# 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey

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The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 4, 2010, to elect the 13 U.S. representatives from the state of New Jersey, one from each of the state's 13 congressional districts. The primary election in which candidates were chosen took place on June 8, 2010.
As of 2024, this is the last time the Republicans won the popular vote for the House in New Jersey, even though they did not win a majority of congressional seats. As a result, New Jersey became one of three states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2010, the other states being Iowa and North Carolina.

## Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– |
| | Republican | 1,055,299 | 49.74% | 6 | +1 |
| | Democratic | 1,024,730 | 48.30% | 7 | -1 |
| | Libertarian | 8,536 | 0.40% | 0 | — |
| | Green | 7,494 | 0.35% | 0 | — |
| | Constitution | 4,120 | 0.19% | 0 | — |
| | Independents | 21,405 | 1.01% | 0 | — |
| Totals | Totals | 2,121,584 | 100.00% | 13 | — |

### By district

| District | Incumbent | 2010 Status | Democratic | Republican | Other | Other | Other |
| 1 | Rob Andrews | Re-election | Rob Andrews | Dale Glading | Mark Heacock (G) | Margaret Chapman | Nicky Petrutz |
| 2 | Frank LoBiondo | Re-election | Gary Stein | Frank LoBiondo | Peter Boyce (C) | Mark Lovett | Vitov Valdes-Munoz |
| 3 | John Adler | Re-election | John Adler | Jon Runyan | Russ Conger (L) | Peter DeStefano (Tea) | Lawrence Donahue |
| 4 | Chris Smith | Re-election | Howard Kleinhendler | Chris Smith | Steven Welzer (G) | Joe Siano (L) | David Meiswinkle |
| 5 | Scott Garrett | Re-election | Tod Thiese | Scott Garrett | Ed Fanning (G) | Mark Quick | James Radigan |
| 6 | Frank Pallone | Re-election | Frank Pallone | Anna C. Little | Jack Freudenheim | Karen Anne Zaletel | |
| 7 | Leonard Lance | Re-election | Ed Potosnak | Leonard Lance | | | |
| 8 | Bill Pascrell | Re-election | Bill Pascrell | Roland Straten | Ray Giangrasso | | |
| 9 | Steve Rothman | Re-election | Steve Rothman | Michael Agosta | Patricia Alessandrini (G) | | |
| 10 | Donald M. Payne | Re-election | Donald M. Payne | Michael Alonso | Joanne Miller | Robert Louis Toussaint |
| 11 | Rodney Frelinghuysen | Re-election | Douglas Herbert | Rodney Frelinghuysen | Jim Gawron (L) | | |
| 12 | Rush D. Holt Jr. | Re-election | Rush D. Holt Jr. | Scott M. Sipprelle | Kenneth Cody | | |
| 13 | Albio Sires | Re-election | Albio Sires | Henrietta Dwyer | Maximo Gomez Nacer | Anthony Zanowic | |

## District 1

Democrat Rob Andrews has been in Congress since 1990. He won re-election in 2008 with 72%. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Democrat.
New Jersey's 1st congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rob Andrews (incumbent) | 106,334 | 61.8 |
| | Republican | Dale Glading | 58,562 | 34.0 |
| | Green | Mark Heacock | 532 | 0.3 |
| | Independent | Margaret Chapman | 716 | 0.4 |
| | Independent | Micky Petrutz | 221 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 171,996 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 2

Republican Frank LoBiondo has been in Congress since 1995. He won re-election in 2008 with 59%, despite Democrat Barack Obama simultaneously carrying the district. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Republican.
New Jersey's 2nd congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank LoBiondo (incumbent) | 109,460 | 63.3 |
| | Democratic | Gary Stein | 51,690 | 29.9 |
| | Constitution | Peter Boyce | 4,120 | 2.3 |
| | Independent | Mark Lovett | 1,123 | 0.6 |
| | Independent | Vitov Valdez-Munoz | 727 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 172,906 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 3

Democratic incumbent John Adler is running for reelection, challenged by Republican nominee Jon Runyan, NJ Tea Party nominee Peter DeStefano, Libertarian nominee Russ Conger, and Your Country Again nominee Lawrence J. Donahue.
Retired NFL player Jon Runyan was a star offensive lineman who played most of his career with the nearby Philadelphia Eagles as the South Jersey district is a suburb of Philadelphia. In May he took the unusual step of revealing some controversial information about himself: that he was late to pay some taxes and was sued in some business dealings. He says he is "a different type of candidate" by acknowledging his mistakes. With $1.7 million in Adler's campaign account back in April, he has a major cash advantage. CQ Politics rates this election as Lean Democrat.
On October 8, 2010, CourierPostOnline.com reported that Steve Ayscue, the paid head of operations for the Camden County Democratic Committee (CCDC), and Geoff Mackler, sent by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to manage John Adler's campaign, devised a plan to put a candidate on the ballot to divert votes from Republican Jon Runyan. They presented the plan at CCDC Headquarters during a May 26 meeting of the South Jersey Young Democrats, and some of those present joined in circulating a petition to place Peter DeStefano, owner-operator of a picture-framing business, on the ballot. DeStefano will appear on the "NJ Tea Party" line on the November 2 ballot. The article reports, "A Democratic operative with knowledge of the Adler campaign's operation said Ayscue is in charge of the campaign website, Facebook and Twitter accounts promoting the DeStefano campaign." In 2008, State Senator John Adler defeated Chris Myers, a town councilman, with 52% of the vote, while Obama carried the district with the same amount. Adler died on April 4, 2011, four months after his defeat.

### Polling

| Poll Source | Dates Administered | John Adler (D) | Jon Runyan (R) | Peter DeStafano (I) | Undecided |
| Monmouth University | October 22–25, 2010 | 43% | 48% | - | 4% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | October 23–24, 2010 | 46% | 45% | 4% | 6% |
| Stockton/Zogby | October 18–22, 2010 | 37% | 40% | 4.9% | 16% |
| The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Press Media Poll | September 24–28, 2010 | 42% | 39% | 4% | 13% |
| Rutgers-Eagleton | September 23–26, 2010 | 44% | 38% | 6% | 12% |
| Stockton/Zogby | September 21–23, 2010 | 38% | 30% | 7.6% | 23% |
| Rutgers University | August 5–8, 2010 | 31% | 25% | 4% | -- |
| Rutgers University | August 5–8, 2010 | 35% | 28% | -- | -- |
| Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research† | June 27–30, 2010 | 51% | 34% | 12% | -- |
†Internal poll for Adler campaign
New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Runyan | 110,215 | 49.4 |
| | Democratic | John Adler (incumbent) | 104,252 | 46.7 |
| | Independent | Peter DeStefano | 3,284 | 1.5 |
| | Libertarian | Russ Conger | 1,445 | 0.6 |
| | Independent | Lawrence Donohue | 1,133 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 223,325 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 4

Republican Chris Smith has been in Congress since 1981. In 2008, he won re-election with 66%. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Republican.
New Jersey's 4th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Smith (incumbent) | 129,752 | 67.9 |
| | Democratic | Howard Kleinhendler | 52,118 | 27.2 |
| | Libertarian | Joe Siano | 2,912 | 1.5 |
| | Green | Steven Welzer | 1,574 | 0.8 |
| | Independent | David Meiswinkle | 582 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 191,011 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 5

Republican Scott Garrett has been in Congress since 2003. In 2008, he won re-election with 56% of the vote. CQ Politics rated this election as Safe Republican.
New Jersey's 5th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Scott Garrett (incumbent) | 119,478 | 65.0 |
| | Democratic | Tod Theise | 60,045 | 33.0 |
| | Green | Ed Fanning | 2,262 | 1.0 |
| | Independent | Mark Quick | 1,646 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 198,067 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 6

Democrat Frank Pallone has been in Congress since 1988. In 2008, he won re-election with 67%. His 2010 Republican opponent is Anna Little, the Mayor of Highlands. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Democrat. Ultimately, Pallone lost his home county of Monmouth for the first and only time in his career.
New Jersey's 6th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank Pallone (incumbent) | 81,933 | 54.7 |
| | Republican | Anna Little | 65,413 | 43.7 |
| | Independent | Jack Freudenheim | 1,299 | 0.9 |
| | Independent | Karen Anne Zaletel | 1,017 | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 153,277 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 7

Republican Leonard Lance was first elected in 2008, the former state Senate Minority Leader Lance defeated Assemblywoman Linda Stender with 50%. The Democratic challenger is former high school science teacher Ed Potosnak, who if elected would be the first openly gay member of New Jersey's congressional delegation. Despite the bare majority received by Lance in the 2008 election and the fact that Barack Obama carried the district that same year, CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Republican.
New Jersey's 7th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Leonard Lance (incumbent) | 104,642 | 59.4 |
| | Democratic | Ed Potosnak | 71,486 | 40.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 176,128 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 8

Democrat Bill Pascrell has been in Congress since 1997. In 2008, he won re-election with 71%. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Democrat.
New Jersey's 9th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Pascrell (incumbent) | 88,478 | 63.0 |
| | Republican | Roland Straten | 51,023 | 36.0 |
| | Independent | Raymond Giangrosso | 1,707 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 145,356 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 9

Democrat Steve Rothman has been in Congress since 1997. In 2008, he won re-election with 68%. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Democrat.
New Jersey's 9th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Rothman (incumbent) | 83,564 | 61.0 |
| | Republican | Michael Agosta | 52,082 | 38.0 |
| | Green | Patricia Alessandrini | 1,980 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 151,310 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 10

Democrat Donald Payne has been in Congress since 1989. In 2008, he won re-election unopposed. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Democrat. Payne later died on March 6, 2012, halfway through his term.
New Jersey's 10th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald M. Payne (incumbent) | 95,299 | 85.2 |
| | Republican | Michael Alonso | 14,357 | 12.8 |
| | Independent | Robert Louis Toussaint | 1,141 | 1.0 |
| | Independent | Joanne Miller | 1,080 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 111,877 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 11

Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen has been in Congress since 1995. In 2008, he won re-election with 62%. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Republican.
New Jersey's 11th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rodney Frelinghuysen (incumbent) | 122,149 | 67.0 |
| | Democratic | Douglas Herbert | 55,472 | 31.0 |
| | Libertarian | Jim Gawron | 4,179 | 2.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 187,181 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 12

Holt has represented the district since 1999. In 2008, he won re-election with 63%. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Democrat, Cook Political Report rates it Likely Democratic, and Real Clear Politics rates it as Lean Democratic.

### Polling

| Poll Source | Dates Administered | Rush Holt (D) | Scott Sipprelle (R) | Undecided |
| National Research | October 27, 2010 | 42% | 43% | - |
| Monmouth University | October 25–27, 2010 | 51% | 43% | 4% |
| Monmouth University | October 9–12, 2010 | 51% | 46% | 3% |
New Jersey's 12th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rush Holt Jr. (incumbent) | 108,214 | 53.0 |
| | Republican | Scott Sipprelle | 93,634 | 46.0 |
| | Independent | Kenneth Cody | 2,154 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 207,373 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 13

Democrat Albio Sires has been in Congress since 2006. In 2008, he won re-election with 75%. CQ Politics rates this election as Safe Democrat. This was the last election before the elimination of this seat after the 2010 census.
New Jersey's 13th congressional district, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Albio Sires (incumbent) | 62,840 | 68.1 |
| | Republican | Henrietta Dwyer | 19,538 | 21.2 |
| | Independent | Anthony Zanowic | 1,508 | 1.6 |
| | Independent | Maximo Nacer | 910 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 92,241 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |