New Jersey Republicans Vying for Chance to Flip 2 Congressional Seats in November

New Jersey Republican and U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith, former Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) chair, is among 11 House incumbents on the state’s June 7 primary ballot. Smith is seeking a 22nd term in the House and is the longest-serving Congressional rep in New Jersey’s history. (Gary Feuerberg/Epoch Times)

New Jersey’s Democratic and Republican congressional district primary elections feature well-funded incumbents who are expected to breeze to victory on June 7 and advance to the November ballot, where many will face familiar foes in rematches from the 2020 elections.

Democrats now hold 10 of the state’s 12 U.S. House seats with November’s ballot already set in two congressional districts because Democrat and Republican candidates are unchallenged in their primaries.

Of the 10 congressional districts contested in the primaries, Republicans in five are vying to get back onto the general election ballot to unseat Democrats that defeated them two years ago.

Only one seat is open, with the pending retirement of Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.) in Congressional District 8. Of the remaining 11 New Jersey congressional incumbents, four sitting Democratic House representatives have primary challengers and five don’t, meaning they’re guaranteed to be on the November ballot.

Both incumbent Republican New Jersey representatives, including Rep. Christopher Smith, the longest-serving U.S. House representative in New Jersey history, face primary challenges, but are expected to advance.

The most compelling races could be in the 3rd and 7th congressional districts, where incumbent Democrats in November will meet robustly financed Republicans boosted by post-Census redistricting and growing numbers of Republican voters.

Vote-by-mail has been underway for the primary elections for several weeks. May 31 was the last day for registered voters to apply for a mail ballot for the primaries. Early in-person voting begins on June 3.

Congressional District 3

New Jersey’s Congressional District 3 spans nearly all of Burlington County, with portions of the Jersey Shore in Ocean County. It’s represented by Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who’s seeking a third term in November.

The Cook Political Report rates Congressional District 3 as a swing district leaning Democratic.

Progressive Reuven Hendler, 24, of Beachwood is on the party’s primary ballot, but isn’t expected to pose much of a challenge to Kim. As of May 18, his campaign hadn’t raised enough money to warrant an FEC filing.

Kim’s campaign reported on May 18 that it had raised $4.4 million, spent $1 million, and had $3.9 million cash on hand.

According to OpenSecrets, Kim’s biggest financial support comes from lawyers and law firms ($256,873), securities and investment concerns ($239,263), Democratic and liberal sources ($195,642), and the education industry ($155,580).

Three Republicans are vying for the party’s nod to challenge the potentially vulnerable Kim in November.

Bob Healey, a Burlington County resident who’s executive co-chair of the Viking Group, a shipbuilding company that employs at least 1,000 people in the area. He has received the Republican Party line endorsement and the most in contributions.

Healey’s campaign reported that it had raised $1.2 million, spent $719,376, and had $437,421 cash on hand as of May 18 with at least $260,000 coming from his own pocket.

Also on the Republican primary ballot are attorney and realtor Nicholas Ferrara of Hamilton Township and Ian Smith, who owns Atilis Gym.

Ferrara’s campaign is largely self-funded. As of March 31, it reported to the FEC that it had raised $55,335, spent $54,900, and had $435.27 on hand.

Smith gained notoriety in 2020 and 2021 by defying New Jersey’s COVID-19 pandemic lockdown orders before being arrested earlier this year for a second time for drunk driving.

On May 18, his campaign reported to the FEC that it had raised $154,110, spent $80,978, and had $73,132.45 cash on hand.

Congressional District 7

New Jersey’s Congressional  District 7 includes all of Hunterdon County and parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties.

Congressional District 7 is represented by Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) who was first elected in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.). The district is rated by the Cook Political Report as “leaning” Republican.

In seeking the party’s nod for a third term, Malinowski has only one primary opponent—Roger Bacon, a pro-Trump Democrat making his seventh run for public office.

Bacon’s campaign hasn’t qualified for an FEC filing, while Malinowski’s campaign reported on May 18 that it had raised $5,117,107, spent $1,525,486, and had $3,642,716 in its war chest.

According to OpenSecrets, Malinowski’s biggest industry support comes from lawyers and law firms ($311,608), Democratic and liberal sources ($244,524), the education industry ($203,139), and securities and investment concerns ($202,028).

There are seven Republican candidates seeking to get on November’s ballot in this swing district to challenge Malinowski, who’s regarded as among the most vulnerable of 2022 congressional incumbents.

Former Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean Jr.—grandson of former U.S. Rep. Robert Kean (R-N.J.) and son of former New Jersey Gov. Thomas H. Kean, Sr.—is regarded as the frontrunner.

Kean lost in 2020 to Malinowski by 1 percentage point. But with Congressional District 7 becoming a bit more red following redistricting, Republicans like their chances in 2022.

His campaign reported to the FEC on May 18 that it had raised $2.2 million, spent $1.1 million, and had $1.2 million in cash on hand.

Challenging the frontrunner Kean is New Jersey Assemblyman Erik Peterson, a 12-year veteran of the state legislature, whose campaign reported to the FEC on May 18 that it had raised $62,194, spent $34,471, and had $27,723 in its war chest.

2021 gubernatorial candidate Phil Rizzo is also on the Congressional District 7 Republican primary ballot. His campaign reported to the FEC on May 18 that it had raised $227,947, spent $149,316.38, and had no cash on hand.

Long Valley businessmen Kevin Dorlon’s campaign reported on May 18 that it had raised $24,743.84, spent $21,477, and had $3,317 cash on hand.

John Henry Isemann, 27; Fredon Mayor John Flora; and U.S. Navy veteran Sterling Irwin Schwab are also all on the Congressional District 7 Republican primary. None of their campaigns met the threshold for FEC filings.