New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District remained one of a handful of congressional races whose outcome is unclear after the Nov. 6 election. Incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur was clinging to a 2,315-vote lead over challenger Andy Kim in a race where about 270,000 ballots have been counted so far.
The outcome will not affect the balance of power in Washington, D.C. Democrats have captured control of the House of Representatives, while in the Senate, Republicans may actually expand their majority. According to CNN on Wednesday afternoon, the Democratic majority in the House stood at 222-199. Senate Republicans held a 51 to 45 seat majority.
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.
Here are the New Jersey results from some other important races.
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.
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.
