2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey
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The 2008 congressional elections in New Jersey were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who would 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; those elected served in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
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November 4, 2008
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All 13 New Jersey seats to the United States House of Representatives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 73%[1] ( 25pp) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The statewide party primary elections were held June 3, 2008. District 3 was the only seat which changed party (from open Republican to Democratic), although CQ Politics had forecasted districts 3, 5 and 7 to be at some risk for the incumbent party. This is the last time that any district saw one party run uncontested (in this case, the 10th) until 2026.
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2008[2] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Democratic | 1,911,827 | 55.61% | 8 | 1 | |
| Republican | 1,461,820 | 42.52% | 5 |  1 | |
| Green | 12,554 | 0.37% | 0 |  | |
| Libertarian | 1,600 | 0.05% | 0 | | |
| Constitution | 1,551 | 0.05% | 0 | | |
| Independents | 48,628 | 1.41% | 0 | | |
| Totals | 3,437,980 | 100.00% | 13 | — | |
District 1
This district contains all or parts of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Camille Andrews, wife of incumbent U.S. Representative Rob Andrews[3]
- John Caramanna
- David G. Evans
- Mahdi Ibn-Ziyad
Declined
- Rob Andrews, incumbent Representative from Haddon Heights since 1990 (ran for U.S. Senate)
Incumbent Democrat Rob Andrews, in a surprise move on April 2, 2008, announced that he would challenge incumbent United States Senator Frank Lautenberg in the June primary.[4] His House seat, which was reliably Democratic (CPVI D+14), thus became an open seat. However, the filing deadline for primary candidates was April 7, leaving only a few days for candidates to declare. As a result, Andrews's wife Camille, who had the organizational support of all three county parties within the district, was the lone candidate to join the race following his withdrawal.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Camille Andrews | 32,108 | 83.03% | |
| Democratic | John Caramanna | 4,342 | 11.23% | |
| Democratic | Mahdi Ibn-Ziyad | 2,222 | 5.75% | |
| Democratic | David G. Evans | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Total votes | 38,672 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Dale Glading, founder of Saints Prison Ministry[citation needed]
- Fernando Powers
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dale M. Glading | 5,873 | 82.27% | |
| Republican | Fernando Powers | 1,266 | 17.73% | |
| Total votes | 7,139 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Rob Andrews, incumbent Representative from Haddon Heights since 1990 (Democratic)
- Margaret M. Chapman (Back to Basics)
- Dale Glading, founder of Saints Prison Ministry[citation needed] (Republican)
- Alvin Lindsay Jr. (Lindsay for Congress)
- Matthew Thieke (Green)
- Everitt M. Williams III (Think Independently)
Withdrew
- Camille Andrews, wife of incumbent U.S. Representative Rob Andrews (Democratic) (withdrew September 3)
After his defeat in the U.S. Senate primary, Rob Andrews decided to run for re-election to his House seat. His wife Camille, who had won the Democratic nomination in the June primary, withdrew on September 3, and Rob Andrews announced 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 one week before his announcement. According to Andrews, his change of heart was a result of personal reflection.[3]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rob Andrews (incumbent) | 206,453 | 72.40% | 27.60 | |
| Republican | Dale Glading | 74,001 | 25.95% | N/A | |
| Green | Matthew Thieke | 1,927 | 0.68% | N/A | |
| Independent | Margaret M. Chapman | 1,258 | 0.44% | N/A | |
| Independent | Everitt M. Williams III | 1,010 | 0.35% | N/A | |
| Independent | Alvin Lindsay Jr. | 508 | 0.18% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 285,157 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Rob Andrews Democratic |
Dale Glading Republican |
Various candidates Other parties |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Burlington (part) | 8,262 | 68.5% | 3,525 | 29.2% | 279 | 2.3% | 4,737 | 39.3% | 12,066 |
| Camden (part) | 134,011 | 75.1% | 41,971 | 23.5% | 2,366 | 1.3% | 92,040 | 51.6% | 178,348 |
| Gloucester (part) | 64,180 | 67.7% | 28,505 | 30.1% | 2,078 | 2.2% | 35,675 | 37.6% | 94,743 |
| Totals | 206,453 | 72.4% | 74,001 | 26.0% | 4,703 | 1.6% | 132,452 | 46.4% | 285,157 |
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.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Frank LoBiondo, incumbent Representative from Millville since 1995
- Donna M. Ward
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank LoBiondo (incumbent) | 16,026 | 88.78% | |
| Republican | Donna M. Ward | 2,025 | 11.22% | |
| Total votes | 18,051 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Dave Kurkowski, Cape May councilman[citation needed]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | David Kurkowski | 16,465 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 16,465 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Peter F. Boyce (Constitution)
- Jason M. Grover (Green)
- Dave Kurkowski, Cape May councilman[citation needed] (Democratic)
- Frank LoBiondo, incumbent Representative from Millville since 1995 (Republican)
- Costantino Rozzo (Socialist)
- Gary Stein (Rock the Boat)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe R | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe R | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank LoBiondo (incumbent) | 167,701 | 59.06% | 2.55 | |
| Democratic | David Kurkowski | 110,990 | 39.09% | 3.49 | |
| Green | Jason M. Grover | 1,763 | 0.62% | N/A | |
| Constitution | Peter F. Boyce | 1,551 | 0.55% | N/A | |
| Independent | Gary Stein | 1,312 | 0.46% | N/A | |
| Socialist | Costantino Rozzo | 648 | 0.23% | 0.02 | |
| Total votes | 283,965 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Frank LoBiondo Republican |
David Kurkowski Democratic |
Various candidates Other parties |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Atlantic | 62,810 | 57.5% | 45,166 | 41.3% | 1,297 | 1.1% | 17,644 | 16.2% | 109,273 |
| Burlington (part) | 2,137 | 66.9% | 1,012 | 31.7% | 44 | 1.3% | 1,125 | 35.2% | 3,193 |
| Camden (part) | 2,454 | 50.2% | 2,359 | 48.3% | 74 | 1.5% | 95 | 1.9% | 4,887 |
| Cape May | 30,828 | 66.1% | 14,828 | 31.8% | 904 | 2.0% | 16,000 | 34.3% | 46,615 |
| Cumberland | 29,374 | 55.9% | 21,854 | 41.6% | 1,273 | 2.4% | 7,520 | 14.3% | 52,501 |
| Gloucester (part) | 21,136 | 57.5% | 14,862 | 40.4% | 774 | 2.1% | 6,274 | 17.1% | 36,772 |
| Salem | 18,962 | 61.7% | 10,909 | 35.5% | 853 | 2.8% | 8,053 | 26.2% | 30,274 |
| Totals | 167,701 | 59.1% | 110,990 | 39.1% | 5,274 | 1.9% | 56,711 | 20.0% | 283,965 |
District 3
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This district contains all or portions of Burlington, Camden and Ocean counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
- John P. Kelly, Ocean County Freeholder[13][14]
- Justin Michael Murphy, deputy mayor of Tabernacle[13][14]
- Chris Myers, mayor of Medford and vice president at Lockheed Martin[14]
Withdrew
- Virginia E. Haines, member of the Republican National Committee, former executive director of the New Jersey Lottery, and former assemblywoman from Toms River[14]
- Maurice Hill, member of the Toms River Township Council[14]
- Joe Vicari, Ocean County Freeholder[14]
Declined
- Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative from Mount Holly since 1984
Endorsements
John P. Kelly
- County party organizations
- Ocean County Republican Party[5]
Justin Michael Murphy
- Individuals
- Bret Schundler, former mayor of Jersey City and nominee for governor in 2001
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Myers | 12,694 | 49.36% | |
| Republican | John P. Kelly | 6,531 | 25.39% | |
| Republican | Justin Michael Murphy | 6,494 | 25.25% | |
| Total votes | 25,719 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- John Adler, state senator from Cherry Hill
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Adler | 18,130 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 18,130 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- John Adler, state senator from Cherry Hill (Democratic)
- Chris Myers, mayor of Medford (Republican)
Campaign
Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton announced that he would retire at the end of his term.[15] A mid-September internal poll by McLaughlin & Associates showed Myers defeating Adler by a margin of 33% to 29%, with a 37% plurality of voters undecided.[16] The poll attributed 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 indicated that Adler's low approval ratings were 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 governor Jon Corzine also hurt him, while Myers was helped from his endorsement by incumbent Rep. Jim Saxton, who held a 53 percent favorable rating.[17] However, later polls indicated that the race was too close to call.
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Tilt D (flip) | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Lean D (flip) | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Tossup | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Adler | 166,390 | 52.08% | 11.04 | |
| Republican | Chris Myers | 153,122 | 47.92% | 10.48 | |
| Total votes | 319,512 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
By county
| County[12] | John Adler Democratic |
Chris Myers Republican |
Margin | Total votes cast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Burlington (part) | 86,471 | 55.8% | 68,602 | 44.2% | 17,689 | 11.6% | 155,073 |
| Camden (part) | 23,295 | 64.6% | 12,742 | 35.4% | 10,553 | 29.2% | 36,037 |
| Ocean (part) | 56,624 | 44.1% | 71,778 | 55.9% | -15,154 | -11.8% | 128,402 |
| Totals | 166,390 | 52.1% | 153,122 | 47.9% | 13,268 | 4.2% | 319,512 |
District 4
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This district lies in the central part of the state, including all or portions of Burlington County, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Smith (incumbent) | 16,818 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 16,818 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Joshua Zeitz, author and historian
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joshua Zeitz | 13,114 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 13,114 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican)
- Steven Welzer (Green)
- Joshua Zeitz, author and historian (Democratic)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe R | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe R | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Smith (incumbent) | 202,972 | 66.21% | 0.53 | |
| Democratic | Josh Zeitz | 100,036 | 32.63% | 0.56 | |
| Green | Steven Welzer | 3,543 | 1.16% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 306,550 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Chris Smith Republican |
Joshua Zeitz Democratic |
Various candidates Other parties |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Burlington (part) | 19,409 | 55.7% | 14,995 | 43.0% | 435 | 1.2% | 4,414 | 12.7% | 34,839 |
| Mercer (part) | 40,766 | 59.9% | 26,897 | 39.5% | 438 | 0.6% | 13,869 | 20.4% | 68,101 |
| Monmouth (part) | 55,778 | 70.1% | 22,239 | 27.9% | 1,598 | 2.0% | 33,539 | 42.2% | 79,615 |
| Ocean (part) | 87,019 | 70.2% | 35,905 | 29.0% | 1,072 | 0.9% | 51,114 | 41.2% | 123,996 |
| Totals | 202,972 | 66.2% | 100,036 | 32.6% | 3,543 | 1.2% | 102,936 | 33.6% | 306,551 |
District 5
This district contains most of the Northern New Jersey Skylands Region of Sussex and Warren counties and stretches along the New York border into Northern Passaic and Bergen Counties, including the townships of Paramus and Ridgewood.
Republican incumbent Scott Garrett had 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.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Scott Garrett, incumbent Representative from Wantage since 2003
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Garrett (incumbent) | 19,914 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 19,914 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Carmen Abate, Glen Rock lawyer and candidate for this seat in 2006
- Roger Bacon, perennial candidate
- Dennis Shulman, psychologist, public speaker, and rabbi
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dennis Shulman | 9,390 | 61.11% | |
| Democratic | Camille M. Abate | 4,861 | 31.64% | |
| Democratic | Roger Bacon | 1,114 | 7.25% | |
| Total votes | 15,365 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Ed Fanning (Green)
- Scott Garrett, incumbent Representative from Wantage since 2003 (Republican)
- Dennis Shulman, psychologist, public speaker, and rabbi (Democratic)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Likely R | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe R | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Lean R | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe R | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Likely R | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Garrett (incumbent) | 172,653 | 55.87% | 0.96 | |
| Democratic | Dennis Shulman | 131,033 | 42.40% | 1.42 | |
| Green | Ed Fanning | 5,321 | 1.72% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 309,007 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Scott Garrett Republican |
Dennis Shulman Democratic |
Various candidates Other parties |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Bergen (part) | 98,048 | 52.3% | 87,120 | 46.5% | 2,285 | 1.2% | 10,928 | 5.8% | 187,453 |
| Passaic (part) | 14,439 | 57.4% | 10,409 | 41.4% | 303 | 1.2% | 4,030 | 16.0% | 25,151 |
| Sussex (part) | 32,487 | 64.1% | 16,371 | 32.3% | 1,785 | 3.5% | 16,116 | 31.8% | 50,643 |
| Warren (part) | 27,679 | 60.5% | 17,133 | 37.4% | 948 | 2.1% | 10,546 | 23.1% | 45,760 |
| Totals | 172,653 | 55.9% | 131,033 | 42.4% | 5,321 | 1.7% | 41,620 | 13.5% | 309,007 |
District 6
Incumbent Frank Pallone defeated Republican challenger Robert McLeod, a municipal judge. Between 2003 and 2013, this district covered parts of Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Union counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Pallone (incumbent) | 18,609 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 18,609 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Peter Cerrato
- James P. Hogan
- Robert E. McLeod, municipal judge[citation needed]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert E. McLeod | 3,698 | 55.14% | |
| Republican | Peter Cerrato | 1,946 | 29.02% | |
| Republican | James P. Hogan | 1,062 | 15.84% | |
| Total votes | 6,706 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Robert McLeod, municipal judge[citation needed] (Republican)
- Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988 (Democratic)
- Herb Tarbous, candidate for this seat in 2006 (Regular Independent)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Frank Pallone (incumbent) | 164,077 | 66.95% | 1.73 | |
| Republican | Robert McLeod | 77,469 | 31.61% | 1.41 | |
| Independent | Herb Tarbous | 3,531 | 1.44% | 0.31 | |
| Total votes | 245,077 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Frank Pallone Democratic |
Robert McLeod Republican |
Various candidates Other parties |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Middlesex (part) | 68,993 | 67.6% | 31,396 | 30.8% | 1,632 | 1.6% | 37,597 | 36.8% | 102,021 |
| Monmouth (part) | 77,527 | 63.0% | 43,836 | 35.6% | 1,666 | 1.4% | 33,691 | 27.4% | 123,029 |
| Somerset (part) | 5,435 | 80.9% | 1,176 | 17.5% | 107 | 1.6% | 4,259 | 63.4% | 6,718 |
| Union (part) | 12,122 | 91.1% | 1,061 | 8.0% | 126 | 0.9% | 11,061 | 83.1% | 13,309 |
| Totals | 164,077 | 66.9% | 77,469 | 31.6% | 3,531 | 1.4% | 86,608 | 35.3% | 245,077 |
District 7
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The incumbent, Republican Representative Mike Ferguson, announced on November 19, 2007, that he would not seek re-election, citing family obligations.[18]
Republican primary
Candidates
- A.D. Amar, Seton Hall University professor
- Kate Whitman, former ice hockey player and daughter of former Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman
- P. Kelly Hatfield, former Summit council president
- Leonard Lance, State Senator from Clinton and former Senate Minority Leader (Republican)
- Martin Marks, mayor of Scotch Plains
- Thomas Roughneen, former Union and Essex assistant county prosecutor
- Darren Young, Libertarian nominee for this seat in 2006
Withdrew
- Michael P. Hsing, Bridgewater councilman (withdrew following loss at Somerset County convention; ran in general election as independent)
- Chris Venis, former deputy mayor of Hillsborough
Declined
- Jon Bramnick, Assemblyman from Westfield
- Mike Ferguson, incumbent Representative from Union since 2001
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Leonard Lance | 10,094 | 39.47% | |
| Republican | Kate Whitman | 5,052 | 19.75% | |
| Republican | P. Kelly Hatfield | 3,902 | 15.26% | |
| Republican | Martin Marks | 3,211 | 12.55% | |
| Republican | Tom Roughneen | 1,845 | 7.21% | |
| Republican | Darren Young | 1,232 | 4.82% | |
| Republican | A.D. Amar | 241 | 0.94% | |
| Total votes | 25,577 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Linda Stender, Assemblywoman from Fanwood and nominee for this seat in 2006
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lisa Stender | 15,776 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 15,776 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Thomas D. Abrams, perennial candidate (Prosperity Not War)
- Dean Greco, Clinton schoolteacher (All-Day Breakfast Party)
- Michael P. Hsing, Bridgewater councilman (Hsing for Congress)
- Leonard Lance, State Senator and former Senate Minority Leader (Republican)
- Linda Stender, Assemblywoman from Fanwood and nominee for this seat in 2006 (Democratic)
Campaign
The district was considered to lean Republican, but the 2008 election was expected to be highly competitive, considering the closeness of the previous election.
Lance and Stender debated each other twice during the campaign. In September, they met in Scotch Plains for a debate hosted at the Jewish Community Campus of Central New Jersey. The candidates met in October in Edison for a second debate, which was televised on News 12 New Jersey.
Both major-party candidates campaigned with prominent politicians of their party in the months before the election. Lance campaigned with then U.S. President George W. Bush and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Stender campaigned with former U.S. president Bill Clinton and U.S. House of Representatives majority leader Steny Hoyer.
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Tossup | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Lean D (flip) | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Tossup | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Leonard Lance | 148,461 | 50.22% | 0.79 | |
| Democratic | Linda Stender | 124,818 | 42.22% | 5.73 | |
| Independent Republican | Michael P. Hsing | 16,419 | 5.55% | N/A | |
| Independent | Dean Greco | 3,259 | 1.10% | N/A | |
| Independent | Thomas D. Abrams | 2,671 | 0.90% | 0.70 | |
| Total votes | 295,628 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Leonard Lance Republican |
Linda Stender Democratic |
Various candidates Other parties |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Hunterdon (part) | 32,972 | 63.5% | 14,500 | 27.9% | 4,469 | 8.6% | 18,472 | 35.6% | 51,941 |
| Middlesex (part) | 20,704 | 38.2% | 29,731 | 54.9% | 3,739 | 6.9% | -9,027 | -16.7% | 54,174 |
| Somerset (part) | 43,214 | 51.1% | 32,549 | 38.5% | 8,812 | 10.4% | 10,665 | 12.6% | 84,575 |
| Union (part) | 51,571 | 49.1% | 48,038 | 45.8% | 5,329 | 5.1% | 3,533 | 3.3% | 104,938 |
| Totals | 148,461 | 50.2% | 124,818 | 42.2% | 22,349 | 7.6% | 23,643 | 8.0% | 295,628 |
District 8
This district lies in the north-east part of the state, including portions of Essex and Passaic counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Bill Pascrell, incumbent Representative from Paterson since 1997
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Pascrell (incumbent) | 19,948 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 19,948 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Roland Straten, engineer and U.S. Navy veteran[citation needed]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roland Straten | 5,859 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 5,859 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Derek DeMarco (Libertarian)
- Bill Pascrell, incumbent Representative from Paterson since 1997 (Democratic)
- Roland Straten, engineer and U.S. Navy veteran[citation needed] (Republican)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Pascrell (incumbent) | 159,279 | 71.11% | 0.22 | |
| Republican | Roland Straten | 63,107 | 28.17% | 0.20 | |
| Libertarian | Derek DeMarco | 1,600 | 0.71% | 0.03 | |
| Total votes | 223,986 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Bill Pascrell Democratic |
Roland Straten Republican |
Derek DeMarco Independent |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Essex (part) | 63,579 | 68.1% | 28,955 | 31.0% | 762 | 0.8% | 34,624 | 37.1% | 93,296 |
| Passaic (part) | 95,700 | 73.2% | 34,152 | 26.1% | 838 | 0.6% | 61,548 | 47.1% | 130,690 |
| Totals | 159,279 | 71.1% | 63,107 | 28.2% | 1,600 | 0.7% | 96,172 | 42.9% | 223,986 |
District 9
This district lies in the north-east part of the state, including all or portions of Bergen and Hudson and Passaic counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Steve Rothman, incumbent Representative from Fair Lawn since 1997
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Steve Rothman (incumbent) | 25,418 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 25,418 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Vincent Micco, nominee for this seat in 2006
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Vincent Micco | 5,797 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 5,797 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Michael Perrone Jr. (Independent/Progressive)
- Vincent Micco, nominee for this seat in 2006 (Republican)
- Steve Rothman, incumbent Representative from Fair Lawn since 1997 (Democratic)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Steve Rothman (incumbent) | 151,182 | 67.53% | 3.95 | |
| Republican | Vincent Micco | 69,503 | 31.04% | 3.44 | |
| Independent | Michael Perrone Jr. | 3,200 | 1.43% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 223,885 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Steve Rothman Democratic |
Vincent Micco Republican |
Michael Perrone Independent |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Bergen (part) | 121,846 | 67.3% | 56,876 | 31.4% | 2,237 | 1.2% | 64,970 | 35.9% | 180,959 |
| Hudson (part) | 25,149 | 71.9% | 9,061 | 25.9% | 749 | 2.1% | 16,088 | 46.0% | 34,959 |
| Passaic (part) | 4,187 | 52.6% | 3,566 | 44.8% | 214 | 2.7% | 621 | 7.8% | 7,967 |
| Totals | 151,182 | 67.5% | 69,503 | 31.0% | 3,200 | 1.4% | 81,679 | 36.5% | 223,885 |
District 10
This district lies in the northeast part of the state, including all or portions of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Republicans again failed to nominate a candidate to oppose Payne, but the Socialist Workers Party nominated Michael Taber, an editor.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Donald M. Payne, incumbent Representative from Newark since 1989
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Donald M. Payne (incumbent) | 30,764 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 30,764 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Donald M. Payne, incumbent Representative from Newark since 1989 (Democratic)
- Michael Taber, editor[citation needed] (Socialist Workers)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Donald M. Payne (incumbent) | 169,945 | 98.92% | 1.08 | |
| Socialist Workers | Michael Taber | 1,848 | 1.08% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 171,893 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Donald Payne Jr. Democratic |
Michael Taber Socialist Workers |
Margin | Total votes cast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Essex (part) | 107,168 | 99.1% | 948 | 0.9% | 106,220 | 98.2% | 108,116 |
| Hudson (part) | 16,259 | 98.3% | 288 | 1.7% | 15,971 | 96.6% | 16,547 |
| Union (part) | 46,518 | 98.7% | 612 | 1.3% | 45,906 | 97.4% | 47,130 |
| Totals | 169,945 | 98.9% | 1,848 | 1.1% | 168,097 | 97.8% | 171,793 |
District 11
This district lies in the north-central part of the state, including all of Morris County and portions of Essex, Passaic, Somerset and Sussex counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Kate Erber
- Rodney Frelinghuysen, incumbent Representative from Harding since 1995
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rodney Frelinghuyen (incumbent) | 24,304 | 86.69% | |
| Republican | Kate Erber | 3,731 | 13.31% | |
| Total votes | 28,035 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Ellen Greenberg
- Garry Hager
- Tom Wyka, information technology manager[citation needed] and nominee for this seat in 2006
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tom Wyka | 10,885 | 69.72% | |
| Democratic | Ellen Greenberg | 2,456 | 15.73% | |
| Democratic | Gary Hager | 2,271 | 14.55% | |
| Total votes | 15,612 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Rodney Frelinghuysen, incumbent Representative from Harding since 1995 (Republican)
- Chandler Tedholm (For the People)
- Tom Wyka, information technology manager[citation needed] and nominee for this seat in 2006 (Democratic)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe R | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe R | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe R | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rodney Frelinghuysen (incumbent) | 189,696 | 61.84% | 0.25 | |
| Democratic | Tom Wyka | 113,510 | 37.01% | 0.37 | |
| Independent | Chandler Tedholm | 3,526 | 1.15% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 306,732 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Rodney Frelinghuysen Republican |
Tom Wyka Democratic |
Chandler Tedholm Independent |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Essex (part) | 19,183 | 61.3% | 11,834 | 37.8% | 282 | 0.9% | 7,349 | 23.5% | 31,299 |
| Morris | 137,518 | 62.0% | 82,270 | 37.1% | 2,050 | 0.9% | 55,248 | 24.9% | 221,838 |
| Passaic (part) | 988 | 57.2% | 697 | 40.3% | 43 | 2.5% | 291 | 16.9% | 1,728 |
| Somerset (part) | 18,478 | 60.7% | 11,513 | 37.8% | 440 | 1.4% | 6,965 | 22.9% | 30,431 |
| Sussex (part) | 13,259 | 63.1% | 7,196 | 33.6% | 711 | 3.3% | 6,333 | 29.5% | 21,436 |
| Totals | 189,696 | 61.8% | 113,510 | 37.0% | 3,526 | 1.1% | 76,186 | 24.8% | 306,732 |
District 12
This district lies in the central part of the state, including portions of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Rush Holt Jr., incumbent Representative from Pennington since 1999
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rush Holt Jr. (incumbent) | 23,653 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 23,653 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Alan Bateman, deputy mayor of Holmdel[citation needed]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Alan R. Bateman | 9,718 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 9,718 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Alan Bateman, deputy mayor of Holmdel[citation needed] (Republican)
- David Corsi Jr. (Common Sense Ideas)
- Rush Holt Jr., incumbent Representative from Pennington since 1999 (Democratic)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rush Holt Jr. (incumbent) | 193,732 | 63.12% | 2.58 | |
| Republican | Alan Bateman | 108,400 | 35.32% | 1.02 | |
| Common Sense Ideas | David Corsi | 4,802 | 1.56% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 306,934 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Rush Holt Democratic |
Alan Bateman Republican |
David Corsi Independent |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Hunterdon (part) | 7,441 | 54.7% | 5,731 | 42.1% | 425 | 3.1% | 1,710 | 12.6% | 13,597 |
| Mercer (part) | 60,645 | 76.6% | 17,766 | 22.4% | 738 | 0.9% | 42,879 | 54.2% | 79,149 |
| Middlesex (part) | 70,926 | 63.5% | 39,110 | 35.0% | 1,605 | 1.4% | 31,816 | 28.5% | 111,641 |
| Monmouth (part) | 42,296 | 50.5% | 39,775 | 47.5% | 1,744 | 2.1% | 2,521 | 3.0% | 83,815 |
| Somerset (part) | 12,424 | 66.3% | 6,018 | 32.1% | 290 | 1.5% | 6,406 | 34.2% | 18,732 |
| Totals | 193,732 | 63.1% | 108,400 | 35.3% | 4,802 | 1.6% | 85,332 | 1.6% | 306,934 |
District 13
This district lies in the north-east part of the state, including portions of Essex, Hudson, Middlesex and Union counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Albio Sires, incumbent Representative from West New York since 2006
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Albio Sires (incumbent) | 26,527 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 26,527 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Joseph Turula, former Pompton Lakes councilman and lawyer[citation needed]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Joseph Turula | 1,739 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,739 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Julio A. Fernandez (No Slogan Provided)
- Albio Sires, incumbent Representative from West New York since 2006 (Democratic)
- Joseph Turula, former Pompton Lakes councilman and lawyer[citation needed] (Republican)
- Louis Vernotico (Eliminate the Primary)
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Albio Sires (incumbent) | 206,453 | 75.36% | 2.16 | |
| Republican | Joseph Turula | 34,375 | 21.74% | 2.38 | |
| Independent | Julio A. Fernandez | 3,661 | 2.29% | N/A | |
| Independent | Louis Vernotico | 975 | 0.61% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 159,753 | 100.00% | |||
By county
| County[12] | Albio Sires Democratic |
Joseph Turula Republican |
Various candidates Other parties |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Essex (part) | 16,254 | 81.9% | 2,948 | 14.9% | 647 | 3.2% | 13,306 | 67.0% | 19,849 |
| Hudson (part) | 82,305 | 74.1% | 25,678 | 23.1% | 3,105 | 2.8% | 56,627 | 51.0% | 111,088 |
| Middlesex (part) | 14,911 | 74.2% | 4,512 | 22.4% | 686 | 3.5% | 10,399 | 51.8% | 20,109 |
| Union (part) | 6,912 | 79.4% | 1,597 | 18.3% | 198 | 2.3% | 5,315 | 71.1% | 8,707 |
| Totals | 120,382 | 75.4% | 34,735 | 21.7% | 4,636 | 2.9% | 85,647 | 53.7% | 159,753 |