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1980 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| election_name | 1980 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey |
| country | New Jersey |
| type | legislative |
| ongoing | no |
| previous_election | 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey |
| previous_year | 1978 |
| next_election | 1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey |
| next_year | 1982 |
| seats_for_election | All 15 New Jersey seats to the United States House of Representatives |
| election_date | |
| party1 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| last_election1 | **10** |
| seats1 | **8** |
| seat_change1 | 2 |
| popular_vote1 | 1,316,100 |
| percentage1 | 48.0% |
| party2 | Republican Party (United States) |
| last_election2 | 5 |
| seats2 | 7 |
| seat_change2 | 2 |
| popular_vote2 | **1,368,981** |
| percentage2 | **49.9%** |
| map_image | |
| map_caption |
|[[File:1980 U.S. House elections in New Jersey.svg|300px]] |District results |[[File:1980 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey by county.svg|300px]] |County results Democratic Republican !--
The 1980 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 4, 1980, to determine who would represent the people of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. This election coincided with national elections for President, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. New Jersey had fourteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1980 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Overview
| 1980 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey | Party | Votes | Percentage | Candidates | Seats | +/– | Totals | 2,741,395 | 100.00% | 54 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 1,316,100 | 48.01% | 15 | **8** | 2 | ||||||
| Republican | **1,368,981** | **49.94%** | 15 | 7 | 2 | ||||||
| Libertarian | 27,572 | 1.01% | 15 | 0 | |||||||
| Citizens | 3,025 | 0.11% | 2 | 0 | |||||||
| Socialist Labor | 2,923 | 0.11% | 4 | 0 | |||||||
| Socialist Workers | 1,869 | 0.07% | 2 | 0 | |||||||
| Constitution | 666 | 0.02% | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| Socialist | 643 | 0.02% | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| Independents | 47,188 | 1.72% | 13 | 0 |
District 1
Incumbent Democrat James Florio won. The district included Gloucester County and parts of Camden County.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- James Florio, incumbent Representative since 1975
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Scott L. Sibert
Results
General election
Candidates
- Scott L. Sibert (Republican)
- James Florio, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Republican)
- Julius Levin, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor)
- Thomas S. Watson Jr. (Independent)
- Ronald K. Wishart (Libertarian)
Results
District 2
Incumbent William J. Hughes won. This district, the largest in South Jersey, included all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties and parts of Burlington and Ocean counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Beech N. Fox, Cape May County sheriff
- John J. Mahoney, chair of the Atlantic County Young Republicans
Results
General election
Candidates
- Beech N. Fox, Cape May County sheriff (Republican)
- Adele Frisch (Socialist Labor)
- William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Democratic)
- Robert C. Rothhouse (Libertarian)
Results
District 3
Incumbent Democrat James J. Howard won.
This district included parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- James J. Howard, incumbent Representative since 1965
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Marie Sheehan Muhler, assemblywoman from Marlboro
Results
General election
Candidates
- Lawrence D. Erickson (Socialist)
- James J. Howard, incumbent Representative since 1965 (Democratic)
- Marie Sheehan Muhler, assemblywoman from Marlboro (Republican)
- Tom Palven (Libertarian)
- L. James Wilson (J.E.B. Party Inc.)
Results
District 4
Incumbent Republican Chris Smith won. This district, in Central Jersey, consisted of parts of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, and Monmouth counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Frank Thompson, incumbent Representative since 1955
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Chris Smith, chair of the New Jersey Right to Life Committee and nominee for this district in 1978
- John D. Scalamonti, former Catholic priest and convert to Orthodox Judaism
Declined
- Jeff Bell, nominee for U.S. Senate in 1978
- John K. Rafferty, mayor of Hamilton Township
Results
General election
Candidates
- Jack Moyers (Libertarian)
- Paul B. Rizzo (Independent)
- Chris Smith, chair of the New Jersey Right to Life Committee and nominee for this district in 1978 (Republican)
- Frank Thompson, incumbent Representative since 1955 (Democratic)
Campaign
After Thompson was indicted on charges of bribery and conspiracy in connection with the Abscam FBI sting operation, Republicans considered replacing Smith with a more established candidate. Two such potential candidates, 1978 U.S. Senate nominee Jeff Bell and Hamilton Township mayor Jack Rafferty, declined.
Results
District 5
Incumbent Millicent Fenwick won. This district included Somerset County and parts of Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, and Morris counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Millicent Fenwick, incumbent Representative since 1975
- Larry C. A. Haverly
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Kieran E. Pillion Jr., recent graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law
- William R. Norris II
Results
General election
Candidates
- Millicent Fenwick, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Republican)
- Jasper C. Gould (Contempt of Court)
- Kieran E. Pillion Jr., recent graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law (Democratic)
- Carl R. Samson (Libertarian)
Campaign
In the general election, Fenwick and Pillion agreed to a spending cap of $22,500. Ultimately, Pillion was only able to raise about $7,200.
Fenwick's campaign was managed by future state senator Kip Bateman.
Results
District 6
Incumbent Republican Edwin B. Forsythe won.
This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Richard D. Amber, candidate for this district in 1978
- Edwin B. Forsythe, incumbent Representative from Moorestown since 1970
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Alene S. Ammond, former state senator from Cherry Hill
- Bruce MacNaul, Burlington County Surrogate
- Lewis M. Weinstein, former Cherry Hill township manager
Results
General election
Candidates
- Bernardo S. Doganiero, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor)
- Virginia A. Flynn (Libertarian)
- Edwin B. Forsythe, incumbent Representative from Moorestown since 1970 (Republican)
- John Kinnevy III (Citizens)
- Donald L. Smith (Constitution)
- Lewis M. Weinstein (Democratic)
Results
District 7
Incumbent Andrew Maguire ran for a fourth term in office but was defeated by Marge Roukema. This district included western parts of Bergen County.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Andrew Maguire, incumbent Representative since 1975
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Marge Roukema, former member of the Ridgewood Board of Education and nominee for this district in 1978
Results
General election
Candidates
- Andrew Maguire, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Democratic)
- Patrick Randazzo (Pro-Life Independent)
- Marge Roukema, former member of the Ridgewood Board of Education and nominee for this district in 1978 (Republican)
- Robert Shapiro (Libertarian)
- Martin E. Wendelken (Independent)
Results
District 8
Incumbent Robert Roe won. This district included parts of Bergen and Passaic counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Robert A. Roe, incumbent Representative from Wayne since 1969
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- William R. Cleveland
Results
General election
Candidates
- William R. Cleveland (Republican)
- Michael Horowitz (Libertarian)
- Donald Rabel (Socialist Labor)
- Robert A. Roe, incumbent Representative from Wayne since 1969 (Democratic)
Results
District 9
Incumbent Democrat Bob Torricelli won. This district consisted of parts of Bergen and Hudson counties.
As of 2025, this is the most recent election in which a Republican was elected to represent any portion of Hudson County.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Harold Hollenbeck, incumbent Representative from East Rutherford since 1977
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Gabriel M. Ambrosio, Lyndhurst attorney and candidate for Bergen County Freeholder in 1979
- Henry Helstoski, former Representative and independent candidate for this district in 1978
- Burt Ross, former mayor of Fort Lee
Declined
- Bob Torricelli, former aide to governor Brendan Byrne and advisor to the Jimmy Carter 1980 presidential campaign
Results
General election
Candidates
- Gabriel M. Ambrosio, Lyndhurst attorney (Democratic)
- Edward G. Davis (Citizens)
- Harold Hollenbeck, incumbent Representative from East Rutherford since 1977 (Republican)
- Henry Koch (Libertarian)
- Herbert Shaw (Politicians Are Crooks)
Results
District 10
Incumbent Democrat Peter W. Rodino won. The district included parts of Essex and Hudson counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Russell Fox, reverend of Mount Olive Baptist Church
- Golden E. Johnson, former Newark Municipal Court judge
- Donald M. Payne, former Essex County Freeholder
- Peter W. Rodino, incumbent Representative since 1949
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Everett J. Jennings
Results
General election
Candidates
- Christine Hildebrand (Socialist Workers)
- Everett J. Jennings (Republican)
- Christine Keno (Human Rights Ratification)
- Ronald Penque (Libertarian)
- Peter W. Rodino, incumbent Representative since 1949 (Democratic)
- Frankie Lee Scott (Youth Against Draft)
Results
District 11
Incumbent Democrat Joseph Minish won. This district consisted of parts of Bergen, Essex, Passaic, and Union counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Joseph Minish, incumbent Representative from West Orange since 1963
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Robert A. Davis
Results
General election
Candidates
- Jon Britton (Socialist Workers)
- Robert A. Davis (Republican)
- Joseph Minish, incumbent Representative from West Orange since 1963 (Democratic)
- Richard S. Roth (Libertarian)
- Robert G. Trugman (The Independent Alternative)
Resultsd
District 12
Incumbent Matt Rinaldo won. This district included parts of Union County.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Charles A. Leary
- Rose Zeidwerg Monyek
Results
General election
Candidates
- David-Leif Jensen (Independent for Congress)
- Rose Zeidwerg Monyek (Democratic)
- Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973 (Republican)
- William Vandersteel (Libertarian)
Results
District 13
Incumbent Representative Jim Courter won the election.
This sprawling district included Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren counties and parts of Mercer and Morris counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jim Courter, incumbent Representative from Hackettstown since 1979
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Edward J. Baker
- Carl A. Mottey
- Ray Rollinson
- Roger A. Singerling
- Dave Stickle
Results
General election
Candidates
- Jim Courter, incumbent Representative from Hackettstown since 1979 (Republican)
- John S. Schafer (Libertarian)
- Dave Stickle (Democratic)
Results
District 14
Incumbent Democrat Frank J. Guarini won. This district included parts of Hudson County.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Dennis Teti
Results
General election
Candidates
- Kenneth Famularo (Action Talks)
- Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Democratic)
- Jonathan Steele (LIbertarian)
- Dennis Teti (Republican)
Results
District 15
Incumbent Democrat Edward Patten did not run for re-election to a tenth term in office. Bernard J. Dwyer won the open seat. This district included parts of Middlesex and Union counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Bernard J. Dwyer, state senator and former mayor of Edison
- Richard Pucci, Perth Amboy business director
- David C. Schwartz, assemblyman from Highland Park and former Rutgers University professor
- Doris Sios, Felician College administrator
- George A. Spadoro, Edison attorney and candidate for this district in 1978
Declined
- Edward J. Patten, incumbent Representative since 1963
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- William J. O'Sullivan Jr., Middlesex County Republican Party treasurer
- Charles W. Wiley, freelance journalist and nominee for this district in 1978
Results
General election
Candidates
- Bernard J. Dwyer, state senator and former mayor of Edison (Democratic)
- Charles M. Hart (Libertarian)
- Ira W. Mintz (People's Independent Coalition)
- William J. O'Sullivan Jr. (Republican)
Results
References
References
- Henshaw, Edmund L.. (April 15, 1981). "STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 4, 1980".
- "Members of the House of Representatives".
- "Members of the House of Representatives". New Jersey Department of State.
- Wildstein, David. (2019-10-31). "Bill Hughes, former New Jersey congressman who fought to protect coastline, dies at 87".
- NJJN, Special to. "Shabbat candles reignited former priest’s lost faith".
- [https://observer.com/2009/12/early-on-smith-was-dismissed-as-a-fluke/ Early on, Smith was dismissed as a fluke], ''New York Observer'' (December 23, 2019).
- Wildstein, David. (2024-05-18). "The time a House incumbent offered to spend no more than the challenger".
- (1980-05-31). "Lively Races Mark Approach of Primaries in Jersey; Effect of Shifts Feared Helstoski Seeks Return (Published 1980)".
- (2014-01-24). "'Too big for its bridges'".
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