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]
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.
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]
Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton won. This district, which had previously been numbered as the thirteenth district, included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.
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.
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.
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]
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]
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
Robert P. Haney Jr., Jersey City lawyer and candidate for this district in 1988[11]
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]
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]
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