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New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2024

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2026
2022
New Jersey's 7th Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
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: Lean Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Lean Republican
Inside Elections: Tilt Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean 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 7th Congressional District
U.S. Senate1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th
New Jersey elections, 2024
U.S. Congress elections, 2024
U.S. Senate elections, 2024
U.S. House elections, 2024

Incumbent Thomas Kean Jr. (R) defeated Susan Altman (D), Andrew Black (G), and Lana Leguia (L) in the general election for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District on November 5, 2024. Click here for detailed results.

Politico's Matt Friedman called the contest "the most competitive major race in the state."[1] Kean was one of 19 U.S. House Republicans who represented districts that voted for Biden in 2020.

Party control of the district had gone back and forth leading up to the 2024 election. Republican Leonard Lance represented the district for a decade before Democrat Tom Malinowski defeated him in 2018. Kean ran against Malinowski in 2020 and lost 50.6%-49.4%. Kean defeated Malinowski 51.4%-48.6% in 2022 following redistricting.

Kean worked for the Environmental Protection Agency during the George H. W. Bush administration and as a staffer for former U.S. Rep. Bob Franks (R).[2] He was a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician and was the vice president of a fire department.[2] He served in both the New Jersey General Assembly and the state Senate.[2]

Kean, the grandson of former U.S. Rep. Robert Kean (R) and son of former Governor of New Jersey Thomas H. Kean, Sr. (R), stated on his campaign website, "As the representative for more than 775,000 New Jersey residents, Tom is focused on keeping costs low for families, improving access to care, supporting a robust and reliable infrastructure, boosting innovation at home, and helping students reach their top potential."[2]

Altman played college and professional basketball before becoming a teacher and a basketball coach.[3] She was the executive director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, which her campaign website described as "a non-profit organization focused primarily on combating political corruption in Trenton."[3]

Altman said she supported overturning Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.[4] Her campaign website stated, "The corruption tax is NJ’s biggest tax. It’s unseen but pervasive. New Jersey has more than enough money to restore parks, fund our schools, and pave the roads, but when the politically connected have their hands in the public coffers, the public gets the short end of the stick."[3]

Altman said Kean "can't be trusted to stand up to the extremists targeting reproductive rights."[5] Kean said, "My record on this issue is clear and so are Sue Altman's dishonest intentions."[6] In August 2024, Kean introduced the IVF for Families Act, which proposed providing income tax credits for in vitro fertilization.[7] Altman criticized Kean on X for not supporting U.S. Rep. Susan Wild's (D) bill in Congress, which Altman said would protect access to IVF.[8]

As of October 30, 2024, four major election forecasters differed in their ratings for the general election, with three rating it Lean Republican and one rating it Tilt Republican.

Kean raised and spent $6 million, and Altman raised $6.3 million and spent $6.2 million. To review all the campaign finance figures in full detail, click here.

New Jersey's 7th Congressional District was one of 34 congressional districts with a Republican incumbent or an open seat that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) targeted in 2024. To read about DCCC targeting initiatives, click here. For a complete list of DCCC targeted districts, click here.

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

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Incumbent Thomas Kean Jr. defeated Susan Altman, Andrew Black, and Lana Leguia in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Thomas Kean Jr.
Thomas Kean Jr. (R)
 
51.8
 
223,331
Image of Susan Altman
Susan Altman (D)
 
46.4
 
200,025
Image of Andrew Black
Andrew Black (G) Candidate Connection
 
1.0
 
4,258
Image of Lana Leguia
Lana Leguia (L) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
3,784

Total votes: 431,398
Candidate Connection = 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 7

Susan Altman advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on June 4, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Susan Altman
Susan Altman
 
100.0
 
38,030

Total votes: 38,030
Candidate Connection = 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

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Incumbent Thomas Kean Jr. defeated Roger Bacon in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on June 4, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Thomas Kean Jr.
Thomas Kean Jr.
 
78.2
 
37,623
Image of Roger Bacon
Roger Bacon Candidate Connection
 
21.8
 
10,460

Total votes: 48,083
Candidate Connection = 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.

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)


Candidate comparison

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.

Image of Thomas Kean Jr.

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

Biography:  Kean earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and earned a master’s degree from Tufts University. He worked for the Environmental Protection Agency and as a staffer for former U.S. Rep. Bob Franks. He was also a volunteer firefighter and EMT.



Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.


Kean’s campaign website said he “work[ed] in Congress to save small businesses and grow our economy” and that he would aim to “lower taxes and grow jobs.”


Kean supported securing the southern border, saying, “Joe Biden’s border crisis doesn’t just begin and end at border states—it’s plaguing our communities nationwide—and it’s made its way to NJ-07.”


Kean’s campaign website said, “Tom’s academic training and work experience reflect his lifelong concern for responsive and appropriate actions and policies that advance the preservation of the environment without imposing undue burdens on taxpayers and businesses.”


Show sources

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 in 2024.

Image of Susan Altman

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Altman earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University, where she played college basketball. She played abroad professionally and earned two master’s degrees from Oxford University. She was a teacher, basketball coach, and executive director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance.



Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.


In a campaign advertisement, Altman said, “I have a track record of fighting corruption on both sides of the aisle. … It doesn’t matter what party they're in because I’m not on their team; I’m on yours.”


Altman’s campaign website said, “With conservative extremists decimating reproductive rights, Sue will work to protect access to contraception, reproductive choice, and women’s health. As an advocate, Sue worked with grassroots groups to protect this right here in NJ.”


Altman said she would aim to lower costs and taxes. Her campaign website said she would “fight in Congress to spur competition in our economy, restore the SALT deduction so New Jerseyans are not double-taxed, fight for a livable wage for all workers, and ensure that homes are bought by humans, not corporations.”


Show sources

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 in 2024.

Image of Andrew Black

WebsiteTwitter

Party: Green Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "As someone who grew up in Ohio and has spent the last 20 years living and working in New Jersey, I understand the struggles and aspirations of working-class families. I am a proud working-class man, married with a child on the way, deeply committed to building a better future for all of us. In my campaign, I pledge to maintain the highest standards of integrity and transparency. I am not corrupt, and I will not take PAC money or large donations. My campaign is powered by the people, for the people. Together, we can create a government that truly represents our values and addresses the real issues facing our communities. Join me in this journey to bring honest and effective leadership to our government. Let's work together to ensure that every voice is heard and every family has the opportunity to thrive."


Key Messages

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


I am dedicated to ensuring that every person has access to basic needs like food and housing, which are fundamental human rights. To achieve this, I advocate for comprehensive policies that guarantee nutritious food and safe, affordable housing for all. This entails supporting local food initiatives, expanding food assistance programs, and creating more affordable housing options. Additionally, I propose implementing measures to pay farmers for excess produce to feed the poor, rather than letting it go to waste.


It's time to end the endless wars that drain our resources and devastate communities around the world. We must prioritize peace and diplomacy, resolving conflicts through dialogue rather than military intervention. This includes advocating for the freedom of the Palestinian people. I'm committed to reducing the military budget and reallocating funds to invest in Americans' healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. By prioritizing our citizens over warfare, we can build a more prosperous and peaceful future. Join me in ending forever wars, supporting global rights, and investing in America's future.


It's urgent to address the environmental crisis within five years, not the 30 often suggested. We must hold oil and gas companies accountable for decades of environmental degradation. I propose strict regulations and penalties to ensure they bear the cost of cleanup and transition to renewable energy. Additionally, supporting the land back movement is crucial to restoring Indigenous stewardship of the land. We can't afford to wait any longer. Join me in demanding immediate action to protect our planet for future generations.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 in 2024.

Image of Lana Leguia

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Libertarian Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "A lifelong advocate of individual liberty, I am dedicated to championing freedom in all my endeavors. I have lived in New Jersey since 2017, currently residing in Sussex County. I am heavily involved with the New Jersey Libertarian Party, bringing liberty to my local community, and am the chapter leader for Ladies of Liberty Alliance, New Jersey. I have a clear vision to shrink the bloated government and shake up the status-quo. I cannot be bought. I cannot be intimidated."


Key Messages

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


We need to dismantle the military industrial complex. I support ending all foreign aid immediately, closing all US basis overseas, reducing the military budget, withdrawing from NATO, bringing all the American soldiers home, ending taxpayer funding weapon sales and subsides to corporate arms manufacturers. We need to unite behind peace and demand congress remove our role in the continuation of global conflicts and deliberate destabilization of foreign nations.


Exposing and preventing the further expansion of surveillance state. I support ending the Patriot Act and reforming all authorizations given to the Federal Government to spy on Americans. I support ending the unconstitutional provisions and laws allowing the gathering and storing of private information.


Immigrants make America great. I support an “Ellis Island” style immigration system and abolishing ICE.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 in 2024.

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

I am dedicated to ensuring that every person has access to basic needs like food and housing, which are fundamental human rights. To achieve this, I advocate for comprehensive policies that guarantee nutritious food and safe, affordable housing for all. This entails supporting local food initiatives, expanding food assistance programs, and creating more affordable housing options. Additionally, I propose implementing measures to pay farmers for excess produce to feed the poor, rather than letting it go to waste.

It's time to end the endless wars that drain our resources and devastate communities around the world. We must prioritize peace and diplomacy, resolving conflicts through dialogue rather than military intervention. This includes advocating for the freedom of the Palestinian people. I'm committed to reducing the military budget and reallocating funds to invest in Americans' healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. By prioritizing our citizens over warfare, we can build a more prosperous and peaceful future. Join me in ending forever wars, supporting global rights, and investing in America's future.

It's urgent to address the environmental crisis within five years, not the 30 often suggested. We must hold oil and gas companies accountable for decades of environmental degradation. I propose strict regulations and penalties to ensure they bear the cost of cleanup and transition to renewable energy. Additionally, supporting the land back movement is crucial to restoring Indigenous stewardship of the land. We can't afford to wait any longer. Join me in demanding immediate action to protect our planet for future generations.
We need to dismantle the military industrial complex. I support ending all foreign aid immediately, closing all US basis overseas, reducing the military budget, withdrawing from NATO, bringing all the American soldiers home, ending taxpayer funding weapon sales and subsides to corporate arms manufacturers. We need to unite behind peace and demand congress remove our role in the continuation of global conflicts and deliberate destabilization of foreign nations.

Exposing and preventing the further expansion of surveillance state. I support ending the Patriot Act and reforming all authorizations given to the Federal Government to spy on Americans. I support ending the unconstitutional provisions and laws allowing the gathering and storing of private information.

Immigrants make America great. I support an “Ellis Island” style immigration system and abolishing ICE.
Public policy must prioritize housing, ensuring affordable options and protecting tenants' rights. It should guarantee access to nutritious food, supporting local food initiatives and reducing food insecurity. Environmental policy must address the urgent climate crisis, setting ambitious goals for a sustainable future and holding corporations accountable for environmental damage. Workers' rights should be strengthened, with fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize. These policies are essential for a just and equitable society.
Foreign policy, economic freedom, free market principles, personal liberty and autonomy, property rights, upholding the constitution and limiting federal power.
I look up to my mother. She is an incredible woman with multiple degrees, opened a successful dance studio in Saudi Arabia (where it was illegal to dance), homeschooled my brother and I, took care of my grandmother until she passed, taught Sunday school, is incredibly kind, funny, and so much more. Her determination is inspiring. She never told herself she couldn't achieve something and instilled the same in me. I hope to achieve as much as she has. I also hope to leave the world a little be warmer, just as she has.
It's essential for leaders to be transparent, accountable, and dedicated to serving the best interests of their constituents.
Integrity, tenacity and an unflinching dedication to their value system and principles.
As a future office holder, I value compassion, truthfulness, and freedom from corruption. I believe these qualities are essential for effective leadership and for earning the trust of the people I serve. My commitment to these principles guides my actions and decisions, ensuring that I always prioritize the needs of the community and uphold the highest ethical standards.
I have a unique ability to never give up or back down. I am not easily swayed by flattery, pride, or bribery. I listen well and can brainstorm creative solutions to tough problems.
I am committed to leaving the world a better place than when I found it, especially for my soon-to-be daughter and all future generations. This means working tirelessly to address pressing issues like climate change, inequality, and injustice. I want her to inherit a world that is more equitable, sustainable, and compassionate—a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. My actions today are driven by the hope for a brighter tomorrow for her and for all.
One that I can look back on and say that I never abandoned my principles.
McDonald's. I worked there for about a year when I was maybe 15/16.
Jean-Luc Picard's character embodies many admirable qualities, including his commitment to justice and his respect for the dignity of all individuals. His leadership style and the values of the society he inhabits are indeed aspirational.
Having a diverse government can bring a range of perspectives and ideas to the table, reflecting the rich diversity of our country. While experience can be valuable, it's important to also have fresh voices and viewpoints to address the complex challenges we face.
No. Representatives are individuals who have been elected to representative their community. Congress should be incredibly diverse because of this. We should have a line up of representatives from different educational backgrounds, experience, age, race, political affiliation and different economic status. Yet, we don't. The two-party system pumps out the same puppets every two years.
Term limits for politicians can help prevent the entrenchment of power and encourage fresh perspectives and ideas in government. They can also reduce the risk of corruption and complacency by ensuring that elected officials are held accountable to the people they serve.
The expansion of the war machine, the welfare state, corporatism, generative AI, and rising cost of living.
No. Two years leaves officials one year to learn the ropes and another to campaign for reelection. It's not enough time. I think a minimum of four years is better.
I do not support term limits.
I believe that effective governance often requires a degree of compromise to achieve progress and address complex issues. However, I am steadfast in my commitment not to compromise on my core values and beliefs. In recent years, excessive compromise and a lack of principled leadership have contributed to the challenges facing our country today. While compromise is necessary, particularly in a diverse society like ours, there must be a clear line where our fundamental principles and values are non-negotiable.
It depends on your definition of compromise. If you are contextualizing compromise as selling out your principles and making deals with evil for small wins - no. Change happens slowly and sometimes you have to celebrate the small incremental steps towards the ideal. I would support policies heading in the direction of ultimate liberty even if in the moment it isn't the radical change I would want.
Redirecting funds from the military complex to essential needs like housing, food, and environmental protection can lead to a more balanced and beneficial allocation of resources, reflecting the priorities of the people.
Using investigative power to address corruption in all branches of government and corporate control is crucial for ensuring accountability and restoring faith in democratic processes.
Green Party
New Jersey Libertarian Party. Chase Oliver, Libertarian Presidential Candidate.
Transparency and accountability are the cornerstones of a trustworthy government. By being open books, governments can build trust with their citizens, showing that they have nothing to hide and are working in the public's best interests. Accountability ensures that leaders are held responsible for their actions and decisions, fostering a culture of integrity and trustworthiness. Together, transparency and accountability form the foundation of good governance, paving the way for a more just and equitable society.



Campaign ads

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Republican Party Tom Kean

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Tom Kean while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.


Democratic Party Susan Altman

July 8, 2024

View more ads here:


Election competitiveness

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

Polls are conducted with a variety of methodologies and have margins of error or credibility intervals.[9] The Pew Research Center wrote, "A margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level means that if we fielded the same survey 100 times, we would expect the result to be within 3 percentage points of the true population value 95 of those times."[10] For tips on reading polls from FiveThirtyEight, click here. For tips from Pew, click here.

The links below show polls for this race aggregated by FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, where available. Click here to read about FiveThirtyEight's criteria for including polls in its aggregation.

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.[11]
  • 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.[12][13][14]

Race ratings: New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2024
Race trackerRace ratings
November 5, 2024October 29, 2024October 22, 2024October 15, 2024
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The HillLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesTilt RepublicanTilt RepublicanTilt RepublicanTilt Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean 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.

Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

Election spending

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Thomas Kean Jr. Republican Party $6,023,133 $6,068,925 $48,287 As of December 31, 2024
Susan Altman Democratic Party $6,252,517 $6,241,501 $11,016 As of December 31, 2024
Roger Bacon Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Andrew Black Green Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Lana Leguia 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.


Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[15][16][17]

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

By candidate By election

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.


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

2023_01_03_nj_congressional_district_07.jpg
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+1. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 1 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made New Jersey's 7th the 217th most Republican district nationally.[18]

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 7th based on 2024 district lines
Joe Biden Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party
51.1% 47.3%

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.[19] The table below displays the Baseline data for this district.

Inside Elections Baseline for 2024
Democratic Baseline Democratic Party Republican Baseline Republican Party Difference
46.7 51.0 D+4.3

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 Democratic Party Phil Murphy
Lieutenant Governor Democratic Party Tahesha Way
Secretary of State Democratic Party Tahesha Way
Attorney General Democratic Party 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

Election context

Ballot access requirements

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 history

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

2022

See also: New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Thomas Kean Jr. defeated incumbent Tom Malinowski in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Thomas Kean Jr.
Thomas Kean Jr. (R)
 
51.4
 
159,392
Image of Tom Malinowski
Tom Malinowski (D)
 
48.6
 
150,701

Total votes: 310,093
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Incumbent Tom Malinowski defeated Roger Bacon in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tom Malinowski
Tom Malinowski
 
94.5
 
37,304
Image of Roger Bacon
Roger Bacon Candidate Connection
 
5.5
 
2,185

Total votes: 39,489
Candidate Connection = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Thomas Kean Jr.
Thomas Kean Jr.
 
45.6
 
25,111
Image of Philip Rizzo
Philip Rizzo Candidate Connection
 
23.6
 
12,988
Image of Erik Peterson
Erik Peterson
 
15.4
 
8,493
Image of John P. Flora
John P. Flora
 
5.5
 
3,051
Image of John Isemann
John Isemann Candidate Connection
 
5.0
 
2,732
Image of Kevin Dorlon
Kevin Dorlon Candidate Connection
 
4.1
 
2,237
Sterling Schwab
 
0.8
 
429

Total votes: 55,041
Candidate Connection = 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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2020

See also: New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Incumbent Tom Malinowski defeated Thomas Kean Jr. in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tom Malinowski
Tom Malinowski (D)
 
50.6
 
219,629
Image of Thomas Kean Jr.
Thomas Kean Jr. (R)
 
49.4
 
214,318

Total votes: 433,947
Candidate Connection = 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Incumbent Tom Malinowski advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on July 7, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tom Malinowski
Tom Malinowski
 
100.0
 
80,334

Total votes: 80,334
Candidate Connection = 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 U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Thomas Kean Jr. defeated Raafat Barsoom and Tom Phillips in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on July 7, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Thomas Kean Jr.
Thomas Kean Jr.
 
79.4
 
45,395
Image of Raafat Barsoom
Raafat Barsoom
 
10.8
 
6,151
Image of Tom Phillips
Tom Phillips
 
9.8
 
5,631

Total votes: 57,177
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Tom Malinowski defeated incumbent Leonard Lance, Diane Moxley, and Gregg Mele in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tom Malinowski
Tom Malinowski (D)
 
51.7
 
166,985
Image of Leonard Lance
Leonard Lance (R)
 
46.7
 
150,785
Image of Diane Moxley
Diane Moxley (G)
 
0.8
 
2,676
Image of Gregg Mele
Gregg Mele (Freedom, Responsibility, Action Party)
 
0.7
 
2,296

Total votes: 322,742
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Tom Malinowski defeated Peter Jacob and Goutam Jois in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tom Malinowski
Tom Malinowski
 
66.8
 
26,172
Image of Peter Jacob
Peter Jacob
 
19.1
 
7,503
Image of Goutam Jois
Goutam Jois
 
14.1
 
5,507

Total votes: 39,182
Candidate Connection = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7

Incumbent Leonard Lance defeated Lindsay Brown and Raafat Barsoom in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 7 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Leonard Lance
Leonard Lance
 
74.9
 
24,934
Image of Lindsay Brown
Lindsay Brown
 
14.4
 
4,795
Image of Raafat Barsoom
Raafat Barsoom
 
10.7
 
3,556

Total votes: 33,285
Candidate Connection = 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-held U.S. House district that Biden won

See also: U.S. House districts represented by a Republican in 2024 and won by Joe Biden in 2020

This is one of 19 U.S. House districts Republicans were defending that President Joe Biden (D) won in 2020. The map below highlights those districts. Hover over or click a district to see information such as the incumbent and the presidential vote counts.

2024 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This was a battleground election. Other 2024 battleground elections included:

See also

New Jersey 2024 primaries 2024 U.S. Congress elections
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Democratic primary battlegrounds
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External links

Footnotes

  1. Politico, "Kean rejects 2 debates and Altman pounces," July 31, 2024
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Tom Kean 2024 campaign website, "Meet Tom," accessed August 23, 2024
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sue Altman 2024 campaign website," accessed August 23, 2024
  4. NJ Spotlight News, "Control of U.S. House may run through NJ’s seesaw 7th District," June 5, 2024
  5. X, "Altman on February 22, 2024," accessed August 27, 2024
  6. Facebook, "Kean on February 22, 2024," accessed August 27, 2024
  7. Politico, "Democrats test a battleground theory: IVF fears can win against a ‘pro-choice’ Republican," August 12, 2024
  8. X, "Altman on August 22, 2024," accessed August 27, 2024
  9. For more information on the difference between margins of error and credibility intervals, see explanations from the American Association for Public Opinion Research and Ipsos.
  10. Pew Research Center, "5 key things to know about the margin of error in election polls," September 8, 2016
  11. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  12. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  13. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  14. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  15. OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
  16. OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
  17. National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
  18. Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
  19. Inside Elections, "Methodology: Inside Elections’ Baseline by Congressional District," December 8, 2023


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