1988 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey|
|
|
|
|
Majority party
|
Minority party
|
|
|
|
|
| Party
|
Democratic
|
Republican
|
| Last election
|
8
|
6
|
| Seats won
|
8
|
6
|
| Seat change
|
|
|
| Popular vote
|
1,336,324
|
1,411,850
|
| Percentage
|
48.1%
|
50.9%
|
| Swing
|
 4.1
|
 3.9
|
|
District results
|
Democratic
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
90–100%
|
Republican
60–70%
70–80%
| |
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 Jersey[1]
|
| Party
|
Votes
|
Percentage
|
Candidates
|
Seats
|
+/–
|
|
|
Democratic
|
1,336,325
|
48.14%
|
14
|
8
|
|
|
|
Republican
|
1,411,840
|
50.86%
|
13
|
6
|
|
|
|
Libertarian
|
9,215
|
0.33%
|
7
|
0
|
|
|
|
Socialist Workers
|
5,573
|
0.20%
|
2
|
0
|
|
|
|
Communist
|
442
|
0.02%
|
1
|
0
|
|
|
|
Independents
|
12,709
|
0.46%
|
8
|
0
|
|
| Totals
|
2,776,104
|
100.00%
|
44
|
14
|
|
District 1
1988 New Jersey's 1st congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
Incumbent Democrat James Florio won. The district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
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.[3] 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."[3] Cristaudo also criticized Florio for failing to deliver on a promised veterans hospital, which was built in Ocean County instead.[3]
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."[3]
Results
District 2
1988 New Jersey's 2nd congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
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
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."[3]
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.[3]
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."[3]
Results
District 3
1988 New Jersey's 3rd congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
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
Withdrew
- Richard McAleer, car leasing agent and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1982[5]
Declined
Results
Special primary results
Republican primary
Candidates
Withdrew
Results
Special primary results
General election
Candidates
Results
Special election results
District 4
1988 New Jersey's 4th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
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
1988 New Jersey's 5th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
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
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.[12]
Results
District 6
1988 New Jersey's 6th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
Incumbent Democrat Bernard J. Dwyer won. This district included parts of Middlesex, Monmouth and Union counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
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[10] (Republican)
Results
District 7
1988 New Jersey's 7th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
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
- James Hely, lawyer and member of the Westfield Town Council[10] (Democratic)
- Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973 (Republican)
Results
District 8
1988 New Jersey's 8th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
Incumbent Robert Roe won without opposition. This district included parts of Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Results
District 9
1988 New Jersey's 9th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
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
- Richard J. Kemly (Poor Man's)
- Roger J. Lane, mayor of New Milford[13] (Republican)
- Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983 (Democratic)
Results
District 10
1988 New Jersey's 10th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
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.[12]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declined
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Michael Webb, U.S. Department of Education program coordinator[12]
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[12] (Republican)
Withdrew
- Anthony Imperiale, former state senator, assemblyman and member of the Newark City Council (People's Choice)
Results
District 11
1988 New Jersey's 11th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
Incumbent Republican Dean Gallo won. This district consisted of parts of Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- John C. Shaw, supervisor in the office of the Essex County Clerk[12] (Democratic)
- Dean Gallo, incumbent Representative since 1985 (Republican)
- Jasper Gould (Populist)
Results
District 12
1988 New Jersey's 12th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
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[12]
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[12] (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.[12]
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.[12] 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.[12]
Results
District 13
1988 New Jersey's 13th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton won. This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Michael DiMarco
- James B. Smith, former mayor of Mount Holly and nominee for this district in 1984[14]
Results
General election
Candidates
- Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative since 1984 (Republican)
- James B. Smith, former mayor of Mount Holly and nominee for this district in 1984[14] (Democratic)
Campaign
Saxton ran on his support for preserving Social Security benefits and providing home healthcare for the elderly, along with Ronald Reagan's economic program, which he credited for "the economic growth and low unemployment... that we have enjoyed for the last few years."[3]
Smith said he supported trade restrictions on foreign imports to protect American jobs and industry; Saxton supported Reagan's decision to veto such restrictions.[3] Smith also called for the restoration of "impact aid" for public school districts serving families of military personnel,[3] a large number of which lived in this district.
Results
District 14
1988 New Jersey's 14th congressional district election|
|
|
|
|
Incumbent Democrat Frank J. Guarini won. This district included parts Hudson County.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Edward A. Allen, pastor of Philemon Missionary Baptist Church in Newark[8]
- Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979
- Robert P. Haney Jr., Jersey City attorney and barkeeper[8]
Endorsements
Frank J. Guarini (incumbent)
- Local officials
- Dennis P. Collins, mayor of Bayonne
- Nicholas J. Cicco, mayor of Guttenberg
- Anthony R. Cucci, mayor of Jersey City
- Anthony De Fino, mayor of West New York
- Leo Gattoni, mayor of North Bergen
- Henry J. Hill, mayor of Kearny
- Stanley Iacono, mayor of Weehawken
- Bob Menendez, mayor of Union City
- Patrick Pasculli, mayor of Hoboken
- Frank E. Rodgers, mayor of Harrison
Robert P. Haney Jr.
- Federal executive branch officials
- Local officials
- Organizations
- Indian-American Political Action Club
- Indo-American Association of Hudson County Inc.
- Irish-American Civic Association
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- James V. McNally
- Louis Russo
Results
After the primary, Russo was replaced by Fred Theemling Jr. on the general election ballot.
General election
Candidates
- Peter Galbo (Independent)
- Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Democratic)
- John A. Jones ("All-Peoples Congress")
- John Rummel (Communist)
- Fred J. Theemling Jr., former Hudson County assistant prosecutor[15] (Republican)
- Christopher White (Libertarian)
Results
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Anderson, Donnald K. (April 20, 1989). "STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 8, 1988" (PDF). Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. p. 32. Retrieved June 23, 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 "Candidates: Office of House of Representatives -- Primary Election, June 7, 1988" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Sullivan, Joseph F.; Times, Special To the New York (October 12, 1988). "Aspiring Congressmen Tough Out Jersey Races". 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 "Votes Cast for the Office of United States House of Representatives: General Election, November 8, 1988" (PDF). Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ Service, States News (May 22, 1988). "3d-District Race Could Be Costly". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Wildstein, David (November 26, 2018). "How Frank Pallone got to Congress". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Joseph F. (June 5, 1988). "POLITICS; One Million Expected At the Polls In Primaries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Sullivan, Joseph F.; Times, Special To the New York (June 6, 1988). "Young Lawyer Opposing House Veteran in Jersey". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ "Special Elections to Fill a Vacancy: House of Representatives, November 8, 1988" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Sullivan, Joseph F.; Times, Special To the New York (October 29, 1988). "Jersey Focuses On Tight Race For Congress". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ Serrano, Ken. "Marlboro's corrupt past gives way to new era". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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.
- ^ a b Wildstein, David (June 5, 2024). "Incumbent loses in Wyckoff GOP split; Torricelli's '88 opponent returns". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Jim Smith, three-time Saxton rival, dies". Observer. November 3, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ Nieves, Evelyn (October 29, 1992). "A New House District Could Make History". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)