The 1996 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 5, 1996, 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 of the United States, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. New Jersey had thirteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1990 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
This is the last time Republicans won a majority of seats from New Jersey, and Republicans have only won the popular vote once since in the state, in 2010.
Overview 1996 United States House of Representatives elections in New JerseyPartyVotesPercentageCandidatesSeats+/– Republican 1,398,900 49.55%13 7 1 Democratic 1,351,762 47.88%13 6 1 Independents 72,497 2.57%40 0 Totals 2,823,159 100.00%66 13 —
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 Sophia A. Nelson
Results
After the primary election, Nelson resigned from the race for personal reasons and was replaced as Republican nominee by Mel Suplee.
General election
Candidates
Rob Andrews, incumbent Representative from Haddon Heights since 1990 (Democratic) Patricia Bily (Independent) Michael Edmondson (Independent) Mel Suplee, university contract specialist and candidate for mayor of Bellmawr in 1994 and state senate in 1995 (Republican) Norman E. Wahner (Independent)
Campaign Suplee accused Andrews of alienating his fellow Democratic caucus members in Congress, endangering his ability to form coalitions to pass legislation, and called for term limits, a balanced budget, and reduced immigration.
Results
District 2
Incumbent Republican Frank A. LoBiondo won. This district, the largest in South Jersey, included all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties and parts of Burlington and Gloucester counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Frank LoBiondo, incumbent Representative since 1995
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Ruth Katz, public health program director and candidate for this district in 1994
Results
General election
Candidates
Judith Lee Azaren (Independent) David Rodger Headrick (Independent) Ruth Katz, public health program director and candidate for this district in 1994 (Democratic) Frank LoBiondo, incumbent Representative since 1995 (Republican) Andrea Lippi (Independent)
Campaign Katz, a moderate who supported welfare reform requiring recipients to work and maintaining current funding levels for Head Start and higher education loans, was expected to give the one-term incumbent LoBiondo a serious challenge. She criticized LoBiondo and the Republican Congress for cutting back on environmental regulations.
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
John Leonardi, Cherry Hill businessman
Results
General election
Candidates
Eugene B. Ashworth (Independent) Ken Feduniewicz (Independent) Agnes A. James (Independent) John Leonardi, Cherry Hill businessman (Democratic) Janice Presser (Independent) Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative from Mount Holly since 1984 (Republican)
Campaign Leonardi focused his campaign on preserving Medicare by reducing benefits for the wealthy and balancing the federal budget. He proposed lowering the deficit by repealing tax cuts and cutting defense spending. Saxton was regarded as a formidable incumbent for his moderate stances on gun control and environmental protection, including preventing his party from weakening of the Clean Water Act, as well as his strong fundraising.
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
Kevin John Meara, former member of the Hamilton Township Council
Results
General election
Candidates
Robert Figueroa (Independent) Arnold Kokans (Independent) Kevin John Meara, former member of the Hamilton Township Council (Democratic) Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican) J. Morgan Strong (Independent)
Candidate Meara matched the incumbent on a number of issues, including opposing abortion, favoring work requirements for welfare, and favoring stronger immigration restrictions. He opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement and supporter the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.
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
Roger Bacon, Libertarian nominee for this district in 1994 George Matreyek Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Bill Auer, Allendale advertising businessman and nominee for this district in 1994
Results
General election
Candidates
Bill Auer, Allendale advertising businessman and nominee for this district in 1994 (Democratic) Barry Childers (Independent) Helen Hamilton, Natural Law Party nominee for this district in 1994 (Independent) Dan Karlan (Independent) E. Gregory Kresge (Independent) Lorraine L. La Neve, Republican candidate for this district in 1994 (Independent) Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981 (Republican)
Campaign Running his second consecutive campaign, Bill Auer supported universal healthcare, reductions in defense spending, and permitting gay servicemembers in the military.
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
Steve Corodemus, assemblyman from Atlantic Highlands Karen Anne Zaletel
Results
General election
Candidates
Steve Corodemus, assemblyman from Atlantic Highlands (Republican) Susan H. Normandin (Independent) Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988 (Democratic) Keith Quarles (Independent) Richard Sorrentino (Independent) Stepfanie C. Trice (Independent)
Campaign Pallone, considered a relative moderate, had opposed the NAFTA and GATT free trade initiatives but was one of the few Democrats outside of the South to support the tax cut provisions of the Contract with America. Corodemus criticized him for failing to write or sponsor enough legislation during his four terms in office.
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
Larry Lerner, Union Township attorney and civil rights activist
Results
General election
Candidates
Dorothy De Laura (Independent) Bob Franks, incumbent Representative from Summit since 1993 (Republican) Nicholas W. Gentile (Independent) Larry Lerner, Union Township attorney and civil rights activist (Democratic) Robert G. Robertson (Independent)
Campaign Lerner, a strong fundraiser, supported stringent environmental protections and jobs training programs for laid-off employees. He ran on a long record of activism, including suing to end tax exemptions for whites-only organizations in 1974 and lobbying for the release of wrongly imprisoned Jews in the former Soviet Union.
Results
District 8
Incumbent Republican Bill Martini ran for a second term in office but was defeated by Paterson mayor Bill Pascrell. This district included parts of Essex and Passaic counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Bill Martini, incumbent Representative from Clifton since 1995
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Bill Pascrell, mayor of Paterson and assemblyman
Declined
Herb Klein, former Representative for this district (199395)
Results
General election
Candidates
Jeffrey Levine (Independent) Bill Martini, incumbent Representative from Clifton since 1995 (Republican) Bill Pascrell, mayor of Paterson and assemblyman (Democratic)
Campaign The Democratic Party considered this their best opportunity to gain a seat in New Jersey in 1996; both parties agreed that it was a close contest. The candidates predicted they would spend more than $1 million each, making this the most expensive race in the state.
Pascrell focused on social issues, calling for federally financed anti-crime programs. He also sought to tie Martini to House speaker Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America, much of which Martini had supported during his term in office. Pascrell criticized the Republican Congress for proposing to slow the increase in federal Medicare spending by $270 billion over the next seven years.
Martini focused his campaign on fiscal issues, calling for spending cuts and a reduction in the size of the federal government. He sought to distance himself from Republican congressional leadership, stressing his record on environmental protection and support for an increase in the federal minimum wage. Given his efforts to prevent development of the 17,500-acre Sterling Forest in New York, he won the endorsement of the Sierra Club.
Both candidates supported a balanced-budget amendment and an overall reduction in the capital gains tax rate.
Endorsements
Results
District 9
Incumbent Democrat Bob Torricelli did not run for re-election, choosing instead to run for the open U.S. Senate seat vacated by Bill Bradley. In the race to succeed him, Steve Rothman defeated Kathleen Donovan.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Lynne Athay Dow, Teaneck psychologist Robert Gordon, healthcare management consultant and former mayor of Fair Lawn Steve Rothman, Bergen County Surrogate and former mayor of Englewood
Declined
Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative since 1983 (ran for U.S. Senate)
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Kathleen Donovan, Bergen County Clerk, former assemblywoman from Hackensack, and former chair of the New Jersey Republican Party and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Results
General election
Candidates
Kathleen Donovan, Bergen County Clerk, former assemblywoman from Hackensack, and former chair of the New Jersey Republican Party and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Republican) Leon Myerson (Independent) Arthur B. Rosen (Independent) Steve Rothman, Bergen County Surrogate Court judge and former mayor of Englewood (Democratic)
Campaign Both candidates ran on socially liberal platforms, supporting abortion rights, gun control, and federal funding for environmental protection. Donovan portrayed herself an independently minded moderate and voiced her opposition to presidential nominee Bob Dole's proposal for a 15 percent tax cut. Rothman called for a tax deduction on college tuition.
Despite the Democratic lean of the district and the strength of Bill Clinton and Bob Torricelli atop the ticket, both parties devoted significant resources to the district. Donovan, who was considered the more recognizable candidate, was the strongest Republican nominee in many years. She won the endorsement of Local 346, a laborers union.
Endorsements
Results
District 10