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New Jersey's 10th congressional district elections, 2012
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| November 6, 2012 |
| June 5, 2012 |
Donald Payne Jr.  |
Donald M. Payne |
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Contents |
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Primary: New Jersey had a mostly closed primary system, in which registered Republicans and Democrats could only vote in their own party's primary, but voters who had never voted in a primary before could choose either party.
Voter registration: Voters had to register to vote in the primary by March 11. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 16.[2]
- See also: New Jersey elections, 2012
Incumbent: On March 6, 2012, district incumbent Donald Payne (D) died from complications of colon cancer. He had originally planned to run for re-election.[3] A special election was held to select a representative to fill Payne's vacated seat for just one month before the representative elected for the next term took office.
The North Jersey Record labeled the Democratic primary in the 10th one of the most competitive primaries of 2012.[4]
This was the first election using new district maps based on 2010 Census data. New Jersey's 10th congressional district was located in the northern portion of the state and parts of Essex, Union, and Hudson counties.[5]
Candidates
Note: Election results were added on election night as races were called. Vote totals will be added when official election results are certified. For more information about Ballotpedia's election coverage plan, click here. If you find any errors in this list, please email: Geoff Pallay.
General election candidates
June 5, 2012 primary results
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Primary Results
Democratic Primary
| New Jersey's 10th Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Donald Payne Jr. |
59.6% | 36,576 |
| Ronald C. Rice | 19.5% | 11,939 |
| Dennis Flynn | 1.3% | 779 |
| Nia Gill | 16.6% | 10,207 |
| Wayne Smith | 2.2% | 1,356 |
| Cathy Wright | 0.8% | 501 |
| Total Votes | 61,358 | |
Issues
Legacy
Newark City Councilman Donald Payne Jr. was running for the seat left empty by the death of his father, Donald Payne Sr. Payne Jr. stated, "I feel I am the best person at this time to follow in the legacy of Donald Payne and continue to serve in the manner to which you’ve been accustomed to being served for the last 23 years."[9]
Nia Gill and Ronald C. Rice said that voters shouldn't elect Donald Payne Jr. just because of his father. Gill stated she offered a "legacy of purpose,' while Rice called for the election to be "a referendum on taking our party back."[9]
Payne Jr. also had a bit of a setback on the issue of legacy when he was the only Democratic candidate unable to name any of his father's accomplishments in Congress.[9]
For his part, Rice was also the son of a New Jersey politician, with his father, Ronald L. Rice, being a longtime state senator.[10]
Women's issues
Nia Gill emphasized her potential to be New Jersey's first black congresswoman[9] as well as the only female on the state's currently all-male congressional delegation.[4]
Progressive politics
Ronald C. Rice considered himself the most progressive candidate in the race.[9]
Credentials
Nia Gill had been a member of the New Jersey Legislature since 1994. She served three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly and three in the New Jersey State Senate.[9] She earned her J.D. from Rutgers University.[9]
Ronald C. Rice was a two-term Newark city councilman with a law degree from Seton Hall.[9]
Donald Payne Jr. was Newark city council president, had served on the city council for two terms and had served three terms as Essex County freeholder.[7]
Wayne Smith was mayor of Irvington.[7]
Cathy Wright and Dennis Flynn were first-time candidates. Wright said that was an advantage: "I think that’s what Washington needs, more real people — not career politicians."[9]
Endorsements
Local officials
New Jersey's 10th covered parts of Essex, Union, and Hudson counties.[11] The Essex County Democrats, along with two influential Hudson County Democrats, backed Donald Payne Jr. The Hudson County Democrats were behind Nia Gill, and she was also projected to be strong in the suburbs. Union County was seen as up in the air. Ronald C. Rice had the backing of three Newark city councilmembers, whose support held water in the South Ward, traditionally a Payne stronghold.[9]
Unions
The state's biggest union, Communications Workers of America, along with the SEIU local, supported Ronald C. Rice.[12]
The Teamsters, firefighters, and retail workers unions came out in support of Donald Payne Jr..[13]
Womens groups
The National Women’s Political Caucus and Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey endorsed Nia Gill.[14]
Other
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed Donald Payne Jr.[15]
Fundraising
Donald Payne Jr. outraised and outspent his opponents. Between April 1 and May 16, he raised more than all the other Democratic contenders put together.[16] In total, Payne raised $188,688, while the next highest fundraisers, Nia Gill and Ronald C. Rice, raised $121,029 and $45,325 respectively.[17]
Unions contributed approximately $17,000 to Payne's campaign, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi donated $2,000.[17]
Rice received $2,500 from each of the following: New Jersey State Senator Richard Codey, the Democracy for America PAC, and Jordan Paul, head of the Moroccan American Center for policy.[17]
Gill's largest donation was $5,000, which came from the American Dental Association.[17]
Wayne Smith, Cathy Wright, and Dennis Flynn each raised under $5,000 total.[9]
Impact of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in New Jersey
New Jersey lost a congressional seat following the results of the 2010 Census, bringing its number of representatives down to 12. A new map was approved on December 23, 2011.
The 10th district was re-drawn after the 2010 Census. The new district was composed of the following percentages of voters of the old congressional districts.[18][19]
- 4 percent from the 7th congressional district
- 12 percent from the 8th congressional district
- 72 percent from the 10th congressional district
- 12 percent from the 13th congressional district
Registration statistics
As of October 25, 2012, District 10 had the following partisan registration breakdown according to the New Jersey Secretary of State:
| New Jersey Congressional District 10[20] | |||||||
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| Congressional District | District Total | Democrats | Republicans | Other & Unaffiliated | Advantage | Party Advantage | Change in Advantage from 2010 |
| District 10 | 407,960 | 207,830 | 20,739 | 179,391 | Democratic | 902.12% | -175.63% |
| "Party advantage" is the percentage gap between the two major parties in registered voters. "Change in advantage" is the spread in difference of party advantage between 2010 and 2012 based on the congressional district number only. | |||||||
District partisanship
FairVote's Monopoly Politics 2012 study
- See also: FairVote's Monopoly Politics 2012
In 2012, FairVote did a study on partisanship in the congressional districts, giving each a percentage ranking (D/R) based on the new 2012 maps and comparing that to the old 2010 maps. New Jersey's 10th District became more Republican because of redistricting.[21]
- 2012: 82D / 18R
- 2010: 83D / 17R
Cook Political Report's PVI
In 2012, Cook Political Report released its updated figures on the Partisan Voter Index, which measured each congressional district's partisanship relative to the rest of the country. New Jersey's 10th congressional district had a PVI of D+31, which was the 13th most Democratic district in the country. In 2008, this district was won by Barack Obama (D), 85-15 percent over John McCain (R). In 2004, John Kerry (D) won the district 80-20 percent over George W. Bush (R).[22]
Campaign donors
Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2012 elections season. Below are the candidates' reports.[23][24]
Donald Payne Jr.
| Donald Payne Jr. Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| Pre-primary[25] | May 24, 2012 | $0.00 | $188,688.26 | $(81,914.69) | $106,773.57 | ||||
| July Quarterly[26] | July 15 | $106,773.57 | $203,746.00 | $(318,940.63) | $-8,421.06 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $392,434.26 | $(400,855.32) | ||||||||
District history
2010
On November 2, 2010, Donald Payne was re-elected to the United States House for a twelfth term. He defeated Michael J. Alonso (R), Robert Louis Toussaint (Action No Talk), and Joanne Miller (Agent of Change).[27]
| United States House, New Jersey General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Donald M. Payne Incumbent |
85.2% | 95,299 | |
| Republican | Michael J. Alonso | 12.8% | 14,357 | |
| Action No Talk | Robert Louis Toussaint | 1% | 1,141 | |
| Party of Change | Joanne Miller | 1% | 1,080 | |
| Total Votes | 111,877 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2012
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2012
- United States Senate elections in New Jersey, 2012
References
- ↑ Politico "2012 House Race Results"
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State "Voter Registration Information," Accessed June 30, 2012
- ↑ New York Times "Donald M. Payne, First Black Elected to Congress From New Jersey, Dies at 77," March 6, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 North Jersey.com "Harrison: New Jersey's competitive primaries," April 22, 2012
- ↑ New Jersey Redistricting Map "Map" Accessed September 25, 2012
- ↑ PolitickerNJ "Councilman Rice to vie for Newark's congressional seat," Accessed December 22, 2011
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 NJ.gov "U.S. Senate Primary Candidates," Accessed April 2, 2012
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 NJ.gov "Candidate List" Accessed September 19, 2012
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 New Jersey Star-Ledger "In packed 10th District congressional election, Donald Payne Jr. is viewed as front-runner," May 24, 2012
- ↑ Ronald C. Rice campaign website "About," Accessed May 25, 2012
- ↑ New Jersey Redistricting Commission "Congressional Map 2012," Accessed May 26, 2012
- ↑ New Jersey Star-Ledger "Retail workers union endorses Donald Payne Jr. in 10th District congressional race," May 15, 2012
- ↑ Donald Payne Jr. campaign website "Endorsements," Accessed May 26, 2012
- ↑ PolitickerNJ "Women's groups endorse Gill in CD 10," May 4, 2012
- ↑ New Jersey Star-Ledger "Nancy Pelosi endorses Donald Payne Jr. to replace late father in N.J.'s 10th District," May 22, 2012
- ↑ (Long Island) Newsday "Payne Jr. leading Dem. primary fundraising battle," May 25, 2012
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 New Jersey Star-Ledger "Donald Payne Jr. handily defeating Democratic foes when it comes to fundraising," May 25, 2012
- ↑ Moonshadow Mobile's CensusViewer "New Jersey's congressional districts 2001-2011 comparison"
- ↑ Labels & Lists "VoterMapping software voter counts"
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "Congressional Voter Registration Statistics," May 22, 2012
- ↑ FairVote "2011 Redistricting and 2012 Elections in New Jersey," September 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "Partisan Voting Index Districts of the 113th Congress: 2004 & 2008" Accessed October 2012
- ↑ Federal Election Commission "Donald Payne Jr. Summary Report," Accessed October 11, 2012
- ↑ Federal Election Commission "NJ District 10 Summary" Accessed October 11, 2012
- ↑ Federal Election Commission "Donald Payne Jr. Pre-Primary" Accessed October 11, 2012
- ↑ Federal Election Commission "Donald Payne Jr. July Quarterly" Accessed October 11, 2012
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010"
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