Sen. Frank Lautenberg defeated Rep. Robert Andrews on Tuesday in New Jersey’s bitter Senate Democratic primary. Lautenberg appears to have scored a resounding victory over Andrews. With 91 percent percent of precincts reporting, he held a 27-point lead over the Congressman. Lautenberg will face former Rep. Dick Zimmer (R) in November. Zimmer held a 45 percent to 41 percent lead over state Assemblyman Joseph Pennachio with 75 percent of the Republican primary vote counted, but the Associated Press has already declared Zimmer the victor. In the highly charged Democratic nomination fight, most of the Democratic establishment in Washington, D.C., and New Jersey stuck by Lautenberg and railed against Andrews and the surprise challenge he launched eight weeks ago. Andrews had hoped to rally enough support in his southern base and pick up pockets of support in Northern New Jersey to overcome Lautenberg. But it appears that the Senator and his Congressional supporters were able to keep Andrews from gaining any major traction outside his base. Lautenberg will be the heavy favorite over Zimmer heading into the fall. — John McArdle