New Jersey's 7th congressional district
New Jersey's 7th congressional district includes all of Hunterdon County, and parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties. The district is represented by Democrat Tom Malinowski, who was first elected in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Leonard Lance.
New Jersey's 7th congressional district | |||
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Interactive map of district boundaries | |||
Representative |
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Area | 595.03 sq mi (1,541.1 km2) | ||
Distribution |
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Population (2019) | 734,239 | ||
Median household income | $115,585[2] | ||
Ethnicity |
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Cook PVI | D+1[3] |
The district is one of the 10 most affluent congressional districts in the United States.[4]

Counties and municipalities in the district
For the 113th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2010 United States Census), the congressional district contains portions of six counties and 74 municipalities.[5]
- Millburn (which includes the Short Hills neighborhood)
Hunterdon County (entire county):
- Alexandria Township, Bethlehem Township, Bloomsbury, Califon, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington, Franklin Township, Frenchtown, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Holland Township, Kingwood Township, Lambertville, Lebanon Borough, Lebanon Township, Milford, Raritan Township, Readington Township, Stockton, Tewksbury Township, Union Township and West Amwell Township
- Chester Borough, Chester Township, Dover, Long Hill Township, Mine Hill Township, Mount Arlington, Mount Olive Township, Netcong, Roxbury Township, Washington Township and Wharton
- Bedminster Township, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Branchburg Township, Bridgewater Township, Far Hills, Green Brook Township, Hillsborough Township, Millstone, Montgomery Township, North Plainfield, Peapack-Gladstone, Raritan, Rocky Hill, Somerville, Warren Township and Watchung
History
This was once a reliably Republican district, however in recent years, it has narrowly voted Democratic for House.
In the 2012 general election, Republican incumbent Leonard Lance held his seat against Democratic challenger Upendra J. Chivukula.[6] In the 2010 general election, Democratic challenger Ed Potosnak challenged Lance, but Lance defeated Potosnak by a margin of 59% to 41%. For the 2012 election, both Potosnak and former Edison Mayor Jun Choi announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination.[7][8] Choi dropped out of the race in December 2011 after redistricting left his Edison home outside the 7th District. Potosnak dropped out of the race in January 2012 to take a position as executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, leaving a momentarily empty field for the Democratic nomination.[9]
In 2008, Mike Ferguson (who had first been elected in 2000, replacing Bob Franks) did not seek another term. Linda Stender won the Democratic nomination unopposed, while Republican primary voters chose State Senator Leonard Lance in a field of eight candidates. In the general election, Lance defeated Assemblywoman Linda Stender by a margin of 25,833 votes.[10]
Effect of 2000 redistricting
New Jersey's 7th district and the 12th district were redistricted after the 2000 census by a bipartisan panel. By consensus of the panel, the Democratic and Republican parties agreed to trade areas in the two districts to make them safer for their respective incumbents. It is likely that this tradeoff, which made New Jersey's 7th less competitive for Democrats, had an effect on the outcome of 2006 election, which was decided by approximately 3,000 votes. Areas of the former 7th district such as Franklin Township that had historically voted reliably Democratic were moved into the adjacent 12th district in order to shore up Democratic incumbent Rush Holt, while reliably Republican Millburn was removed from the 7th, and instead split between the 10th and 11th districts. Additionally, heavily Democratic Plainfield was moved from the 7th to the already Democratic-leaning 6th district. Despite the redistricting, NJ-07 was still the most competitive House district in New Jersey, and was the only one considered to be in play in 2006 by political pundits.
2018 election
In the 2018 election, Tom Malinowski,[11] former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, was considered the front runner among the Democrats challenging Republican incumbent Leonard Lance.[12][13] Malinowski was endorsed by Westfield teacher/attorney Lisa Mandelblatt and attorney Scott Salmon when they withdrew from the race in February 2018.[14][15] Other candidates in the Democratic primary included lawyer Goutam Jois;[16] and social worker Peter Jacob, who was defeated by Lance in the 2016 election. Green Party of New Jersey member Diane Moxley also announced her intent to run for the seat.[17] Lindsay Brown, a product manager at the New York Post and a self-described progressive, ran in the Republican primary against Lance.[18] Berkeley Heights banking executive Linda Weber[19] and environmental advocate David Pringle[20] withdrew in March 2018.
During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Malinowski campaign raised $528,000 while the incumbent Lance raised $237,000. Jois raised $189,000 and Jacob raised $29,000.[13][21]
Malinowski won the Democratic nomination in the June primary.[22]
2018 primary results
In the Democratic primary Malinowski prevailed with 26,059 votes and 66.8% of the vote. Jacob finished second with 7,467 votes and 19.1% of the vote.[23]
Lance won the Republican primary with 74.9%, and 24,856 votes.[23][24]
2020 election
Incumbent Tom Malinowski (D) defeated challenger Thomas Kean Jr. (R) in the general election by 1.2 percentage points for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District on November 3, 2020. The race was expected to be competitive, with New Jersey's 7th being one of 40 seats gained by Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections.
2020 primary results
Incumbent Tom Malinowski (D) ran in the Democratic party primary uncontested, winning 100% (80,334) of the vote. Challenger Thomas Kean Jr. (R) defeated Raafat Barsoom and Tom Phillips in the Republican party primary receiving 79.4% (45,395) of the vote.[25]
2022 election
2020 challenger Thomas Kean Jr. has announced he will seek the Republican nomination in 2022. Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration official Rik Mehta is also seeking the Republican nomination in the 7th district. He was the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate against Cory Booker in 2020. Newcomer John Henry Isemann is also exploring a bid for Congress. [26]
Demographic shifts
The district has turned from a once reliable Republican district into a competitive district as it has become more ethnically mixed with whites comprising, as of 2009, 79% of the district, African Americans 5.7%, Asians 11% and Latinos 10%. In addition, the district is home to a large group of foreign-born residents, totaling 131,000 or 20% of the population.[27] The district has the 5th highest median income in the nation.[28]
Recent election results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Ferguson (incumbent) | 162,597 | 56.9% | -1.1 | |
Democratic | Steve Brozak | 119,081 | 41.7% | +.8 | |
Independent | Thomas Abrams | 2,153 | .8% | N/A | |
Independent | Matthew Williams | 2,046 | .7% | N/A | |
Majority | 43,516 | 15.2% | |||
Turnout | 285,877 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing | +1.0% | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Ferguson (incumbent) | 98,399 | 49.4% | -7.5 | |
Democratic | Linda Stender | 95,454 | 48.0% | +6.3 | |
Independent | Thomas Abrams | 3,176 | 1.6% | +.8% | |
Libertarian | Darren Young | 2,046 | 1.0% | N/A | |
Majority | 2,945 | 1.5% | -13.7 | ||
Turnout | 199,075 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing | +6.9% | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Leonard Lance | 142,092 | 50.8% | +1.4 | |
Democratic | Linda Stender | 116,255 | 41.6% | -6.4 | |
Independent | Michael Hsing | 15,826 | 5.7% | N/A | |
Independent | Dean Greco | 3,008 | 1.1% | N/A | |
Independent | Thomas Abrams | 2,408 | .9% | -.7 | |
Majority | 25,837 | 9.2% | +7.7 | ||
Turnout | 279,589 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing | -3.9% | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Leonard Lance (incumbent) | 104,642 | 59.4% | ||
Democratic | Ed Potosnak | 71,486 | 40.6% | ||
Majority | 33,156 | 18.9% | |||
Turnout | 176,128 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Leonard Lance (incumbent) | 175,662 | 57.2% | ||
Democratic | Upendra Chivukula | 123,057 | 40.0% | ||
Independent | Dennis Breen | 4,518 | 1.5% | ||
Libertarian | Patrick McKnight | 4,078 | 1.3% | ||
Majority | 52,605 | 17.1% | |||
Turnout | 307,315 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Leonard Lance (incumbent) | 104,287 | 59.25% | ||
Democratic | Janice Kovach | 68,232 | 38.77% | ||
Libertarian | Jim Gawron | 3,478 | 1.98% | ||
Majority | 36,055 | 20.5% | |||
Turnout | 175,997 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Leonard Lance (incumbent) | 185,850 | 54.08% | ||
Democratic | Peter Jacob | 148,188 | 43.12% | ||
Libertarian | Dan O'Neill | 5,343 | 1.56% | ||
Conservative | Arthur T. Haussmann, Jr. | 4,254 | 1.24% | ||
Majority | 37,662 | 10.96% | |||
Turnout | 343,635 | ||||
Republican hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tom Malinowski | 166,985 | 51.7 | |
Republican | Leonard Lance (incumbent) | 150,785 | 46.7 | |
Green | Diane Moxley | 2,676 | 0.8 | |
Independent | Gregg Mele | 2,296 | 0.7 | |
Total votes | 322,742 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tom Malinowski (incumbent) | 219,688 | 50.6 | |
Republican | Tom Kean Jr. | 214,359 | 49.4 | |
Total votes | 434,047 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
Recent election results from presidential races
Year | Office | Results |
---|---|---|
2000 | President | Gore 54 - 43% |
2004 | President | Bush 53 - 47% |
2008 | President | Obama 51 - 48% |
2012 | President | Romney 52.5 - 46.3% |
2016 | President | Trump 48.6 - 47.5% |
2020 | President | Biden 54.2 - 44.3% |
List of members representing the district
References
- "Congressman Malinowski Fights For The Corporate Transparency Act", Tom Malinowski, press release dated October 23, 2019. Accessed January 19, 2022. "My name, Tom Malinowski. My address, 86 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553."
- Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Partisan Voting Index – Districts of the 115th Congress" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. April 7, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- "After the Midterms, One Party Controls All the Wealthiest Congressional Districts". finance.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- Plan Components Report Archived December 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed November 6, 2016.
- Salvador Rizzo, The Star-Ledger. "N.J. 7th Congressional District winner: Leonard Lance". NJ.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - Max Pizarro (May 5, 2011). "Choi announces 7th District Congressional candidacy | Observer". Politickernj.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- Max Pizarro (January 16, 2012). "Potosnak ends CD 7 run to take job as ED of League of Conservation Voters | Observer". Politickernj.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- "Local and National Election Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com". CNN. Archived from the original on November 7, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- The Hill, Ben Kamisar, October 2, 2017, Obama State Department official to run for House in NJ Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved October 2, 2017
- "CD7 Flashpoint: Malinowski Beats Weber in Union - Insider NJ". Insider NJ. March 11, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- Ballotpedia, New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2018 Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 7, 2018
- Salant, Jonathan D. (February 8, 2018). "Democrat drops run against Republican Leonard Lance". nj. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "Democrats are now lining up behind this candidate to take on Republican Leonard Lance". NJ.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- "jois2018.com - Domain Name For Sale". DAN.COM. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- Moxley For US Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine (website)
- ABC News, March 29, 2018, House races offer Democrats best shot at claiming a chamber in Congress Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 17, 2018
- Jonathan D. Salant, May 14, 2017, NJ.com, Meet the newest challenger to N.J.'s Leonard Lance, Retrieved May 14, 2017
- "Pringle Exits the CD7 Contest - Insider NJ". March 26, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
- Politico "House Q4 FEC Reports," Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 7, 2018
- Salant, Jonathan D. (June 6, 2018). "After primary, N.J. Dems to lead charge to win House in Trump midterm". nj. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- New York Times, Primary results, accessed, June 6, 2018 Archived June 7, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
- Almukhtar, Sarah. "New Jersey Primary Election Results". Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- "New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- "Stefanik endorses Kean for Congress". New Jersey Globe. July 28, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "This Party Represents the Wealthiest US Congressional Districts, Study Finds". July 9, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- "Candidates for House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Division of Elections. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- "Official results" (PDF). www.state.nj.us. 2014.
- "Candidates for House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Division of Elections. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- "New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- "Official List, Candidates for House of Representatives For GENERAL ELECTION 11/03/2020 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
Bibliography
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present