1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

The 1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 2, 1982, 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 fourteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1980 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.

1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →
All 14 New Jersey seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 8 7 Seats won 9 5 Seat change 1 2 Popular vote 1,206,416 915,472 Percentage 56.2% 42.7% Swing 8.2pp 7.2pp

Overview

1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Candidates	Seats	+/–
	Democratic	1,206,416	56.21%	14	9	1
	Republican	915,472	42.66%	14	5	2
	Libertarian	15,413	0.72%	14	0
	Citizens	1,740	0.08%	2	0
	Constitution	651	0.03%	1	0
	Socialist	436	0.02%	1	0
	Socialist Labor	327	0.02%	1	0
	Independents	5,635	0.26%	7	0
Totals		2,146,090	100.00%	54	14

Background

1973–82

1983–84

New Jersey congressional districts before (left) and after (right) the 1980 census decennial redistricting

Following the 1980 United States census, the New Jersey Legislature had conducted decennial redistricting. The resulting map, which was considered heavily favorable to the Democratic Party and approved by Democratic governor Brendan Byrne just before he left office, was used for the 1982 elections. Although the seven Republican incumbents challenged the map in court (and would eventually succeed when the map was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States in Karcher v. Daggett), the Democratic map was in effect for the 1982 elections.^[2][3]

The Republicans' lawsuit claimed the new map included several configurations which were "'outrageously designed expressly for political purposes.''^[3] The new districts were dramatically less compact than their predecessors and more favorable to the Democratic Party,^[3] with two open districts favoring the Democrats, two districts pitting Republican incumbents against each other, and one district pitting a first-term Republican against a veteran member of Democratic Party leadership.

The hometowns of two Republican incumbents were combined in each of the fifth (Jim Courter of Hackettstown and Marge Roukema of Ridgewood) and twelfth districts (Millicent Fenwick of Bernardsville and Matt Rinaldo of Union) in an effort to create primary infighting. However, the potential primary challenges were avoided when Fenwick ran for the United States Senate and Rinaldo ran for the open seventh district, allowing Courter to run for the now-vacant twelfth district and avoid a competitive primary against Roukema.

Separately, Old Bridge, the hometown of first-term representative Chris Smith, was relocated to the third district, which was represented by longtime Democratic incumbent James J. Howard and was made considerably more Democratic. The new fourth district, which Smith had won against incumbent Frank Thompson in an upset in 1980 after Thompson was indicted on bribery charges, was dramatically more Democratic than its already-Democratic predecessor. Rather than challenge Howard, Smith opted to run for re-election in his own district.

District 1

See also: New Jersey's 1st congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 1st congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee James Florio John A. Dramesi Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 110,570 39,501 Percentage 73.3% 26.2%

U.S. Representative before election James Florio Democratic Elected U.S. Representative James Florio Democratic

Incumbent Democrat James Florio won. The district included Gloucester County and parts of Camden County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• James Florio, incumbent Representative since 1975

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James Florio (incumbent)	32,016	100.00%
Total votes			32,016	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• John A. Dramesi, retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former prisoner of war
• Scott L. Sibert

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John A. Dramesi	8,359	63.90%
	Republican	Scott L. Sibert	4,722	36.10%
Total votes			13,081	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• John A. Dramesi, retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former prisoner of war (Republican)
• James Florio, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Republican)
• Patrick J. McCann (Socialist Labor)
• Jerry Zeldin (Libertarian)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James Florio (incumbent)	110,570	73.28%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	John A. Dramesi	39,501	26.18%
	Libertarian	Jerry Zeldin	493	0.33%
	Socialist Labor	Patrick J. McCann	327	0.22%
Total votes			150,891	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 2

See also: New Jersey's 2nd congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 2nd congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee William J. Hughes John Mahoney Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 102,826 47,069 Percentage 68.0% 31.1%

U.S. Representative before election William J. Hughes Democratic Elected U.S. Representative William J. Hughes Democratic

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 Ocean counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William J. Hughes (incumbent)	15,360	100.00%
Total votes			15,360	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• John J. Mahoney

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John J. Mahoney	24,856	100.00%
Total votes			24,856	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• John J. Mahoney (Republican)
• William J. Hughes, incumbent Representative since 1975 (Democratic)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J. Hughes (incumbent)	102,826	68.04%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	John J. Mahoney	47,069	31.14%
	Libertarian	Bruce Powers	1,233	0.82%
Total votes			151,128	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 3

1982 New Jersey's 3rd congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee James J. Howard Marie Sheehan Muhler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 104,055 60,515 Percentage 62.3% 36.2%

U.S. Representative before election James J. Howard Democratic Elected U.S. Representative James J. Howard Democratic

See also: New Jersey's 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat James J. Howard won.

This district included parts of Monmouth, Middlesex, and Ocean counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• James J. Howard, incumbent Representative since 1965

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James J. Howard (incumbent)	18,628	100.00%
Total votes			18,628	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Marie Sheehan Muhler, assemblywoman from Marlboro and nominee for this district in 1980
• I. Richard Feingold

Declined

• Chris Smith, incumbent Representative from Old Bridge since 1981 (ran in fourth district)

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Marie Sheehan Muhler	20,990	87.61%
	Republican	I. Richard Feingold	2,969	12.39%
Total votes			23,959	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Lawrence D. Erickson (Socialist)
• Lee A. Gesner Jr. (Libertarian)
• Joseph B. Hawley (Independent)
• James J. Howard, incumbent Representative since 1965 (Democratic)
• John Kinnevy III (Citizens)
• Marie Sheehan Muhler, assemblywoman from Marlboro and nominee for this district in 1980 (Republican)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James J. Howard (incumbent)	104,055	62.31%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	Marie Sheehan Muhler	60,515	36.24%
	Citizens	John Kinnevy III	785	0.47%
	Libertarian	Lee A. Gesner Jr.	701	0.42%
	Independent	Joseph B. Hawley	504	0.30%
	Socialist	Lawrence D. Erickson	436	0.26%
Total votes			166,996	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 4

See also: New Jersey's 4th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 4th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Chris Smith Joseph P. Merlino Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 85,660 75,658 Percentage 52.7% 46.5%

U.S. Representative before election Chris Smith Republican Elected U.S. Representative Chris Smith Republican

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

Republican primary

Candidates

• Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris Smith (incumbent)	15,295	100.00%
Total votes			15,295	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Joseph P. Merlino, former president of the New Jersey Senate and candidate for governor in 1981^[6]
• Craig W. Yates, Edgewater Park industrialist and brother of Charles B. Yates^[6][7]

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph P. Merlino	19,453	58.05%
	Democratic	Craig W. Yates	14,058	41.95%
Total votes			33,511	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Eugene Allan Creech (World Federalist)
• Bill Harris (Libertarian)
• Joseph P. Merlino, former president of the New Jersey Senate and candidate for governor in 1981^[6] (Democratic)
• Paul B. Rizzo (Independent)
• Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Chris Smith (incumbent)	85,660	52.68%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	Joseph P. Merlino	75,658	46.53%
	Libertarian	Bill Harris	662	0.41%
	Independent	Paul B. Rizzo	374	0.23%
	Independent	Eugene Allan Creech	241	0.15%
Total votes			162,595	100.00%
Turnout			132,360	45.35%
	Republican hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 5

See also: New Jersey's 5th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 5th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Marge Roukema Fritz Cammerzell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 104,695 53,659 Percentage 65.3% 33.5%

U.S. Representative before election Marge Roukema Republican Elected U.S. Representative Marge Roukema Republican

Incumbent Marge Roukema won. This district included parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties.

Background

The 5th district was redrawn to pit Republican incumbents Jim Courter and Marge Roukema against each other. However, Courter opted to run in the 12th district, which had been vacated by Millicent Fenwick and Matt Rinaldo.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981
• John Philip Scollo

Declined

• Jim Courter, incumbent Representative from Hackettstown since 1979 (ran in 12th district)

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Marge Roukema (incumbent)	29,377	81.75%
	Republican	John P. Scollo	6,559	18.25%
Total votes			35,936	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Fritz Cammerzell
• Ray Rollinson

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Fritz Cammerzell	7,516	53.20%
	Democratic	Ray Rollinson	6,611	47.80%
Total votes			14,127	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Fritz Cammerzell (Democratic)
• Marge Roukema, incumbent Representative from Ridgewood since 1981 (Republican)
• William J. Zelko Jr. (Libertarian)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Marge Roukema (incumbent)	104,695	65.29%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	Fritz Cammerzell	53,659	33.46%
	Libertarian	William J. Zelko Jr.	2,004	1.25%
Total votes			160,358	100.00%
Turnout			134,220	46.32%
	Republican hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 6

See also: New Jersey's 6th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 6th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Bernard J. Dwyer Bertram Buckler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 100,419 46,095 Percentage 68.1% 31.3%

U.S. Representative before election Bernard J. Dwyer Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Bernard J. Dwyer Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Bernard J. Dwyer won. This district included parts of Middlesex and Union counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bernard J. Dwyer, incumbent Representative from Edison since 1981

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bernard J. Dwyer (incumbent)	29,644	100.00%
Total votes			29,644	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bertram L. Buckler

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bertram L. Buckler	8,568	100.00%
Total votes			8,568	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Bernard Buckler (Republican)
• Bernard J. Dwyer, incumbent Representative from Edison since 1981 (Democratic)
• Charles M. Hart (Libertarian)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bernard J. Dwyer (incumbent)	100,419	68.11%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	Bertram Buckler	46,095	31.26%
	Libertarian	Charles M. Hart	920	0.62%
Total votes			147,434	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 7

See also: New Jersey's 7th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 7th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Matt Rinaldo Adam K. Levin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 91,837 70,978 Percentage 56.0% 43.3%

U.S. Representative before election Matt Rinaldo Republican Elected U.S. Representative Matt Rinaldo Republican

Incumbent Matt Rinaldo won. This district included parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, and Union counties.

Background

The new "fishhook" design of the district connected disparate communities in Central Jersey including Elizabeth, Princeton and Marlboro. Adam K. Levin, the former New Jersey Director of Consumer Affairs and son of wealthy real estate developer and investor Philip J. Levin, had opposed Rinaldo in 1974 and lost by a large margin. To secure a winnable district in 1982, Levin donated enormous sums of money to Democratic candidates for the New Jersey legislature in 1981.^[8]

Although the new district did not have an incumbent, because Rinaldo's hometown of Union had been relocated to the 12th district, Rinaldo chose to run for re-election in the 7th, which included most of Union County, against Levin.^[8]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Matt Rinaldo (incumbent)	21,698	100.00%
Total votes			21,698	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Adam K. Levin, former New Jersey Director of Consumer Affairs and son of Philip J. Levin

Withdrew

• Barbara Boggs Sigmund, Mercer County Freeholder and daughter of Hale Boggs and Lindy Boggs^[9] (ran for U.S. Senate)

Campaign

Boggs Sigmund dropped out of the race just before the filing deadline, choosing instead to run in the crowded Democratic primary for United States Senate. She publicly stated that she had been pressured to switch races by a number of county leaders and Democratic incumbents Robert Roe, James Howard and Bill Hughes.^[10]

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Adam K. Levin	21,014	100.00%
Total votes			21,014	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Adam K. Levin, former New Jersey Director of Consumer Affairs and son of Philip J. Levin (Democratic)
• Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973 (Republican)
• Donald B. Siano (Libertarian)

Campaign

Rinaldo hired Roger Stone to serve as his campaign strategist.^[8]

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Matt Rinaldo (incumbent)	91,837	55.96%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	Adam K. Levin	70,978	43.25%
	Libertarian	Donald B. Siano	1,294	0.79%
Total votes			164,109	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

Aftermath

Despite winning the new district, Rinaldo did not relocate from Union Township and kept both his home and district office there.^[8] Union Township was restored to the district in 1984, following the Supreme Court decision in Karcher v. Daggett.

District 8

See also: New Jersey's 8th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 8th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Robert A. Roe Marguerite Page Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 118,793 69,973 Percentage 62.7% 36.9%

U.S. Representative before election Robert A. Roe Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Robert A. Roe Democratic

Incumbent Robert Roe won. This district included parts of Bergen, Morris, and Passaic counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Robert A. Roe, incumbent Representative from Wayne since 1969

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert A. Roe (incumbent)	18,202	100.00%
Total votes			18,202	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Norm Robertson, Passaic County Freeholder

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Norman M. Robertson	14,970	100.00%
Total votes			14,970	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Sidney J. Pope (Libertarian)
• Norm Robertson, Passaic County Freeholder (Republican)
• Robert A. Roe, incumbent Representative from Wayne since 1969 (Democratic)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert A. Roe (incumbent)	89,980	70.69%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	Norman M. Robertson	36,317	28.53%
	Libertarian	Sidney J. Pope	1,000	0.79%
Total votes			127,297	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 9

See also: New Jersey's 9th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 9th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Bob Torricelli Harold C. Hollenbeck Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 99,090 86,022 Percentage 53.0% 46.0%

U.S. Representative before election Harold C. Hollenbeck Republican Elected U.S. Representative Bob Torricelli Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Bob Torricelli won. This district consisted of parts of Bergen County.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Emil Bernard
• Harold Hollenbeck, incumbent Representative from East Rutherford since 1977

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Harold C. Hollenbeck (incumbent)	20,160	89.65%
	Republican	Emil Bernard	2,328	10.35%
Total votes			22,488	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Jacqueline Stovall
• Bob Torricelli, former aide to governor Brendan Byrne and advisor to the Jimmy Carter 1980 presidential campaign

Withdrew

• Stephen M. Bunda

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Torricelli	18,612	76.73%
	Democratic	Jacqueline Stovall	5,643	23.27%
Total votes			24,255	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Harold Hollenbeck, incumbent Representative from East Rutherford since 1977 (Republican)
• Robert Shapiro (Libertarian)
• Bob Torricelli, former aide to governor Brendan Byrne and advisor to the Jimmy Carter 1980 presidential campaign (Democratic)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bob Torricelli	99,090	53.02%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	Harold C. Hollenbeck (incumbent)	86,022	46.03%
	Libertarian	Robert Shapiro	1,767	0.95%
Total votes			186,879	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 10

See also: New Jersey's 10th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 10th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Peter W. Rodino Timothy Lee Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 76,684 14,551 Percentage 82.6% 15.7%

U.S. Representative before election Peter W. Rodino Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Peter W. Rodino Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Peter W. Rodino won. The district included parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Alan Bowser
• Peter W. Rodino, incumbent Representative since 1949

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Peter W. Rodino (incumbent)	28,587	85.09%
	Democratic	Alan Bowser	5,010	14.91%
Total votes			33,597	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Timothy Lee Jr.

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Timothy Lee Jr.	4,034	100.00%
Total votes			4,034	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Katharine Florentine (Libertarian)
• Christine Keno (The Unbossed Independent)
• Timothy Lee Jr. (Republican)
• Peter W. Rodino, incumbent Representative since 1949 (Democratic)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Peter W. Rodino (incumbent)	76,684	82.59%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	Timothy Lee Jr.	14,551	15.67%
	Libertarian	Katharine Florentine	958	1.03%
	Independent	Christine Keno	659	0.71%
Total votes			92,852	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 11

See also: New Jersey's 11th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 11th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Joseph Minish Rey Redington Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 105,607 57,099 Percentage 64.3% 34.8%

U.S. Representative before election Joseph Minish Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Joseph Minish Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Joseph Minish won. This district consisted of parts of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank Askin, Rutgers Law School professor
• Joseph Minish, incumbent Representative from West Orange since 1963

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph Minish (incumbent)	27,354	75.22%
	Democratic	Frank Askin	9,009	24.78%
Total votes			36,363	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Frank Bell
• Robert A. Davis
• Rey Redington, former president of the Montclair Chamber of Commerce

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rey Redington	8,912	38.79%
	Republican	Frank Bell	7,559	32.90%
	Republican	Robert A. Davis	6,506	28.32%
Total votes			22,977	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Joseph Minish, incumbent Representative from West Orange since 1963 (Democratic)
• Rey Redington, former president of the Montclair Chamber of Commerce (Republican)
• Richard S. Roth (Libertarian)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joseph Minish (incumbent)	105,607	64.30%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	Rey Redington	57,099	34.77%
	Libertarian	Richard S. Roth	1,531	0.93%
Total votes			164,237	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 12

See also: New Jersey's 12th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 12th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

← District 5 District 13

Nominee Jim Courter Peter Bearse Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 148,042 78,167 Percentage 65.0% 34.3%

U.S. Representative before election Jim Courter and Millicent Fenwick Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jim Courter Republican

Incumbent Representative Millicent Fenwick ran for U.S. Senate, and incumbent Republican Representative Jim Courter won the election.

This sprawling district included parts of Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Courter, incumbent Representative from Hackettstown since 1979
• Rodney Frelinghuysen, assemblyman from Morristown and son of former Representative Peter Frelinghuysen

Declined

• Millicent Fenwick, incumbent Representative from Bernardsville since 1975 (ran for U.S. Senate)
• Matt Rinaldo, incumbent Representative from Union since 1973 (ran in 7th district)

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Courter	39,354	63.10%
	Republican	Rodney Frelinghuysen	23,015	36.90%
Total votes			62,369	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Jeff Connor, son of former U.S. Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor^[11]

Withdrew

• William R. Norris III

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jeff Connor	12,504	100.00%
Total votes			12,504	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Jeff Connor (Democratic)
• Jim Courter, former assistant Warren County prosecutor (Republican)
• Harold F. Leiendecker (Libertarian)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim Courter	117,793	66.76%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	Jeff Connor	57,049	32.33%
	Libertarian	Harold Leiendecker	1,610	0.91%
Total votes			176,452	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 13

See also: New Jersey's 13th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 13th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Edwin B. Forsythe George Callas Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 100,061 65,820 Percentage 59.5% 39.1%

U.S. Representative before election Edwin B. Forsythe Republican Elected U.S. Representative Edwin B. Forsythe Republican

Incumbent Republican Edwin B. Forsythe won.

This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, Monmouth, and Ocean counties.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Richard D. Amber
• Edwin B. Forsythe, incumbent Representative from Moorestown since 1970
• Donald T. King

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Edwin B. Forsythe (incumbent)	28,529	87.68%
	Republican	Donald T. King	2,306	7.09%
	Republican	Richard D. Amber	1,704	5.24%
Total votes			32,539	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• George Callas (write-in)

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	George Callas (write-in)	730	100.00%
Total votes			730	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• George Callas (Democratic)
• Leonard T. Flynn (Libertarian)
• Edwin B. Forsythe, incumbent Representative from Moorestown since 1970 (Republican)
• Don Smith (Constitution)
• Paula Volpe (Citizens)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Edwin B. Forsythe (incumbent)	100,061	59.47%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	George S. Callas	65,820	39.12%
	Citizens	Paula Volpe	955	0.57%
	Libertarian	Leonard T. Flynn	769	0.46%
	Constitution	Don Smith	651	0.39%
Total votes			168,256	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

District 14

See also: New Jersey's 14th congressional district

1982 New Jersey's 14th congressional district election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 (1982-11-02) 1984 →

Nominee Frank Guarini Charles J. Catrillo Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 94,021 28,257 Percentage 74.3% 22.3%

U.S. Representative before election Frank J. Guarini Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Frank J. Guarini Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Frank J. Guarini won. This district included parts of Bergen and Hudson counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979

Results

1982 Democratic primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank J. Guarini (incumbent)	46,003	100.00%
Total votes			46,003	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Charles K. Krieger
• William Howard Link

Results

1982 Republican primary^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles K. Krieger	4,580	82.43%
	Republican	William Howard Link	976	17.57%
Total votes			5,556	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Frank J. Guarini, incumbent Representative since 1979 (Democratic)
• Charles K. Krieger (Republican)
• Kenneth Famularo (Action Talks)
• Jack Murphy ("Mr. Liberty")
• Herbert H. Shaw (Politicians are Crooks)
• Louis J. Sicilia (Libertarian)

Results

1982 U.S. House election^[1][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Frank J. Guarini (incumbent)	94,021	74.26%	{{{change}}}
	Republican	Charles J. Catrillo	28,257	22.32%
	Independent	Jack Murphy	1,704	1.35%
	Independent	Herbert Shaw	1,232	0.97%
	Independent	Kenneth Famularo	921	0.73%
	Libertarian	Louis J. Sicilia	471	0.37%
Total votes			126,606	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}