1988 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

Overview

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

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Frank A. Cristaudo, East Greenwich lawyer and former Gloucester County judge

Results

General election

Candidates

• Richard Bartucci (Libertarian)
• Frank A. Cristaudo, East Greenwich lawyer and former Gloucester County judge (Republican)
• James Florio, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Republican)

Campaign

Florio, who had run for governor in 1977 and 1981, was widely considered the leading Democratic contender for 1989. Accordingly, the campaign became a referendum on his potential 1989 candidacy. Cristaudo pointed to Florio's poor congressional attendance during his 1981 campaign and arguing, "The people of this district will be without a Congressman for almost a year in 1989 if they re-elect Mr. Florio, and if he wins the race for governor, they'll have to go through the expense of a special election to pick another Congressman." Cristaudo also criticized Florio for failing to deliver on a promised veterans hospital, which was built in Ocean County instead.

Richard Bartucci, the Libertarian candidate, criticized obstacles to free trade, arguing, "If we don't have free trade that allows goods to cross borders, then armies will cross them."

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

• Kirk W. Conover, Atlantic County Freeholder
• Thomas M. Warner

Results

General election

Candidates

• Kirk W. Conover, Atlantic County Freeholder (Republican)
• William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Democratic)
• Richard A. Schindenwolf Jr. (Pro-Life Conservative)

Campaign

Hughes said that the overriding issue in the campaign should be his record, "whether I have been a good Congressman, have exhibited honesty and integrity, and have been accessible and accountable and whether there is any reason to make a change."

Conover ran on his support of a balanced budget amendment and line-item veto, as well as his support for the Gramm–Rudman–Hollings Balanced Budget Act, which Hughes opposed as a "fiscal straightjacket" which he argued underfunded the United States Coast Guard and other vital services.

Richard Schindenwolf called for abortion to be outlawed and more United States opposition to communism, including the overthrow of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. He said that the failed Bay of Pigs invasion had "enabled communism to get a toehold in Cuba and paved the way for exportation of communism to other parts of the Caribbean."

Results

District 3

This seat was vacant following the death of incumbent James J. Howard on March 25, 1988. Frank Pallone won the open seat, as well as a special election to complete Howard's unexpired term in office.

This district included parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank Pallone, state senator and member of the Long Branch City Council

Withdrew

• Richard McAleer, car leasing agent and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1982

Declined

• Joseph Frankel, mayor of Eatontown
• Richard Van Wagner, state senator from Middletown

Results

Special primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Joseph Azzolina, former assemblyman and state senator from Middletown
• Scott M. Colabella, former aide to Governor Thomas Kean
• Brian T. Kennedy, former state senator from Sea Girt and nominee for this district in 1984 and 1986
• Brian J. Rechten, advertising agent and promoter
• John J. Whalen, retired U.S. Army colonel

Withdrew

• Anthony M. Villane, assemblyman from Long Branch

Results

Special primary results

General election

Candidates

• Joseph Azzolina, former assemblyman and state senator from Middletown (Republican)
• Frank Pallone, state senator and member of the Long Branch City Council (Democratic)
• Laura Stewart (Libertarian)

Results

Special election 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

• Betty Holland, wife of Trenton mayor Arthur John Holland
• Saul G. Hornik, mayor of Marlboro

Results

General election

Candidates

• Judson M. Carter (Independent)
• Betty Holland, wife of Trenton mayor Arthur John Holland (Democratic)
• Daniel A. Maiullo Jr. (Libertarian)
• 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

• Lee Monaco, Englewood prosecutor

Results

General election

Candidates

• Daniel M. Karlan (Libertarian)
• Lee Monaco, Englewood prosecutor (Democratic)
• Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981 (Republican)

Campaign

Monaco ran a campaign calling for principles of natural law, "to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and care for the elderly" by restricting unnecessary military spending.

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

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• James G. Fennessy
• Peter J. Sica, mayor of Carteret

Results

General election

Candidates

• Bernard J. Dwyer, incumbent Representative from Edison since 1981 (Democratic)
• Joan Paltrineri (Workers)
• Howard F. Schoen (Libertarian)
• Peter J. Sica, mayor of Carteret (Republican)

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 Hely, lawyer and member of the Westfield Town Council

Results

General election

Candidates

• James Hely, lawyer and member of the Westfield Town Council (Democratic)
• Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973 (Republican)

Results

District 8

Incumbent Robert Roe won without opposition. This district included parts of Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

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

Results

General election

Candidates

• 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

• Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Roger J. Lane, mayor of New Milford

Results

General election

Candidates

• Richard J. Kemly (Poor Man's)
• Roger J. Lane, mayor of New Milford (Republican)
• Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983 (Democratic)

Results

District 10

Incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne won. The district included parts of Essex and Union counties.

Payne was the first black Representative elected from New Jersey; this district, which had been majority-black since 1973, had long been expected to elect a black Representative upon Rodino's retirement.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ralph T. Grant Jr., member of the Newark City Council
• Donald M. Payne, member of the Newark City Council and candidate for this district in 1980 and 1986

Declined

• Peter W. Rodino, incumbent Representative since 1949

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Michael Webb, U.S. Department of Education program coordinator

Results

General election

Candidates

• Alan Bowser (Independent)
• Mindy Bridno (Socialist Workers)
• Alvin Curtis (Time for Change)
• Donald M. Payne, member of the Newark City Council and candidate for this district in 1980 and 1986 (Democratic)
• Michael Webb, U.S. Department of Education program coordinator (Republican)

Withdrew

• Anthony Imperiale, former state senator, assemblyman and member of the Newark City Council (People's Choice)

Results

District 11

Incumbent Republican Dean Gallo won. This district consisted of parts of Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dean Gallo, incumbent Representative since 1985

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John C. Shaw, supervisor in the office of the Essex County Clerk

Results

General election

Candidates

• John C. Shaw, supervisor in the office of the Essex County Clerk (Democratic)
• Dean Gallo, incumbent Representative since 1985 (Republican)
• Jasper Gould (Populist)

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
• Thomas J. Young

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Norman J. Weinstein, former president of the Somerville Borough Council and candidate for this district in 1984

Results

General election

Candidates

• Jim Courter, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Republican)
• Stephen Friedlander (Libertarian)
• Norman J. Weinstein, former president of the Somerville Borough Council and candidate for this district in 1984 (Democratic)

Campaign

Despite the district's strong Republican lean, Courter ran an active campaign with frequent television advertising which made no mention of his re-election bid, in order to raise his profile ahead of an anticipated 1989 run for governor.

Weinstein criticized Courter's record on environmental legislation; he received the lowest rating in the New Jersey delegation from the League of Conservation Voters. Courter defended the attack by citing bills he had sponsored protecting clean air and water and restricting offshore dumping and oil drilling. Weinstein also criticized Courter's call to follow Michigan, Florida and New York in restricting lawsuits for all but the most serious automobile injuries and allowing automobile insurers to establish rates, rather than the state government.

Results

District 13

Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton won. This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative since 1984

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Michael DiMarco
• James B. Smith, former mayor of Mount Holly and nominee for this district in 1984

Results

General election

Candidates

• Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative since 1984 (Republican)
• James B. Smith, former mayor of Mount Holly and nominee for this district in 1984 (Democratic)

Campaign

Saxton ran on his support for preserving Social Security benefits and providing home healthcare for the elderly, along with Ronald Reagan's economic program, which he credited for "the economic growth and low unemployment... that we have enjoyed for the last few years."

Smith said he supported trade restrictions on foreign imports to protect American jobs and industry; Saxton supported Reagan's decision to veto such restrictions. Smith also called for the restoration of "impact aid" for public school districts serving families of military personnel, a large number of which lived in this district.

Results

District 14

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Edward A. Allen, pastor of Philemon Missionary Baptist Church in Newark
• Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979
• Robert P. Haney Jr., Jersey City attorney and barkeeper

Endorsements

• Dennis P. Collins, mayor of Bayonne
• Nicholas J. Cicco, mayor of Guttenberg
• Anthony R. Cucci, mayor of Jersey City
• Anthony De Fino, mayor of West New York
• Leo Gattoni, mayor of North Bergen
• Henry J. Hill, mayor of Kearny
• Stanley Iacono, mayor of Weehawken
• Bob Menendez, mayor of Union City
• Patrick Pasculli, mayor of Hoboken
• Frank E. Rodgers, mayor of Harrison}}{{Endorsements box|title=Robert P. Haney Jr.|list=;Federal executive branch officials
• Ted Sorensen, former White House Counsel ;Local officials
• Glenn Cunningham, president of the Jersey City Council
• Four other members of the Jersey City Council ;Organizations
• Indian-American Political Action Club
• Indo-American Association of Hudson County Inc.
• Irish-American Civic Association}}

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• James V. McNally
• Louis Russo

Results

General election

Candidates

• Peter Galbo (Independent)
• Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Democratic)
• John A. Jones ("All-Peoples Congress")
• John Rummel (Communist)
• Fred J. Theemling Jr., former Hudson County assistant prosecutor (Republican)
• Christopher White (Libertarian)

Results

References

References

1. Anderson, Donnald K.. (April 20, 1989). "STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 8, 1988".
2. "Candidates: Office of House of Representatives -- Primary Election, June 7, 1988".
3. (1988-10-12). "Aspiring Congressmen Tough Out Jersey Races". The New York Times.
4. "Votes Cast for the Office of United States House of Representatives: General Election, November 8, 1988".
5. Service, States News. (1988-05-22). "3d-District Race Could Be Costly". The New York Times.
6. Wildstein, David. (2018-11-26). "How Frank Pallone got to Congress".
7. Sullivan, Joseph F.. (1988-06-05). "POLITICS; One Million Expected At the Polls In Primaries". The New York Times.
8. (1988-06-06). "Young Lawyer Opposing House Veteran in Jersey". The New York Times.
9. "Special Elections to Fill a Vacancy: House of Representatives, November 8, 1988". New Jersey Department of State.
10. (1988-10-29). "Jersey Focuses On Tight Race For Congress". The New York Times.
11. Serrano, Ken. "Marlboro's corrupt past gives way to new era".
12. (1988-11-05). "Jersey House Contests Seen As Groundwork for Future". The New York Times.
13. Wildstein, David. (2024-06-05). "Incumbent loses in Wyckoff GOP split; Torricelli's '88 opponent returns".
14. (2008-11-03). "Jim Smith, three-time Saxton rival, dies".
15. Nieves, Evelyn. (1992-10-29). "A New House District Could Make History". The New York Times.