1992 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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8
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6
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| Seats won
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7
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6
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| Seat change
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 1
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| Popular vote
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1,354,915
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1,503,145
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| Percentage
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45.3%
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50.2%
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| Swing
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0.53pp
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 0.34pp
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District results
County results
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Democratic
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
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Republican
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
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The 1992 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 3, 1992, 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 thirteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1990 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Due to legislative redistricting, New Jersey lost one seat in the House. Four incumbent representatives, three Democrats and one Republican, chose to retire; each was succeeded by a member of their own party.
Overview
| 1992 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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1,354,915
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45.29%
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13
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7
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1
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Republican
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1,503,145
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50.24%
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13
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6
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Libertarian
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27,378
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0.92%
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13
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0
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America First Populist
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10,561
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0.35%
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11
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0
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Conservative
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3,358
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0.11%
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2
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0
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Socialist Workers
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3,324
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0.11%
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4
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0
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Communist
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1,525
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0.05%
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1
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0
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Independents
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87,533
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2.93%
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32
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0
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| Totals
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2,991,739
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100.00%
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76
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13
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1
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Background
New Jersey congressional districts before (left) and after (right) the 1990 census decennial redistricting
The elections followed the 1991 state elections, in which Republicans gained veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the New Jersey legislature as the result of backlash against Governor Jim Florio's legislative priorities, particularly a large tax increase. Several Republican legislators, including both newly elected and veteran lawmakers, sought seats in Congress in the 1992 election.[2] Due to their large veto-proof majorities, the Republican Party controlled the redistricting process for congressional elections.
Following the 1990 United States census, New Jersey undertook decennial redistricting, resulting in the loss of one seat. To account for the reduction in apportionment, the third and sixth districts on the northern Jersey Shore were combined; Bernard J. Dwyer retired rather than run against fellow incumbent Frank Pallone. In addition to Dwyer, three representatives of populous North Jersey districts (Robert Roe, Frank Guarini, and Matt Rinaldo) chose to retire rather than run for re-election in their newly configured seats.[2]
The deadline for candidates to file petitions for the primary election was April 9. Primary elections were held on June 2.[3]
District 1
1992 New Jersey's 1st congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Rob Andrews won. The district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Rob Andrews, incumbent Representative from Bellmawr since 1990 (Democratic)
- Kenneth L. Lowndes (Pro-Life Independent Conservative)
- Nicholas Pastuch (America First Populist)
- James E. Smith (Pro-Life Pro-Family Veteran)
- Lee Solomon, assemblyman from Haddon Heights (Republican)
- Jerry Zeldin (Libertarian)
Results
District 2
1992 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 Burlington and Gloucester counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Roger Bacon (Libertarian)
- William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Democratic)
- Andrea Lippi (Freedom Equality Prosperity)
- Frank LoBiondo, assemblyman from Vineland (Republican)
- Joseph Ponczek (Anti-Tax)
Campaign
Despite Hughes's popularity in the district, LoBiondo waged an aggressive challenge, criticizing Hughes for taking full advantage of Congressional mailing and automobile privileges.[6] LoBiondo, a leading sponsor of legislation to repeal the state's strict ban on "assault-type firearms," received strong support from the National Rifle Association and Coalition of New Jersey Sportsmen.[6]
Endorsements
Results
District 3
1992 New Jersey's 3rd congressional district election|
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Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton won. This district, which had previously been numbered as the thirteenth district, included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Howard Scott Pearlman
- Timothy E. Ryan
Results
General election
Candidates
- Frank Burke (Basic Reformed Government)
- Martin T. King (Independent)
- William Donald McMahon ("Donald of Moorestown")
- Michael S. Permuko (NJ Conservative)
- Joseph A. Plonski (America First Populist)
- Helen L. Radder (Libertarian)
- James Reilly (Independent)
- Timothy E. Ryan (Democratic)
- Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative from Mount Holly since 1984 (Republican)
- Anthony J. Verderese (Independent)
Results
District 4
1992 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, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Michael DiMarco
- Brian M. Hughes, social worker and son of former governor and Supreme Court chief justice Richard J. Hughes[3]
Results
General election
Candidates
- Benjamin Grindlinger (Libertarian)
- Brian M. Hughes, social worker and son of former governor and Supreme Court chief justice Richard J. Hughes[3] (Democratic)
- Agnes A. James (NJ Conservative)
- Joseph J. Notarangelo (America First Populist)
- Patrick C. Pasculli (Independent)
- Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican)
Campaign
Hughes sought to capitalize on Smith's reputation as a national anti-abortion leader.[6]
Results
District 5
1992 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 and all of Warren County.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Frank R. Lucas
- John Scully
Results
General election
Candidates
- Stuart Bacha (America First Populist)
- George Lahood (Equality, Brotherhood, Justice)
- William J. Leonard (Independent)
- Michael V. Pierone (Libertarian)
- Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981 (Republican)
Results
District 6
1992 New Jersey's 6th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone won; fellow incumbent Bernard J. Dwyer declined to run. This district included parts of Middlesex and Monmouth counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declined
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Simone Berg (Socialist Workers)
- Peter Cerrato (Independent for Freedom)
- Charles H. Dickson (Capitalist)
- Joe Kyrillos, state senator from Middletown[3] (Republican)
- Kenneth Matto (America First Populist)
- Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988 (Democratic)
- George P. Predham (You Gotta Believe)
- Joseph Spalletta (The People's Candidate)
- Bill Stewart (Libertarian)
Endorsements
Frank Pallone (D)
- Newspaper editorial boards
Results
District 7
1992 New Jersey's 7th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Matt Rinaldo withdrew from the race after winning renomination, and Republican assemblyman Bob Franks won the open seat. This district included parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Rinaldo withdrew after the primary and was replaced by Bob Franks.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican replacement convention
Following Rinaldo's withdrawal in September, Republicans met in a special convention to choose a replacement nominee. Assemblyman Bob Franks defeated Somerset County freeholder Michael Pappas.[7]
Candidates
General election
Candidates
- Bill Campbell (No Nonsense Government)
- Kevin Michael Criss (People's Congressional Preference)
- Bob Franks, chair of the New Jersey Republican Party and assemblyman from Summit (Republican)
- Eugene J. Gillespie Jr. (Independent)
- John Kucek (America First Populist)
- Spencer Layman (Libertarian)
- Leonard R. Sendelsky, Woodbridge real estate developer[7] (Democratic)
Withdrew
Campaign
Rinaldo withdrew from the race just ahead of the September general election filing deadline.[8]
Endorsements
Leonard Sendelsky (D)
- Newspaper editorial boards
Results
District 8
1992 New Jersey's 8th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Robert Roe, the dean of the congressional delegation and a two-time candidate for governor, surprised observers by announcing his retirement.[3] This district included parts of Essex and Passaic counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declined
Campaign
In the Essex County portion of the district, the campaign was connected to an ongoing feud between county party chair Raymond Durkin and county executive Thomas D'Alessio; McEnroe, a late entry to the race, was allied with Durkin.[9]
Endorsements
Claire Lagermasini
- Organizations
- Individuals
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Joseph Bubba, state senator from Wayne (Republican)
- Thomas Caslander (Independents for Change)
- Rob Dominianni (Restore Public Trust)
- Gregory E. Dzula (America First Populist)
- Neal A. Gorfinkle (New Jersey Independents)
- Herb Klein, incumbent Representative since 1993 (Democratic)
- Gloria Kolodziej, former mayor of Clifton[6] (Independent for Change)
- Carmine O. Pelossie (Independent People's Network)
- Jason Redrup (Socialist Workers)
- Louis M. Stefanelli (Libertarian)
Campaign
Entering the general election, Bubba was considered the favorite over Klein, who had not held elected office since 1978.[6]
Endorsements
Herb Klein (D)
- Newspaper editorial boards
Results
District 9
1992 New Jersey's 9th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Bob Torricelli won.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Matt Guice
- Nany Harrigan
- Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Joseph D'Alessio (America First Populist)
- Shel Haas (An Independent Voice)
- Daniel M. Karlan (Libertarian)
- Gary Novosielski (New Jersey Independents)
- Patrick J. Roma, assemblyman from Palisades Park (Republican)
- Peter J. Russo, former assemblyman from Lyndhurst and candidate for this district in 1990 (Clean Up Congress)
- Herbert Shaw (Politicians are Crooks)
- Bob Torricelli, incumbent Representative from Englewood since 1983 (Democratic)
Campaign
During the campaign, Roma attacked Torricelli for his implication in the House banking scandal, in which he had personally written 27 overdraft checks, as well as his abuse of Congressional mailing privileges.[6]
Results
District 10
1992 New Jersey's 10th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne won. The district included parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Roberto Caraballo (Libertarian)
- William T. Leonard (Socialist Workers)
- Alfred D. Palermo (Republican)
- Donald M. Payne, incumbent Representative from Newark since 1989 (Democratic)
Results
District 11
1992 New Jersey's 11th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Republican Dean Gallo won. This district consisted of all of Morris County and parts of Essex, Passaic, Somerset, and Sussex counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Mary Frueholz
- Ona Spiridellis
Results
General election
Candidates
- Barry J. Fitzpatrick (Time for Change)
- Dean Gallo, incumbent Representative since 1985 (Republican)
- Richard E. Hrazanek (America First Populist)
- David C. Karlen (Independent)
- Richard S. Roth (Libertarian)
- Howard Safier (Independent)
- Ona Spiridellis (Democratic)
Results
District 12
1992 New Jersey's 12th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Republican Dick Zimmer won. This district, based in Central Jersey, included all of Hunterdon County and parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Frank G. Abate (Democratic)
- Edward F. Eggert (Independent)
- Carl J. Mayer, consumer advocate (Independent)
- Compton C. Pakenham (America First Populist)
- Carl Peters (Libertarian)
- Dick Zimmer, incumbent Representative since 1991 (Republican)
Results
District 13
1992 New Jersey's 13th congressional district election|
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Incumbent Democrat Frank J. Guarini retired; Bob Menendez won the open seat. This district, previously numbered as the fourteenth district, included parts of Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union counties and was redrawn specifically to provide representation for the area's large Hispanic population.[2] Menendez became the first Hispanic elected to represent New Jersey in Congress.[10]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declined
Campaign
Even before Guarini announced his retirement, Menendez was seen as the natural heir to this district.[10] Nevertheless, Robert Haney, who had challenged Guarini in 1988, ran a competitive campaign with support from numerous Jersey City politicians and reformist critics of the declining Hudson County political machine.[11]
Endorsements
Robert P. Haney Jr.
- Local officials
- Party officials
Bob Menendez
- State legislators
- Local officials
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Fred J. Theemling Jr., former Hudson County assistant prosecutor and candidate for this district in 1988 and 1990[10]
Results
General election
Candidates
- Joseph D. Bonacci (Stop Tax Increases)
- Jane Harris (Socialist Workers)
- Len Flynn (Libertarian)
- Bob Menendez, state senator and mayor of Union City (Democratic)
- John E. Rummel (Communist)
- Donald K. Stoveken (America First Populist)
- Fred J. Theemling Jr., former Hudson County assistant prosecutor and candidate for this district in 1988 and 1990[10] (Republican)
Campaign
Menendez, seeking to become the first Hispanic to represent New Jersey in Congress, waged an aggressive and anxious campaign for the general election. Despite the district's firm Democratic lean, he pointed to the fact that a disproportionate number of the Hispanic residents were not registered to vote and began aggressively reaching out to blue-collar and middle-class voters.[10] He claimed to campaign eighteen hours per day to reach voters in areas where his name was less recognized.[10]
Although Menendez was well-connected within Hudson County and Cuban American political circles, he rejected the label of "insider" and embraced the Bill Clinton presidential campaign, hoping to deliver his Cuban constituents, who were usually Republican, to Clinton in November. Both candidates endorsed a bill by Bob Torricelli to strengthen the United States embargo on Cuba.[10]
Theemling, who had received around 31 percent of the vote in his prior campaigns, ran an active campaign against Menendez, arguing that voters would hold the New Jersey legislature responsible for the state's economic decline and anti-incumbency would redound to his benefit. He favored urban enterprise zones, corporate tax credits for job creation and penalties for layoffs, and President Bush's proposal for school choice.[10] Menendez also proposed tax incentives for new business in areas of high unemployment and improved federal job training programs.[10]
By the end of the election, Menendez estimated that he would spend $200,000 on his campaign.[10]
Endorsements
Bob Menendez (D)
- Newspaper editorial boards
Results
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Anderson, Donnald K. (May 31, 1993). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 3, 1992" (PDF). Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. p. 47.
- ^ a b c "Opinion | For Congress From New Jersey". The New York Times. October 27, 1992. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l King, Wayne (April 6, 1992). "Congressional Redistricting to Change Face of Delegation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 16, 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 "Official Results: Candidates for the Office of U.S. House of Representatives -- Primary Election, June 2, 1992" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Candidates for the Office of House of Representatives: General Election, November 3, 1992" (PDF). Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f King, Wayne (November 4, 1992). "THE 1992 ELECTIONS: NEW JERSEY -- U.S. HOUSE RACES; All 10 Incumbents Win Re-election, and Democrats Keep Majority in Delegation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "The Bob Franks Story". Observer. April 11, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ Gray, Jerry (October 17, 1992). "'Safe' House Seat Becomes Mystery". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c Wildstein, David (February 9, 2021). "Harry McEnroe, 8-term Essex assemblyman, dies at 90". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nieves, Evelyn (October 29, 1992). "A New House District Could Make History". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c Gray, Jerry (May 28, 1992). "In Hudson, 2 Democrats In Spotlight". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
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