1984 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey|
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Majority party
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Minority party
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| Party
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Democratic
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Republican
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| Last election
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9
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5
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| Seats won
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8
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6
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| Seat change
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1
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1
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| Popular vote
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1,508,320
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1,470,836
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| Percentage
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50.4%
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49.2%
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| Swing
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5.8pp
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6.5pp
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District results
County results
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Democratic
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
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Republican
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
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The 1984 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 6, 1984, 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.
Overview
| 1984 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey[1]
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| Party
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Votes
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Percentage
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Candidates
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Seats
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+/–
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Democratic
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1,508,320
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50.42%
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14
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8
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1
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|
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Republican
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1,470,836
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49.16%
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14
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6
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2
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|
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Libertarian
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6,524
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0.22%
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5
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0
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Socialist Labor
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524
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0.02%
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1
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0
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Independents
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5,454
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0.18%
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4
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0
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| Totals
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2,991,658
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100.00%
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38
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14
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Redistricting
New Jersey congressional districts before (left) and after (right) the
Karcher v. Daggett decision and court-ordered redistricting
Following the 1980 United States census, the New Jersey Legislature had conducted decennial redistricting. The resulting map, which was considered heavily favorable to the Democratic Party and approved by Democratic governor Brendan Byrne, was used for the 1982 elections. However, Republicans challenged the map under the "equal representation" clause of Article One, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. In Karcher v. Daggett, 462 U.S. 725 (1983), the Supreme Court of the United States (in an opinion written by former New Jersey judge William J. Brennan Jr.) ruled that the 1982 map violated the equal representation clause because its districts were not drawn to achieve as close to population equality as practicable. The Court ruled that all deviations, no matter how minimal, must be justified by a legitimate government interest. New Jersey was given a deadline of February 3, 1984 to draw a new U.S. Supreme Court-approved map for the 1984 House elections.[2]
Efforts to redraw the map pitted Governor Thomas Kean, a Republican, against the Democratic legislative majority. The initial replacement map, which passed the Assembly on January 6 and had a population variance of 0.06 percent, was advocated by Newark assemblyman Willie B. Brown as protecting the black-majority tenth district, while Republican counterproposals reduced the population variance further at the expense of the state's lone majority-minority district. Brown cited the Court's position that preserving minority voting strength "was a legitimate justification for including population deviations in redistricting plans."[2]
However, Kean vetoed the legislature's map, arguing that it was designed to preserve Democratic chances in the upcoming election, and no compromise was reached ahead of the February 3 deadline. As a result, a three-judge federal court panel (John Joseph Gibbons, Clarkson Sherman Fisher and Stanley Brotman) considered five proposals, including the vetoed legislative map. The panel selected a map proposed by four of the five incumbent Republican U.S. representatives, citing its low population differences and compact districts.[3] Only twenty-five people separated the most and least populous districts, and the majority-black tenth district was preserved.[3] Kean said the result was not "an ideal solution" and called for a bipartisan or nonpartisan commission for future redistricting,[3] which was eventually established by constitutional amendment in November 1995.
The most significant political change on the map in 1984 was in the eleventh district, represented by Democratic incumbent Joseph Minish since 1963. The new map removed several strongly Democratic urban areas in Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties and added suburban and rural areas in Morris, Sussex, and Warren, favoring Republicans. As a result, Minish was expected to draw a significant challenge in the 1984 elections.[3]
District 1
1984 New Jersey's 1st congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat James Florio won. The district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Fred A. Busch, chemical sales representative and former member of the Camden County Republican Committee[4]
Results
General election
Candidates
- Fred A. Busch, chemical sales representative and former member of the Camden County Republican Committee[4] (Republican)
- James Florio, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Republican)
- Jerry Zeldin (Libertarian)
Results
District 2
1984 New Jersey's 2nd congressional district election|
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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
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 3
1984 New Jersey's 3rd congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat James J. Howard won.
This district included parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Lawrence D. Erickson (Citizens-Socialist)
- James J. Howard, incumbent Representative since 1965 (Democratic)
- Brian T. Kennedy, former state senator from Sea Girt (Republican)
- Frank Krushinski Jr. (Christian American)
Results
District 4
1984 New Jersey's 4th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Republican Chris Smith won. This district, in Central Jersey, consisted of parts of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 5
1984 New Jersey's 5th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Marge Roukema won. This district included parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 6
1984 New Jersey's 6th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Bernard J. Dwyer won. This district included parts of Middlesex, Monmouth and Union counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Dennis Adams, retired car dealer[4]
Results
General election
Candidates
- Dennis Adams, retired car dealer[4] (Republican)
- Bernard J. Dwyer, incumbent Representative from Edison since 1981 (Democratic)
- Stephen Friedlander (Libertarian)
Results
District 7
1984 New Jersey's 7th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Matt Rinaldo won. This district included parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- John F. Feeley, data processing consultant[4] (Democratic)
- Paul Nelson (Libertarian)
- Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973 (Republican)
Results
District 8
1984 New Jersey's 8th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Robert Roe won. This district included parts of Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- William R. Cleveland, Clifton advertising executive[4]
- Marguerite A. Page, Newark schoolteacher[4]
Withdrew
Endorsements
Results
General election
Candidates
- Daniel A. Maiullo Jr. (Libertarian)
- Marguerite A. Page, Newark schoolteacher[4] (Republican)
- Robert A. Roe, incumbent Representative from Wayne since 1969 (Democratic)
Results
District 9
1984 New Jersey's 9th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Bob Torricelli won. This district consisted of parts of Bergen and Hudson counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Neil Romano, former executive director of the Monmouth County Republican Party[4] (Republican)
- Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983 (Democratic)
Results
District 10
1984 New Jersey's 10th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Peter W. Rodino won. The district included parts of Essex and Union counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Howard E. Berkeley (Republican)
- Peter W. Rodino, incumbent Representative since 1949 (Democratic)
Results
District 11
1984 New Jersey's 11th congressional district election|
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Republican Dean Gallo defeated Democratic incumbent Joseph Minish. This district, which had been significantly revised as the result of Karcher v. Daggett, consisted of parts of Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties.
The Republican Party would continue to hold this seat until 2018.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Declined
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 12
1984 New Jersey's 12th congressional district election|
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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
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Peter Bearse, economist and member of the Princeton Township Council[10] (Democratic)
- Jim Courter, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Republican)
- Joseph R. Kerr III (Libertarian)
Results
District 13
1984 New Jersey's 13th congressional district election|
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This seat had been vacant since incumbent Republican Edwin Forsythe died on March 29, 1984. Republican Jim Saxton won the open seat, as well as the special election to complete Forsythe's term.
This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Special primary results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Special primary results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 14
1984 New Jersey's 14th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Frank J. Guarini won. This district included parts Hudson County.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Democratic)
- Edward T. Magee (Republican)
- Herbert Shaw, perennial candidate (Politicians are Crooks)
Results
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Guthrie, Benjamin J. (May 1, 1985). "STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 6, 1984" (PDF). Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. p. 36. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Joseph F. (January 6, 1984). "JERSEY LEGISLATURE APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Sullivan, Joseph F. (February 18, 1984). "NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS FOR JERSEY APPROVED". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Hanley, Robert (June 6, 1984). "MAYOR LEADS IN JERSEY IN CONGRESSIONAL RACE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad "Candidates for the Office of House of Representatives -- Primary Election, June 5, 1984" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Votes Cast for the Office of United States House of Representatives - General Election held November 6, 1984" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ "2 DEMOCRATS WITH MUCH IN COMMON VIE IN NEW JERSEY (Published 1984)". May 31, 1984. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ Sullivan, Joseph F.; Times, Special To the New York (October 29, 1984). "THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN; JERSEY RARITY: CONGRESSIONAL RACES LEAD THE BALLOT". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Wildstein, David (January 4, 2018). "The story of Rodney's long and painful path to Congress". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Bretnall, Katherine H. (January 25, 1984). "It's Budget Time Again". Princeton Hook & Ladder Company. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ Butterfield, Fox; Times, Special To the New York (February 27, 1984). "NOT ALL NAMES FAMILIAR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ Sullivan, Joseph F.; Times, Special To the New York (November 5, 1988). "Jersey House Contests Seen As Groundwork for Future". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2025.