The 2004 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 2, 2004, to determine who would represent the people of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. This election coincided with national elections for U.S. President, and the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. There was no concurrent election for Senator or Governor in the state. New Jersey has thirteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2004PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Democratic 1,721,392 52.41% 7 Republican 1,514,784 46.12% 6 Libertarian 16,379 0.50% 0 Green 10,033 0.31% 0 Independents 22,007 0.67% 0 Totals 3,284,595 100.00% 13 —
District 1
Incumbent Democrat Rob Andrews won. This district covers Camden County. Shortly after losing the election, Hutchison switched parties and became a member of the Democratic Party. He was later elected to the Gloucester Township Committee and New Jersey General Assembly in 2023.
General election
Candidates
Rob Andrews, incumbent Representative from Haddon Heights since 1990 (Democratic) Arturo Croce (Independent) Dan Hutchison, Gloucester Township attorney (Republican)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 2
Incumbent Republican Frank A. LoBiondo defeated Democrat Timothy Robb. This district covers the southern part of the state.
General election
Candidates
Jose Alcantara (Green) Frank LoBiondo, incumbent Representative from Millville since 1995 (Republican) Michael Matthews Jr. (Libertarian) Willie Norwood (Independent) Timothy Robb (Democratic) Constantino Rozzo (Independent)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 3
Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton defeated Democratic State Assemblyman Herb Conaway. The district covers Burlington and Ocean counties. Twenty years later in 2024, Conaway would be elected to represent the district.
General election
Candidates
Herb Conaway, physician and Assemblyman from Delanco (Democratic) Ed Forchion, marijuana legalization activist (Independent) Frank Orland (Libertarian) Jim Saxton, incumbent Representative from Mount Holly since 1984 (Republican)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 4
Incumbent Republican Chris Smith defeated Democrat Amy Vasquez. This district covers 4 counties in the central part of the state.
General election
Candidates
Richard Edgar (Libertarian) Chris Smith, incumbent Representative since 1981 (Republican) Amy Vasquez, child advocate attorney (Democratic)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 5
Incumbent Republican Scott Garrett defeated Democrat Dorothea Anne Wolfe. This district covers the northern border of the state.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Frank Fracasso, businessman Dorothea Anne Wolfe, chair of the Bergen County Improvement Association
Endorsements
General election
Candidates
Scott Garrett, incumbent Representative from Wantage since 2003 (Republican) Victor Kaplan (Libertarian) Gregory Pason (Independent) Thomas Phelan (Independent) Dorothea Anne Wolfe, chair of the Bergen County Improvement Association (Democratic)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 6
Incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone defeated Republican challenger Sylvester Fernandez. Between 2003 and 2013, this district covered parts of Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties.
General election
Candidates
Sylvester Fernandez (Republican) Virginia Flynn (Libertarian) Mac Dara Lyden (Independent) Frank Pallone, incumbent Representative from Long Branch since 1988 (Democratic)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 7
Incumbent Republican Mike Ferguson defeated Democrat Steve Brozak. Between 2003 and 2013, this district covered parts of Middlesex, Union, Somerset, and Hunterdon counties.
General election
Candidates
Thomas Abrams (Libertarian) Steve Brozak, lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps (Democratic) Mike Ferguson, incumbent Representative from Union since 2001 (Republican) Matthew Williams (Independent)
Campaign Brozak, a former Republican who switched party lines to run, launched his campaign with a front-page story in The Wall Street Journal. He focused his message on the management of Operation Iraqi Freedom, warning that the shortage of U.S. troops presented an insurmountable obstacle to its mission and calling for a modified strategy to subdue insurgency and create a stable government in Iraq. Writing for Salon, Michelle Goldberg referred to his campaign as "a referendum on Bush's military folly". Brozak also called for deregulation of stem cell research and fair trade with foreign countries.
Brozak was a primetime speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, where he criticized the Bush administration for its lack of planning in advance of the invasion of Iraq.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 8
Incumbent Democrat Bill Pascrell defeated Republican George Ajjan. This district covers Essex and Passaic counties.
General election
Candidates
George Ajjan (Republican) Joseph Fortunato (Green) Bill Pascrell, incumbent Representative from Paterson since 1997 (Democratic)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 9
Incumbent Democrat Steve Rothman defeated Republican Edward Trawinski. This district covers mostly Bergen County.
General election
Candidates
David Daly (Libertarian) Steve Rothman, incumbent Representative from Fair Lawn since 1997 (Democratic) Edward Trawinski, former mayor of Fair Lawn (Republican)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 10
No Republican challenged incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne for this seat. Only minor parties also contested the election. This district covers a heavily urbanized area, which includes the city of Newark.
General election
Candidates
Sara Lobman (Independent) Donald M. Payne, incumbent Representative from Newark since 1989 (Democratic) Toy-Ling Washington, candidate for State Senate in 2003 (Green)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 11
Incumbent Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen defeated Democrat James Buell. This district covers mostly Morris County.
General election
Candidates
James Buell (Democratic) Rodney Frelinghuysen, incumbent Representative from Harding since 1995 (Republican) Austin Lett (Libertarian) John Mele (Independent)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 12
Incumbent Democrat Rush Holt defeated Republican Bill Spadea. This district covers 5 suburban counties in the central part of the state. After losing the election to Holt, Spadea became a radio talk show host, made a run for the General Assembly in 2012, and ran for Governor of New Jersey in 2025.
General election
Candidates
Daryl Brooks (Green) Ken Chazotte (Libertarian) Rush Holt Jr., incumbent Representative from Pennington since 1999 (Democratic) Bill Spadea, former chair of the College Republican National Committee (Republican)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
District 13
Incumbent Democrat Bob Menendez defeated Republican Richard Piatkowski. This is a heavily urbanized district.
In the primary election, Menendez easily survived a challenge from Steve Fulop, who had received national attention for resigning from Goldman Sachs to join the Marine Corps following the September 11 attacks. Fulop would later go on to serve as mayor of Jersey City and ran for Governor of New Jersey in 2025, losing the primary to Mikie Sherrill.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Steve Fulop, Marine Corps veteran Bob Menendez, incumbent Representative from Union City since 1993
Campaign Fulop was hand-picked to challenge Menendez by Jersey City mayor Glenn Cunningham, who had an ongoing bitter feud with Menendez. Cunningham died from a heart attack on May 25.
Endorsements
General election
Candidates
Dick Hester (Independent) Angela Lariscy (Independent) Bob Menendez, incumbent Representative from Union City since 1993 (Democratic) Richard Piatowski (Republican) Herbert Shaw, perennial candidate (Independent)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2004 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 1, 2004
Results
References
2004 Election Results