Philip Rizzo

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Philip Rizzo

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 7, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Villanova University, 1999

Personal

Birthplace

New Jersey

Religion

Christian

Profession

Pastor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

Philip Rizzo (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on June 7, 2022.

Rizzo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Rizzo received a B.S. in business management from Villanova University. His professional experience includes working in real estate, construction, and as a pastor. Rizzo is affiliated with Jersey Rising.

Elections

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
✔		Thomas Kean Jr. (R)	51.4	159,392
		Tom Malinowski (D)	48.6	150,701

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 310,093
= 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Clayton Pajunas (L)
• Veronica Fernandez (Of, By, For!)

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
✔		Tom Malinowski	94.5	37,304
		Roger Bacon	5.5	2,185

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 39,489
= 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

• Brandon Wienberg (D)

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

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 55,041
= 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.

2021

See also: New Jersey gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2021

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2021 (June 8 Republican primary)

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2021 (June 8 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for Governor of New Jersey

Incumbent Phil Murphy defeated Jack Ciattarelli, Madelyn Hoffman, Gregg Mele, and Joanne Kuniansky in the general election for Governor of New Jersey on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Murphy (D)	51.2	1,339,471
		Jack Ciattarelli (R)	48.0	1,255,185
		Madelyn Hoffman (G)	0.3	8,450
		Gregg Mele (L)	0.3	7,768
	Submit photo	Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party)	0.2	4,012

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,614,886
= 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

• Robert Edward Forchion Jr. (Legalize Marihuana Party)
• Justin Maldonado (Independent)
• David Winkler (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey

Incumbent Phil Murphy defeated Lisa McCormick in the Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 8, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Murphy	100.0	382,984
		Lisa McCormick (Write-in)	0.0	0

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 382,984
= 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

• Roger Bacon (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey

Jack Ciattarelli defeated Philip Rizzo, Hirsh Singh, and Brian Levine in the Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey on June 8, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jack Ciattarelli	49.5	167,690
		Philip Rizzo	25.7	87,007
		Hirsh Singh	21.6	73,155
		Brian Levine	3.3	11,181

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 339,033
= 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

• Doug Steinhardt (R)

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Philip Rizzo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rizzo's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Phil Rizzo is a fighter with the true spirit of New Jersey — someone who won’t be pushed around, who doesn’t take no for an answer, and who won’t back down when it comes to the needs, freedoms, and voices of New Jerseyans. Phil believes in empowering New Jersey and taking back the people's congress.

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?

• Take back our freedoms
• Return to high academic standards
• Free business from government interference

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Government overreach and political unrest of 2020 drove Phil to run for Governor of New Jersey. After less than five months, he finished as a runner up in the GOP Primary and sparked a statewide movement to take back New Jersey that is still growing today. Today, he’s running for Congress because Empowering New Jersey doesn’t stop with the Governor’s race. It means standing up to our federal government and out-of-touch crazy leftists trying to run the show and interfere in our lives.

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

The most important characteristic for someone to represent New Jersey is the New Jersey fighting spirit. Someone who is a fighter, an overcomer, a community leader, and someone who is an advocate for the people of New Jersey.

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

Phil is the best candidate for office because he is a fighter, overcomer, political outsider, community leader, and advocate for the people of New Jersey. He will fight to take back our freedoms, return to high academic standards, free businesses from government interference, cut spending and balance the budget, strong borders and law and order, secure elections and state sovereignty, protect speech and privacy, rein in Big Tech, and respect New Jersey family values.

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

The turning point in his life was coming to faith in 2000. As a Christian, he had a new perspective on life and fresh compassion for the community around him.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible. It gives a new perspective on life and fresh compassion for the community around us.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

As a kid growing up in Morris County, Phil lost his right arm at the elbow when a lally column in the basement fell, severely crushing the artery. For an energetic child with a love for sports, this was devastating. But Phil refused to be held back. He went on to play baseball, soccer, and finally High School football, where he was a star on both offense and defense. He received national recognition in 1995, when he earned a scholarship from the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago.

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

The US House of Representatives is unique because it gives a voice to the people. I am running to take back the PEOPLE'S congress, and ensure their voice is heard.

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

The United States' greatest challenges over the next decade is getting back our freedoms. New Jerseyans need a voice in the halls of Congress, and a voice in their own lives - whether it be through their kids’ education, their health decisions, their bank account, their work and livelihoods, their speech, their safety and security or their elections.

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?

As the founder of Jersey Rising, I have heard stories from all over the state about people who are tired of tyrannical government. People who want their values and freedoms respected — not trampled — by their leaders, or education that prepares their kids for life, not activism. People who don't want to elect an establishment Republican majority that will go to Washington and have nothing to show for it. They want someone who will lean into every fight and defend our freedoms every time. I’ve been overcoming challenges my whole life. That is the New Jersey spirit, and it belongs in the halls of Congress.

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.

2021

Philip Rizzo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

“	Reopen New Jersey It’s time for the people of New Jersey to get our lives back. Prolonged closures and government mandates are bringing a host of unintended consequences for kids, families, and our economy. One in three New Jersey small businesses will never open their doors again. I will prioritize allowing businesses to safely reopen. Many of our kids are falling behind during a pivotal time in their education. Many lack the appropriate resources or technology to successfully work from home. I will work with our schools to bring back an in-person option for kids who have been struggling to learn for over a year. Bold Education Reform We need an education mindset that puts our kids first. We need to take a hard look at our funding and make changes where dollars aren’t being used effectively or making it to the classrooms that need it most. Some schools and districts are un-equitably funded, failing our students. I’m also a believer in education freedom. New Jersey kids from north to south should have more opportunities available to them. We’ve seen the success of public charter schools within New Jersey and across the country. I will prioritize launching new and innovative charters in more of our communities. Cut Spending, Lower Tax Burden New Jerseyans are struggling under the weight of high taxes. We must reduce that burden. But before we can cut taxes, we must cut spending. For businesses and families, cutting spending and working within a budget are common sense. But that’s not how Trenton operates. That must change or New Jersey families will continue to struggle and look to move elsewhere. I will work with our legislature to cut the fat from our budget so that we can get that money out of wasteful pet projects and back into the pockets of New Jersey families. Rein in Executive Power The natural tendency of government is to grow and seize power that doesn’t belong to it. We’ve seen that in the extreme during COVID-19. The current Governor has become far too powerful, often bullying New Jerseyans to do what he thinks best. Reining in executive power will be a priority. But we can’t even begin until we have an executive with the will to rein in his or her own power. As Governor, I will return the executive to its intended constraints and stop trying to control the lives of New Jerseyans. Protect our elections Many New Jerseyans are struggling with this question: “does my vote matter?” We must ensure that New Jerseyans, regardless of party, feel that they can trust our core democratic institutions. That requires that we have transparency and accountability from our election officials at every level. I will take a thorough look at New Jersey’s election processes and work to close loopholes that allow for fraud, mandate statewide voter roll clean-up processes, re-establish the right of every citizen to vote in person, support the creation and use of voter ID cards, and ensure that no foreign-made voting machines or software are used in New Jersey. Stand up for Conservative Values New Jersey families and New Jerseyans with conservative values have been bullied too long. I will respect family autonomy (your front door) and stand up for the rights guaranteed under our Constitution. Life. Religious Freedom. Freedom of Speech. The Second Amendment. Medical Freedom. I will protect your right as a parent - not government - to direct the upbringing of your children. These are the values that will lead to a healthy and thriving New Jersey.	”
—Philip Rizzo’s campaign website (2021)

See also

2022 Elections

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Government

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Candidate

U.S. House New Jersey District 7

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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)