2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey


The 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, to elect the 12 U.S. representatives from the state of New Jersey, one from each of the state's 12 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2014 United States midterm elections for other federal and state offices, including U.S. House elections in other states and a U.S. Senate election in New Jersey.
As of 2024, this is the last time New Jersey's delegation to the United States House of Representatives did not have a Democratic majority.

Overview

By district

Results of the 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey by district:

District 1

The 1st district is based in South Jersey and includes most of Camden County along with parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County. Democrat Rob Andrews represented the district from 1990 until his resignation on February 18, 2014. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called for a special election on November 4 to fill the remaining months of Andrews' term.
Radio personality and former NFL linebacker Garry Cobb and perennial candidate Lee Lucas ran in the Republican primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic state senator Donald Norcross ran to succeed Andrews. The brother of businessman and political boss George Norcross, Donald was the "heavy favorite" to win the seat. Shortly after declaring his candidacy, he had been endorsed by every Democratic member of New Jersey's congressional delegation as well as New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, New Jersey General Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, Camden Mayor Dana Redd and former governor Jim Florio. Matthew Harris, who had been running against Andrews, had announced that he would continue his campaign against Norcross, but quickly withdrew, citing the "cascade of endorsements" for Norcross. Logan Township Mayor Frank Minor and Marine Corps veteran Frank Broomell also ran in the Democratic primary.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Donald Norcross, state senator
    Eliminated in primary
  • Frank Broomell, United States Marine Corps veteran
  • Frank Minor, mayor of Logan Township
    Withdrew
  • Matthew Harris
    Declined
  • Rob Andrews, former U.S. representative

    Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Garry Cobb, radio personality and ex-NFL player
    Eliminated in primary
  • Claire Gustafson
  • Lee Lucas, former congressional and General Assembly candidate
  • Gerard McManus
Note: None of the Republican candidates filed for the special election to fill Congressman Rob Andrews' unexpired term.

Results

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

By county

District 2

The 2nd district is based in South Jersey and is the biggest congressional district in the state. It includes all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem Counties and parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Ocean counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Bill Hughes, former federal prosecutor; son of former congressman William J. Hughes
    Eliminated in primary
  • David Cole, former White House aide and Barack Obama campaign staffer
    Declined
  • Lou Greenwald, Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly
  • Jeff Van Drew, state senator
  • Jim Whelan, state senator

    Results

General election

Endorsements

Polling

Predictions

Results

By county

District 3

The 3rd district is based in South Jersey and includes parts of Burlington and Ocean counties. Republican Jon Runyan, who had represented the district since 2011, retired, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Endorsements

Polling

Predictions

Results

By county

District 4

The fourth district is represented by Republican congressman Chris Smith. Ruben Scolavino, a criminal defense attorney and a former candidate for Monmouth County Sheriff, was endorsed by the Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean County Democratic committees.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Chris Smith, incumbent U.S. representative

    Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ruben Scolavino, criminal defense attorney and former candidate for Monmouth County Sheriff

    Results

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

By county

District 5

incumbent Scott Garrett won re-election in the fifth district in the 2012 House of Representatives elections. Redistricting made the district more competitive for members of the Democratic Party.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Scott Garrett, incumbent U.S. representative

    Results

Democratic primary

Roy Cho, a Democrat who has worked for the governor's office and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, ran against the incumbent Garrett.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Roy Cho, attorney, former congressional aide, and former gubernatorial aide
    Eliminated in primary
  • Diane Sare, LaRouche movement activist, candidate for this seat in 2012, independent candidate for governor in 2013
    Declined
  • Robert M. Gordon, state senator
  • Tracy Silna Zur, Bergen County Freeholder

    Results

General election

Campaign

In the general election, the two largest newspapers in New Jersey both endorsed Cho. The Star-Ledger called Garrett "a retrograde culture warrior who wants to eliminate a woman's right to choose" and criticized his support for the 2013 budget sequester, which hurt New Jersey; by contrast, Cho is "a centrist who actually wants to govern." The Bergen Record criticized Garrett as "a dogmatic conservative who believes ideology trumps compromise" and agreed with Cho's call for a federal role in improving the region's transportation infrastructure.

Endorsements

Polling

Predictions

Results

By county

District 6

The sixth district, represented by Democratic congressman Frank Pallone, was considered a long-shot pick up opportunity for Republicans, but only if Pallone retired. Old Bridge attorney Anthony Wilkinson ran in the Republican primary.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Frank Pallone, incumbent U.S. representative

    Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Anthony Wilkinson, attorney
    Withdrawn
  • Anna Little, former mayor of Highlands and nominee for this seat in 2010 & 2012

    Results

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

By county

District 7

In the seventh district, incumbent Republican congressman Leonard Lance faced a primary challenge from perennial challenger David Larsen.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Leonard Lance, incumbent U.S. representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • David Larsen, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2010 & 2012

    Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

By county

District 8

The eighth district is represented by Democratic congressman Albio Sires.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Albio Sires, incumbent U.S. representative

    Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jude-Anthony Tiscornia, attorney and State Assembly candidate in 2013

    Results

General election

Endorsements

Predictions

Results

By county

District 9

The ninth district is represented by Democratic congressman Bill Pascrell.