2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and elected the 12 U.S. Representatives from the state of New Jersey, a loss of one seat following the 2010 United States Census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate.
Overview
Redistricting
in New Jersey is the responsibility of the New Jersey Redistricting Commission, comprising six Democrats and six Republicans. If a majority of the 12 cannot reach an agreement, a neutral 13th person serves as a mediator or tie-breaker. On December 23, 2011, the commission voted 7-6 for a map supported by Republicans.District 1
In redistricting, Cherry Hill Township was added to the 1st district, while Riverton and parts of East Greenwich Township and Mantua Township were removed from the district. Democrat Rob Andrews, who has represented the 1st district since 1990, ran for re-election. Francis Tenaglio, a former Pennsylvania state Representative who ran for Governor in 2005, challenged Andrews in the Democratic primary.Gregory Horton, the athletic director of Clearview Regional High School, ran unopposed the Republican nomination.
Democratic primary
;Declared- Rob Andrews, incumbent U.S. Representative
- Francis Tenaglio, former Pennsylvania state Representative, candidate for Governor in 2005
- Donald Norcross, state senator
- Frank Minor, Mayor of Logan Township
Primary results
Republican primary
;Declared- Gregory Horton, Athletic Director of Clearview Regional High School
Primary results
General election
Results
District 2
In redistricting, Barnegat Light, Bass River Township, Beach Haven, Eagleswood Township, Harvey Cedars, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom, Stafford Township, Surf City, Tuckerton, Washington Township and part of Mantua Township were added to the district. Republican Frank LoBiondo, who represented the 2nd district since 1995, sought re-election. Mike Assad, a member of the Absecon Board of Education, challenged LoBiondo in the Republican primary.David W Bowen Sr., a Businessman, a Real Estate Investor and Public Speaker, ran as an Independent.
Cassandra Shober, an office manager, won the Democratic nomination. Democratic state senator Jeff Van Drew will not run.
Republican primary
;Declared- Frank LoBiondo, incumbent U.S. Representative
- Mike Assad, school board member
Primary results
Democratic primary
;Declared- Viola Hughes, former mayor of Fairfield Township and nominee for this seat in 2006
- Gary Stein, candidate for the General Assembly in 2011
- Cassandra Shober, office manager
- Lou Greenwald, Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly
- Jeff Van Drew, state senator
- Jim Whelan, state senator
Primary results
General election
Results
District 3
In redistricting, the 3rd district was made more favorable to Republicans. Parts of Burlington County, including Riverton and Shamong Township, and Brick Township and Mantoloking in Ocean County were added to the district, while Cherry Hill and Bass River were removed. Republican Jon Runyan, who has represented the 3rd district since January 2011, sought re-election. Justin Murphy, a former member of the Tabernacle Township Committee and unsuccessful Republican primary candidate for the seat in 2010, declined to run.Former U.S. Representative John Adler, who represented the 3rd district from 2009 until 2011 but lost re-election in 2010, had planned to run again; however, Adler died in April 2011. Shelley Adler, an of counsel attorney and the widow of the former congressman, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Thomas Sacks-Wilner, a medical doctor who was considering a bid for the Democratic nomination, declined to run.
Frederick John LaVergne of Delanco, New Jersey, ran as a "Democratic-Republican" Democratic-Republican Party - the party designation of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams.
Robert Witterschein, an accountant, ran as an Independent.
Republican primary
;Declared- Jon Runyan, incumbent U.S. Representative
- Justin Murphy, former Tabernacle Township Committee Member and candidate for the seat in 2010
Primary results
Democratic primary
;Declared- Shelley Adler, attorney and the widow of former U.S. Representative John Adler,
- Thomas Sacks-Wilner, physician
Primary results
General election
Polling
Results
District 4
In redistricting, the district lost all of its share of Burlington County, while gaining more of Republican-leaning Monmouth. Republican Chris Smith, who has represented the 4th congressional district since 1981, sought re-election. Terrence McGowan, a retired firefighter, police officer, and Navy SEAL, challenged Smith in the Republican primary.Brian Froelich, a retired executive and business consultant, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Patricia Bennett, an attorney, had also planned to run but dropped out.
Republican primary
;Declared- Chris Smith, incumbent U.S. Representative
- Terrence McGowan, retired Navy SEAL
Primary results
Democratic primary
;Declared- Brian Froelich, retired business consultant
- Patricia Bennett, attorney
- Doug DeMeo
Primary results
General election
Results
District 5
Republican Scott Garrett, who has represented the 5th district since 2003, successfully sought re-election. Michael Cino, an oil executive who challenged Garrett in the Republican primary in 2006, will run again. Garret won the Republican primary by a fairly comfortable margin.Jason Castle, an information technology executive and Marine; Adam Gussen, the deputy mayor of Teaneck; and Diane Sare, a chorus director and LaRouche political organizer, all ran for the Democratic nomination to challenge Garrett; Gussen eventually won the primary. Terry Duffy, the director of the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, had planned to run but ended his bid in March 2012. Harry Carson, a former linebacker for the New York Giants; former Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire; Jim McQueeny, a public relations executive and former News12 anchor; and state assemblywoman Connie Wagner, will not run. Steve Rothman, a Democrat who has represented the 9th district since 1997 and was expected to seek re-election in the 5th district, instead ran in the 9th district.
Patricia Alessandrini ran as a candidate of the Green Party for the seat.
Mark Quick, a former member of the Warren County Republican Committee who challenged Garrett as an Independent in 2010, had stated that he would as a candidate of the Reform Party of New Jersey. He withdrew from the race and did not qualify for the ballot.
Republican primary
;Declared- Scott Garrett, incumbent U.S. Representative
- Michael Cino, oil executive and candidate for this seat in 2006
- Bonnie Somer
Primary results
Democratic primary
;Declared- Jason Castle, IT executive and Marine
- Adam Gussen, deputy mayor of Teaneck
- Diane Sare, LaRouche movement activist
- Terry Duffy, director of Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders
- Steve Rothman, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 9th district
- Robert M. Gordon, state senator
- Connie Wagner, Member of the General Assembly
- Harry Carson, former New York Giants linebacker
- Leo McGuire, former Bergen County Sheriff
- Jim McQueeny, public relations executive and former News12 anchor
Primary results
General election
Results
District 6
Democrat Frank Pallone, who has represented the 6th district since 1993, will seek re-election. Ernesto Cullari, an orthopedic practitioner, and Anna Little, the former mayor of Highlands who unsuccessfully challenged Pallone as the Republican nominee in 2010, won the Republican nomination to challenge Pallone.Democratic primary
;Declared- Frank Pallone, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Republican primary
;Declared- Anna Little, former mayor of Highlands and nominee for this seat in 2010
- Ernesto Cullari, small-business owner
Primary results
General election
Results
District 7
Republican Leonard Lance, who has represented the 7th district since 2009, ran for re-election. The 7th district was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting, losing all of Democratic leaning Middlesex County, while now including all of heavily Republican Hunterdon. David Larsen, a businessman who unsuccessfully challenged Lance in the Republican primary in 2010, ran again.State Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. At least two other candidates had announced in 2011 that they would seek the Democratic nomination, but withdraw in the months before the filing deadline: Jun Choi, the former mayor of Edison, and Ed Potosnak, a chemistry teacher and entrepreneur who unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2010. Following the redistricting process which placed Choi's town of Edison in the 6th district, Choi announced that he would not be a candidate for Congress in 2012 and endorsed incumbent Frank Pallone. On January 16, 2012, Potosnak announced that he was dropping out of the race to accept a position as executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters.
Patrick McKnight ran as the Libertarian candidate.
Republican primary
;Declared- Leonard Lance, incumbent U.S. Representative
- David Larsen, candidate for this seat in 2010
Primary results
Democratic primary
;Declared- Upendra J. Chivukula, Member of the General Assembly
- Jun Choi, former mayor of Edison
- Ed Potosnak, chemistry teacher entrepreneur and candidate for this seat in 2010
Primary results
General election
Results
District 8
The new 8th district is the successor to the 13th district. Democrat Albio Sires, who has represented the 13th district since 2006, will seek re-election in this district. Michael Shurin, a computer programmer, will challenge Sires in the Democratic primary.Maria Karczewski, a former commissioner of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority, and Anthony Zanowic, who ran as an Independent against Sires in the 13th district in 2010, will seek the Republican nomination.
Democratic primary
;Declared- Albio Sires, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 13th District
- Michael Shurin, computer programmer
Primary results
Republican primary
;Declared- Maria Karczewski, former Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority commissioner
- Anthony Zanowic, independent candidate for the 13th district in 2010
- Washington Flores
Primary results
General election
Results
District 9
, a Democrat who has represented the 8th district since 1997, and Steve Rothman, a Democrat who has represented the 9th district since 1997, both ran for the nomination in the new 9th district. Michael Wildes, the former mayor of Englewood, will not run and instead endorsed Rothman. Pascrell won the Democratic primary in June.Blase Billack, a pharmaceutical sciences associate professor at St. John's University and Shmuley Boteach, a rabbi, author, and radio talk show host, sought the Republican nomination. Boteach won the Republican primary.
Democratic primary
;Declared- Steve Rothman, incumbent U.S. Representative
- Bill Pascrell, incumbent U.S. Representative
- Michael Wildes, former mayor of Englewood
Primary results
Republican primary
;Declared- Blase Billack, pharmaceutical sciences associate professor at St. John's University
- Shmuley Boteach, rabbi, author, and radio talk show host
- Hector Castillo, ophthalmologist and independent candidate for Governor in 2005
Primary results
General election
Results
District 10
Democrat Donald M. Payne, who had represented the 10th district since 1989, died on March 6, 2012. As a matter of convenience and cost saving, a special election will be held in conjunction with the regularly-scheduled November general election. Voters will be asked on the November ballot to select two candidates: one to serve the remainder of Payne's term in November and December, and the other candidate to serve the full 2-year term beginning in January 2013.On June 5, 2012, in the Democratic primary for the special election, Payne's son, Donald Payne Jr., defeated Ronald C. Rice and Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith. In the Democratic primary for the full term, held on the same day, Payne Jr. competed against Rice, Smith, State Senator Nia Gill, Cathy Wright, and Dennis Flynn. He won in a landslide, garnering 60 percent of the vote. Rice received 19 percent, Gill 17 percent, and Smith, Flynn and Wright combined for about 5 percent of the vote.
In the general election held on November 6, 2012, Payne Jr. defeated Republican candidate Brian Kelemen and independent Joanne Miller for the special election to fill the remainder of his father's term.
Democratic primary
;Declared- Donald Payne Jr., president of the Newark Municipal Council, member of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and son of former U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne
- Nia Gill, state senator
- Ronald C. Rice, member of the Newark Municipal Council
- Wayne Smith, Mayor of Irvington
- Dennis Flynn, Iraq War veteran
- Cathy Wright, sales support manager
Primary results
Republican primary
;Declared- Brian Kelemen
Primary results
General election
Results
District 11
Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen, who has represented the 11th district since 1995, will seek re-election. John Arvanites, a former mayor of Roseland, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination to challenge Frelinghuysen.Republican primary
;Declared- Rodney Frelinghuysen, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Democratic primary
;Declared- John Arvanites, former mayor of Roseland
Primary results