The 1990 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 6, 1990, to determine who would represent the people of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. This election coincided with national elections for 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 widespread discontent and anger over tax increases at the state and federal level, all ten incumbent candidates won their races, and the two open seats remained with their respective parties.
Overview 1990 United States House of Representatives elections in New JerseyPartyVotesPercentageCandidatesSeats+/– Democratic836,94445.82%14 8 Republican910,93149.87%12 6 Populist36,1561.98%12 0 Libertarian7,3850.40%40Socialist Workers1,9610.11%20Independents33,1471.81%90 Totals1,826,524 100.00%53 14
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 parts of Monmouth 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
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