# New Jersey's 7th congressional district

New Jersey's 7th congressional district includes all of Hunterdon and Warren Counties; and parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Union Counties. The district is represented by Republican Thomas Kean Jr., who was first elected in 2022, defeating Democratic incumbent Tom Malinowski.
The district, which has become more ethnically diverse over time, is one of the most affluent congressional districts in the United States, with the twelfth-highest median income in the nation.

## History

In the 2012 general election, Republican incumbent Leonard Lance held his seat against Democratic challenger Upendra J. Chivukula. 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. 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.

### 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.
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.

### 2018 election

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.
Lance won the Republican primary with 74.9%, and 24,856 votes.
In the 2018 election, Tom Malinowski, former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, was considered the front runner among the Democrats challenging Republican incumbent Leonard Lance. Malinowski was endorsed by Westfield teacher/attorney Lisa Mandelblatt and attorney Scott Salmon when they withdrew from the race in February 2018. Other candidates in the Democratic primary included lawyer Goutam Jois; 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. Lindsay Brown, a product manager at the New York Post and a self-described progressive, ran in the Republican primary against Lance. Berkeley Heights banking executive Linda Weber and environmental advocate David Pringle 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.
Malinowski won the seat in the election with 51.7% of the votes.

### 2020 election

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.
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.

### 2022 redistricting and election

The New Jersey Congressional Redistricting Commission altered the boundaries of the district effective January 6, 2022. Although the district remains competitive, the district is more Republican than it was previously.
Incumbent Tom Malinowski (D) faced 2020 challenger Thomas Kean Jr. once again in 2022. In the general election held on November 8, 2022, Kean prevailed, unseating Malinowski. It was one of 18 districts that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022.

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of six counties and 93 municipalities.
Hunterdon County (24):
    All 24 municipalities
Morris County (12):
    Chester Borough, Chester Township, Long Hill Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township (part; also 11th), Mine Hill Township, Mount Arlington, Mount Olive Township, Netcong, Roxbury, Washington Township, Wharton
Somerset County (13):
    Bedminster, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Branchburg, Bridgewater Township (part; also 12th; includes Bradley Gardens, Bridgewater Center, Green Knoll, Martinsville, and part of Finderne), Far Hills, Green Brook Township, Hillsborough Township (part; also 12th; includes Neshanic and part of Belle Mead and Flagtown), Peapack-Gladstone, Raritan, Somerville, Warren Township, Watchung
Sussex County (10):
    Andover Borough, Byram Township, Fredon Township, Green Township, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg, Sparta, Stanhope, Stillwater Township, Walpack Township
Union County (12):
    Berkeley Heights, Clark, Fanwood, Linden (part; also 10th), Mountainside, New Providence, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Springfield Township, Summit, Westfield, Winfield Township
Warren County (22):
    All 22 municipalities

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 53% - 45% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 56% - 44% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 51% - 45% |
| 2017 | Governor | Guadagno 54% - 43% |
| 2018 | Senate | Hugin 53% - 43% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 51% - 47% |
| 2020 | Senate | Booker 49.2% - 49.0% |
| 2021 | Governor | Ciattarelli 56% - 43% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 49% - 48% |
| 2024 | Senate | Bashaw 50% - 48% |

## Recent election results

2004 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 43,516 | 15.2% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 285,877 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +1.0% | |
2006 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 2,945 | 1.5% | −13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 199,075 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +6.9% | |
2008 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | 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% | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,837 | 9.2% | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 279,589 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | −3.9% | |
2010 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Leonard Lance (incumbent) | 104,642 | 59.4% |
| | Democratic | Ed Potosnak | 71,486 | 40.6% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33,156 | 18.9% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 176,128 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |
2012 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 52,605 | 17.1% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 307,315 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |
2014 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 36,055 | 20.5% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 175,997 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |
2016 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 37,662 | 10.96% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 343,635 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | |
2018 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 322,742 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
2020 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Malinowski (incumbent) | 219,688 | 50.6 |
| | Republican | Tom Kean Jr. | 214,359 | 49.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 434,047 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2022 New Jersey 7th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Kean Jr. | 159,392 | 51.4 |
| | Democratic | Tom Malinowski (incumbent) | 150,701 | 48.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 310,093 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
2024 New Jersey's 7th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas Kean Jr. (incumbent) | 223,331 | 51.8 |
| | Democratic | Sue Altman | 200,025 | 46.4 |
| | Libertarian | Lana Leguia | 3,784 | 0.9 |
| | Green | Andrew Black | 4,258 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 431,398 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## List of members representing the district

| Member (Residence) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | Counties/towns |
| District established March 4, 1873 ||||||
| Isaac W. Scudder (Jersey City) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Elected in 1872. Retired. | 1873–1893: Hudson County |
| Augustus Albert Hardenbergh (Jersey City) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | 44th 45th | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Retired. | 1873–1893: Hudson County |
| Lewis A. Brigham (Jersey City) | Republican | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Elected in 1878. Lost re-election. | 1873–1893: Hudson County |
| Augustus Albert Hardenbergh (Jersey City) | Democratic | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Elected in 1880. Retired. | 1873–1893: Hudson County |
| William McAdoo (Jersey City) | Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1891 | 48th 49th 50th 51st | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Lost renomination. | 1873–1893: Hudson County |
| Edward F. McDonald (Harrison) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – November 5, 1892 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. Died. | 1873–1893: Hudson County |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 5, 1892 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | | 1873–1893: Hudson County |
| George Bragg Fielder (Jersey City) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Elected in 1892. Retired. | 1893–1895: Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Kearney (including present-day East Newark) |
| Thomas McEwan Jr. (Jersey City) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899 | 54th 55th | Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Retired. | 1895–1903: Hudson County (except Bayonne) |
| William Davis Daly (Hoboken) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – July 31, 1900 | 56th | Elected in 1898. Died. | 1895–1903: Hudson County (except Bayonne) |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 31, 1900 – December 3, 1900 | 56th | | 1895–1903: Hudson County (except Bayonne) |
| Allan Langdon McDermott (Jersey City) | Democratic | December 3, 1900 – March 3, 1903 | 56th 57th | Elected to finish Daly's term. Also elected to the next full term. Redistricted to the 10th district. | 1895–1903: Hudson County (except Bayonne) |
| Richard W. Parker (Newark) | Republican | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1911 | 58th 59th 60th 61st | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Lost re-election. | 1903–1913: Northern Essex County (excluding Irvington, Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange, and parts of Newark) |
| Edward W. Townsend (Montclair) | Democratic | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | 62nd | Elected in 1910. Redistricted to the 10th district. | 1903–1913: Northern Essex County (excluding Irvington, Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange, and parts of Newark) |
| Robert G. Bremner (Passaic) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – February 5, 1914 | 63rd | Elected in 1912. Died. | 1913–1933: Southern Passaic County (Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Prospect Park, Totowa, Wayne, and West Paterson) |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 5, 1914 – April 7, 1914 | 63rd | | 1913–1933: Southern Passaic County (Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Prospect Park, Totowa, Wayne, and West Paterson) |
| Dow H. Drukker (Passaic) | Republican | April 7, 1914 – March 3, 1919 | 63rd 64th 65th | Elected to finish Bremner's term. Re-elected later in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Retired. | 1913–1933: Southern Passaic County (Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Prospect Park, Totowa, Wayne, and West Paterson) |
| Amos H. Radcliffe (Paterson) | Republican | March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923 | 66th 67th | Elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Lost renomination. | 1913–1933: Southern Passaic County (Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Prospect Park, Totowa, Wayne, and West Paterson) |
| George N. Seger (Passaic) | Republican | March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1933 | 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the 8th district. | 1913–1933: Southern Passaic County (Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Prospect Park, Totowa, Wayne, and West Paterson) |
| Randolph Perkins (Woodcliff Lake) | Republican | March 4, 1933 – May 25, 1936 | 73rd 74th | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Died. | 1933–1967: Huntderon, Sussex, Warren, parts of Bergen and northern Passaic (Ringwood and West Miford) |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 25, 1936 – January 3, 1937 | 74th | | 1933–1967: Huntderon, Sussex, Warren, parts of Bergen and northern Passaic (Ringwood and West Miford) |
| J. Parnell Thomas (Allendale) | Republican | January 3, 1937 – January 2, 1950 | 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st | Elected in 1936 Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Resigned upon being convicted of fraud. | 1933–1967: Huntderon, Sussex, Warren, parts of Bergen and northern Passaic (Ringwood and West Miford) |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 2, 1950 – February 6, 1950 | 81st | | 1933–1967: Huntderon, Sussex, Warren, parts of Bergen and northern Passaic (Ringwood and West Miford) |
| William B. Widnall (Saddle River) | Republican | February 6, 1950 – December 31, 1974 | 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd | Elected to finish Thomas's term. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Lost re-election and resigned early. | 1933–1967: Huntderon, Sussex, Warren, parts of Bergen and northern Passaic (Ringwood and West Miford) |
| William B. Widnall (Saddle River) | Republican | February 6, 1950 – December 31, 1974 | 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd | Elected to finish Thomas's term. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Lost re-election and resigned early. | 1967–1983: Western Bergen County |
| Andrew Maguire (Ridgewood) | Democratic | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981 | 94th 95th 96th | Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Lost re-election. | 1967–1983: Western Bergen County |
| Marge Roukema (Ridgewood) | Republican | January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 | 97th | Elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 5th district. | 1967–1983: Western Bergen County |
| Matthew John Rinaldo (Union Township) | Republican | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Redistricted from the 12th district and Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1990. Retired. | 1983–1985: Parts of Mercer (Princeton Township and Princeton Borough), Middlesex (Cranbury, Jamesburg, Monroe Township, North Brunswick, South Brunswick), Monmouth (Freehold Township, Freehold Borough, Marlboro Township, and Millstone Township), eastern Somerset, and Union |
| Matthew John Rinaldo (Union Township) | Republican | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Redistricted from the 12th district and Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1990. Retired. | 1985–1993: Parts of Essex (Millburn), Middlesex (Dunellen and Middlesex Borough), Somerset, and Union |
| Bob Franks (New Providence) | Republican | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 1993–2003: Parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union |
| Mike Ferguson (Warren Township) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2009 | 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Retired. | 1993–2003: Parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union |
| Mike Ferguson (Warren Township) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2009 | 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Retired. | 2003–2013: Parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union |
| Leonard Lance (Clinton Township) | Republican | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 | 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election. | 2003–2013: Parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union |
| Leonard Lance (Clinton Township) | Republican | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 | 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election. | 2013–2023: Hunterdon and parts of Essex (Millburn), Morris, Somerset, Union and Warren |
| Tom Malinowski (Rocky Hill) | Democratic | January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | 116th 117th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Lost re-election. | 2013–2023: Hunterdon and parts of Essex (Millburn), Morris, Somerset, Union and Warren |
| Thomas Kean Jr. (Westfield) | Republican | January 3, 2023 – present | 118th 119th | Elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present: Warren, Hunterdon, and parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union |