New Jersey's 7th congressional district

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"NJ-7" redirects here. NJ-7 may also refer to New Jersey Route 7.
New Jersey's 7th congressional district
New Jersey's 7th congressional district (2013).svg
District map as of 2013
Representative
  Tom Malinowski
D–Rocky Hill
Area595.03 sq mi (1,541.1 km2)
Distribution
  • 85.81% urban
  • 14.19% rural
Population (2019)734,239
Median household
income		$115,585[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVID+1[2]

New Jersey's 7th congressional district includes all of Hunterdon County, and parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties.

The district is represented by Democrat Tom Malinowski, who was first elected in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Leonard Lance. The district is one of the 10 most affluent congressional districts in the United States.[3]

The district from 2003 to 2013

Counties and municipalities in the district[]

For the 113th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2010 United States Census), the congressional district contains portions of six counties and 74 municipalities.[4]

Essex County:

Millburn (which includes the Short Hills neighborhood)

Hunterdon County (entire county):

Alexandria Township, Bethlehem Township, Bloomsbury, Califon, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington, Franklin Township, Frenchtown, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Holland Township, Kingwood Township, Lambertville, Lebanon Borough, Lebanon Township, Milford, Raritan Township, Readington Township, Stockton, Tewksbury Township, Union Township and West Amwell Township

Morris County:

Chester Borough, Chester Township, Dover, Long Hill Township, Mine Hill Township, Mount Arlington, Mount Olive Township, Netcong, Roxbury Township, Washington Township and Wharton

Somerset County:

Bedminster Township, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Branchburg Township, Bridgewater Township, Far Hills, Green Brook Township, Hillsborough Township, Millstone, Montgomery Township, North Plainfield, Peapack-Gladstone, Raritan, Rocky Hill, Somerville, Warren Township and Watchung

Union County:

Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Kenilworth, Mountainside, New Providence, Scotch Plains (part), Springfield, Summit, Union Township (part), Westfield and Winfield Township

Warren County:

Alpha, Franklin Township, Greenwich Township, Harmony Township, Lopatcong Township, Phillipsburg and Pohatcong Township

History[]

This was once a reliably Republican district, however in recent years, it has narrowly voted Democratic for House.

In the 2012 general election, Republican incumbent Leonard Lance held his seat against Democratic challenger Upendra J. Chivukula.[5] In the 2010 general election, Democratic challenger Ed Potosnak challenged Lance, but Lance defeated Potosnak by a margin of 59% to 41%. For the 2012 election, both Potosnak and former Edison Mayor Jun Choi announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination.[6][7] Choi dropped out of the race in December 2011 after redistricting left his Edison home outside the 7th District. Potosnak dropped out of the race in January 2012 to take a position as executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, leaving a momentarily empty field for the Democratic nomination.[8]

In 2008, Mike Ferguson (who had first been elected in 2000, replacing Bob Franks) did not seek another term. Linda Stender won the Democratic nomination unopposed, while Republican primary voters chose State Senator Leonard Lance in a field of eight candidates. In the general election, Lance defeated Assemblywoman Linda Stender by a margin of 25,833 votes.[9]

Effect of 2000 redistricting[]

New Jersey's 7th district and the 12th district were redistricted after the 2000 census by a bipartisan panel. By consensus of the panel, the Democratic and Republican parties agreed to trade areas in the two districts to make them safer for their respective incumbents. It is likely that this tradeoff, which made New Jersey's 7th less competitive for Democrats, had an effect on the outcome of 2006 election, which was decided by approximately 3,000 votes. Areas of the former 7th district such as Franklin Township that had historically voted reliably Democratic were moved into the adjacent 12th district in order to shore up Democratic incumbent Rush Holt, while reliably Republican Millburn was removed from the 7th, and instead split between the 10th and 11th districts. Additionally, heavily Democratic Plainfield was moved from the 7th to the already Democratic-leaning 6th district. Despite the redistricting, NJ-07 was still the most competitive House district in New Jersey, and was the only one considered to be in play in 2006 by political pundits.

Election of 2018[]

In the 2018 election, Tom Malinowski,[10] former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, was considered the front runner among the Democrats challenging Republican incumbent Leonard Lance.[11][12] Malinowski was endorsed by Westfield teacher/attorney Lisa Mandelblatt and attorney Scott Salmon when they withdrew from the race in February 2018.[13][14] Other candidates in the Democratic primary included lawyer Goutam Jois;[15] and social worker Peter Jacob, who was defeated by Lance in the 2016 election. Green Party of New Jersey member Diane Moxley also announced her intent to run for the seat.[16] Lindsay Brown, a product manager at the New York Post and a self-described progressive, ran in the Republican primary against Lance.[17] Berkeley Heights banking executive Linda Weber[18] and environmental advocate David Pringle[19] withdrew in March 2018.

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Malinowski campaign raised $528,000 while the incumbent Lance raised $237,000. Jois raised $189,000 and Jacob raised $29,000.[12][20]

Malinowski won the Democratic nomination in the June primary.[21]

2018 primary results[]

In the Democratic primary Malinowski prevailed with 26,059 votes and 66.8% of the vote. Jacob finished second with 7,467 votes and 19.1% of the vote.[22]

Lance won the Republican primary with 74.9%, and 24,856 votes.[22][23]

Election of 2020[]

Incumbent Tom Malinowski (D) defeated challenger Thomas Kean Jr. (R) in the general election for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District on November 3, 2020. The race was expected to be competitive, with New Jersey's 7th being one of 40 seats gained by Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections.

2020 primary results[]

Incumbent Tom Malinowski (D) ran in the Democratic party primary uncontested, winning 100% (80,334) of the vote. Challenger Thomas Kean Jr. (R) defeated Raafat Barsoom and Tom Phillips in the Republican party primary receiving 79.4% (45,395) of the vote.[24]

Election of 2022[]

2020 challenger Thomas Kean Jr. has announced he will seek the Republican nomination in 2022. Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration official Rik Mehta is also seeking the GOP House nomination in the 7th.  He was the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate against Cory Booker in 2020. Newcomer is also exploring a bid for Congress.[25]

Demographic shifts[]

The district has turned from a once reliable Republican district into a competitive district as it has become more ethnically mixed with Caucasians comprising, as of 2009, 79% of the district, African Americans 5.7%, Asians 11% and Latinos 10%. In addition, the district is home to a large group of foreign-born residents, totaling 131,000 or 20% of the population.[26] The district has the 5th highest median income in the nation.[27]

Recent election results[]

2004 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Ferguson (incumbent) 162,597 56.9% -1.1
Democratic Steve Brozak 119,081 41.7% +.8
Independent Thomas Abrams 2,153 .8% N/A
Independent Matthew Williams 2,046 .7% N/A
Majority 43,516 15.2%
Turnout 285,877
Republican hold Swing +1.0%
2006 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Ferguson (incumbent) 98,399 49.4% -7.5
Democratic Linda Stender 95,454 48.0% +6.3
Independent Thomas Abrams 3,176 1.6% +.8%
Libertarian Darren Young 2,046 1.0% N/A
Majority 2,945 1.5% -13.7
Turnout 199,075
Republican hold Swing +6.9%
2008 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance 142,092 50.8% +1.4
Democratic Linda Stender 116,255 41.6% -6.4
Independent Michael Hsing 15,826 5.7% N/A
Independent Dean Greco 3,008 1.1% N/A
Independent Thomas Abrams 2,408 .9% -.7
Majority 25,837 9.2% +7.7
Turnout 279,589
Republican hold Swing -3.9%
2010 New Jersey 7th District general election[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 104,642 59.4%
Democratic Ed Potosnak 71,486 40.6%
Majority 33,156 18.9%
Turnout 176,128
Republican hold Swing
2012 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 175,662 57.2%
Democratic Upendra Chivukula 123,057 40.0%
Independent Dennis Breen 4,518 1.5%
Libertarian Patrick McKnight 4,078 1.3%
Majority 52,605 17.1%
Turnout 307,315
Republican hold Swing
2014 New Jersey 7th District general election [29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 104,287 59.25%
Democratic Janice Kovach 68,232 38.77%
Libertarian Jim Gawron 3,478 1.98%
Majority 36,055 20.5%
Turnout 175,997
Republican hold Swing
2016 New Jersey 7th District general election [30][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 185,850 54.08%
Democratic Peter Jacob 148,188 43.12%
Libertarian Dan O'Neill 5,343 1.56%
Conservative Arthur T. Haussmann, Jr. 4,254 1.24%
Majority 37,662 10.96%
Turnout 343,635
Republican hold Swing
2018 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Malinowski 166,985 51.7
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 150,785 46.7
Green Diane Moxley 2,676 0.8
Independent Gregg Mele 2,296 0.7
Total votes 322,742 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican
2020 New Jersey 7th District general election[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Malinowski (incumbent) 219,629 50.6
Republican Tom Kean Jr. 214,318 49.4
Total votes 433,947 100.0
Democratic hold

Recent election results from presidential races[]

Year Office Results
2000 President Gore 54 - 43%
2004 President Bush 53 - 47%
2008 President Obama 51 - 48%
2012 President Romney 52.5 - 46.3%
2016 President Clinton 48.6 - 47.5%
2020 President Biden 54.2 - 44.3%

List of members representing the district[]

Member
(residence) 		Party Years Cong
ress 		Electoral history Counties/towns
District created March 4, 1873
IsaacWScudder.jpg
Isaac W. Scudder
(Jersey City) 		Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875 		43rd Elected in 1872.
Retired. 		1873–1893:
Hudson County
AugustusAlbertHardenbergh.jpg
Augustus Albert Hardenbergh
(Jersey City) 		Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1879 		44th
45th 		Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Retired.
Lewis A. Brigham
(Jersey City) 		Republican March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1881 		46th Elected in 1878.
Lost re-election.
AugustusAlbertHardenbergh.jpg
Augustus Albert Hardenbergh
(Jersey City) 		Democratic March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883 		47th Elected in 1880.
Retired.
William McAdooNJ.jpg
William McAdoo
(Jersey City) 		Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1891 		48th
49th
50th
51st 		Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Lost renomination.
Edward F. McDonald.jpeg
Edward F. McDonald
(Harrison) 		Democratic March 4, 1891 –
November 5, 1892 		52nd Elected in 1890.
Died.
Vacant November 5, 1892 –
March 3, 1893
George Bragg Fielder (New Jersey Congressman).jpg
George Bragg Fielder
(Jersey City) 		Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895 		53rd Elected in 1892.
Retired. 		1893–1895:
Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Kearney (including present-day East Newark)
Thomas McEwan, Jr. (New Jersey Congressman).jpg
Thomas McEwan Jr.
(Jersey City) 		Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1899 		54th
55th 		Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Retired. 		1895–1903:
Hudson County (except Bayonne)
WilliamDDaly.jpg
William Davis Daly
(Hoboken) 		Democratic March 4, 1899 –
July 31, 1900 		56th Elected in 1898.
Died.
Vacant July 31, 1900 –
December 3, 1900
Allan Langdon McDermott (New Jersey Congressman).jpg
Allan Langdon McDermott
(Jersey City) 		Democratic December 3, 1900 –
March 3, 1903 		56th
57th 		Elected to finish Daly's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Redistricted to the 10th district.
Richard W. Parker (New Jersey).jpg
Richard W. Parker
(Newark) 		Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1911 		58th
59th
60th
61st 		Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost re-election. 		1903–1913:
Northern Essex County (excluding Irvington, Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange, and parts of Newark)
EdwardWTownsend.jpg
Edward W. Townsend
(Montclair) 		Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913 		62nd Elected in 1910.
Redistricted to the 10th district.
Robert Gunn Bremner, New Jersey Congressman.jpg
Robert G. Bremner
(Totowa) 		Democratic March 4, 1913 –
February 5, 1914 		63rd Elected in 1912.
Died. 		1913–1933:
Southern Passaic County (Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Prospect Park, Totowa, Wayne, and West Paterson)
Vacant February 5, 1914 –
April 7, 1914
Dow H. Drukker.jpg
Dow H. Drukker
(Passaic) 		Republican April 7, 1914 –
March 3, 1919 		63rd
64th
65th 		Elected to finish Bremner's term.
Re-elected later in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Retired.
Amos H. Radcliffe (New Jersey Congressman).jpg
Amos H. Radcliffe
(Paterson) 		Republican March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1923 		66th
67th 		Elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Lost renomination.
George N. Seger (New Jersey Congressman).jpg
George N. Seger
(Passaic) 		Republican March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1933 		68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd 		Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the 8th district.
RandolphPerkins.jpg
Randolph Perkins
(Woodcliff Lake) 		Republican March 4, 1933 –
May 25, 1936 		73rd
74th 		Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Died. 		1933–1967:
Huntderon, Sussex, Warren, parts of Bergen and northern Passaic (Ringwood and West Miford)
Vacant May 25, 1936 –
January 3, 1937 		74th
J. Parnell Thomas.jpg
J. Parnell Thomas
(Allendale) 		Republican January 3, 1937 –
January 2, 1950 		74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st 		Elected in 1936
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Resigned upon being convicted of fraud.
Vacant January 2, 1950 –
February 6, 1950 		81st
William B. Widnall.jpg
William B. Widnall
(Hackensack) 		Republican February 6, 1950 –
December 31, 1974 		81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd 		Elected to finish Thomas's term.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Lost re-election and resigned early.
1967–1983:
Western Bergen County
Andrew Maguire.png
Andrew Maguire
(Ridgewood) 		Democratic January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981 		94th
95th
96th 		Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election.
Marge Roukema.jpg
Marge Roukema
(Ridgewood) 		Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1983 		97th Elected in 1980.
Redistricted to the 5th district.
Matthew J. Rinaldo.jpg
Matthew John Rinaldo
(Union Township) 		Republican January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993 		98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd 		Redistricted from the 12th district and Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1990.
Retired. 		1983–1985:
Parts of Mercer (Princeton and Princeton Borough), Middlesex (Cranbury, Jamesburg, Monroe, North Brunswick, South Brunswick), Monmouth (Freehold, Freehold Borough, Marlboro, and Millstone), eastern Somerset, and Union
1985–1993:
Parts of Essex (Millburn), Middlesex (Dunellen and Middlesex Borough), Somerset, and Union
Congressman Bob Franks.jpg
Bob Franks
(Summit) 		Republican January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2001 		103rd
104th
105th
106th 		Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Retired to run for U.S. senator. 		1993–2003:
Parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union
Repmikeaferguson.jpg
Mike Ferguson
(Warren Township) 		Republican January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2009 		107th
108th
109th
110th 		Elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Retired.
2003–2013:
NJ07congressdistrict.gif
Parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union
Leonard Lance official congressional photo (cropped).jpg
Leonard Lance
(Clinton Township) 		Republican January 3, 2009 –
January 3, 2019 		111th
112th
113th
114th
115th 		Elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Lost re-election.
2013–present:
Hunterdon and parts of Essex (Millburn), Morris, Somerset, Union and Warren
Tom Malinowski, official portrait, 116th congress.jpg
Tom Malinowski
(Rocky Hill)[33] 		Democratic January 3, 2019 –
present 		116th
117th 		Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.

References[]

  1. ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "Partisan Voting Index – Districts of the 115th Congress" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. April 7, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  3. ^ "After the Midterms, One Party Controls All the Wealthiest Congressional Districts". finance.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  4. ^ Plan Components Report Archived December 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed November 6, 2016.
  5. ^ Salvador Rizzo, The Star-Ledger. "N.J. 7th Congressional District winner: Leonard Lance". NJ.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ Max Pizarro (May 5, 2011). "Choi announces 7th District Congressional candidacy | Observer". Politickernj.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  8. ^ Max Pizarro (January 16, 2012). "Potosnak ends CD 7 run to take job as ED of League of Conservation Voters | Observer". Politickernj.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  9. ^ "Local and National Election Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com". CNN. Archived from the original on November 7, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  10. ^ The Hill, Ben Kamisar, October 2, 2017, Obama State Department official to run for House in NJ Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved October 2, 2017
  11. ^ "CD7 Flashpoint: Malinowski Beats Weber in Union - Insider NJ". Insider NJ. March 11, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Ballotpedia, New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2018 Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 7, 2018
  13. ^ Salant, Jonathan D. (February 8, 2018). "Democrat drops run against Republican Leonard Lance". nj. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "Democrats are now lining up behind this candidate to take on Republican Leonard Lance". NJ.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  15. ^ "jois2018.com - Domain Name For Sale". DAN.COM. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  16. ^ Moxley For US Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine (website)
  17. ^ ABC News, March 29, 2018, House races offer Democrats best shot at claiming a chamber in Congress Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 17, 2018
  18. ^ Jonathan D. Salant, May 14, 2017, NJ.com, Meet the newest challenger to N.J.'s Leonard Lance, Retrieved May 14, 2017
  19. ^ "Pringle Exits the CD7 Contest - Insider NJ". March 26, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  20. ^ Politico "House Q4 FEC Reports," Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 7, 2018
  21. ^ Salant, Jonathan D. (June 6, 2018). "After primary, N.J. Dems to lead charge to win House in Trump midterm". nj. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b New York Times, Primary results, accessed, June 6, 2018 Archived June 7, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah. "New Jersey Primary Election Results". Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  24. ^ "New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  25. ^ "Stefanik endorses Kean for Congress". New Jersey Globe. July 28, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  26. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ^ "This Party Represents the Wealthiest US Congressional Districts, Study Finds". July 9, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  28. ^ "Candidates for House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Division of Elections. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  29. ^ "Official results" (PDF). www.state.nj.us. 2014.
  30. ^ "Candidates for House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Division of Elections. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  31. ^ "New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  32. ^ "Official General Election Results: U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  33. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601. "Tom Malinowski (New Jersey (NJ)), 117th Congress Profile". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved January 24, 2021.

Bibliography[]

Coordinates: 40°36′N 74°30′W / 40.60°N 74.50°W / 40.60; -74.50

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