68 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Fred Theemling Jr. He was re-elected in 1994, defeating Republican Fernando Alonso with 71 percent of the vote. He won re-election in 1996 with 78 percent of the vote against Republican Carlos Munoz. Menendez was re-elected in 1998, defeating Republican Theresa de Leon with 80 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected in 2000 and 2002 with 78 percent of the vote. In 2004, he won with 76 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Kimberly Hefling on April 6, 2009.)