2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the 12 U.S. representatives from the state of New Jersey, one from each of the state's 12 congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

Democrats won four seats from Republicans and changed control from 7–5 for Democrats to 11–1 for Democrats, the fewest seats Republicans had won in the state since 1912. This was the first time since the 1912 elections that Republicans failed to hold any seat in North Jersey.

However, Representative Jeff Van Drew of the 2nd district would later change his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican in December 2019, bringing it down to 10–2.

Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Democratic121,856,81959.9211491.67Republican121,198,66438.68148.33Independent1523,7190.7700.0Libertarian812,9630.4200.0Constitution13,9020.1300.0Green12,6760.0900.0Total493,098,743100.012100.0

By district Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey by district:

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 169,628 64.40% 87,617 33.26% 6,173 2.34% 263,418 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 2 136,685 52.90% 116,866 45.23% 4,812 1.86% 258,363 100.0% Democratic gainDistrict 3 153,473 50.01% 149,500 48.72% 3,902 1.27% 306,875 100.0% Democratic gainDistrict 4 126,766 43.07% 163,065 55.40% 4,517 1.53% 294,348 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 5 169,546 56.18% 128,255 42.49% 4,022 1.33% 301,823 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 6 140,752 63.63% 80,443 36.37% 0 0.00% 221,195 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 7 166,985 51.74% 150,785 46.72% 4,972 1.54% 322,742 100.0% Democratic gainDistrict 8 119,881 78.12% 28,725 18.72% 4,849 3.16% 153,455 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 9 140,832 70.27% 57,854 28.87% 1,730 0.86% 200,416 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 10 175,253 87.56% 20,191 10.09% 4,715 2.36% 200,159 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 11 183,684 56.77% 136,322 42.13% 3,568 1.10% 323,574 100.0% Democratic gainDistrict 12 173,334 68.68% 79,041 31.32% 0 0.00% 252,375 100.0% Democratic holdTotal 1,856,819 59.92% 1,198,664 38.68% 43,260 1.40% 3,098,743 100.0%

District 1

The 1st district is based in South Jersey and includes most of Camden County along with parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County. Incumbent Democrat Donald Norcross, who had represented the district since 2014, ran for reelection. He was reelected with 60% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+13.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Donald Norcross, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Robert Lee Carlson Scot John Tomaszewski

Results

Republican primary Candidates Paul Dilks

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 2, 2018

Endorsements

Results

By county County Donald NorcrossDemocratic Paul Dilks Republican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Burlington (part) 5,660 62.7% 3,213 35.6%% 148 1.7% 2,447 27.1% 9,021 Camden (part) 121,634 68.2% 52,632 29.5% 4,211 2.3% 69,002 38.7% 178,477 Gloucester (part) 42,334 55.8% 31,772 41.8% 1,814 2.3% 10,562 14.0% 75,920Totals169,62864.4%87,61733.3%6,1732.3%82,01131.1%263,418

District 2

The 2nd district is based in South Jersey and is the largest Congressional District in the state. It includes all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem Counties and parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Ocean counties. Incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo, who had represented the district since 1995, announced in November 2017 that he would not run for re-election in 2018 making the 2nd an open seat. He was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+1.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Seth Grossman, attorney, former Atlantic County Freeholder and candidate for governor in 2013

Eliminated in primary Sam Fiocchi, former state assembly member Hirsh Singh, aerospace engineer and candidate for governor in 2017 Robert Turkavage, former FBI agent and independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2012

Withdrawn Brian T. Fitzherbert, defense contractor, project manager, engineer Mark McGovern, activist James Toto, Somers Point City Council member John Zarych, attorney

Declined Chris A. Brown, state senator Don Guardian, former Mayor of Atlantic City Frank LoBiondo, incumbent U.S. Representative Vincent J. Polistina, former state assembly member Mike Torrissi, Hammonton Town Council member

Endorsements

Results

Democratic primary This was one of 80 Republican-held House districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates Nominee Jeff Van Drew, state senator

Eliminated in primary William Cunningham, former aide to U.S. Senator Cory Booker Nathan Kleinman, farmer and activist Tanzie Youngblood, retired teacher

Withdrawn Sean Thom, school administrator

Endorsements

Results

General election Campaign A month after the primaries, the National Republican Congressional Committee withdrew its support of Grossman, following the news that he had posted an article from the white nationalist website American Renaissance on his Facebook page stating that blacks represented "a threat to all who cross their paths, black and non-black alike." Grossman responded that he had not carefully read the article that he had posted in 2014 and did not believe its racist sentiments, although in explaining his actions he said many black teenagers are violent and dangerous. Grossman also posted comments that criticized "multi-culturalism" and "diversity".

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SethGrossman (R) Jeff Van Drew (D) Other UndecidedStockton UniversityStockton University October 17–23, 2018 597 ± 4.0% 38% 55% 5%"Other candidate" with 5% 2%Stockton UniversityStockton University September 12–18, 2018 535 ± 4.2% 32% 55% 5%John Ordille (L), William Befner (I), Steven Fenichel (I), "Nobody", "Refused" each with 1%; Anthony Parisi Sanchez with 0%(0.4%) 8%

Poll source Date(s) administeredSamplesizeMargin oferrorGenericRepublican (R)Jeff Van Drew (D) Other UndecidedDCCC (D)DCCC (D) February 12–13, 2018 – –39%51% – –

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Republicancandidate Democraticcandidate Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D) November 8–10, 2017 565 ± 4.1% 39% 44% – 17%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 4, 2018

Results

By county County Jeff Van DrewDemocratic Seth Grossman Republican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Atlantic 52,917 56.4% 39,118 41.7% 1,833 1.9% 13,799 14.7% 93,868 Burlington (part) 325 37.1% 540 61.6% 12 1.4% -215 -24.5% 877 Camden (part) 1,894 45.2% 2,201 52.6% 93 2.2% -307 -7.4% 4,188 Cape May 21,595 52.6% 19,003 46.3% 473 1.1% 2,592 6.3% 41,071 Cumberland 23,914 59.0% 15,782 38.9% 825 2.0% 8,132 20.1% 40,521 Gloucester (part) 17,932 50.4% 16,982 47.7% 662 1.8% 950 2.7% 35,576 Ocean (part) 7,103 38.4% 11,140 60.3% 238 1.3% -4,037 -21.9% 18,481 Salem 11,005 46.3% 12,100 50.9% 676 2.8% -1,095 -4.6% 23,781Totals136,68552.9%116,86645.2%4,8121.9%19,8197.0%258,363

District 3

The 3rd district is based in South Jersey and includes parts of Burlington and Ocean counties. Incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+2.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tom MacArthur, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary This was one of 80 Republican-held House districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates Nominee Andy Kim, former United States National Security Council official and former diplomat

Withdrawn Rich Dennison, attorney, funeral home director, and nominee for the state senate (LD-7) in 2007 (died on January 22, 2018) Katherine Hartman, attorney

Declined John G. Ducey, mayor of Brick Pamela Rosen Lampitt, state assembly member Betsy Ryan, president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association Troy Singleton, state senator

Results

General election Endorsements

Debate + 2018 New Jersey's 3rd congressional district debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Tom MacArthur Andy Kim1 Oct. 31, 2018 NJ PBS David CruzYouTube

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TomMacArthur (R) AndyKim (D) LarryBerlinski (C) UndecidedNYT Upshot/Siena CollegeNYT Upshot/Siena College October 21–25, 2018 508 ± 4.8% 45% 44% 2% 9%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 18–22, 2018 363 ± 5.2% 46% 48% 2% 5%Stockton UniversityStockton University October 3–10, 2018 546 ± 4.2% 47% 45% 7%Other candidate with 6%, Nobody with 1% 1%National Research Inc. (R-MacArthur) October 2–4, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 44% 40% – 16%NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeNYT Upshot/Siena College September 22–26, 2018 499 ± 4.8% 39% 49% – 12%DCCC (D)DCCC (D) September 4–5, 2018 523 ± 4.3% 45% 47% – 8%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University August 7–9, 2018 300 LV ± 5.7% 44% 45% 3% 9% 401 RV ± 4.9% 41% 40% 3% 15%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) June 11–21, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 42% 42% – 16%GQR Research (D-Kim)GQR Research (D-Kim) May 29 – June 3, 2018 550 ± 4.2% 48% 44% – 8%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D) April 16–17, 2018 669 ± 3.8% 42% 41% – 17%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D) February 14–15, 2018 336 ± 5.4% 47% 43% – 10%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 2, 2018

Results The close result required a recount, with Kim ultimately winning by 3,973 votes.

By county County Andy KimDemocratic Tom MacArthurRepublican Larry BerlinskiConstitution Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Burlington (part) 105,909 59.4% 71,279 39.9% 1,258 0.7% 34,360 19.5% 178,446 Ocean (part) 47,564 37.0% 78,221 60.9% 2,644 2.1% −30,657 −23.9% 128,429Totals153,47350.0%149,50048.7%3,9021.3%3,9731.3%206,875

District 4

The 4th district is based in Central Jersey and includes parts of Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties. Incumbent Republican Chris Smith, who had represented the district since 1981, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+8.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Chris Smith, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joshua Welle, Navy veteran

Eliminated in primary Jim Keady, former Asbury Park Council member and candidate for the 3rd district in 2016

Withdrawn Mike Keeling, music teacher

Declined Kelly Stewart Maer, party operative

Endorsements

Results

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2018 Inside ElectionsNovember 5, 2018 Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018RCPNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018538November 7, 2018CNNOctober 31, 2018PoliticoNovember 2, 2018

Results Smith's showing of 55% was his lowest since 1982, when he defeated Joseph P. Merlino 53% to 47%.

By county