In the 2024 General Election, Democrats maintained their political stronghold in New Jersey by securing all nine congressional seats, electing Representative Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) to the U.S. Senate, and awarding New Jersey's 14 electoral votes to Kamala Harris in the presidential race. However, the victories, though significant, don't fully reflect the competitive shifts seen across the state.
Despite Democratic wins, New Jersey Republicans capitalized on a national Republican upswing, narrowing Democratic margins statewide and keeping races competitive.
Presidential Election
In the presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris edged out former President Donald Trump by a 4.8-point margin, securing 51.4% of the vote to Trump’s 46.6%. This narrow victory marks the smallest Democratic margin in a New Jersey presidential race since 1992, far below the expectations set by polls that predicted a 12-20 point lead for Harris.
U.S. Senate
Democrat Andy Kim emerged as New Jersey’s newest U.S. Senator after defeating Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw by 8 points, winning 53% to 45%. Kim, who has represented New Jersey in Congress since 2018, is set to become both the first Asian American senator from New Jersey and the first U.S. senator of Korean descent nationwide. His victory follows a primary battle with First Lady Tammy Murphy and his successful lawsuit against a controversial primary ballot system.
Notable Congressional Elections
In the closely-watched 9th District race, State Senator Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) retained Democratic control of the Passaic and Bergen County seat previously held by the late Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson). Pou narrowly defeated Republican Billy Prempeh, an Air Force veteran from Paterson, by just under five points (50.6% to 46.2%), a notably slim margin for Democrats in a district they have traditionally dominated. Pou will be the first Latina to represent New Jersey in Congress.
In the 7th District, what many observers considered the marquis match-up in the state, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) defended his seat against Democratic challenger Sue Altman, winning by 28,000 votes, or 52.5% to 45.7%. Kean, a veteran state legislator, leveraged his family’s political legacy to solidify his position in Congress after narrowly defeating Democrat Tom Malinowski in 2022. Malinowski’s decision not to seek a rematch left room for Democrats to challenge, but Kean's victory marks a strong showing for Republicans.
Both candidates demonstrated strong fundraising abilities, with Altman narrowly outpacing Kean by raising $5.64 million to his $5.56 million—a notable accomplishment considering she established her campaign in 2023.
Outside groups also viewed the race as highly competitive and invested heavily. Republican super PACs, including one led by billionaire Elon Musk, spent nearly $9 million in support of Kean. Meanwhile, Democratic PACs contributed just over $4 million, primarily in the final weeks of the campaign.
Other Congressional Election Results
The remaining seven congressional races in New Jersey yielded few surprises:
- District 1: Rep. Donald Norcross won a fourth term, defeating Theodore Liddell by 58% to 40%.
- District 2: Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew retained his seat, overcoming Democrat Joseph Salerno with a 58% to 41% margin.
- District 3: Democrat Herb Conaway was elected to fill Kim’s vacated seat, winning over Republican Rajesh Mohan, 53% to 45%.
- District 4: Longtime Rep. Chris Smith (R) won re-election with a commanding 68% to 31% margin over Democrat Matthew Jenkins.
- District 5: Rep. Josh Gottheimer held onto his seat with a 10-point lead over Mary Jo Guinchard, 54% to 44%, amidst speculation about a potential gubernatorial run in 2025.
- District 6: Rep. Frank Pallone won his 19th term, defeating Republican Scott Fegler 56% to 41%.
- District 8: Rep. Rob Menendez Jr. won re-election against Anthony Valdes by a 59% to 35% margin.
- District 10: Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-Newark) secured her first full term after a special election, beating Carmen Bucco 74% to 23%.
- District 11: Rep. Mikie Sherrill was re-elected with 56% to 43% over Republican Joe Belnome, positioning her as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2025.
- District 12: Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman won over Darius Mayfield 60% to 38% in this solidly Democratic district.
Republican Gains in Early Voting
For the first time, nearly 1.2 million early in-person votes were cast in New Jersey, with Republicans taking strong advantage of early voting. Approximately 400,792 Republicans cast early votes, compared to 418,544 Democrats—a turnout that outpaced Republican representation in the state.
Shifts Toward Republicans
Republicans saw notable gains across the state. In traditionally Republican Hunterdon County, Trump increased his margin over Harris to seven points (52% to 45%), and in urban Passaic County, Trump led by three points (50% to 47%)—a stark reversal from 2020 when Biden won the county by 19 points. Similar shifts in favor of Republicans were observed in diverse counties such as Middlesex and Hudson.
While New Jersey remains a Democratic stronghold, the 2024 election results highlight an increasingly competitive political environment, driven by new levels of support for Republicans in historically Democratic communities.
Tweets from RCSG