1994 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

Overview

District 1

Incumbent Democrat Rob Andrews won. The district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Rob Andrews, incumbent Representative from Haddon Heights since 1990

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• William Henry Harris
• James N. Hogan, Gloucester County Sheriff

Results

General election

Candidates

• Rob Andrews, incumbent Representative from Haddon Heights since 1990 (Democratic)
• James N. Hogan, Gloucester County Sheriff (Republican)

Results

District 2

Incumbent William J. Hughes did not run for re-election to an eleventh term in office. In the open race, Republican Frank LoBiondo easily defeated Louis Magazzu. This district, the largest in South Jersey, included all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties and parts of Burlington and Gloucester counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ruth Katz
• George N. Lyne
• Louis N. Magazzu, Vineland city solicitor

Declined

• William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Robert D. Green
• Bill Gormley, state senator from Margate City and candidate for governor in 1989
• Frank LoBiondo, assemblyman from Vineland and nominee for this district in 1992

Campaign

Because Hughes was retiring and the district was overwhelmingly conservative and Republican, the Republican primary would likely determine the ultimate victor and was the most closely watched in the state. Frank LoBiondo, an assemblyman, former freeholder, and nominee for this district in 1992, faced off against Bill Gormley, a state senator who had run for governor in 1989 and narrowly survived a primary and general election challenge in 1991.

Gormley, though better known, was more moderate than LoBiondo, who campaigned on his strong opposition to taxes and support for reduction in the scope of the federal government, a platform similar to the one on which Governor Christine Todd Whitman had been elected one year prior. Gormley aides later said that they were concerned that emphasizing conservative positions in the primary would make it difficult for their candidate to return to the middle of the political spectrum for the fall general election.

Former governor Thomas Kean endorsed Gormley and campaigned for him in the final weeks.

Endorsements

• Thomas Kean, 48th Governor of New Jersey}}

Results

Kean commented on the result, saying, "I worry about the party ideologically, and I intend to get involved on that side, not on picking candidates. The party has got to get more comfortable with people, including blacks. I think this is the best time to begin addressing some things that are not being addressed."

General election

Candidates

• Frank LoBiondo, assemblyman from Vineland and nominee for this district in 1992 (Republican)
• Louis N. Magazzu, Vineland city solicitor (Democratic)

Campaign

Without Hughes, a popular and relatively conservative Democrat who had held the district since 1974, out of the race, the district was expected to support a Republican candidate. Republicans outnumbered Democrats in the district by about 85,000 to 75,000, with 150,000 unaffiliated voters. However, party chair Tom Byrne cited Bill Clinton's narrow victory in the district in 1992 as evidence that Magazzu could hold the seat.

LoBiondo campaigned on lower taxes, spending cuts, and a reduction of the federal government. Magazzu stressed crime reduction as the main theme of his campaign, including through stricter gun control legislation. LoBiondo raised more than Magazzu by a 3-to-1 margin and polls showed him with at least a 30-point lead.

Labor unions in the district supported LoBiondo, urging the public to "Vote for the Two Franks," referring to LoBiondo and Democratic U.S. senator Frank Lautenberg, who faced a tough re-election contest.

Results

District 3

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

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative from Mount Holly since 1984

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Anthony J. Verderese, independent candidate for this district in 1992
• Jay Williams

Results

General election

Candidates

• Anthony Fulvio Croce (Independent)
• D. James Hill (Independent)
• Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative from Mount Holly since 1984 (Republican)
• James B. Smith, former mayor of Mount Holly and nominee for this district in 1984 and 1988 (Democratic)

Results

District 4

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

Republican primary

Candidates

• Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Michael DiMarco
• Ralph Walsh

Results

General election

Candidates

• Arnold Kokans (Natural Law)
• Leonard P. Marshall (NJ Conservative)
• Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican)
• Ralph Walsh (Democratic)

Results

District 5

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

Republican primary

Candidates

• Lorraine La Neve
• Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bill Auer, Allendale advertising businessman
• Richard Forbes, supporter of Lyndon LaRouche and perennial candidate

Results

General election

Candidates

• Bill Auer, Allendale advertising businessman (Democratic)
• Roger Bacon (Libertarian)
• Helen Hamilton (Natural Law)
• William J. Leonard (Independent)
• Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981 (Republican)

Results

District 6

Incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone won. This district included parts of Middlesex and Monmouth counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Roger W. Daley, Middlesex County Freeholder
• Mike Herson, attorney and former aide to presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush

Results

General election

Candidates

• Charles H. Dickson (Capitalist)
• Mike Herson, attorney and former aide to presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush (Republican)
• Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988 (Democratic)
• Richard Quinn (Natural Law)
• Gary J. Rich (NJ Conservative)

Results

District 7

Incumbent Bob Franks won. This district included parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bob Franks, incumbent Representative from Summit since 1993

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Karen Carroll, Bridgewater activist and candidate for this district in 1992

Results

General election

Candidates

• Karen Carroll, Bridgewater activist and candidate for this district in 1992 (Democratic)
• James J. Cleary (Larouche Was Right)
• Bob Franks, incumbent Representative from Summit since 1993 (Republican)
• Claire Greene (Natural Law)

Results

District 8

Incumbent Herb Klein ran for a second term in office but was defeated by Bill Martini. This district included parts of Essex and Passaic counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Herb Klein, incumbent Representative since 1993

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bill Martini, Passaic County Freeholder and member of the Clifton City Council

Results

General election

Candidates

• Bernard George (Conservative)
• Herb Klein, incumbent Representative since 1993 (Democratic)
• Bill Martini, Passaic County Freeholder and member of the Clifton City Council (Republican)

Campaign

Klein had won a bitter and expensive race in 1992, and leaders of both parties agreed that the eighth district was the most competitive race in 1994. Both campaigns spent heavily on advertising and were supported by visits from party leaders from outside the state. Republicans sought to unseat the first-term incumbent Klein before he could become entrenched.

Both candidates emphasized crime prevention, as well as taxes, government spending, and the economy. Klein cited the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act as the first legislation to increase public safety, while Martini criticized it as "pork-laden", with programs that had little to do with crime prevention. Klein said he had voted against President Bill Clinton's proposed budget because he felt it did not have enough spending cuts; Martini charged that Klein had voted later for all of the spending proposals in the budget and that Klein had repeatedly passed on opportunities to vote for further reductions in the federal budget deficit.

The Paterson-based district, which was once a major economic hub and the birthplace of American manufacturing, had not recovered from the recession earlier in the decade as well as the rest of the state had.

Endorsements

• Al Gore, Vice President of the United States}}{{Endorsements box|title=Bill Martini (R)|list=;Federal executive branch officials
• Michael Chertoff, former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey ;Local officials
• Rudy Giuliani, mayor of New York City}}

Results

Martini declared victory in Totowa at 10:50 p.m. on election night, stating, "I think it's time that we have a chance to bring forth to the American people the policies that they want, the policies of opportunity." Klein conceded shortly thereafter, saying, "Politics is like the ocean; it ebbs and it flows. Unfortunately, we were in a down period, but I know that I have served with pride."

District 9

Incumbent Democrat Bob Torricelli won.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Matt Guice
• Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Peter J. Russo, former assemblyman from Lyndhurst and candidate for this district in 1990 and 1992

Results

General election

Candidates

• Kenneth Ebel (Natural Law)
• Gregory Pason (Independent)
• Peter J. Russo, former assemblyman from Lyndhurst and candidate for this district in 1990 and 1992 (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, Hudson, and Union counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

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

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Ford

Results

General election

Candidates

• Jim Ford (Republican)
• Rose Monyek, perennial candidate (Inflation Fighting Housewife)
• Donald M. Payne, incumbent Representative from Newark since 1989 (Democratic)
• Maurice Williams (Socialist Workers)

Results

District 11

Incumbent Republican Dean Gallo initially ran for re-election, but he withdrew from the race in August due to terminal prostate cancer. In the open race to succeed him, Republican Party committee members selected Rodney Frelinghuysen, who easily defeated Frank Herbert. This district consisted of all of Morris County and parts of Essex, Passaic, Somerset, and Sussex counties.

In the Republican primary, Gallo defeated a strenuous challenge from three candidates, including future state senator Joe Pennacchio. In the Democratic primary, Herbert won over John Kucek, a self-declared Christian nationalist and supporter of David Duke. As of , Herbert remains the only candidate in New Jersey history to win a primary for Congress as a write-in candidate.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Barry Fitzpatrick
• Dean Gallo, incumbent Representative since 1985
• Frank C. Marmo
• Joe Pennacchio, Montville dentist

Results

Republican replacement convention

After Gallo withdrew from the race in August, Republican committee members from the district selected Rodney Frelinghuysen, whom Gallo had designated as his successor, as a replacement nominee. Frelinghuysen received 662 votes, well ahead of the runner-up Jeff Grow, who received 27.

Candidates

• Tim Costello
• Rodney Frelinghuysen, assemblyman from Morristown and son of former Representative Peter Frelinghuysen Jr.
• Jeff Grow, Rockaway attorney

Declined

• Robert J. Martin, state senator from Morris Plains
• Charles Poekel Jr., Essex Fells attorney and nominee for this seat in 1976

Endorsements

• Dean Gallo, incumbent Representative for this district ;State legislators
• Chuck Haytaian, speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and nominee for U.S. Senate ;Political parties
• Essex County Republican Party
• Morris County Republican Party}}

Campaign

Frelinghuysen, who had run unsuccessfully in another district in 1982 and 1990, announced his campaign with Gallo's support on the same day Gallo withdrew. He also had support from the Morris and Essex Republican parties and U.S. Senate nominee Chuck Haytaian, clearing the field quickly of any other serious candidates.

Results

The special convention to designate a replacement was held on September 12.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank Herbert, former state senator from Waldwick (write-in)
• John Kucek

Disqualified

• Daniel G. Tauriello, Middlesex County College administrator

Campaign

Although the Democratic primary in this district was usually ignored, it gained wide public attention when Daniel G. Tauriello, the party's preferred choice, was disqualified from the ballot after about one dozen of his petition signatures were challenged by John Kucek, an outspoken Holocaust revisionist and supporter of David Duke, leaving Kucek as the only candidate on the ballot.

In response, party leaders and Jewish groups recruited former state senator Frank Herbert as a write-in candidate for the nomination. Kucek defend himself by stating, "I'm not anti-Semitic or anti-Jewish; I'm pro-American."

Results

General election

Candidates

• Stuart Bacha, Populist Party candidate for General Assembly in 1993 (Fascist)
• Rodney Frelinghuysen, assemblyman from Morristown and son of former Representative Peter Frelinghuysen Jr. (Republican)
• Mary Frueholz (LaRouche Was Right)
• Frank Herbert, former state senator from Waldwick (Democratic)

Withdrew

• Dean Gallo, incumbent Representative since 1985 (Republican) (died November 6)

Results

District 12

Incumbent Republican Dick Zimmer won. This district, based in Central Jersey, included all of Hunterdon County and parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dick Zimmer, incumbent Representative since 1991

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Joseph D. Youssouf, nominee for state senate in 1991

Results

General election

Candidates

• Anthony M. Provenzano (NJ Conservative)
• Joseph D. Youssouf, nominee for state senate in 1991 (Democratic)
• Dick Zimmer, incumbent Representative since 1991 (Republican)

Results

District 13

Incumbent Democrat Bob Menendez won. This district included parts of Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bob Menendez, incumbent Representative from Union City since 1993

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Fernando Alonso
• Mary Ann Hester
• Brian W. McAlindin

Results

General election

Candidates

• Fernando Alonso (Republican)
• Steven Marshall (Socialist Workers)
• Bob Menendez, incumbent Representative from Union City since 1993 (Democratic)
• Frank J. Rubino Jr. (We the People)
• Herbert H. Shaw, perennial candidate (Politicians Are Crooks)

Results

References

References

1. "General Election Data - 1924 to 2022".
2. Hennelly, Robert. (1994-10-30). "State G.O.P. Looks to Gain Seats in House". The New York Times.
3. Carle, Robin H.. (May 12, 1995). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994".
4. (July 2, 1994). "Official List: Primary Election Returns for the Office of U.S. House of Representatives for Election Held June 4, 1994".
5. Wildstein, David. (2022-03-01). "Gloucester County Clerk will run again".
6. Wildstein, David. (2022-03-01). "Gloucester County Clerk will run again".
7. (January 31, 1997). "Official List: Candidate Returns for House of Representatives for Election Held November 5, 1994".
8. (1994-11-06). "THE 1994 CAMPAIGN; The Election: A Voters' Guide To the Candidates". The New York Times.
9. Sullivan, Joseph F.. (1994-06-12). "Vote in House Primary May Signal End of Era". The New York Times.
10. (1994-11-06). "THE 1994 CAMPAIGN; The Election: A Voters' Guide To the Candidates". The New York Times.
11. Sullivan, Joseph F.. (1994-06-12). "Vote in House Primary May Signal End of Era". The New York Times.
12. (1994-11-09). "THE 1994 ELECTIONS: NEW JERSEY; New Jersey Congressional Races". The New York Times.
13. (2008-11-03). "Jim Smith, three-time Saxton rival, dies".
14. (1994-11-06). "THE 1994 CAMPAIGN; The Election: A Voters' Guide To the Candidates". The New York Times.
15. (2006-04-05). "Frelinghuysen leaves Democrats, ficus in the dust".
16. Wildstein, David. (2024-08-23). "It's been 30 years since an incumbent N.J. congressman needed to be replaced this late".
17. Sullivan, Joseph F.. (1994-06-12). "Vote in House Primary May Signal End of Era". The New York Times.