2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey


The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the 12 U.S. representatives from the state of New Jersey, one from each of the state's 12 congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.
Democrats won four seats from Republicans and changed control from 7–5 for Democrats to 11–1 for Democrats, the fewest seats Republicans had won in the state since 1912. This was the first time since the 1912 elections that Republicans failed to hold any seat in North Jersey.
However, Representative Jeff Van Drew of the 2nd district would later change his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican in December 2019, bringing it down to 10–2.

Overview

By district

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey by district:

District 1

The 1st district is based in South Jersey and includes most of Camden County along with parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County. Incumbent Democrat Donald Norcross, who had represented the district since 2014, ran for reelection. He was reelected with 60% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+13.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Paul Dilks

District 2

The 2nd district is based in South Jersey and is the biggest Congressional District in the state. It includes all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem Counties and parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Ocean counties. Incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo, who had represented the district since 1995, announced in November 2017 that he would not run for re-election in 2018 making the 2nd an open seat. He was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+1.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

This was one of 80 Republican-held House districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Campaign

A month after the primaries, the National Republican Congressional Committee withdrew its support of Grossman, following the news that he had posted an article from the white nationalist website American Renaissance on his Facebook page stating that blacks represented "a threat to all who cross their paths, black and non-black alike." Grossman responded that he had not carefully read the article that he had posted in 2014 and did not believe its racist sentiments, although in explaining his actions he said many black teenagers are violent and dangerous. Grossman also posted comments that criticized "multi-culturalism" and "diversity".

Polling

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Generic
Republican 		Jeff
Van Drew 		OtherUndecided
DCCC (D)February 12–13, 2018––39%51%––

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Republican
candidate		Democratic
candidate		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling (D)November 8–10, 2017565± 4.1%39%44%–17%

District 3

The 3rd district is based in South Jersey and includes parts of Burlington and Ocean counties. Incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+2.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

This was one of 80 Republican-held House districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

The close result required a recount, with Kim ultimately winning by 3,973 votes.

District 4

The 4th district is based in Central Jersey and includes parts of Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties. Incumbent Republican Chris Smith, who had represented the district since 1981, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+8.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Joshua Welle, Navy veteran
    Eliminated in primary
  • Jim Keady, former Asbury Park Council member and candidate for the 3rd district in 2016
    Withdrawn
  • Mike Keeling, music teacher
    Declined
  • Kelly Stewart Maer, party operative

General election

Results

Smith's showing of 55% was his lowest since 1982, when he defeated Joseph P. Merlino 53% to 47%.

District 5

The 5th district is based in North Jersey and includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties. Incumbent Democrat Josh Gottheimer, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 51% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+3.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 6

The 6th district is based in Central Jersey and includes parts of Middlesex and Monmouth counties. Incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone, who had represented the district since 1988, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+9.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Frank Pallone, incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Javahn Walker

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Richard Pezzullo, businessman and candidate for Senate in 2014

District 7

The 7th district includes all of Hunterdon County, and parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren Counties. Incumbent Republican Leonard Lance, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 54% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+3.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Leonard Lance, incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Lindsay Brown, web developer
    Declined
  • Rosemary Becchi, attorney
  • Craig Heard, marketing consultant and candidate for this seat in 2016

Democratic primary

This was one of 80 Republican-held House districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.
Three Democrats were on the Democratic primary ballot. They included former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Tom Malinowski; lawyer Goutam Jois; and social worker Peter Jacob. Green Party of New Jersey member Diane Moxley also announced her intent to run for the seat. Westfield teacher and attorney Lisa Mandelblatt withdrew in February 2017, as did Scotch Plains lawyer Scott Salmon. The Democratic County Parties in New Jersey's 7th District unanimously threw their support to Malinowski, and he received the county line for the June 5 primary in all counties.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Tom Malinowski, former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
    Eliminated in primary
  • Peter Jacob, social worker and nominee in 2016
  • Goutam Jois, attorney
    Withdrawn
  • Lisa Mandelblatt, teacher and attorney
  • David Pringle, environmental activist
  • Scott Salmon, attorney
  • Linda Weber, bank executive
    Declined
  • Christine Lui Chen, neuroscientist, healthcare executive and nominee for state senate in 2017
  • Zenon Christodoulou, businessman and vice chair of the Somerset County Democratic Party
  • Bill Knox, wealth management specialist
  • Colleen Mahr, mayor of Fanwood
  • Keiona Miller, North Plainfield Borough Council member
  • Kurt Perhach, teacher and Army prosecutor

Results

Malinowski won the Democratic nomination in the June primary.

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Leonard
Lance 		Democratic
candidate 		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling (D)November 8–9, 2017528± 4.3%41%42%–17%

District 8

The 8th district is based in North Jersey and includes parts of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Incumbent Democrat Albio Sires, who had represented the district since 2006, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 77% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+27.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • John Muniz

District 9

The 9th district is based in North Jersey and includes parts of Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties. Incumbent Democrat Bill Pascrell, who had represented the district since 1997, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 70% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+16.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Eric Fisher

District 10

The 10th district is based in North Jersey and includes parts of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Incumbent Democrat Donald Payne Jr., who had represented the district since 2012, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 86% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+36.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Donald Payne Jr., incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Aaron Fraser

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Agha Khan

District 11

The 11th district is based in North Jersey and includes parts of Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties. Incumbent Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen, who had represented the district since 1995, announced in January 2018 that he will not seek re-election. He was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+3.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

This was one of 80 Republican-held House districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Generic
Republican		Mikie
Sherill 		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling (D)February 12–13, 2018688± 3.7%42%40%–18%

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Rodney
Freylinghuysen 		Democratic
candidate 		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling (D)November 8–9, 2017710± 3.7%44%46%–10%

District 12

The 12th district is based in Central Jersey and includes parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. The district is known for its research centers and educational institutions such as Princeton University, Institute for Advanced Study, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Incumbent Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 63% of the vote in 20. The district had a PVI of +.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Daryl Kipnis, attorney and nominee for state senate in 2017