1990 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

Overview

District 1

This seat had been vacant since January 16, 1990, when James Florio resigned to take office as Governor of New Jersey. Democrat Rob Andrews won the open race, as well as the simultaneous election to complete Florio's unexpired term. The district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Rob Andrews, Camden County Freeholder
• Linda Bowker, head of the New Jersey chapter of the National Organization for Women
• John A. Dramesi, retired Air Force colonel and former prison of war
• Joel S. Farley, attorney

Results

Special primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Daniel Mangini, Gloucester County Freeholder

Results

Special primary results

General election

Candidates

• Rob Andrews, Camden County Freeholder (Democratic)
• William Henry Harris (Populist)
• Walter E. Konstanty (Pride and Honesty)
• Daniel Mangini, Gloucester County Freeholder (Republican)
• Jerry Zeldin (Libertarian)

Campaign

Mangini attacked Andrews as a "clone" of his predecessor Florio, the unpopular governor and former Representative. Despite his ties to Florio, even many Republicans conceded that Andrews was the likely favorite to hold the seat, which was heavily Democratic. Mangini ran on a consistent anti-tax theme.

Results

District 2

Incumbent William J. Hughes won with no Republican opponent. 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

General election

Candidates

• William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Democratic)
• William A. Kanengiser (Populist)

Results

District 3

Incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone won. This district included partsMonmouth and Ocean counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Pat Daly
• Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988
• Irwin Zucker

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Paul A. Kapalko, former assemblyman and member of the Asbury Park City Council

Results

General election

Candidates

• Paul A. Kapalko, former assemblyman and member of the Asbury Park City Council (Republican)
• Richard D. McKean (Independent)
• Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988 (Democratic)
• Joseph A. Plonski (Populist)
• William Stewart (Libertarian)

Campaign

Kapalko sought to tie Pallone to the unpopular incumbent governor, Jim Florio, and his $2.8 billion state tax increase. After Pallone's campaign manager, Joel Berg, admitted to The New York Times that they sought to "airbrush Florio out of the picture," Pallone stated, "There is no question that I have never done anything but support Democratic candidates. I work very hard every November for Democrats, whether it be the Governor or whatever. There is no question I supported him, but Kapalko is trying to make me his campaign manager, which is not the case." Pallone, who had a moderate reputation as an opponent of spending increases in Congress, the New Jersey Senate, and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, was urged by aides to come out directly against the tax increase.

At a candidates' forum in Ocean Township on November 3, protestors carried signs denouncing the Florio tax package. During the forum, Kapalko and independent candidate Richard D. McKean, running on an anti-abortion platform, both criticized Pallone for distancing himself from Florio after serving as chair of his campaign and, in an interview with the Asbury Park Press editorial board, questioning whether he had ever served in that role at all. Despite these attacks, Pallone was widely seen to be leading as the campaign entered its closing days.

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

• Mark Setaro, Trenton lawyer

Results

General election

Candidates

• Judson M. Carter, independent candidate for this district in 1988 (God We Trust)
• Joseph J. Notarangelo (Populist)
• Carl Peters (Libertarian)
• Mark Setaro, Trenton lawyer (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

• Elliot Greenspan
• Lawrence Wayne Olsen, Paramus schoolteacher

Results

General election

Candidates

• Lawrence Wayne Olsen, Paramus schoolteacher (Democratic)
• Mark Richards (Populist)
• 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

• Sebastian Del Duca
• Bernard J. Dwyer, incumbent Representative from Edison since 1981

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Paul Danielczyk, Woodbridge realtor
• Rodger Zepka

Results

General election

Candidates

• Paul Danielczyk, Woodbridge realtor (Republican)
• Bernard J. Dwyer, incumbent Representative from Edison since 1981 (Democratic)
• Howard F. Schoen (Libertarian)
• Randolph Waller (Populist)

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

• Bruce H. Bergen, lawyer

Results

General election

Candidates

• Bruce H. Bergen, lawyer (Democratic)
• Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973 (Republican)
• Thomas V. Sarnowski (Populist)

Results

District 8

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

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

Results

General election

Candidates

• Bruce Eden (Populist)
• Robert A. Roe, incumbent Representative from Wayne since 1969 (Democratic)
• Stephen Sibilia (Independent Conservative)

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
• Robert Wesser

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Peter J. Russo, former assemblyman from Lyndhurst

Results

General election

Candidates

• Chester Grabowski (Populist)
• Peter J. Russo, former assemblyman from Lyndhurst (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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Donald M. Payne, incumbent Representative from Newark since 1989

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Howard E. Berkeley

Results

General election

Candidates

• Howard E. Berkeley (Republican)
• George Mehrabian (Socialist Workers)
• Donald M. Payne, incumbent Representative from Newark since 1989 (Democratic)

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

• Mary Frueholz
• Michael Gordon, West Orange environmental lawyer

Results

General election

Candidates

• Dean Gallo, incumbent Representative since 1985 (Republican)
• Michael Gordon, West Orange environmental lawyer (Democratic)
• Jasper Gould (Populist)

Results

District 12

Incumbent Republican Jim Courter did not run after losing the 1989 gubernatorial election; Dick Zimmer won the open seat. This sprawling district included all of Hunterdon County and parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Rodney Frelinghuysen, assemblyman from Morristown, son of former Representative Peter Frelinghuysen, and candidate for this district in 1982
• Phil McConkey, former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and American football wide receiver for the New York Giants
• Joseph F. Shanahan, perennial candidate
• Dick Zimmer, state senator from Flemington

Declined

• Roger Bodman, former New Jersey Commissioner of Labor and Commissioner of Transportation
• Leanna Brown, state senator from Chatham
• Jim Courter, incumbent Representative since 1983 and Republican nominee for governor in 1989
• Walter Kavanaugh, assemblyman from Somerville
• Peter Mancuso, former mayor of Morris Township
• Nicholas Platt, vice president of the New York Stock Exchange
• Jack Sinagra, mayor of East Brunswick
• Christine Todd Whitman, chair of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (ran for U.S. Senate)

Campaign

Frelinghuysen, who had unsuccessfully run against Courter for this seat in a 1982 open primary, was the early favorite for the nomination. He won the crucial support of the Morris and Somerset Republican organizations, which accounted for about half of the anticipated primary vote.

Endorsements

• Millicent Fenwick, former U.S. representative from Bernardsville ;State legislators
• Raymond Bateman, former state senator from Branchburg and Republican nominee for governor in 1977
• John H. Dorsey, state senator from Boonton
• John S. Penn, assemblyman from Far Hills and chair of the Somerset County Republican Party ;Political parties
• Morris County Republican Party
• Somerset County Republican Party}}{{Endorsements box|title=Phil McConkey|list=;Federal executive branch officials
• Jack Kemp, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. representative from Buffalo, New York, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and candidate for president in 1988 ;Individuals
• Roger Stone, Republican campaign strategist (member of campaign staff)}}{{Endorsements box|title=Dick Zimmer|list=;Political parties
• Hunterdon County Republican Party
• Mercer County Republican Party
• Middlesex County Republican Party}}

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Marguerite Chandler, Somerville businesswoman
• James J. Cleary, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche

Results

General election

Candidates

• John I. Bottcher ("Back to Basics")
• Marguerite Chandler, Somerville businesswoman (Democratic)
• C. Max Kortepeter (Independent Reform)
• Michael A. Notarangelo (Populist)
• Dick Zimmer, state senator from Flemington (Republican)

Campaign

In the general election, Republicans ran radio advertisements including a clip of Chandler praising Governor Florio's "courage" in passing his $2.8 billion tax and addressing state budgetary issues "in a very straightforward way." The ads concluded, "We won't get fooled again."

Results

District 13

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

Republican primary

Candidates

• William Monk
• Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative since 1984

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John Adler, former Cherry Hill councilman
• Eugene Creech
• Michael DiMarco

Results

General election

Candidates

• John Adler, former Cherry Hill councilman (Democratic)
• Howard Scott Pearlman (World Without War)
• Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative since 1984 (Republican)

Results

District 14

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Gil Corby
• Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jorge T. Gallo
• Fred J. Theemling Jr., former Hudson County assistant prosecutor and candidate for this district in 1988

Results

General election

Candidates

• Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Democratic)
• Jane E. Harris (Socialist Workers)
• Donald K. Stoveken (Populist)
• Fred J. Theemling Jr., former Hudson County assistant prosecutor and candidate for this district in 1988 (Republican)
• Louis Vernotico (Right to Vote)
• Michael Ziruolo (Better Affordable Government)

Results

References

References

1. "General Election Data - 1924 to 2022".
2. King, Wayne. (1990-11-07). "The 1990 Elections: New Jersey - Congressional Races; Voters Angry, but Not at Incumbents". The New York Times.
3. Anderson, Donnald K.. (April 29, 1991). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990".
4. (1990-06-07). "THE 1990 ELECTIONS; Bradley Wins New Jersey Primary". The New York Times.
5. (July 5, 1990). "House of Representatives -- Primary Election, June 5, 1990".
6. (1990-11-04). "THE 1990 CAMPAIGN; Democratic Candidates Step Away From Florio". The New York Times.
7. "Candidates for the Office of House of Representatives: General Election, November 6, 1990".
8. Wildstein, David. (2018-01-04). "The story of Rodney's long and painful path to Congress".
9. Nieves, Evelyn. (1992-10-29). "A New House District Could Make History". The New York Times.