Sen. Frank Lautenberg

Democrat - New Jersey
Race results: Long-time Council supporter Sen. Frank Lautenberg overcame a surprising primary challenge and went on to win re-election by almost half a million votes.

Democrat - Challenger
Endorsed for U.S. Senate by Council for a Livable World

Senator Frank Lautenberg is a long-term ally of the Council for a Livable World and a committed supporter of arms control. He received an unexpected challenge in the primary from U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, but won handily. Lautenberg is now defending his seat against former GOP Representative and former Senate candidate Richard Zimmer in a state that strongly favors Democrats.

Lautenberg has been a consistent and active ally of the Council during his many years in the Senate. He has had a record of 100% on Council issue positions over six times since 1984, and as low as 75% only three times in 24 years. Senator Lautenberg's only differences with the Council have been rare votes for military spending important to New Jersey and his vote for the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal. His door has always been open to Council suggestions.

He has opposed nuclear bunker busters and John Bolton's nomination to be U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and voted to cut missile defense funding and to increase funding for the United Nations. He has focused on protecting chemical plants and water supplies from terrorist attacks.

While Lautenberg was not in office to vote on the original Iraq war authorization in 2002, he said at the time that he would have voted for it. However, within a few months, he was leading the fight to hold President Bush accountable "for his deceit and deception on Iraq

Senator Lautenberg grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of an immigrant silk worker. After serving in the Army Signal Corps in World War II, he graduated from Columbia, then started a business that ultimately employed 30,000 people - a brilliant success story.

In 1982, spending his own money and emphasizing his business experience, he began his political career by beating professional politicians in the Democratic primary and a popular Republican in the general election. He was re-elected in 1988 and 1994 and retired in 2000, then returned to run again in 2002 when the incumbent suddenly withdrew weeks before the general election.

Council for a Livable World believes that it is important to re-elect New Jersey's Senator for his ability, his experience and his commitment to arms control.

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