1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

Last updated

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey
Flag of New Jersey.svg
  1996 November 3, 1998 (1998-11-03) 2000  

All 13 New Jersey seats to the United States House of Representatives
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election67
Seats won76
Seat changeIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1
Popular vote902,374858,367
Percentage49.7%47.3%
SwingIncrease2.svg1.82ppDecrease2.svg2.27pp

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey.svg
1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey by county.svg

The 1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 3, 1998, 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.

Contents

Democrats won the popular vote for the first time since 1986.

Overview

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey
PartyVotesPercentageCandidatesSeats+/–
Democratic 902,37449.70%137Increase2.svg1
Republican 858,36747.28%136Decrease2.svg1
Independents54,7483.02%410Steady2.svg
Totals1,815,489100.00%6713

District 1

Incumbent Democrat Rob Andrews won. The district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rob Andrews (incumbent) 15,083 100.00%
Total votes15,083 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ronald L. Richards 4,423 100.00%
Total votes4,423

General election

Candidates

  • Rob Andrews, incumbent Representative from Haddon Heights since 1990 (Democratic)
  • James E. Barber (Independent)
  • Ronald L. Richards, member of the Voorhees Township Committee [2] (Republican)
  • Ed Forchion, marijuana legalization activist (Independent)
  • Joseph W. Stockman (Independent)
  • David E. West Jr. (Independent)

Campaign

Given this district's strong Democratic lean, the general election was a foregone conclusion in favor of the incumbent Andrews, who easily outraised his opponent. Richards touted his success in cutting local taxes and criticized Andrews, who had spent much of 1997 running for governor, for missing votes in Congress. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Rob Andrews (incumbent) 90,279 73.19% Decrease2.svg 2.93
Republican Ronald L. Richards27,85522.58%Increase2.svg 1.56
Independent David E. West Jr.1,6841.37%N/A
Independent Joseph W. Stockman1,3241.07%N/A
Independent Ed Forchion 1,2571.02%N/A
Independent James E. Barber9430.76%N/A
Total votes123,342 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 2

Incumbent Republican Frank A. LoBiondo won. This district, the largest in South Jersey, included all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties and parts of Burlington and Gloucester.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank LoBiondo (incumbent) 16,384 100.00%
Total votes16,384 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Derek Hunsberger 5,102 100.00%
Total votes5,102 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Glenn Campbell (Independent)
  • Derek Hunsberger, Rowan University administrator [2] (Democratic)
  • Frank LoBiondo, incumbent Representative since 1995 (Republican)
  • Mary A. Whittam (Independent)

Candidate

Hunsberger, who was only 28, ran without the support of Democratic leadership and described himself as an "angry voter candidate" opposed to the two-party system. He refused to raise money and instead focused on direct voter outreach. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Frank LoBiondo (incumbent) 93,248 65.89% Increase2.svg 5.58
Democratic Derek Hunsberger43,56330.78%Decrease2.svg 7.23
Independent Glenn Campbell2,9552.09%N/A
Independent Mary A. Whittam1,7481.24%N/A
Total votes141,514 100.00%
Republican hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 3

Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton won. This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Saxton (incumbent) 12,254 100.00%
Total votes12,254 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Ken Feduniewicz, candidate for this district in 1996 (Independent)
  • Steven J. Polansky, attorney and former member of the Cherry Hill Board of Education [2] (Democratic)
  • James Pircher (Independent)
  • Janice Presser, candidate for this district in 1996 (Independent)
  • Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative from Mount Holly since 1984 (Republican)
  • Norman E. Wahner, candidate for the 1st district in 1996 (Independent)

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Saxton (incumbent) 97,508 62.01% Decrease2.svg 2.20
Democratic Steven J. Polansky55,24835.14%Increase2.svg 1.88
Independent Janice Presser2,5271.61%Increase2.svg 0.37
Independent Norman E. Wahner1,0630.68%N/A
Independent James Pircher6080.39%N/A
Independent Ken Feduniewicz2850.18%Decrease2.svg 0.09
Total votes157,239 100.00%
Republican hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 4

Incumbent Republican Chris Smith won. This district, in Central Jersey, consisted of parts of Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Chris Smith (incumbent) 20,062 100.00%
Total votes20,062 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Paul Rizzo
  • Lewis duPont Smith
  • Larry Schneider, software development executive [2]
  • Paul D. Teel

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Larry Schneider 6,238 78.33%
Democratic Paul Rizzo1,09913.80%
Democratic Lewis duPont Smith3163.97%
Democratic Paul D. Teel3113.91%
Total votes7,964 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Nick Mellis (Independent)
  • Keith Quarles, candidate for the sixth district in 1996 (Independent)
  • Larry Schneider, software development executive [2] (Democratic)
  • Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican)
  • Morgan Strong, candidate for this district in 1996 (Independent)

Campaign

Schneider criticized Smith for using abortion to derail United States funding for the United Nations; Smith's position on abortion had been a consistent target for his Democratic opponents. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Chris Smith (incumbent) 92,991 62.17% Decrease2.svg 1.45
Democratic Larry Schneider52,28134.95%Increase2.svg 1.24
Independent Keith Quarles1,7531.17%N/A
Independent Morgan Strong1,4981.00%Increase2.svg 0.12
Independent Nick Mellis1,0540.70%N/A
Total votes149,577 100.00%
Republican hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 5

Incumbent Marge Roukema won after facing a strong primary challenge from assemblyman Scott Garrett. This district included parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties and all of Warren County.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Marge Roukema (incumbent) 16,215 52.80%
Republican Scott Garrett 14,49847.20%
Total votes30,713 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike Schneider 5,605 100.00%
Total votes5,605 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Helen Hamilton, candidate for this district in 1994 and 1996 (Independent)
  • Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981 (Republican)
  • Mike Schneider, former television anchorman [2] (Democratic)
  • William Weightman (Independent)
  • Thomas W. Wright (Independent)

Campaign

Schneider, who had never run for public office, ran his campaign on a limited budget, did not have consultants or media advisors, and refused to accept money from political action committees. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Marge Roukema (incumbent) 106,304 63.72% Decrease2.svg 7.57
Democratic Mike Schneider55,48733.26%Increase2.svg 8.51
Independent Thomas W. Wright2,3951.44%N/A
Independent William Weightman1,6280.96%N/A
Independent Helen Hamilton1,0040.60%Decrease2.svg 0.06
Total votes166,818 100.00%
Republican hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 6

Incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone won. This district included parts of Middlesex and Monmouth counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Frank Pallone (incumbent) 24,475 100.00%
Total votes24,475

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Ferguson 4,905 100.00%
Total votes4,905 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Carl J. Mayer, who finished second in the Democratic primary in the neighboring twelfth district for the second consecutive election, went to court to win the right to run as an independent against Pallone. Although Pallone had supported Rush Holt, his primary opponent, Mayer claimed he had no personal animosity towards Pallone. His campaign was self-financed. [2]

Mike Ferguson, a political science professor, ran a well-financed challenge with funding from the national and state Republican committees and the New Conservative Leadership Fund; he was able to run television commercials and full-page newspaper advertisements attacking Pallone. Although Pallone would typically be heavily favored on the basis of the district's Democratic lean, Karen Demasters of The New York Times reported it to be a toss-up in the final week of campaigning, given two well-funded challengers. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Frank Pallone Jr. (incumbent) 78,102 57.00% Decrease2.svg 4.25
Republican Mike Ferguson 55,18040.27%Increase2.svg 4.20
Green Carl J. Mayer1,2910.94%N/A
Independent Steve Nagle1,2620.92%N/A
Independent Leonard P. Marshall1,1770.86%N/A
Total votes137,012 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 7

Incumbent Bob Franks won. This district included parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Bob Franks, incumbent Representative from Summit since 1993

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bob Franks (incumbent) 8,955 100.00%
Total votes8,955 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Maryanne Connelly 7,151 100.00%
Total votes7,151 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Maryanne Connelly, mayor of Fanwood (Democratic)
  • Bob Franks, incumbent Representative from Summit since 1993 (Republican)
  • Richard C. Martin (Independent)
  • Darren Young (Independent)

Campaign

Franks, who had been handily elected to three terms in office, campaigned on the Republican record in Congress, including balancing the budget and welfare reform. [2]

Connelly criticized Franks for neglecting his duties to his district, arguing that he was focused on running for governor in 2001 rather than his job in Washington. She proposed low-interest loans for middle-income families to cover the costs of college and opposed school vouchers, which she argued would undermine the public school system. Although the district was Republican-leaning, Connelly expected to gain support from opponents of the ongoing Clinton impeachment proceedings, who believed that Republicans were persecuting the president. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Bob Franks (incumbent) 77,751 52.52% Decrease2.svg 2.87
Democratic Maryanne Connelly 65,77844.43%Increase2.svg 2.60
Independent Richard C. Martin3,0072.03%N/A
Independent Darren Young1,5081.02%N/A
Total votes148,042 100.00%
Republican hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 8

Incumbent Democrat Bill Pascrell won. This district included parts of Essex and Passaic counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Pascrell (incumbent) 10,167 100.00%
Total votes10,167 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Matthew J. Kirnan, attorney and mayor of Verona [2]

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matthew J. Kirnan 6,871 100.00%
Total votes6,871 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Jose L. Aravena (Independent)
  • Thomas Paine Caslander (Independent)
  • Bernard George, Conservative Party nominee for this district in 1994 (Independent)
  • Matthew J. Kirnan, attorney and mayor of Verona [2] (Republican)
  • Jeffrey Levine, candidate for this district in 1996 (Independent)
  • Bill Pascrell, incumbent Representative from Paterson since 1997 (Democratic)
  • Stephen Spinosa (Independent)

Campaign

After three consecutive competitive elections, the Republican Party initially expected to challenge Bill Pascrell for re-election. Their nominee, Matthew Kirnan, was the mayor of Verona and an ally of James Treffinger, who led the Essex County ticket. He also benefited from running with popular sheriff Edwin Englehardt in Passaic County. Both Governor Christine Todd Whitman and former governor Thomas Kean campaigned in the district for Kirnan, who emphasized education reform in his campaign, including support for competitive standardized testing and merit pay for teachers. [2]

However, the urban cores of the district in Paterson and Passaic had turned out for Bill Clinton in 1996 and Jim McGreevey in 1997, and Pascrell appeared to have late momentum. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Bill Pascrell Jr. (incumbent) 81,068 62.08% Increase2.svg10.88
Republican Matthew J. Kirnan46,28935.45%Decrease2.svg12.51
Independent Jeffrey Levine8040.62%Decrease2.svg 0.22
Independent Stephen Spinosa7620.58%N/A
Independent Bernard George7220.55%N/A
Independent Thomas Paine Caslander6250.48%N/A
Independent Jose L. Aravena3180.24%N/A
Total votes130,588 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 9

Incumbent Democrat Steve Rothman won.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Steve Rothman (incumbent) 14,364 100.00%
Total votes14,364 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Steve Lonegan 7,162 100.00%
Total votes7,162 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Kenneth Ebel (Independent)
  • Michael W. Koontz (Independent)
  • Steve Lonegan, mayor of Bogota (Republican)
  • Michael Perrone Jr. (Independent)
  • Steve Rothman, incumbent Representative from Fair Lawn since 1997 (Democratic)

Campaign

Steve Lonegan, who had built a political profile by fighting the Federal Aviation Administration over aircraft noise, received full support from the Republican National Committee and national Republican leadership, including 1996 presidential nominee Bob Dole. Republicans considered Rothman vulnerable, particularly in an off-year election without Bill Clinton and Bob Torricelli leading the Democratic ticket. [2]

In contrast to 1996, when Rothman handily defeated Republican nominee Kathleen Donovan, Lonegan was less widely known and more conservative. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Steve Rothman (incumbent) 91,330 64.56% Increase2.svg 9.47
Republican Steve Lonegan 47,81733.80%Decrease2.svg 8.71
Independent Michael Perrone Jr.1,3490.95%N/A
Independent Michael W. Koontz6860.48%N/A
Independent Kenneth Ebel2770.20%N/A
Total votes141,459 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 10

Incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne won. The district included parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Donald M. Payne (incumbent) 24,747 91.65%
Democratic Dennis Speed2,2548.35%
Total votes27,001 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • William Stanley Wnuck, computer scientist [2]

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William Stanley Wnuck 1,431 100.00%
Total votes1,431 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Donald M. Payne, incumbent Representative from Newark since 1989 (Democratic)
  • Richard J. Pezzullo (Independent)
  • Maurice Williams (Independent)
  • William Stanley Wnuck, computer scientist [2] (Republican)

Campaign

Wnuck, who came from a family of perennial candidates and was given little chance of defeating Payne, focused his campaign on cutting taxes using the federal budget surplus and opposition to urban revitalization projects in downtown Newark, which he had argued did not help middle-class workers. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Donald M. Payne (incumbent) 82,244 83.50% Decrease2.svg 0.66
Republican William Stanley Wnuck10,67810.84%Decrease2.svg 3.78
Independent Richard J. Pezzullo3,2933.34%N/A
Independent Maurice Williams2,2792.31%N/A
Total votes98,494 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 11

Incumbent Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen won. This district consisted of all of Morris County and parts of Essex, Passaic, Somerset, and Sussex counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen (incumbent) 26,174 100.00%
Total votes26,174 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John P. Scollo 4,346 66.65%
Democratic James D. Kelly Jr.90013.80%
Democratic Frank C. Marmo85313.08%
Democratic John Mele4226.47%
Total votes6,521 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Stephen A. Bauer (Independent)
  • Rodney Frelinghuysen, incumbent Representative since 1995 (Republican)
  • Agnes A. James (Independent)
  • Austin S. Lett, candidate for this district in 1996 (Independent)
  • John P. Scollo, attorney for Prudential Insurance [2] (Democratic)

Campaign

Scollo, who acknowledged he faced an uphill battle to defeat Frelinghuysen, criticized the campaign finance system which required enormous amounts of money to defeat an incumbent. He proposed a tax plan which allowed families to have $35,000 in untaxed income to enable them to "start fighting the battle of the bills by being able to save again." [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen (incumbent) 100,910 67.74% Increase2.svg 1.47
Democratic John P. Scollo44,16029.95%Decrease2.svg 0.91
Independent Austin S. Lett1,7371.17%Increase2.svg 0.14
Independent Agnes A. James1,4090.95%N/A
Independent Stephen A. Bauer7550.05%N/A
Total votes148,971 100.00%
Republican hold Swing {{{swing}}}

District 12

1998 New Jersey's 12th congressional district election
Flag of New Jersey.svg
  1996 November 3, 1998 2000  
  Rush Holt, official 109th Congress photo.jpg Mike Pappas.jpg
Nominee Rush Holt Jr. Mike Pappas
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote92,52887,221
Percentage50.1%47.2%

U.S. Representative before election

Mike Pappas
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Rush Holt Jr.
Democratic

Incumbent Republican Mike Pappas ran for a second term in office but was defeated by Rush Holt Jr. Pappas's campaign sank after he sang "Twinkle, Twinkle, Kenneth Starr" on the floor of the House during the Clinton impeachment proceedings. Holt used the clip of Pappas singing in widely aired advertisements.

This district, based in Central Jersey, included all of Hunterdon County and parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Pappas 16,277 100.00%
Total votes16,277 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rush Holt 10,177 63.58%
Democratic Carl J. Mayer5,83036.42%
Total votes16,007 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Holt, who emerged from the contentious Democratic primary with low name recognition, was given a slight chance of winning. Although Republican leadership strove to portray this as a safe district, this was the only New Jersey district in which an incumbent Republican was targeted by the Democratic National Committee. Pappas, who was much more conservative than his predecessor Dick Zimmer, also won by a much smaller margin in 1996 than had been typical for Zimmer. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Rush Holt Jr. 92,528 50.12% Increase2.svg 2.77
Republican Mike Pappas (incumbent)87,22147.25%Decrease2.svg 3.95
Independent Joseph A. Siano2,1251.15%N/A
Independent Madelyn R. Hoffman1,4090.76%N/A
Independent Beverly Kidder7490.41%N/A
Independent Mary Jo Christian5780.31%N/A
Total votes184,610 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing {{{swing}}}

District 13

Incumbent Democrat Bob Menendez won. This district included parts of Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Bob Menendez, incumbent Representative from Union City since 1993

Results

1998 Democratic primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bob Menendez (incumbent) 25,067 100.00%
Total votes25,067 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Theresa de Leon, attorney and chief financial officer for the Legal Aid Society of New York [2]
  • Carlos E. Munoz

Results

1998 Republican primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Theresa de Leon 2,748 68.99%
Republican Carlos E. Munoz1,23531.01%
Total votes3,983 100.00%

General election

Candidates

  • Susan Anmuth (Independent)
  • Theresa de Leon, attorney and chief financial officer for the Legal Aid Society of New York [2] (Republican)
  • Dick Hester, Republican candidate for this district in 1996 (Independent)
  • Bob Menendez, incumbent Representative from Union City since 1993 (Democratic)
  • Richard G. Rivera (Independent)

Campaign

De Leon, a self-identified "progressive conservative", criticized Menendez for his ambition, arguing that he would seek to run for U.S. Senate in 2000 and neglect his duties to the district. [2]

Results

1998 U.S. House election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Bob Menendez (incumbent) 70,306 80.06% Increase2.svg 1.23
Republican Theresa de Leon14,61516.64%Decrease2.svg 0.69
Independent Dick Hester1,2761.45%N/A
Independent Richard G. Rivera8720.99%N/A
Independent Susan Anmuth7520.86%N/A
Total votes87,823 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "Official List: Primary Election Returns for the Office of U.S. House of Representatives for Election Held June 2, 1998" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. June 16, 1998. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Demasters, Karen (November 1, 1998). "ELECTION '98; Who's Running for Congress or, in Some Cases, Walking". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Official List: Candidate Returns for House of Representatives for November 1998 General Election" (PDF). December 1, 1998. Retrieved June 12, 2025.