1984 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

Overview

Redistricting

Following the 1980 United States census, the New Jersey Legislature had conducted decennial redistricting. The resulting map, which was considered heavily favorable to the Democratic Party and approved by Democratic governor Brendan Byrne, was used for the 1982 elections. However, Republicans challenged the map under the "equal representation" clause of Article One, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. In Karcher v. Daggett, 462 U.S. 725 (1983), the Supreme Court of the United States (in an opinion written by former New Jersey judge William J. Brennan Jr.) ruled that the 1982 map violated the equal representation clause because its districts were not drawn to achieve as close to population equality as practicable. The Court ruled that all deviations, no matter how minimal, must be justified by a legitimate government interest. New Jersey was given a deadline of February 3, 1984 to draw a new U.S. Supreme Court-approved map for the 1984 House elections.

Efforts to redraw the map pitted Governor Thomas Kean, a Republican, against the Democratic legislative majority. The initial replacement map, which passed the Assembly on January 6 and had a population variance of 0.06 percent, was advocated by Newark assemblyman Willie B. Brown as protecting the black-majority tenth district, while Republican counterproposals reduced the population variance further at the expense of the state's lone majority-minority district. Brown cited the Court's position that preserving minority voting strength "was a legitimate justification for including population deviations in redistricting plans."

However, Kean vetoed the legislature's map, arguing that it was designed to preserve Democratic chances in the upcoming election, and no compromise was reached ahead of the February 3 deadline. As a result, a three-judge federal court panel (John Joseph Gibbons, Clarkson Sherman Fisher and Stanley Brotman) considered five proposals, including the vetoed legislative map. The panel selected a map proposed by four of the five incumbent Republican U.S. representatives, citing its low population differences and compact districts. Only twenty-five people separated the most and least populous districts, and the majority-black tenth district was preserved. Kean said the result was not "an ideal solution" and called for a bipartisan or nonpartisan commission for future redistricting, which was eventually established by constitutional amendment in November 1995.

The most significant political change on the map in 1984 was in the eleventh district, represented by Democratic incumbent Joseph Minish since 1963. The new map removed several strongly Democratic urban areas in Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties and added suburban and rural areas in Morris, Sussex, and Warren, favoring Republicans. As a result, Minish was expected to draw a significant challenge in the 1984 elections.

District 1

Incumbent Democrat James Florio won. The district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• James Florio, incumbent Representative since 1975
• Patrick A. Miller, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Fred A. Busch, chemical sales representative and former member of the Camden County Republican Committee

Results

General election

Candidates

• Fred A. Busch, chemical sales representative and former member of the Camden County Republican Committee (Republican)
• James Florio, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Republican)
• Jerry Zeldin (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 Gloucester County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Raymond G. Massie, Stockton State College professor of business law

Results

General election

Candidates

• Raymond G. Massie, Stockton State College professor of business law (Republican)
• William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Democratic)

Results

District 3

Incumbent Democrat James J. Howard won.

This district included parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Dorothy J. Eaton, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche
• James J. Howard, incumbent Representative since 1965

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Brian T. Kennedy, former state senator from Sea Girt

Results

General election

Candidates

• Lawrence D. Erickson (Citizens-Socialist)
• James J. Howard, incumbent Representative since 1965 (Democratic)
• Brian T. Kennedy, former state senator from Sea Girt (Republican)
• Frank Krushinski Jr. (Christian American)

Results

District 4

Incumbent Republican Chris Smith won. This district, in Central Jersey, consisted of parts of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• James C. Hedden, political director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and former Mercer County Freeholder
• Jeffrey Laurenti, former executive director of the New Jersey Senate Democratic majority
• Janet C. Sare, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche

Results

General election

Candidates

• James C. Hedden, political director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (Democratic)
• Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican)

Results

District 5

Incumbent Marge Roukema won. This district included parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Rose Brunetto, former aide to U.S. senator Bill Bradley
• John P. Kilroy Jr., supporter of Lyndon LaRouche
• Mark Rohrlich, former newspaper reporter

Results

General election

Candidates

• Rose Brunetto, former aide to U.S. senator Bill Bradley (Democratic)
• Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981 (Republican)

Results

District 6

Incumbent Democrat Bernard J. Dwyer won. This district included parts of Middlesex, Monmouth and Union counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bernard J. Dwyer, incumbent Representative from Edison since 1981
• Alex Plechocki, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dennis Adams, retired car dealer

Results

General election

Candidates

• Dennis Adams, retired car dealer (Republican)
• Bernard J. Dwyer, incumbent Representative from Edison since 1981 (Democratic)
• Stephen Friedlander (Libertarian)

Results

District 7

Incumbent Matt Rinaldo won. This district included parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• James J. Cleary, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche
• John F. Feeley, data processing consultant
• Dwight Gatlino

Results

General election

Candidates

• John F. Feeley, data processing consultant (Democratic)
• Paul Nelson (Libertarian)
• Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973 (Republican)

Results

District 8

Incumbent Robert Roe won. This district included parts of Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Robert A. Roe, incumbent Representative from Wayne since 1969

• Ronald H. Taylor, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• William R. Cleveland, Clifton advertising executive
• Marguerite A. Page, Newark schoolteacher

Withdrew

• James Irvin Glover

Endorsements

• Rocco Motta, chair of the Passaic County Republican Party}}{{Endorsements box|title=Marguerite A. Page|list=;State legislators
• Joseph Bubba, state senator from Wayne and former chair of the Passaic County Republican Party}}

Results

General election

Candidates

• Daniel A. Maiullo Jr. (Libertarian)
• Marguerite A. Page, Newark schoolteacher (Republican)
• 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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John Graverholz, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche
• Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Neil Romano, former executive director of the Monmouth County Republican Party

Results

General election

Candidates

• Neil Romano, former executive director of the Monmouth County Republican Party (Republican)
• Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983 (Democratic)

Results

District 10

Incumbent Democrat Peter W. Rodino won. The district included parts of Essex and Union counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Arthur S. Jones, minister of St. Mark's African Methodist Episcopal Church in East Orange
• Peter W. Rodino, incumbent Representative since 1949
• Thelma I. Tyree, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Howard E. Berkeley

Results

General election

Candidates

• Howard E. Berkeley (Republican)
• Peter W. Rodino, incumbent Representative since 1949 (Democratic)

Results

District 11

Republican Dean Gallo defeated Democratic incumbent Joseph Minish. This district, which had been significantly revised as the result of Karcher v. Daggett, consisted of parts of Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties.

The Republican Party would continue to hold this seat until 2018.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mary Frueholz, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche
• Joseph Minish, incumbent Representative from West Orange since 1963

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dean Gallo, assemblyman from Parsippany–Troy Hills and assembly minority leader

Declined

• John H. Dorsey, state senator from Boonton
• Rodney Frelinghuysen, assemblyman from Morristown, candidate for the twelfth district in 1982, and son of former Representative Peter Frelinghuysen
• Rey Redington, former president of the Montclair Chamber of Commerce and nominee for this seat in 1982

Results

General election

Candidates

• Dean Gallo, assemblyman from Parsippany–Troy Hills and assembly minority leader (Republican)
• Joseph Minish, incumbent Representative from West Orange since 1963 (Democratic)

Results

District 12

Incumbent Republican Jim Courter won. This sprawling district included all of Hunterdon County and parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Courter, incumbent Representative since 1979

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Peter Bearse, economist and member of the Princeton Township Council
• Richard Forbes, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche
• Ray Rollinson, salesman and winner of the 1976 New Hampshire vice presidential primary
• Norman J. Weinstein, former president of the Somerville Borough Council and candidate for this district in 1984

Results

General election

Candidates

• Peter Bearse, economist and member of the Princeton Township Council (Democratic)
• Jim Courter, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Republican)
• Joseph R. Kerr III (Libertarian)

Results

District 13

This seat had been vacant since incumbent Republican Edwin Forsythe died on March 29, 1984. Republican Jim Saxton won the open seat, as well as the special election to complete Forsythe's term.

This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• M. Dean Haines, Ocean County Clerk and former mayor of Barnegat
• Jim Saxton, state senator from Bordentown Township
• John A. Rocco, assemblyman and former mayor of Cherry Hill

Results

Special primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Herbert J. Buehler, former state senator from Point Pleasant Beach
• Eugene Allan Creech, nuclear disarmament advocate
• Michael DiMarco, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche
• James B. Smith, mayor of Mount Holly

Results

Special primary results

General election

Candidates

• Bernardo Doganiero, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor)
• Jim Saxton, state senator from Bordentown Township (Republican)
• Don Smith (Constitutional Freedom)
• James B. Smith, mayor of Mount Holly (Democratic)

Results

District 14

Incumbent Democrat Frank J. Guarini won. This district included parts Hudson County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979
• Edward Malik, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche
• Anthony Peduto, Jersey City lawyer

Endorsements

• Gerald McCann, mayor of Jersey City}}

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Edward T. Magee

Results

General election

Candidates

• Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Democratic)
• Edward T. Magee (Republican)
• Herbert Shaw, perennial candidate (Politicians are Crooks)

Results

References

References

1. Guthrie, Benjamin J.. (May 1, 1985). "STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 6, 1984".
2. Sullivan, Joseph F.. (1984-01-06). "JERSEY LEGISLATURE APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS". The New York Times.
3. Sullivan, Joseph F.. (1984-02-18). "NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS FOR JERSEY APPROVED". The New York Times.
4. Hanley, Robert. (1984-06-06). "MAYOR LEADS IN JERSEY IN CONGRESSIONAL RACE". The New York Times.
5. "Candidates for the Office of House of Representatives -- Primary Election, June 5, 1984".
6. "Votes Cast for the Office of United States House of Representatives - General Election held November 6, 1984". New Jersey Department of State.
7. (1984-05-31). "2 DEMOCRATS WITH MUCH IN COMMON VIE IN NEW JERSEY (Published 1984)".
8. (1984-10-29). "THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN; JERSEY RARITY: CONGRESSIONAL RACES LEAD THE BALLOT". The New York Times.
9. Wildstein, David. (2018-01-04). "The story of Rodney's long and painful path to Congress".
10. Bretnall, Katherine H.. (January 25, 1984). "It's Budget Time Again".
11. (1984-02-27). "NOT ALL NAMES FAMILIAR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTE". The New York Times.
12. (1988-11-05). "Jersey House Contests Seen As Groundwork for Future". The New York Times.
13. Larsen, Erik. "Virginia Haines to become first woman to lead Ocean County in 40 years".