New Jersey's 7th congressional district

New Jersey's 7th congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Area1,347.62 mi2 (3,490.3 km2)
Distribution
  • 85.81% urban
  • 14.19% rural
Population (2024)
789,429
Median household income
$132,702
Ethnicity
Cook PVIEVEN

New Jersey's 7th congressional district is situated in Northern and Central New Jersey, includes all of Hunterdon and Warren Counties, and parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Union Counties. The district, which has become more ethnically diverse and competitive over time, is one of the most affluent in the United States. Per a 2024 study, it is the fifteenth wealthiest in the nation, with 31 percent of households earning over $200,000.

Republican Thomas Kean Jr. is the district's current representative, after defeating Democrat Tom Malinowski in 2022.

History

2000 redistricting

Every congressional district in the country was redistricted per the results of the 2000 census. New Jersey's redistricting panel reached a consensus where each district was made safer for their respective incumbents by removing and adding different towns. Parts of the 7th district such as Franklin Township that had historically voted Democratic were moved into the 12th in order to bolster incumbent Rush Holt, Plainfield was moved from the 7th to the 6th district, and Millburn was removed from the 7th and split between the 10th and 11th districts. Despite the redistricting, the 7th district was still the most competitive in New Jersey and was the only district considered to be so by political analysts.

2008 election

In 2008, 8-year incumbent Mike Ferguson did not seek re-election. Republican primary voters chose State Senator Leonard Lance to replace him in a field of eight candidates. Linda Stender became the Democratic nominee unopposed.

In the general election, Lance defeated Stender by a margin of 25,833 votes.

2012 redistricting and election

Per the results of the 2012 census, New Jersey's population decline resulted in the state electing 12 instead of 13 representatives. The 7th district was made more favorable to Republicans. Middlesex County was removed, and reliably Republican Hunterdon was added.

Both Ed Potosnak, who challenged Lance in the 2010 midterms, and former Edison Mayor Jun Choi announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination. Choi withdrew from the race in December 2011 after redistricting left his Edison home outside the 7th District. Potosnak dropped out of the race in January 2012 to take a position as executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, leaving a momentarily empty field for the Democratic nomination.

Lance won re-election against Democratic challenger Upendra J. Chivukula.

2018 election

Tom Malinowski, former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, was considered the front runner among the Democrats in the primary. Malinowski was endorsed by Westfield teacher/attorney Lisa Mandelblatt and attorney Scott Salmon when they withdrew from the race in February 2018. Others in the Democratic primary included lawyer Goutam Jois; and social worker Peter Jacob, who previously ran against Lance and lost.

Malinowski prevailed with 26,059 votes and 66.8% of the vote. Jacob finished second with 7,467 votes and 19.1% of the vote.

Green Party of New Jersey member Diane Moxley also announced her intent to run for the seat. Lindsay Brown, a product manager at the New York Post and a self-described progressive, ran in the Republican primary against Lance. Berkeley Heights banking executive Linda Weber and environmental advocate David Pringle withdrew in March 2018.

Lance won the Republican primary with 74.9%, and 24,856 votes.

During the primary campaigns in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Malinowski campaign raised $528,000 while the incumbent Lance raised $237,000. Jois raised $189,000 and Jacob raised $29,000.

Malinowski won the seat in the general election with 51.7% of the votes.

2020 election

Incumbent Tom Malinowski ran in the Democratic primary uncontested. Challenger Thomas Kean Jr. (R) defeated Raafat Barsoom and Tom Phillips in the Republican primary with 79.4% (45,395) of the vote.

In the general election, Malinowski defeated Kean with 50.6% of the vote. The race was expected to be competitive, with Malinowski winning with a smaller margin than in 2018.

2022 redistricting and election

Per the results of the 2020 Census, the New Jersey Congressional Redistricting Commission redrew the boundaries of the district effective January 6, 2022. Although the district remains competitive, Republicans now have a voter registration edge against Democrats.

Incumbent Tom Malinowski (D) faced 2020 challenger Thomas Kean Jr. once again in 2022. Kean prevailed, unseating Malinowski. It was one of 18 districts that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022.

2024 election

Incumbent Thomas Kean Jr. ran in the Republican party primary and won with 78% of the vote. Democratic challenger Sue Altman, a former Working Families Party leader, ran uncontested in her primary.

Kean defeated Altman in the general election with 51.7% of the vote. The race was only expected to be somewhat competitive, with political analysts giving Kean an advantage.

2026 midterm election

Rebecca Bennett, a health care technology executive and former United States Navy aviator; Michael Roth, a small business consultant and former Small Business Administration administrator in the Biden administration; Tina Shah, an ICU physician and former Senior Adviser to the US Surgeon General; and Brian Varela, a small business owner were all contenders to challenge Kean in the Democratic primary. Bennett ultimately prevailed with 45.3% of the vote.

Kean ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

The general election campaign has drawn attention from media because of Kean's 117-day long absence from Congress due to his disclosed depression diagnosis. Kean has continued to run for re-election although political analysts give Bennett an advantage over him.

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of six counties and 95 municipalities.

Hunterdon County (26):

All 26 municipalities

Morris County (12):

Chester Borough, Chester Township, Long Hill Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township (part; also 11th), Mine Hill Township, Mount Arlington, Mount Olive Township, Netcong, Roxbury, Washington Township, Wharton

Somerset County (13):

Bedminster, Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Branchburg, Bridgewater Township (part; also 12th; includes Bradley Gardens, Bridgewater Center, Green Knoll, Martinsville, and part of Finderne), Far Hills, Green Brook Township, Hillsborough Township (part; also 12th; includes Neshanic and part of Belle Mead and Flagtown), Peapack-Gladstone, Raritan, Somerville, Warren Township, Watchung

Sussex County (10):

Andover Borough, Byram Township, Fredon Township, Green Township, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg, Sparta, Stanhope, Stillwater Township, Walpack Township

Union County (12):

Berkeley Heights, Clark, Fanwood, Linden (part; also 10th), Mountainside, New Providence, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Springfield Township, Summit, Westfield, Winfield Township

Warren County (22):

All 22 municipalities

Recent election results from statewide races

Year Office Results
2008 President McCain 53% - 45%
2012 President Romney 56% - 44%
2016 President Trump 51% - 45%
2017 Governor Guadagno 54% - 43%
2018 Senate Hugin 53% - 43%
2020 President Biden 51% - 47%
Senate Booker 49.2% - 49.0%
2021 Governor Ciattarelli 56% - 43%
2024 President Trump 50% - 48%
Senate Bashaw 50% - 48%
2025 Governor Sherrill 51% - 49%

Recent election results

2004 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Ferguson (incumbent) 162,597 56.9% −1.1
Democratic Steve Brozak 119,081 41.7% +.8
Independent Thomas Abrams 2,153 .8% N/A
Independent Matthew Williams 2,046 .7% N/A
Majority 43,516 15.2%
Turnout 285,877
Republican hold Swing +1.0%
2006 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Ferguson (incumbent) 98,399 49.4% −7.5
Democratic Linda Stender 95,454 48.0% +6.3
Independent Thomas Abrams 3,176 1.6% +.8%
Libertarian Darren Young 2,046 1.0% N/A
Majority 2,945 1.5% −13.7
Turnout 199,075
Republican hold Swing +6.9%
2008 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance 142,092 50.8% +1.4
Democratic Linda Stender 116,255 41.6% −6.4
Independent Michael Hsing 15,826 5.7% N/A
Independent Dean Greco 3,008 1.1% N/A
Independent Thomas Abrams 2,408 .9% −0.7
Majority 25,837 9.2% +7.7
Turnout 279,589
Republican hold Swing −3.9%
2010 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 104,642 59.4%
Democratic Ed Potosnak 71,486 40.6%
Majority 33,156 18.9%
Turnout 176,128
Republican hold Swing
2012 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 175,662 57.2%
Democratic Upendra Chivukula 123,057 40.0%
Independent Dennis Breen 4,518 1.5%
Libertarian Patrick McKnight 4,078 1.3%
Majority 52,605 17.1%
Turnout 307,315
Republican hold Swing
2014 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 104,287 59.25%
Democratic Janice Kovach 68,232 38.77%
Libertarian Jim Gawron 3,478 1.98%
Majority 36,055 20.5%
Turnout 175,997
Republican hold Swing
2016 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 185,850 54.08%
Democratic Peter Jacob 148,188 43.12%
Libertarian Dan O'Neill 5,343 1.56%
Conservative Arthur T. Haussmann, Jr. 4,254 1.24%
Majority 37,662 10.96%
Turnout 343,635
Republican hold Swing
2018 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Malinowski 166,985 51.7
Republican Leonard Lance (incumbent) 150,785 46.7
Green Diane Moxley 2,676 0.8
Independent Gregg Mele 2,296 0.7
Total votes 322,742 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican
2020 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Malinowski (incumbent) 219,688 50.6
Republican Tom Kean Jr. 214,359 49.4
Total votes 434,047 100.0
Democratic hold
2022 New Jersey 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Kean, Jr. 159,392 51.4
Democratic Tom Malinowski (incumbent) 150,701 48.6
Total votes 310,093 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
2024 New Jersey's 7th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Kean Jr. (incumbent) 223,331 51.8
Democratic Sue Altman 200,025 46.4
Libertarian Lana Leguia 3,784 0.9
Green Andrew Black 4,258 1.0
Total votes 431,398 100.0
Republican hold

List of members representing the district

Member
(Residence)		 Party Years Cong
ress		 Electoral history Counties/towns
District established March 4, 1873

Isaac W. Scudder
(Jersey City)		 Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875		 43rd Elected in 1872.
Retired.		 1873–1893:
Hudson County

Augustus Albert Hardenbergh
(Jersey City)		 Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1879		 44th
45th		 Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Retired.
Lewis A. Brigham
(Jersey City)		 Republican March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1881		 46th Elected in 1878.
Lost re-election.

Augustus Albert Hardenbergh
(Jersey City)		 Democratic March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883		 47th Elected in 1880.
Retired.

William McAdoo
(Jersey City)		 Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1891		 48th
49th
50th
51st		 Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Lost renomination.

Edward F. McDonald
(Harrison)		 Democratic March 4, 1891 –
November 5, 1892		 52nd Elected in 1890.
Died.
Vacant November 5, 1892 –
March 3, 1893

George Bragg Fielder
(Jersey City)		 Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895		 53rd Elected in 1892.
Retired.		 1893–1895:
Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Kearney (including present-day East Newark)

Thomas McEwan Jr.
(Jersey City)		 Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1899		 54th
55th		 Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Retired.		 1895–1903:
Hudson County (except Bayonne)

William Davis Daly
(Hoboken)		 Democratic March 4, 1899 –
July 31, 1900		 56th Elected in 1898.
Died.
Vacant July 31, 1900 –
December 3, 1900

Allan Langdon McDermott
(Jersey City)		 Democratic December 3, 1900 –
March 3, 1903		 56th
57th		 Elected to finish Daly's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Redistricted to the 10th district.

Richard W. Parker
(Newark)		 Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1911		 58th
59th
60th
61st		 Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost re-election.		 1903–1913:
Northern Essex County (excluding Irvington, Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange, and parts of Newark)

Edward W. Townsend
(Montclair)		 Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913		 62nd Elected in 1910.
Redistricted to the 10th district.

Robert G. Bremner
(Passaic)		 Democratic March 4, 1913 –
February 5, 1914		 63rd Elected in 1912.
Died.		 1913–1933:
Southern Passaic County (Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Prospect Park, Totowa, Wayne, and West Paterson)
Vacant February 5, 1914 –
April 7, 1914

Dow H. Drukker
(Passaic)		 Republican April 7, 1914 –
March 3, 1919		 63rd
64th
65th		 Elected to finish Bremner's term.
Re-elected later in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Retired.

Amos H. Radcliffe
(Paterson)		 Republican March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1923		 66th
67th		 Elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Lost renomination.

George N. Seger
(Passaic)		 Republican March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1933		 68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd		 Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the 8th district.

Randolph Perkins
(Woodcliff Lake)		 Republican March 4, 1933 –
May 25, 1936		 73rd
74th		 Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Died.		 1933–1967:
Huntderon, Sussex, Warren, parts of Bergen and northern Passaic (Ringwood and West Miford)
Vacant May 25, 1936 –
January 3, 1937		 74th

J. Parnell Thomas
(Allendale)		 Republican January 3, 1937 –
January 2, 1950		 75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st		 Elected in 1936
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Resigned upon being convicted of fraud.
Vacant January 2, 1950 –
February 6, 1950		 81st

William B. Widnall
(Saddle River)		 Republican February 6, 1950 –
December 31, 1974		 81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd		 Elected to finish Thomas's term.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Lost re-election and resigned early.
1967–1983:
Western Bergen County

Andrew Maguire
(Ridgewood)		 Democratic January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981		 94th
95th
96th		 Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election.

Marge Roukema
(Ridgewood)		 Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1983		 97th Elected in 1980.
Redistricted to the 5th district.

Matthew John Rinaldo
(Union Township)		 Republican January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993		 98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd		 Redistricted from the 12th district and Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1990.
Retired.		 1983–1985:
Parts of Mercer (Princeton Township and Princeton Borough), Middlesex (Cranbury, Jamesburg, Monroe Township, North Brunswick, South Brunswick), Monmouth (Freehold Township, Freehold Borough, Marlboro Township, and Millstone Township), eastern Somerset, and Union
1985–1993:
Parts of Essex (Millburn), Middlesex (Dunellen and Middlesex Borough), Somerset, and Union

Bob Franks
(New Providence)		 Republican January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2001		 103rd
104th
105th
106th		 Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.		 1993–2003:
Parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union

Mike Ferguson
(Warren Township)		 Republican January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2009		 107th
108th
109th
110th		 Elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Retired.
2003–2013:

Parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union

Leonard Lance
(Clinton Township)		 Republican January 3, 2009 –
January 3, 2019		 111th
112th
113th
114th
115th		 Elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Lost re-election.
2013–2023:

Hunterdon and parts of Essex (Millburn), Morris, Somerset, Union and Warren

Tom Malinowski
(Rocky Hill)		 Democratic January 3, 2019 –
January 3, 2023		 116th
117th		 Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Lost re-election.

Thomas Kean Jr.
(Westfield)		 Republican January 3, 2023 –
present		 118th
119th		 Elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.		 2023–present:

Warren, Hunterdon, and parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union

References

  1. ↑ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "After the Midterms, One Party Controls All the Wealthiest Congressional Districts". finance.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kaptur, Marcy (October 15, 2021). "U.S. Median Household Income Per Congressional District for 117th Congress" (PDF). Congress.gov. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ DeJohn, Jaclyn (October 21, 2024). "America's Richest Congressional Districts – 2024 Study". SmartAsset. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Local and National Election Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com". CNN. Archived from the original on November 7, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Potosnak files 2012 bid for US Congress in NJ's 7th Congressional District". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ Max Pizarro (May 5, 2011). "Choi announces 7th District Congressional candidacy | Observer". Politickernj.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ Max Pizarro (January 16, 2012). "Potosnak ends CD 7 run to take job as ED of League of Conservation Voters | Observer". Politickernj.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ "N.J. remap a setback for Democrats". POLITICO. December 24, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  11. ↑ Salvador Rizzo, The Star-Ledger. "N.J. 7th Congressional District winner: Leonard Lance". NJ.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  12. ↑ The Hill, Ben Kamisar, October 2, 2017, Obama State Department official to run for House in NJ, Retrieved October 2, 2017
  13. ↑ "CD7 Flashpoint: Malinowski Beats Weber in Union". Insider NJ. March 11, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  14. 1 2 Ballotpedia, New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2018 Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 7, 2018
  15. ↑ Salant, Jonathan D. (February 8, 2018). "Democrat drops run against Republican Leonard Lance". nj. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Democrats are now lining up behind this candidate to take on Republican Leonard Lance". NJ.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Goutam Jois for Congress NJ-07". Archived from the original on March 17, 2018.
  18. 1 2 New York Times, Primary results, accessed, June 6, 2018 Archived June 7, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ Moxley For US Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine (website)
  20. ↑ ABC News, March 29, 2018, House races offer Democrats best shot at claiming a chamber in Congress Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 17, 2018
  21. ↑ Jonathan D. Salant, May 14, 2017, NJ.com, Meet the newest challenger to N.J.'s Leonard Lance, Retrieved May 14, 2017
  22. ↑ "Pringle Exits the CD7 Contest - Insider NJ". March 26, 2018. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  23. ↑ Almukhtar, Sarah. "New Jersey Primary Election Results". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  24. ↑ Politico "House Q4 FEC Reports," Archived December 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 7, 2018
  25. ↑ "New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Kean unseats Malinowski in 7th congressional district". November 9, 2022.
  27. ↑ "New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  28. ↑ , New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2021. Accessed November 5, 2022.
  29. ↑ "DRA 2020". davesredistricting.org. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Candidates for House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Division of Elections. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Official results" (PDF). www.state.nj.us. 2014.
  32. ↑ "Candidates for House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Division of Elections. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  33. ↑ "New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  34. 1 2 "Official List, Candidates for House of Representatives For GENERAL ELECTION 11/03/2020 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  35. ↑ "2022 Official General Election Results: U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State - Division of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  36. ↑ Tom Malinowski, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Accessed October 9, 2022. "Hometown: Rocky Hill"

Bibliography

40°36′N 74°30′W / 40.60°N 74.50°W / 40.60; -74.50