New Jersey's 5th congressional district

New Jersey's 5th congressional district is represented by Democrat Josh Gottheimer, who has served in Congress since 2017. The district stretches across the entire northern border of the state and contains most of Bergen County, as well as parts of Passaic County and Sussex County. It is the third wealthiest congressional district in New Jersey and the 24th wealthiest in the United States, with 28.2 percent of households earning over $200,000, per a 2024 study.

Historically, most of the areas in the district have generally been favorable for Republicans. This is especially true of the western portion, which contains some of the most Republican areas in the Northeast. However, Bergen County has trended Democratic in recent elections, though not as overwhelmingly as in the more urbanized southern portion of Bergen County, this latter portion being in the ninth congressional district. Partly due to a strong performance in Bergen County, Josh Gottheimer unseated 14-year Republican incumbent Scott Garrett in 2016. This made Garrett the only one of the state's 12 incumbents to lose reelection that year and marked the first time a Democrat won this seat since 1930.Neuman, William (November 9, 2016). "Josh Gottheimer Defeats Scott Garrett in New Jersey Congressional Race". The New York Times. Accessed November 19, 2016.

Since redistricting in the early 1990s, this congressional district has been L-shaped, comprising the rural northern and western parts of New Jersey along with parts of Passaic and Bergen County. After redistricting in late 2021, which was based on the 2020 census, the 5th lost all of the municipalities in Warren County. It also contains less of Sussex County and includes more of eastern Bergen County than was the case during the 2010s, making the district somewhat more Democratic.

Counties and municipalities in the district

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 United States census), the district contains all or portions of three counties and 65 municipalities.Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2025.

Bergen County (47) Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Glen Rock, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Mahwah, Maywood (part; also 9th), Midland Park, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rockleigh, Saddle River, Teaneck, Tenafly, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake, Wyckoff

Passaic County (4) Bloomingdale, Ringwood, Wanaque, West Milford

Sussex County (14) Andover Township, Branchville, Frankford Township, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton Township, Hardyston Township, Lafayette Township, Montague Township, Newton, Sandyston Township, Sussex, Vernon Township, Wantage Township

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 52% - 47%2012 PresidentObama 52% - 48%2016 PresidentClinton 52% - 45%2017 GovernorMurphy 53% - 45%2018 SenateMenendez 52% - 46%2020 PresidentBiden 56% - 43% SenateBooker 55% - 43%2021 GovernorMurphy 50% - 49%2024 PresidentHarris 50% - 48% SenateKim 51% - 47%2025 GovernorSherrill 53% - 47%

List of members representing the district District organized from New Jersey's at-large congressional district.

Member Party Years Congress Electoral history Counties/Towns District established March 4, 1799 Franklin Davenport Federalist March 4, 1799 –March 3, 1801 Elected in 1798.Redistricted to the and lost re-election. Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem District dissolved March 3, 1801 District re-established March 4, 1843 William Wright Whig March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1847 Elected in 1842.Re-elected in 1844.Retired to run for governor. Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic Dudley S. Gregory Whig March 4, 1847 –March 3, 1849 Elected in 1846.Retired. James G. King Whig March 4, 1849 –March 3, 1851 Elected in 1848.Retired. Rodman M. Price Democratic March 4, 1851 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1850.Lost re-election. Alexander C. M. Pennington Whig March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1855 Elected in 1852.Re-elected in 1854.Retired. 1853–1863Essex and Hudson Opposition March 4, 1855 –March 3, 1857 Jacob R. Wortendyke Democratic March 4, 1857 –March 3, 1859 Elected in 1856.Lost re-election. Essex, Hudson, and Union(Union County formed from Essex (1857)) William Pennington Republican March 4, 1859 –March 3, 1861 Elected in 1858.Lost re-election. Nehemiah Perry Democratic March 4, 1861 –March 3, 1865 Elected in 1860.Re-elected in 1862.Retired. 1863–1873Hudson County and Newark Edwin R.V. Wright Democratic March 4, 1865 –March 3, 1867 Elected in 1864.Retired. George A. Halsey Republican March 4, 1867 –March 3, 1869 Elected in 1866.Lost re-election. Orestes Cleveland Democratic March 4, 1869 –March 3, 1871 Elected in 1868.Lost re-election. George A. Halsey Republican March 4, 1871 –March 3, 1873 Elected in 1870.Retired. William W. Phelps Republican March 4, 1873 –March 3, 1875 Elected in 1872.Lost re-election. Bergen, Morris, and Passaic Augustus W. Cutler Democratic March 4, 1875 –March 3, 1879 Elected in 1874.Re-elected in 1876.Retired. Charles H. Voorhis Republican March 4, 1879 –March 3, 1881 Elected in 1878.Retired. John Hill Republican March 4, 1881 –March 3, 1883 Elected in 1880.Retired. William W. Phelps Republican March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1889 Elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Re-elected in 1886.Retired. Charles D. Beckwith Republican March 4, 1889 –March 3, 1891 Elected in 1888.Lost re-election. Cornelius A. Cadmus Democratic March 4, 1891 –March 3, 1895 Elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Retired. Bergen and Passaic James F. Stewart Republican March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1903 Elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Lost re-election. Charles N. Fowler Republican March 4, 1903 –March 3, 1911 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Morris, Union, and Warren William E. Tuttle Jr. Democratic March 4, 1911 –March 3, 1915 Elected in 1910.Re-elected in 1912.Lost re-election. Morris and Union John H. Capstick Republican March 4, 1915 –March 17, 1918 Elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Died. Vacant March 17, 1918 –November 5, 1918 William F. Birch Republican November 5, 1918 –March 3, 1919 Elected to finish Capstick's term.Retired. Ernest R. Ackerman Republican March 4, 1919 –October 18, 1931 Elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Died. Vacant October 18, 1931 –December 1, 1931 Percy Hamilton Stewart Democratic December 1, 1931 –March 3, 1933 Elected to finish Ackerman's term.Retired to run for U.S. senator.Charles A. Eaton Republican March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1953 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Retired. Morris, Somerset, and part of Middlesex (north of Raritan River) Peter Frelinghuysen Jr. Republican January 3, 1953 –January 3, 1975 Elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Retired. Morris and Somerset(Northern Middlesex removed to the new 15th District (1962)) District no longer follows county lines Millicent Fenwick Republican January 3, 1975 –January 3, 1983 Elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Redistricted to the 12th district and retired to run for U.S. Senator. Somerset, parts of Morris, and parts of Mercer (Princeton Township, Princeton Borough and West Windsor) Marge Roukema Republican January 3, 1983 –January 3, 2003 Redistricted from 7th district and re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Retired. Parts of Bergen, Hunterdon, Mercer (Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, and Pennington), Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Sussex (excluding Byram and Green) and northern parts of Bergen and Passaic Scott Garrett Republican January 3, 2003 –January 3, 2017 Elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Lost re-election. 2003–2013:Warren, parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex 2013–2023:Parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Josh Gottheimer Democratic January 3, 2017 –present Elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 2023–present:Parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex

Recent election results

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

References

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

External links Josh Gottheimer (D) official website