In 1990, Forrester founded BeneCard Services, Inc., a pharmacy benefit management firm that provides prescription drug coverage primarily to public sector entities.
[3] Forrester's original opponent, Robert Torricelli, abandoned his re-election bid under accusations of accepting improper "gifts".
Forrester argued that the state statute generally forbidding the replacement of a candidate on the ballot within 51 days of an election (N.J.S.A 19:13-20[4]) should be obeyed because "here, there are really no extraordinary facts" such as "death and incapacitation".
Peter Verniero, a Republican appointed by Christine Todd Whitman, wrote that the statute in question "does not preclude the possibility of a vacancy occurring within 51 days of the election."
He initially decided to take care of his daughter Briana, who had suffered a brain hemorrhage and been diagnosed with cancer.
On November 23, 2004, Forrester formally announced his gubernatorial candidacy at Washington Crossing State Park.
After vote counting problems in Bergen County, a swing county in the primary election, Forrester broke even as planned with Schundler, giving him a 36-31 percent statewide victory over Schundler, setting Forrester up for his race against Democratic Party candidate and US Senator Jon Corzine.
New Jersey law has prohibited insurance companies, or people with a majority interest in one, from making political donations.
Acting Banking and Insurance Commissioner Donald Bryan, who had been reappointed by Democratic Governor Jim McGreevey, issued an opinion in August 2005 stating that Forrester had not broken the law.
The firm provides health benefit programs for public and private sector employees, including school districts and municipalities.
Forrester founded the Princeton, New Jersey firm after his daughter experienced a traumatic brain injury.