New Jersey incumbents seeking their Party’s nomination won easily in Tuesday’s primary elections, which also decided who their challengers will be in the November midterm races that will help determine control of Congress.
One of the most closely watched races is the 7th Congressional District, a swing district in Hunterdon, Warren and parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties, that may help decide the balance of power in Congress, where Republicans now maintain a slim majority.
Two-term incumbent Republican Tom Kean Jr., who has been absent from Congress since March due to an undisclosed medical condition, was unopposed in his primary race Tuesday. In November, Kean will face Rebecca Bennett, a Navy veteran and healthcare executive, who garnered 45.5% of the vote in the four-way primary for the Democrat nomination.
In the 12th Congressional District (parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties), where Democrat U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman is retiring after five terms, Adam Hamawy emerged victorious over 12 other Democrats vying for their Party’s nomination, capturing 28.1% of the vote. In November, Hamawy, a former combat surgeon in the Iraq war, will face Republican lawyer Gregg Mele, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary.
The results of other New Jersey primary races on Tuesday include:
U.S. Senate: Incumbent U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who has represented New Jersey since 2013, was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He will face Republican Justin Murphy who won a four-way GOP primary with 33.3% of the vote.
1st Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He will face Damon Galdo who was unopposed in the Republican primary.
2nd Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew was unopposed in the Republican primary. Van Drew will face Democrat Zack Mullock, who won a four-way primary with 39.7% of the votes cast.
3rd Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep Herb Conaway ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. He will face Republican Michael P. McGuire who garnered 57.9% of the vote in a three-way GOP primary.
4th Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Smith ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He will face Democrat Rachel Peace who won the Democratic primary with 72.7% of the votes cast.
5th Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He will face Republican Sean Kirrane who was unopposed the GOP primary.
6th Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., bested two challengers to win the Democratic primary with 66.2% of the vote. Pallone will face Republican Hillary Herzig who ran unopposed in the GOP primary.
8th Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez defeated his Democratic primary challenger, Mussab Ali, by capturing 69% of the vote. Menendez will face Republican Anthony Valdes in the fall.
9th Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Nellie Pou was unopposed in the Democratic primary. With 89% of the votes counted on Wednesday, Republican Rosie Pino was leading Republican Tiffany Burress by 51.4% to 48.6%.
10th Congressional District: Incumbent U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver won the Democratic primary with 84.7% of the vote. She will face Carmen Bucco, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.
11th Congressional District: Incumbent Analilia Mejia won the four-way Democratic primary with 81.5% of the vote. Mejia will face Republican Joe Hathaway who ran unopposed in the GOP primary.
