Eric Houghtaling

Eric Houghtaling

Democratic Party

Prior offices

New Jersey General Assembly District 11

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Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Personal

Profession

Electrician

Contact

Campaign website

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Eric Houghtaling (Democratic Party) was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, representing District 11. He assumed office in 2016. He left office on January 11, 2022.

Houghtaling (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the New Jersey General Assembly to represent District 11. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Biography

Houghtaling's professional experience includes working as an electrician. He served on the Neptune Township Committee from 2011 to 2015, as mayor of Neptune Township in 2013, as deputy mayor of Neptune Township in 2012, and Neptune Township Police Commissioner in 2014.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2020-2021

Houghtaling was assigned to the following committees:

• Agriculture Committee, Chair
• Labor Committee
• Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee, Vice-chair
• Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee

2019-2020

Houghtaling was assigned to the following committees:

• Agriculture Committee, Chair
• Labor Committee
• Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee, Vice-Chair
• Telecommunications and Utilities Committee

2016 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Houghtaling served on the following committees:

New Jersey committee assignments, 2016
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Labor
• Telecommunications and Utilities

Elections

2021

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2021

General election

General election for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 (2 seats)

Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner defeated incumbent Joann Downey, incumbent Eric Houghtaling, and Dominique Faison in the general election for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Marilyn Piperno (R)	25.1	35,336
✔		Kim Eulner (R)	24.9	35,177
		Joann Downey (D)	24.7	34,830
		Eric Houghtaling (D)	24.5	34,555
		Dominique Faison (G)	0.8	1,152

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 141,050
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 (2 seats)

Incumbent Eric Houghtaling and incumbent Joann Downey advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 on June 8, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eric Houghtaling	50.1	7,836
✔		Joann Downey	49.9	7,816

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,652
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 (2 seats)

Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 on June 8, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Marilyn Piperno	50.6	7,201
✔		Kim Eulner	49.4	7,017

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 14,218
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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2019

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2019

General election

General election for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 (2 seats)

Incumbent Joann Downey and incumbent Eric Houghtaling defeated Michael Amoroso and Matthew Woolley in the general election for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joann Downey (D)	26.6	23,151
✔		Eric Houghtaling (D)	26.6	23,083
		Michael Amoroso (R)	23.8	20,670
	Submit photo	Matthew Woolley (R)	23.0	20,002

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 86,906
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 (2 seats)

Incumbent Joann Downey and incumbent Eric Houghtaling advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 on June 4, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joann Downey	50.2	4,133
✔		Eric Houghtaling	49.8	4,097

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,230
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 (2 seats)

Michael Amoroso and Matthew Woolley advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 11 on June 4, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael Amoroso	50.4	3,224
✔	Submit photo	Matthew Woolley	49.6	3,169

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,393
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2017

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2017

General election

Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2017. All 80 seats were up for election. State assembly members are elected to two-year terms. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 6, 2017. The filing deadline for the primary election was April 3, 2017. Legislative districts in the New Jersey General Assembly are multi-member districts, with two representatives in each district. In Democratic and Republican primary elections, the top two candidates move forward to the general election, and the top two candidates in the general election are declared the winners. Incumbent Joann Downey (D) and incumbent Eric Houghtaling (D) defeated Robert Acerra (R) and Michael Whelan (R) in the New Jersey General Assembly District 11 general election.

New Jersey General Assembly, District 11 General Election, 2017
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Joann Downey Incumbent	27.65%	31,347
	Democratic	Eric Houghtaling Incumbent	27.36%	31,012
	Republican	Robert Acerra	22.65%	25,672
	Republican	Michael Whelan	22.34%	25,320
Total Votes				113,351
Source: New Jersey Department of State

Races we watched

Ballotpedia identified eight races to watch in the New Jersey General Assembly 2017 elections: three seats with two Democratic members, three seats with two Republican members, and two seats split between the parties. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.

This district was a Race to Watch because both of the incumbents' margins of victory in the previous election were five points or less. Incumbents Eric Houghtaling (D) and Joann Downey (D) ran for re-election in 2017. Both were first elected in 2015 when they defeated Republican incumbents Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande. Houghtaling and Downey received 25.6 percent of the vote and 25.2 percent, respectively. Angelini and Casagrande received 24.8 percent and 24.4 percent, respectively. District 11 was one of 28 New Jersey state legislative districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 11 by 6.7 points. In 2012, Democrat Barack Obama won District 11 by 11.0 points. As of 2017, District 11 included parts of Monmouth County.

Democratic primary election

Incumbent Joann Downey and incumbent Eric Houghtaling defeated Aasim Johnson in the New Jersey General Assembly District 11 Democratic primary election.

New Jersey General Assembly, District 11 Democratic Primary, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Joann Downey Incumbent	50.68%	8,889
Eric Houghtaling Incumbent	49.32%	8,652
Aasim Johnson	0.00%	0
Total Votes		17,541
Source: New Jersey Department of State

Republican primary election

Robert Acerra and Michael Whelan were unopposed in the New Jersey General Assembly District 11 Republican primary election.

New Jersey General Assembly, District 11 Republican Primary, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Robert Acerra	50.47%	4,949
Michael Whelan	49.53%	4,856
Total Votes		9,805
Source: New Jersey Department of State

2015

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2015

Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 2, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2015. Since the general assembly uses multi-member districts, the top two candidates from each party in the primaries advanced to the general election. Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey were bracketed together and were unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Mary Pat Angelini and incumbent Caroline Casagrande were bracketed together and were unopposed in the Republican primary. Houghtaling and Downey defeated Angelini and Casagrande in the general election.

New Jersey General Assembly, District 11 General Election, 2015
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Eric Houghtaling	25.6%	15,149
	Democratic	Joann Downey	25.2%	14,906
	Republican	Mary Pat Angelini Incumbent	24.8%	14,653
	Republican	Caroline Casagrande Incumbent	24.4%	14,418
Total Votes				59,126

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Eric Houghtaling did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

2019

Eric Houghtaling completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Houghtaling's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

My top priority would be to advance measures that reduce the cost of government, which would lead to a reduction in property taxes. Our job as legislators is to make New Jersey a better place for future generations. As chair of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, I am committed to making sure that New Jersey’s Agricultural Sector, which is the third largest industry in the state, is healthy and vibrant for the future.
As a retired IBEW electrician and member of a labor union, I will keep working to ensure that workers are paid a fair and living wage and can retire in dignity -- and I will support measures that crack down on employers who are bad actors and mistreat workers.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a proud union member, I care deeply about public policy that would support workers in their fight for a fair wage, and crack down on employers who exploit their workers unfairly.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to the men and women that make the courageous decision to protect our country from its most dangerous enemies.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

My Cousin Vinny

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I work hard and get things done.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I truly believe it is the job of a Legislator to keep his or her constituents informed of what their state government is doing because too many people are unaware of the impact state government is having on their lives.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy wherein my constituents trust the elected officials who serve the 11th district to represent them and fight for them.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first major historical event I remember was the Cuban Missile Crisis, when I was 8 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a caddy at the Jumping Brook Golf Course from my sophomore year to my senior year of high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My garden

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Bob Dylan - You're a Big Girl Now

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

My time as Mayor of my hometown of Neptune Township has been beneficial to me on a number of issues. But my long career as an electrician, waking up early every morning and leading a crew on the job site, has served me well in elected office.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

I believe the state is taking on too much debt, and that we must work together to get our fiscal house in order.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

The ideal relationship is one where both branches of government work together, talk to each other, and compromise for the benefit of the people.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

It’s necessary to build relationships with other legislators. Otherwise, your initiatives will not succeed in the Legislature if you do not have the support of your colleagues.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I favor a process that keeps multiple communities together if they have long-standing relationships with each other.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

I am honored to serve as chair of the Agricultural and Natural Resources committee because I am advancing measures that would strengthen New Jersey’s third largest industry.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

It is a great honor for me to hear the stories of the men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Their stories motivate me to ensure our veterans are being well-served by their government.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in New Jersey

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of New Jersey scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2021

In 2021, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 4 to January 11.

• National Federation of Independent Business

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

• New Jersey Clean Water Action

Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.

• New Jersey League of Conservation Voters

Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.

• The American Conservative Union

Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2020

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show].
In 2020, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 14 to December 17. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. New Jersey Clean Water Action Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2019

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show].

In 2019, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 9, 2018, through January 14, 2020. Americans for Prosperity Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. New Jersey Clean Water Action Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Vietnam Veterans of America New Jersey State Council Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.

2018

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show].

In 2018, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 9 through January 8, 2019. Americans for Prosperity Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues. New Jersey Clean Water Action Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. Vietnam Veterans of America New Jersey State Council Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2017

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show].

In 2017, the 217th New Jersey State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 10 through January 9, 2018. American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil liberties. New Jersey Clean Water Action Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues. Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Vietnam Veterans of America New Jersey State Council Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2016

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show].
In 2016, the 217th New Jersey State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 12 through January 10, 2017. Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

See also

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Candidate

New Jersey General Assembly District 11

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the New Jersey General Assembly

Leadership

Representatives

District 1

Antwan McClellan (R)

Erik Simonsen (R)

District 2

Don Guardian (R)

Claire Swift (R)

District 3

Dave Bailey (D)

Heather Simmons (D)

District 4

Dan Hutchison (D)

Cody Miller (D)

District 5

William Moen (D)

William Spearman (D)

District 6

Louis Greenwald (D)

Melinda Kane (D)

District 7

Carol Murphy (D)

Balvir Singh (D)

District 8

Andrea Katz (D)

Michael Torrissi (R)

District 9

Gregory Myhre (R)

Brian Rumpf (R)

District 10

Paul Kanitra (R)

Gregory McGuckin (R)

District 11

Margie Donlon (D)

Luanne Peterpaul (D)

District 12

Robert Clifton (R)

Alex Sauickie (R)

District 13

Victoria Flynn (R)

Gerard Scharfenberger (R)

District 14

Wayne DeAngelo (D)

Tennille McCoy (D)

District 15

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)

Anthony Verrelli (D)

District 16

Mitchelle Drulis (D)

Roy Freiman (D)

District 17

Joseph Danielsen (D)

Kevin Egan (D)

District 18

Robert Karabinchak (D)

Sterley Stanley (D)

District 19

Craig Coughlin (D)

Yvonne Lopez (D)

District 20

Reginald Atkins (D)

Annette Quijano (D)

District 21

Michele Matsikoudis (R)

Nancy Muñoz (R)

District 22

Linda Carter (D)

James Kennedy (D)

District 23

John DiMaio (R)

Erik Peterson (R)

District 24

Dawn Fantasia (R)

Michael Inganamort (R)

District 25

Christian Barranco (R)

Aura Dunn (R)

District 26

Brian Bergen (R)

Jay Webber (R)

District 27

Rosy Bagolie (D)

Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)

District 28

Garnet Hall (D)

Cleopatra Tucker (D)

District 29

Eliana Marin (D)

Shanique Speight (D)

District 30

Sean Kean (R)

Avi Schnall (D)

District 31

William Sampson (D)

Barbara Stamato (D)

District 32

John Allen (D)

Jessica Ramirez (D)

District 33

Julio Marenco (D)

Gabriel Rodriguez (D)

District 34

Carmen Morales (D)

Michael Venezia (D)

District 35

Alaa Abdelaziz (D)

Shavonda Sumter (D)

District 36

Clinton Calabrese (D)

Gary Schaer (D)

District 37

Shama Haider (D)

Ellen Park (D)

District 38

Lisa Swain (D)

Chris Tully (D)

District 39

Robert Auth (R)

John Azzariti (R)

District 40

Al Barlas (R)

Christopher DePhillips (R)

Democratic Party (52)

Republican Party (28)