The 1972 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on , to determine who would represent the people of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. This election coincided with national elections for U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and president of the United States. New Jersey had fifteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1970 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Despite a landslide victory for Republican incumbent Richard Nixon in the state's presidential election, the Republican Party gained only one seat, as the direct result of decennial redistricting.
Overview 1972 United States House of Representatives elections in New JerseyPartyVotesPercentageCandidatesSeats+/–Democratic1,390,86949.11%1581Republican1,416,48550.02%1571Socialist Labor1,2060.04%20People's2,7910.73%10Independents20,5581.96%90Totals2,831,909100.00%4215
Background
Following the 1970 United States census, the New Jersey legislature conducted decennial redistricting. The resulting map combined the 13th and 14th districts, pitting Democratic incumbents Dominick V. Daniels and Cornelius Gallagher against each other, and created a new 13th district in the northwestern region of the state.
The new 13th district, which was conservative and more rural, was designed specifically for Republican state senator Joseph J. Maraziti to run. The new 14th district combined the old 13th and 14th districts, pitting two Democratic incumbents against each other.
District 1
The district included Gloucester County and parts of Camden County.
Republican incumbent John E. Hunt was re-elected to a fourth term in office over Democratic Assemblyman James Florio.
Republican primary Candidates John E. Hunt, incumbent representative since 1967
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Elizabeth Drevs, Haddonfield freelance writer James Florio, assemblyman from Camden
Results
General election Candidates Dominic W. Doganiero (Socialist Labor) James Florio, assemblyman from Camden (Democratic) Gerrit Hoogenraad (Socialist) John E. Hunt, incumbent representative since 1967 (Republican) Raymond V.S. Miller (Taxation with Representation)
Results
District 2
This district, the largest in South Jersey, included all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties and parts of Burlington and Ocean counties.
Republican incumbent Charles W. Sandman Jr. was re-elected to a fourth term in office over Democratic nominee John D. Rose.
Republican primary Candidates Charles W. Sandman Jr., incumbent representative since 1967, and candidate for governor in 1965 and 1969
Results
Democratic primary Candidates John D. Rose
Results
General election Candidates John D. Rose (Democratic) Charles W. Sandman Jr., incumbent representative since 1967, and candidate for governor in 1965 and 1969 (Republican)
Results
District 3
This district included parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Democratic incumbent James J. Howard was re-elected to a fifth term in office.
Democratic primary Candidates James J. Howard, incumbent representative since 1965
Results
Republican primary Candidates William F. Dowd, former aide to Richard Nixon and nominee for this district in 1970
Results
General election Candidates William F. Dowd, former aide to Richard Nixon and nominee for this district in 1970 (Republican) James J. Howard, incumbent representative since 1965 (Democratic)
Results
District 4
This district, in Central Jersey, consisted of parts of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, and Monmouth counties.
Democratic incumbent Frank Thompson was re-elected to a ninth term in office.
Democratic primary Candidates Frank Thompson, incumbent representative since 1955
Results
Republican primary Candidates Peter P. Garibaldi, assemblyman from Monroe and nominee for the 15th district in 1970 Results
General election Candidates Peter P. Garibaldi, assemblyman from Monroe and nominee for the 15th district in 1970 (Republican) Frank Thompson, incumbent representative since 1955 (Democratic)
Results
District 5
This district included Somerset County and parts of Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, and Morris counties.
Republican incumbent Peter Frelinghuysen Jr. was re-elected to a twelfth term in office over Democratic nominee Frederick M. Bohen.
Republican primary Candidates Peter Frelinghuysen Jr., incumbent representative since 1953
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Frederick M. Bohen, television executive and former Lyndon B. Johnson administration staffer Robert C. Grant, former Toledo Blade reporter Christian J. Lund, former aide to U.S. Senator Harrison A. Williams
Results
General election Candidates Frederick M. Bohen, television executive and former Lyndon B. Johnson administration staffer (Democratic) Peter Frelinghuysen Jr., incumbent representative since 1953 (Republican)
Results
District 6
This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.
Republican incumbent Edwin B. Forsythe was re-elected to a third term in office.
Republican primary Candidates Edwin B. Forsythe, incumbent representative from Moorestown since 1970
Results
Democratic primary Candidates John T. Adamczyk, Baptist minister and anti-war activist from Moorestown Jack A. Boye, Republican candidate for General Assembly in 1971 from Bay Head Francis P. Brennan, Burlington County sheriff Jerry N. Krader Wallace E. Turner
Results
General election Candidates Francis P. Brennan, Burlington County sheriff (Democratic) Bernardo S. Doganiero, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor) Ida C. Ebert (Independent for Congress) Edwin B. Forsythe, incumbent representative from Moorestown since 1970 (Republican)
Results
District 7
This district included western parts of Bergen County.
Republican incumbent William B. Widnall was re-elected to a thirteen term in office over Democratic nominee Arthur J. Lesemann.
Republican primary Candidates William B. Widnall, incumbent representative since 1950
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Arthur J. Lesemann, attorney and nominee for this district in 1970
Results
General election Candidates Arthur J. Lesemann, attorney and nominee for this district in 1970 (Democratic) Martin E. Wendelken, Glen Rock businessman (Independent) William B. Widnall, incumbent representative since 1950 (Republican)
Results
District 8
This district included parts of Bergen and Passaic counties.
Democratic incumbent Robert Roe was re-elected to a third term in office.
Democratic primary Candidates Robert A. Roe, incumbent representative from Wayne since 1969
Results
Republican primary Candidates Walter E. Johnson, former member of the Totowa borough council Results
General election Candidates Walter E. Johnson, former member of the Totowa borough council (Republican) Robert A. Roe, incumbent representative from Wayne since 1969 (Democratic)
Results
District 9
This district consisted of parts of Bergen and Hudson counties.
Democratic incumbent Henry Helstoski was re-elected to a sixth term in office over Republican state Senator Alfred D. Schiaffo
Democratic primary Candidates Henry Helstoski, incumbent representative since 1965 and candidate for governor in 1969
Results
Republican primary Candidates Hannibal Cundari, independent candidate for this district in 1970 Alfred D. Schiaffo, state senator from Closter
Results
General election Candidates Henry Helstoski, incumbent representative since 1965 and candidate for governor in 1969 (Democratic) Alfred D. Schiaffo, state senator from Closter (Republican)
Results
District 10
The district included parts of Essex and Hudson counties.
Democratic incumbent Peter W. Rodino was re-elected to a thirteenth term in office.
Democratic primary Candidates William S. Hart Sr., mayor of East Orange Wilbur Kornegay Jr. George C. Richardson, assemblyman from Newark Peter W. Rodino, incumbent representative since 1949
Results
Patrick J. McBride
Results
Republican primary Candidates Kenneth C. Miller, East Orange motor vehicle agent
Results
General election Candidates Kenneth C. Miller, East Orange motor vehicle agent (Republican) Peter W. Rodino, incumbent representative since 1949 (Democratic)
Results
District 11
This district consisted of parts of Bergen, Essex, Passaic, and Union counties.
Democratic incumbent Joseph Minish was re-elected to a seventh term in office over Republican state Senator Milton Waldor.
Democratic primary Candidates Joseph Minish, incumbent representative from West Orange since 1963
Results
Republican primary Candidates Milton Waldor, state senator from West Orange
Results
General election Candidates James R. Klimaski (People's) Joseph Minish, incumbent representative from West Orange since 1963 (Democratic) Philip R. Nicolaus (American Independent Conservative) Milton Waldor, state senator from West Orange (Republican)
Results
District 12
This district included parts of Union County.
Republican incumbent Florence P. Dwyer did not run for a ninth term in office. Republican state senator Matthew J. Rinaldo won the open seat over Democratic nominee Jerry English.
Republican primary Candidates Matt Rinaldo, state senator from Union Township
Declined Florence P. Dwyer, incumbent representative since 1957
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Jerry Fitzgerald English, state senator from Summit Richard I. Samuel, Westfield attorney
Results
General election Candidates Stanley Bogus (Independent) Jerry Fitzgerald English, state senator from Summit (Democratic) Matt Rinaldo, incumbent representative from Union since 1973 (Republican)
Results
District 13
This sprawling district included Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren counties and parts of Mercer and Morris counties.
This seat did not have an incumbent; the legislature specifically drew it for Republican state senator Joseph J. Maraziti to run. In the open race, Maraziti defeated Helen Stevenson Meyner, the former First Lady of New Jersey.
Republican primary Candidates Walter C. Keogh-Dwyer, assemblyman from Newton Joseph Maraziti, state senator from Boonton Delmar D. Miller Sr. Karl Weidel, assemblyman from Pennington
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Norma Herzfeld Jerome C. Kessler Joseph P. O'Doherty, state vice chair of the Robert F. Kennedy 1968 presidential campaign
Results
Aftermath After the primary, O'Doherty was found ineligible to run after a court ruled that he had not been a United States citizen for the minimum of seven years. Former First Lady of New Jersey Helen Stevenson Meyner, from Phillipsburg, was selected as a replacement nominee.
General election Candidates Samuel Golub (Independent Conservative) Joseph Maraziti, incumbent representative since 1973 (Republican) Helen Stevenson Meyner, former First Lady of New Jersey (Democratic)
Results
District 14
This district included parts of Hudson County.
As a result of redistricting, both Dominick V. Daniels and Neil Gallagher stood in the Democratic primary for this district as incumbents. Gallagher was indicted before the primary campaign, leading the Hudson County Democratic organization to endorse Daniels. Daniels defeated Gallagher and West New York Mayor Anthony DeFino in the primary and won the general election with little difficulty.
Democratic primary Candidates Dominick V. Daniels, incumbent representative since 1959 Anthony M. DeFino, mayor of West New York Vincent J. Dellay, former representative Neil Gallagher, incumbent representative since 1959
Campaign