Democrats kept New Jersey’s U.S. Senate seat and knocked off incumbent U.S. Rep. Republican Leonard Lance in what is very close to a near sweep for the party in yesterday’s election.
In arguably the most watched House race in New Jersey, Republican Tom MacArthur is fending off a strong challenge from Andy Kim in the 3rd District in a race that is too close to call.
Should Kim win, Democrats would hold all but one of New Jersey’s 14 congressional seats (12 House and two Senate). The lone Republican would be the 4th District’s Chris Smith.
Nationally, Democrats have taken over the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, winning 222 seats to Republicans’ 199.
Republicans hold a 51-46 seat majority in the U.S. Senate with races in Arizona, Florida and Montana still undecided.
Menendez Re-elected
Democrat Bob Menendez beat Republican challenger Bob Hugin 53 percent to 44 percent to retain his Senate seat.
See New Jersey Business magazine’s election night coverage here.
3rd District
MacArthur is serving his second two-year term in the House of Representatives, while Kim, a former counter-terrorism official for the White House, presented a stiff challenge. The race is still too close to call, with MacArthur leading Kim by fewer than 2,500 votes, according to NJ.com’s election results.
7th District
Democrat Tom Malinowski defeated six-term incumbent Republican Leonard Lance 50 percent to 48 percent. Malinowski served as an Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor under President Obama.
Two open seats
Democrats also picked up two open seats that had been held by Republicans Frank LoBiondo and Rodney Frelinghuysen, both of whom are retiring at the end of this Congress.
In the 2nd District, Jeff Van Drew, a state senator from Cape May County and a dentist by trade, will replace LoBiondo, who was first elected in 1994. Van Drew defeated Republican attorney Seth Grossman 52 percent to 46 percent.
In the 11th District, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy pilot and Assistant U.S. Attorney, defeated long-time Republican Assemblyman Jay Webber 56 percent to 43 percent to replace Frelinghuysen.
5th District
The lone Democratic seat thought to be at risk in the state belongs to U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer, who is finishing up his first term in the House. He easily fended off a challenge from Republican John McCann, general counsel to the Bergen County Sheriff.
Public Question No. 1
Voters also approved a $500 million bond issue to support New Jersey vocational-technical schools. NJBIA supports the measure, viewing it as key to increasing the number of skilled workers and easing New Jersey’s labor shortage.
