New Jersey's 4th Congressional District election, 2024

2026 → ← 2022
New Jersey's 4th Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 25, 2024
Primary: June 4, 2024 General: November 5, 2024
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in New Jersey
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Safe Republican Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024
See also
New Jersey's 4th Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th New Jersey elections, 2024 U.S. Congress elections, 2024 U.S. Senate elections, 2024 U.S. House elections, 2024 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House racesArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House racesFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House racesOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House racesTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House racesVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House racesSubmit

All U.S. House districts, including the 4th Congressional District of New Jersey, held elections in 2024. The general election was November 5, 2024. The primary was June 4, 2024. The filing deadline was March 25, 2024. The outcome of this race affected the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. All 435 House districts were up for election.

At the time of the election, Republicans held a 220-212 majority with three vacancies. As a result of the election, Republicans retained control of the U.S. House, winning 220 seats to Democrats' 215. To read more about the 2024 U.S. House elections, click here.

In the 2022 election in this district, the Republican candidate won 66.9%-31.4%. Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 60.6%-38.1%.

This race was one of 75 races in 2024 that was a rematch of the 2022 election. In 2024, Democrats won 39 of these matches, while Republicans won 36 of them. Democrats won 38 of those districts in 2022, and Republicans won 37.

The outcome of this race affected the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. All 435 House districts were up for election.

At the time of the election, Republicans held a 220-212 majority with three vacancies. As a result of the election, Republicans retained control of the U.S. House, winning 220 seats to Democrats' 215. To read more about the 2024 U.S. House elections, click here.

In the 2022 election in this district, the Republican candidate won 66.9%-31.4%. Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 60.6%-38.1%.

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• New Jersey's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Democratic primary)
• New Jersey's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Incumbent Chris Smith defeated Matthew Jenkins, John Morrison, and Barry Bendar in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Smith (R)	67.4	265,652
		Matthew Jenkins (D)	31.7	124,803
		John Morrison (L)	0.5	1,950
		Barry Bendar (G)	0.5	1,823

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 394,228
= 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 U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Matthew Jenkins advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matthew Jenkins	100.0	25,389

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 25,389
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Pam Daniels (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Incumbent Chris Smith defeated David Schmidt in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Smith	84.7	36,219
		David Schmidt	15.3	6,538

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,757
= 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.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Matthew Jenkins

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Matt Jenkins was born in New Jersey, raised in Toms River, and now residing with his partner Alison and her children Max and Leo in Monmouth County, the heart of the 4th Congressional District. Matt attended public school in the Toms River School District K-12. He attended Ocean County Community College before completing his degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. He spent years working in biomedical research before opening a custom furniture shop and growing his company into a General Contracting business building residential homes for families across the tri-state area. While challenging in so many ways, the last few years have pushed Matt to do more for his community. After years of activism and community service, Matt is ready to represent NJ-04 and tackle today’s problems."

---

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

---

The GOP is looking to control and subjugate half the population. It is time to codify Roe into federal law for the safety of all women across this country. We are all equal under the law. Equality is only achieved through the freedom to control our own bodies, lives, and futures. Birth control is health care. Affordable access to birth control is a right, not a privilege. Healthcare is a decision between a patient and their doctor. The government has no business in the exam room.

---

We have rebuilt the most robust economy in the world and created more than 15 million jobs, but everyday living is still too expensive. Corporate consolidation is driving up prices. 4 Companies control all meat packing in the US. 2 are not even US companies. 4 Companies make most of the baby formula. Do you remember that shortage? Corporations are vacuuming up single-family homes, artificially driving up prices. We must stand with small businesses. This is where more than half of all American jobs come from. Let’s work to bring more jobs to New Jersey.

---

Changing jobs, starting a business, or going to school should not hinder you from having healthcare. It is time to move towards a healthcare system that works for all Americans. Create a single-payer option and allow Americans to buy into it. Continue bringing down the costs of Rx drugs. The same drug sold to Americans should not be cheaper across the border. Negotiate drug prices within Medicare and use the savings for the Child Tax Credit.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 in 2024.

John Morrison

Party: Libertarian Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "John Morrison was born and raised in Edison, NJ, and currently lives in Red Bank with his wife Mara, daughter Marlis & dog Skye. He attended Penn State University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in History, before attending Monmouth University where he obtained a Masters in Arts in Teaching. John has been a US History and Journalism teacher in the Carteret School District since 2013, teaching 6th, 7th, & 8th grade. Becoming a Libertarian in 2015, John has since become an active member New Jersey’s Libertarian Party, culminating in running for State Legislature in 2023 for New Jersey’s 13th District. After a decade plus teaching History, John is prepared to make some of his own, bringing actual change to NJ-04 where the Government works for you, and not the other way around."

---

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

---

Term Limits: Our founders did not include term limits because they could not fathom a time where one person would be willing to or voted into power for decades at a time. We have term limits for our highest elected official, yet do not have the same for those in Congress or the Senate. This allows the few to consistently assert their power onto the many. This also allows our elected officials to abuse their positions for their own financial gain. My first order of business would be to sponsor or show my full support to any bill that would immediately impose term limits.

---

Limited Government/USA First Policy: Our national debt is an non-stop train heading north. The Republican party used to be the party of limited Government, and now, even when they vote against bills for Federal funding, they'll happily accept those funds even at the expense of their own constituents. We need to put the United States first, keep our taxpayer dollars here for our own infrastructure before we consider sending a penny elsewhere.

---

Free Speech: We do not need to agree with or like anyone's opinions or statements. We have the ability as human beings to choose to consume the content we are presented. If we cut ourselves off from everything we find offensive or against our own stances, than we will have learned nothing. Limiting speech, and censorship of any kind goes against the basic principles of our country.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 in 2024.

Voting information

See also: Voting in New Jersey

Election information in New Jersey: Nov. 5, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 15, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 15, 2024
• Online: Oct. 15, 2024

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 4, 2024
• By mail: Received by Oct. 29, 2024
• Online: N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 5, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 26, 2024 to Nov. 3, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (EST)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

The GOP is looking to control and subjugate half the population. It is time to codify Roe into federal law for the safety of all women across this country.

We are all equal under the law. Equality is only achieved through the freedom to control our own bodies, lives, and futures.

Birth control is health care. Affordable access to birth control is a right, not a privilege.

Healthcare is a decision between a patient and their doctor. The government has no business in the exam room.

We have rebuilt the most robust economy in the world and created more than 15 million jobs, but everyday living is still too expensive.

Corporate consolidation is driving up prices.

4 Companies control all meat packing in the US. 2 are not even US companies.

4 Companies make most of the baby formula. Do you remember that shortage?

Corporations are vacuuming up single-family homes, artificially driving up prices.

We must stand with small businesses. This is where more than half of all American jobs come from.

Let’s work to bring more jobs to New Jersey.

Changing jobs, starting a business, or going to school should not hinder you from having healthcare. It is time to move towards a healthcare system that works for all Americans.

Create a single-payer option and allow Americans to buy into it.

Continue bringing down the costs of Rx drugs. The same drug sold to Americans should not be cheaper across the border.

Negotiate drug prices within Medicare and use the savings for the Child Tax Credit.

John Morrison (L)

Term Limits:

Our founders did not include term limits because they could not fathom a time where one person would be willing to or voted into power for decades at a time. We have term limits for our highest elected official, yet do not have the same for those in Congress or the Senate. This allows the few to consistently assert their power onto the many. This also allows our elected officials to abuse their positions for their own financial gain. My first order of business would be to sponsor or show my full support to any bill that would immediately impose term limits.

Limited Government/USA First Policy: Our national debt is an non-stop train heading north. The Republican party used to be the party of limited Government, and now, even when they vote against bills for Federal funding, they'll happily accept those funds even at the expense of their own constituents. We need to put the United States first, keep our taxpayer dollars here for our own infrastructure before we consider sending a penny elsewhere.

Free Speech:

We do not need to agree with or like anyone's opinions or statements. We have the ability as human beings to choose to consume the content we are presented. If we cut ourselves off from everything we find offensive or against our own stances, than we will have learned nothing. Limiting speech, and censorship of any kind goes against the basic principles of our country.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

Violent crime is rising, and the law enforcement officers expected to protect us are under-staffed, under-resourced, and outgunned – all because Republicans have voted against investing in local law enforcement. On top of that we must pass comprehensive legislation to protect our communities from senseless violence.

Raise the age for semi-automatic weapons to 21. Close dangerous loopholes where domestic abusers, convicted felons, or fugitives can skip background checks when buying guns. Use red flag laws as a tool to empower our communities and law enforcement to restrict someone who is dangerous access to weapons. Expand mental health and supportive services in schools

Support safe storage laws such as the Child Access Prevention Law.

John Morrison (L)

Our bloated and constantly growing Government. This trickles down from the Federal Government all the way to the local levels. Our Government has the duty to serve the people that elected them, and far too often those roles are reversed.

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

John Morrison (L)

My Father is the most intelligent and hardworking man I have ever had the privilege to be around.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

Members of the U.S. Congress should embody several key characteristics and principles to effectively serve their constituents and fulfill their legislative duties:

Integrity: A commitment to honesty and ethical behavior is essential for building trust with constituents and colleagues.

Public Service Orientation: A genuine desire to serve the public and improve the lives of constituents is crucial.

Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills are necessary for conveying ideas, advocating for policies, and engaging with the public.

Bipartisanship: The ability to work across party lines and collaborate with others is important for effective governance.

Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical skills help in understanding complex issues, evaluating policies, and making informed decisions.

Constituent Engagement: Actively listening to and representing the views and needs of constituents is vital.

Adaptability: The political landscape can change rapidly, so flexibility and openness to new ideas are important.

Commitment to Accountability: Being answerable to constituents and transparent in decision-making fosters trust and responsibility.

Passion for Issues: A strong interest in specific issues can drive effective advocacy and policymaking.

Knowledge of Government Processes: Understanding the legislative process, rules, and procedures helps navigate Congress effectively.

These characteristics help ensure that members of Congress can represent their constituents well and contribute positively to the legislative process.

John Morrison (L)

An elected official needs to be someone who can hear new ideas and concerns and evolve. Giving in to party politics will only hurt those who elected you.

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

John Morrison (L)

My compassion for my fellow Americans knows no bounds. I want to do well so that my success can impact the daily lives of others.

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

Matthew Jenkins (D)

Members of Congress have several core responsibilities that are crucial to their role in the legislative branch of government. These include:

Legislation: Proposing, debating, and voting on new laws. This involves drafting bills and working through the legislative process.

Representation: Serving the interests and needs of their constituents. This includes listening to concerns, advocating for local issues, and ensuring constituents have a voice in government.

Oversight: Monitoring and evaluating the actions of the executive branch and other federal agencies to ensure they are implementing laws effectively and within legal boundaries.

Constituent Services: Assisting constituents with issues related to federal agencies, such as Social Security, veterans’ benefits, or immigration.

Advocacy: Promoting policies and initiatives that benefit their district or state, often through collaboration with various stakeholders.

Budgeting and Appropriations: Participating in the federal budget process, including funding decisions that affect government operations and services.

Committee Work: Serving on committees that focus on specific issues (e.g., finance, foreign affairs) to conduct hearings, gather information, and shape legislation.

Constituent Communication: Keeping constituents informed about legislative activities and decisions through town halls, newsletters, and social media.

Negotiation: Engaging in discussions and compromises with other lawmakers to achieve legislative goals.

Engagement with State and Local Issues: Addressing issues specific to their districts and collaborating with local governments and organizations.

These responsibilities are vital for ensuring that Congress functions effectively and remains responsive to the needs of the American people.

John Morrison (L)

Being the representative for your district first and foremost. The core responsibilities lie in knowing the people who elected you, and not just showing your face once every 2 years when you need to be reelected.

What legacy would you like to leave?

John Morrison (L)

I hope to leave behind a legacy of standing on your morals and facing adversity with a smile and determination.

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

Matthew Jenkins (D)

The Iranian hostage crisis is the first event I remember and I was 8 years old.

John Morrison (L)

The first Presidential election I specifically remember was Bill Clinton vs Bob Dole in 1996, when I was 9 Years old. I remember my parents debating over their chosen candidates, and that's when I began to study political science.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

My favorite book is A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway. I was sucked immediately into the story and I can remember the first time I read it, I was standing on a subway platform plowing through the book. Someone came up to me and tapped my shoulder and said, "good book?" I barely looked up and said, "yes it is!!"

John Morrison (L)

The Old Man and the Sea. The book is a reminder to me that whatever my successes or failures may be, the only person that needs to witness or comment on them is myself.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

John Morrison (L)

I would want to be Nick Carraway in the Great Gatsby, although I would like to think I'd stand up for myself better than he did.

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

John Morrison (L)

Anything sung in Frozen or Frozen 2, thanks to my 2 year old.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

The House of Representatives is the only governmental body that is elected every 2 years. It is the only branch that is representational by population in a state and it uses a committee structure to move legislation through to bills. The House controls the purse strings providing funding for our government; another unique quality.

John Morrison (L)

The House stands as one of the pillars of our checks and balances system. The House has the ability to create and form laws/bills that can tremendously help the American citizen. That level of Responsibility can be overwhelming and is taken too lightly by those there now.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

I think government or political experience can be beneficial, but it is not a requirement. I feel I can bring a unique set of skills and my work experience to the floor of the House and I will truly represent the people of New Jersey's 4th.

John Morrison (L)

Not necessarily. Having the ability to see things pragmatically and finding practical solutions is a far more valuable trait.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

John Morrison (L)

Our never ending national debt.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

Two years is too short to effectively govern and spend all o your time campaigning.

John Morrison (L)

If it is attached to a limited re election term, then yes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

John Morrison (L)

They need to be implemented immediately.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

I've had the opportunity to get to know many of New Jersey's representatives on the campaign trail and appreciate the work and accomplishments of Andy Kim, Frank Pallone, Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill.

John Morrison (L)

Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, George Washington, and James K. Polk

Both sitting representatives 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?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

I've heard many extraordinary stories from people in our district. Recently, I spent time with residents of a tent city in Toms River. They are human beings with rich histories, simply trying to live with dignity. It was eye-opening to see how easily one can end up in such circumstances. These individuals expressed immense gratitude for the space they have to call home. I am committed to doing more for this community.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

Members of Congress used to work together and make compromises. The border bill was a compromise with Democrats and a few Republicans, but it was shot down due to political pandering for an election instead of getting the real work done. We need to do better for the American people and work toward real goals, we need to find areas of compromise and places both sides can agree.

John Morrison (L)

Compromising is an effective tool, but not when it goes against your own self-code.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

John Morrison (L)

I would need full reassurance that any and all revenue raised helps the citizens of this country before it's even considered to be sent elsewhere.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

Congress should use its investigative powers judiciously and responsibly to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities. Here are some key ways to effectively utilize these powers:

Oversight of the Executive Branch: Congress should investigate the implementation of laws, ensuring that federal agencies operate within their legal bounds and use funds appropriately.

Addressing Public Concerns: Investigations can help address issues that significantly impact constituents, such as public health crises, corruption, or abuses of power.

Fact-Finding: Conducting hearings and investigations to gather facts on complex issues helps inform legislation and public policy decisions.

Transparency and Accountability: Investigative powers can promote transparency in government, holding officials accountable for their actions and decisions.

Bipartisan Cooperation: Engaging in investigations that have broad support across party lines can foster cooperation and build trust within Congress and with the public.

Protecting Civil Liberties: Investigating potential violations of rights and liberties helps safeguard democracy and protect citizens from government overreach.

Using Subpoenas Wisely: When necessary, Congress can issue subpoenas to compel testimony and obtain documents, but this should be done thoughtfully to respect individuals' rights and avoid politicization.

Public Reporting: Investigations should culminate in clear, accessible reports that inform the public about findings and recommendations, enhancing civic engagement.

Following Ethical Standards: Conducting investigations with integrity and professionalism helps maintain the credibility of Congress and its findings.

Balancing Interests: Congress should be mindful of balancing its investigative responsibilities with the need for a functional relationship with the executive branch.

John Morrison (L)

The U.S. House should use its investigative powers on itself.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Matthew Jenkins (D)

Moms Demand Action

New Jersey Citizen Action Network Garden State Equality New Jersey Young Democrats Monmouth County Democrats

Ocean County Democrats

What committees interest you?

John Morrison (L)

At this time I would look to consolidate or eliminate many committees that are currently present in our Federal system.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

John Morrison (L)

Both of which are lacking. We owe it to our taxpayers that every cent of revenue or spending is transparently known. Our Government seems to never hold itself accountable for any of it's actions, which leads us to believe they rarely act on our behalf.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Chris Smith	Republican Party	$838,737	$701,105	$364,065	As of December 31, 2024
Matthew Jenkins	Democratic Party	$44,775	$50,310	$-2,224	As of December 31, 2024
David Schmidt	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Barry Bendar	Green Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
John Morrison	Libertarian Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: New Jersey's 4th Congressional District election, 2024
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 5, 2024	October 29, 2024	October 22, 2024	October 15, 2024
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in New Jersey in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Jersey, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
New Jersey	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	200	N/A	3/25/2024	Source
New Jersey	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	100	N/A	6/4/2024	Source

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2024 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below was the map in use at the time of the election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2024

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in New Jersey.

New Jersey U.S. Senate competitiveness, 2014-2024
Office	Districts/ offices	Seats	Open seats	Candidates	Possible primaries	Contested Democratic primaries	Contested Republican primaries	% of contested primaries	Incumbents in contested primaries	% of incumbents in contested primaries
2024	1	1	0	7	2	1	1	100.0%	0	0.0%
2020	1	1	0	7	2	1	1	100.0%	1	100.0%
2018	1	1	0	4	2	1	1	100.0%	1	100.0%
2014	1	1	0	5	2	0	1	50.0%	0	0.0%

U.S. House

New Jersey U.S. House competitiveness, 2014-2024
Office	Districts/ offices	Seats	Open seats	Candidates	Possible primaries	Contested Democratic primaries	Contested Republican primaries	% of contested primaries	Incumbents in contested primaries	% of incumbents in contested primaries
2024	12	12	1	50	24	7	9	66.7%	7	63.6%
2022	12	12	1	56	24	6	9	62.5%	6	54.5%
2020	12	12	0	50	24	8	7	62.5%	8	66.7%
2018	12	12	2	49	24	8	4	50.0%	5	50.0%
2016	12	12	0	37	24	6	4	41.7%	7	58.3%
2014	12	12	3	45	24	7	5	50.0%	4	44.4%

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in New Jersey in 2024. Information below was calculated on April 14, 2024, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Fifty candidates, including 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, ran for New Jersey’s 12 U.S. House districts. That’s 4.17 candidates per district, less than the 4.67 candidates per district that ran in 2022 but the same as the 4.17 candidates per district that ran in 2020.

This was the first election to take place after U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi issued a preliminary injunction blocking the use of the county line primary ballot design in the Democratic Primary.

The 3rd Congressional District was the only open district, meaning no incumbents filed to run. That’s the same as in 2022, when one district was open. There were no open districts in 2020, two in 2018, none in 2016, and three in 2014.

Incumbent Andrew Kim (D-3rd) did not run for re-election to run for the U.S. Senate.

Nine candidates—five Democrats and four Republicans—ran for the open 3rd Congressional District, the most candidates that ran for a seat in New Jersey in 2024.

Sixteen primaries—seven Democratic and nine Republican—were contested in 2024, the most this decade. Fifteen primaries were contested in 2022 and 2020, respectively. There were 12 contested primaries in 2018, 10 contested primaries in 2016, and 12 in 2014.

Seven incumbents—five Democrats and two Republicans—faced primary challengers in 2024. That’s one more than in 2022, when six incumbents faced primary challengers, but less than in 2020, when eight faced primary challengers.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all twelve districts, meaning no seats were guaranteed to either party.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+14. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 14 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made New Jersey's 4th the 91st most Republican district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2020 presidential election would have been in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.

2020 presidential results in New Jersey's 4th based on 2024 district lines
Joe Biden	Donald Trump
38.1%	60.6%

Inside Elections Baselines

See also: Inside Elections

Inside Elections' Baseline is a figure that analyzes all federal and statewide election results from the district over the past four election cycles. The results are combined in an index estimating the strength of a typical Democratic or Republican candidate in the congressional district. The table below displays the Baseline data for this district.

Inside Elections Baseline for 2024
Democratic Baseline	Republican Baseline	Difference
36.5	61.4	D+25.0

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in New Jersey, 2020

New Jersey presidential election results (1900-2020)

• 15 Democratic wins
• 16 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020
Winning Party	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

See also: Party control of New Jersey state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of New Jersey's congressional delegation as of May 2024.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from New Jersey
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	9	11
Republican	0	3	3
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	12	14

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in New Jersey's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.

State executive officials in New Jersey, May 2024
Office	Officeholder
Governor	Phil Murphy
Lieutenant Governor	Tahesha Way
Secretary of State	Tahesha Way
Attorney General	Matt Platkin

State legislature

New Jersey State Senate

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	25
	Republican Party	15
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		40

New Jersey General Assembly

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	52
	Republican Party	28
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		80

Trifecta control

The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.

New Jersey Party Control: 1992-2024
Thirteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Eight years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	S	S	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Assembly	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2018.

2022

See also: New Jersey's 4th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Smith (R)	66.9	173,288
		Matthew Jenkins (D)	31.4	81,233
		Jason Cullen (L)	0.7	1,902
		David Schmidt (We the People)	0.5	1,197
		Hank Schroeder (Independent)	0.3	905
		Pam Daniels (Progress with Pam)	0.2	437

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 258,962
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Matthew Jenkins advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matthew Jenkins	100.0	20,655

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 20,655
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Incumbent Chris Smith defeated Mike Crispi, Steve Gray, and Mike Blasi (Unofficially withdrew) in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Smith	57.8	33,136
		Mike Crispi	36.8	21,115
		Steve Gray	4.0	2,305
		Mike Blasi (Unofficially withdrew)	1.3	751

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 57,307
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Robert Shapiro (R)
• David Burg (R)
• Tricia Flanagan (R)
• Daniel Francisco (R)

2020

See also: New Jersey's 4th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Incumbent Chris Smith defeated Stephanie Schmid, Hank Schroeder, Michael Rufo, and Andrew Pachuta in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Smith (R)	59.9	254,103
		Stephanie Schmid (D)	38.3	162,420
		Hank Schroeder (Make Change Happen Party)	0.8	3,195
		Michael Rufo (L)	0.6	2,583
		Andrew Pachuta (Common Sense Party)	0.5	2,067

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 424,368
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Stephanie Schmid defeated Christine Conforti and David Applefield in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on July 7, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Stephanie Schmid	67.4	38,444
		Christine Conforti	25.1	14,331
		David Applefield	7.4	4,244

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 57,019
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jim Keady (D)
• Tiffany Kaszuba (D)
• Hassan Shehadeh (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Incumbent Chris Smith defeated Alter Eliezer Richter in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on July 7, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Smith	94.8	51,636
	Submit photo	Alter Eliezer Richter	5.2	2,853

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 54,489
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: New Jersey's 4th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Smith (R)	55.4	163,065
		Josh Welle (D)	43.1	126,766
		Michael Rufo (L)	0.5	1,387
		Edward Stackhouse Jr. (Ed the Barber Party)	0.4	1,064
		Brian Reynolds (Check This Column Party)	0.3	851
		Felicia Stoler (The Inclusion Candidate Party)	0.3	844
	Submit photo	Allen Yusufov (Time for Change Party)	0.1	371

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 294,348
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Josh Welle defeated Jim Keady in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Welle	57.1	16,905
		Jim Keady	42.9	12,682

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 29,587
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Mike Keeling (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4

Incumbent Chris Smith advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 4 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Smith	100.0	25,930

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 25,930
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

See also

New Jersey	2024 primaries	2024 U.S. Congress elections
New Jersey congressional delegation Voting in New Jersey New Jersey elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

New Jersey's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Cory Booker (D)

Andrew Kim (D)

Representatives

District 1

Donald Norcross (D)

District 2

Jeff Van Drew (R)

District 3

Herbert Conaway (D)

District 4

Chris Smith (R)

District 5

Josh Gottheimer (D)

District 6

Frank Pallone (D)

District 7

Thomas Kean (R)

District 8

Robert Menendez (D)

District 9

Nellie Pou (D)

District 10

LaMonica McIver (D)

District 11

Mikie Sherrill (D)

District 12

Bonnie Coleman (D)

Democratic Party (11)

Republican Party (3)

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