2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

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.

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, 20082008 Election StatisticsPartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– 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"Wife bows out, so Rep. Andrews can run", UPI, September 4, 2008. 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.David W. Chen, Lautenberg to face Primary Challenge The New York Times, April 2, 2008 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

Republican primary

Candidates

Dale Glading, founder of Saints Prison Ministry Fernando Powers

Results

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 (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.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2008 Rothenberg November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2008 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2008 CQ Politics November 6, 2008

Results

By county County Rob AndrewsDemocratic Dale GladingRepublican Various candidatesOther 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% 94,743Totals206,45372.4%74,00126.0%4,7031.6%132,45246.4%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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Dave Kurkowski, Cape May councilman

Results

General election

Candidates Peter F. Boyce (Constitution) Jason M. Grover (Green) Dave Kurkowski, Cape May councilman (Democratic) Frank LoBiondo, incumbent Representative from Millville since 1995 (Republican) Costantino Rozzo (Socialist) Gary Stein (Rock the Boat) Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Results

By county County Frank LoBiondoRepublican David KurkowskiDemocratic Various candidatesOther 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% 30,274Totals167,70159.1%110,99039.1%5,2741.9%56,71120.0%283,965

District 3 This district contains all or portions of Burlington, Camden and Ocean counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

John P. Kelly, Ocean County Freeholder Justin Michael Murphy, deputy mayor of Tabernacle Chris Myers, mayor of Medford and vice president at Lockheed Martin

Withdrew

Virginia E. Haines, member of the Republican National Committee, former executive director of the New Jersey Lottery, and former assemblywoman from Toms River Maurice Hill, member of the Toms River Township Council Joe Vicari, Ocean County Freeholder

Declined

Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative from Mount Holly since 1984

Endorsements

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

John Adler, state senator from Cherry Hill

Results

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.philly.com 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. 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.Campaign | The Hill However, later polls indicated that the race was too close to call.

Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Results

By county County John AdlerDemocratic Chris MyersRepublican 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% 128,402Totals166,39052.1%153,12247.9%13,2684.2%319,512

District 4

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

Democratic primary Candidates Joshua Zeitz, author and historian

Results

General election Candidates Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican) Steven Welzer (Green) Joshua Zeitz, author and historian (Democratic) Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Results

By county County Chris SmithRepublican Joshua ZeitzDemocratic Various candidatesOther 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% 123,996Totals202,97266.2%100,03632.6%3,5431.2%102,93633.6%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

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

General election Candidates Ed Fanning (Green) Scott Garrett, incumbent Representative from Wantage since 2003 (Republican) Dennis Shulman, psychologist, public speaker, and rabbi (Democratic) Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Results

By county County Scott GarrettRepublican Dennis ShulmanDemocratic Various candidatesOther 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% 45,760Totals172,65355.9%131,03342.4%5,3211.7%41,62013.5%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

Republican primary Candidates Peter Cerrato James P. Hogan Robert E. McLeod, municipal judge

Results

General election Candidates Robert McLeod, municipal judge (Republican) Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988 (Democratic) Herb Tarbous, candidate for this seat in 2006 (Regular Independent) Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Results

By county

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

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