The 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 8, 1988, 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 fourteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1980 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Despite George H.W. Bush's landslide victory in the state's concurrent presidential election, in which he carried all but two congressional districts, the Republican Party made no gains in the House.
Overview 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in New JerseyPartyVotesPercentageCandidatesSeats+/– Democratic1,336,32548.14%14 8 Republican1,411,84050.86%13 6 Libertarian9,2150.33%70Socialist Workers5,5730.20%20Communist4420.02%10Independents12,7090.46%80 Totals2,776,104 100.00%44 14
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