United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in New Jersey will be held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. New Jersey has thirteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever is elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

The statewide Party primary elections were held June 3, 2008.

The races not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party are 3, 5 and 7.

District breakdown

District 1

This district contains all or parts of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties. Rob Andrews is the Democratic nominee and the Saints Prison Ministry founder Dale Glading is the Republican nominee. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Incumbent Democrat Rob Andrews, in a surprise move on April 2, 2008, announced that he would be challenging incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg in the Democratic primary in June. [David W. Chen, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/nyregion/02cnd-senate.html?hp Lautenberg to face Primary Challenge] "The New York Times", April 2, 2008] His House seat, which is reliably Democratic (CPVI: D+14), thus became an open seat. The filing deadline for primary candidates was April 7, leaving only a few days for candidates to declare.

Andrews' wife, Camille Andrews, won the Democratic primary for his seat in the House, while Andrews himself was beaten by Lautenberg in the Senate primary. After this defeat, Rob Andrews decided to run for re-election to his House seat; Camille withdrew her candidacy on September 3, and Rob Andrews announced that on September 4 that he would take her place as the Democratic candidate. He maintained that his wife had not been merely a placeholder candidate and said that he had only decided to run for re-election a week before he announced it; according to Andrews, his change of heart was a result of personal reflection. [ [http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/09/04/Wife_bows_out_so_Rep_Andrews_can_run/UPI-98351220585796/ "Wife bows out, so Rep. Andrews can run"] , UPI, September 4, 2008.]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-01 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ01&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 2

This district lies in the southern part of the state, containing all or portions of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May:
Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. It has been represented by Republican Frank LoBiondo since 1995. The Democratic nominee is Cape May city councilman Dave Kurkowski ( [http://www.kurkowskiforcongress.com/ campaign website] ). Other candidates include Green Jason Grover, Socialist Constantino Rozzo, Peter Boyce for the Constitution Party, and Independent Gary Stein. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-02 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ02&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 3

This district contains all or portions of Burlington, Camden and Ocean counties. The Republican nominee is Chris Myers, Mayor of Medford, VP of Lockheed Martin and Gulf War veteran. The Democratic nominee is State Senator John Adler, a formidable candidate although he faces an outsider disadvantage in that his State Senate district's only city that is in the 3rd Congressional District is his home town of Cherry Hill. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.

Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton announced that he would retire at the end of his current term. [ [http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20071109_N_J_s_Congressman_Saxton_to_retire.html philly.com] ] . This district is historically Republican, but George W. Bush barely won with 51% to 49% for John Kerry in 2004 (CPVI=D+3). Also, Al Gore won his district by a significant margin in 2000. Some Democrats think that Saxton had managed to keep his seat for so long (since 1984) because he rarely faced credible opposition.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-03 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ03&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

A mid-September internal poll by McLaughlin & Associates show Myers defeating Adler by a margin of 33% to 29%, with a plurality of voters - 37% - undecided. [ [http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-09142008-1590572.html] ] . The poll attributes Myers’ lead to a general dissatisfaction among voters towards Adler’s negative ads and negative mailers from various political committees supporting the Democrat. It also indicates that Adler’s low approval ratings are partially due to the perception that he is a “career politician” and the fact that he is an Ivy League-educated lawyer. Adler’s association with unpopular Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine also hurts him, while Myers is helped from his endorsement by incumbent Rep. Jim Saxton, who has a 53 percent favorable rating. [ [http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/myers-leads-adler-in-internal-2008-09-15.html] ] .

District 4

This district lies in the central part of the state, including all or portions of Burlington County, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties. It has been represented by Republican Chris Smith since 1981. The Democratic nominee is author and teacher Josh Zeitz ( [http://www.joshzeitz.com/ campaign website] ). CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-04 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ04&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 5

This district contains most of Northern New Jersey including the cities of Paramus and Ridgewood. Republican incumbent Scott Garrett has been elected by safe margins in the past but in 2006 he only won by 10 points against Paul Aronsohn, the smallest margin of his career. The Democratic nominee is Rabbi Dennis Shulman. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Republican Favored'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-05 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ05&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 6

This district lies in the east-central part of the state, including all or portions of Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Union counties. It has been represented by Democrat Frank Pallone since 1993. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'. Republican Robert McLeod is running against Pallone.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-06 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ06&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 7

This district contains portions of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. The Republican nominee is State Senator (and outgoing Senate Minority Leader) Leonard Lance of Hunterdon County. Assemblywoman Linda Stender is again the Democratic nominee. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.

Republican Mike Ferguson barely won his re-election bid in 2006, edging state Assemblywoman Linda Stender by 50% to 48%. In a major surprise, Ferguson recently announced that he would not run for reelection. [ [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--ferguson-election1119nov19,0,2457188.story newsday.com] ] George W. Bush narrowly won this district with 53% to 46% for John Kerry in 2004 (CPVI=R+1).
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-07 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ07&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 8

This district lies in the north-east part of the state, including all or portions of Essex and Passaic counties. It has been represented by Democrat Bill Pascrell since 1997. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-08 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ08&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 9

This district lies in the north-east part of the state, including all or portions of Bergen and Hudson and Passaic counties. It has been represented by Democrat Steve Rothman since 1997. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-09 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ09&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 10

This district lies in the north-east part of the state, including all or portions of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. It has been represented by Democrat Donald M. Payne since 1989. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-10 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ10&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 11

This district lies in the north-central part of the state, including all or portions of Essex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Sussex counties. It has been represented by Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen since 1995. The Democratic nominee is 2006 nominee Tom Wyka ( [http://www.tomwyka.com/ campaign website] ). CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-11 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ11&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 12

This district lies in the central part of the state, including all or portions of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties. It has been represented by Democrat Rush D. Holt Jr. since 1999. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-12 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ12&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 13

This district lies in the north-east part of the state, including all or portions of Essex, Hudson, Middlesex and Union counties. It has been represented by Democrat Albio Sires since November 2006. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NJ-13 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NJ13&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

References

External links

* [http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/loc_officials_doe.html Division of Elections] from the "New Jersey Secretary of State"
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=NJ&go33.x=12&go33.y=10 U.S. Congress candidates for New Jersey] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/New+Jersey New Jersey U.S. House Races] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=NJ Campaign contributions for New Jersey congressional races] from OpenSecrets.org

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