The 1911 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on January 24–25, 1911. Republican incumbent John Kean did not run for re-election to a third term. The open seat was won by Democrat James Edgar Martine with Republican former Governor Edward C. Stokes as the runner-up.
On September 13, 1910, direct "advisory" primaries were held. Martine defeated John McDermitt of Newark for the Democratic nomination, while Stokes narrowly won a three-way Republican primary against former Governor Franklin Murphy and U.S. Representative Charles N. Fowler.[1] Thus, Martine or Stokes stood likely to be elected Senator if their respective party won the 1910 fall legislative elections.
Despite Martine's victory, the primary was non-binding. Former Senator James Smith Jr., who broke his alliance with Martine and Woodrow Wilson, pledged to challenge him in the January legislative election.[citation needed]