The 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 8, 1988, to determine who would represent the people of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. This election coincided with national elections for President of the United States, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. New Jersey had fourteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1980 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Despite George H.W. Bush's landslide victory in the state's concurrent presidential election, in which he carried all but two congressional districts, the Republican Party made no gains in the House.
Incumbent Democrat James Florio won. The district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.
Florio, who had run for governor in 1977 and 1981, was widely considered the leading Democratic contender for 1989. Accordingly, the campaign became a referendum on his potential 1989 candidacy. Cristaudo pointed to Florio's poor congressional attendance during his 1981 campaign and arguing, "The people of this district will be without a Congressman for almost a year in 1989 if they re-elect Mr. Florio, and if he wins the race for governor, they'll have to go through the expense of a special election to pick another Congressman." Cristaudo also criticized Florio for failing to deliver on a promised veterans hospital, which was built in Ocean County instead.
Richard Bartucci, the Libertarian candidate, criticized obstacles to free trade, arguing, "If we don't have free trade that allows goods to cross borders, then armies will cross them."
Incumbent William J. Hughes won. This district, the largest in South Jersey, included all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties and parts of Gloucester County.
Hughes said that the overriding issue in the campaign should be his record, "whether I have been a good Congressman, have exhibited honesty and integrity, and have been accessible and accountable and whether there is any reason to make a change."
Conover ran on his support of a balanced budget amendment and line-item veto, as well as his support for the GrammâÂÂRudmanâÂÂHollings Balanced Budget Act, which Hughes opposed as a "fiscal straightjacket" which he argued underfunded the United States Coast Guard and other vital services.
Richard Schindenwolf called for abortion to be outlawed and more United States opposition to communism, including the overthrow of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. He said that the failed Bay of Pigs invasion had "enabled communism to get a toehold in Cuba and paved the way for exportation of communism to other parts of the Caribbean."
This seat was vacant following the death of incumbent James J. Howard on March 25, 1988. Frank Pallone won the open seat, as well as a special election to complete Howard's unexpired term in office.
This district included parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Incumbent Republican Chris Smith won. This district, in Central Jersey, consisted of parts of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Incumbent Marge Roukema won. This district included parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties.
Monaco ran a campaign calling for principles of natural law, "to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and care for the elderly" by restricting unnecessary military spending.
Incumbent Democrat Bernard J. Dwyer won. This district included parts of Middlesex, Monmouth and Union counties.
Incumbent Matt Rinaldo won. This district included parts of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties.
Incumbent Robert Roe won without opposition. This district included parts of Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.
Incumbent Democrat Bob Torricelli won. This district consisted of parts of Bergen and Hudson counties.
Incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne won. The district included parts of Essex and Union counties.
Payne was the first black Representative elected from New Jersey; this district, which had been majority-black since 1973, had long been expected to elect a black Representative upon Rodino's retirement.
Incumbent Republican Dean Gallo won. This district consisted of parts of Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties.
Incumbent Republican Jim Courter won. This sprawling district included all of Hunterdon County and parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties.
Despite the district's strong Republican lean, Courter ran an active campaign with frequent television advertising which made no mention of his re-election bid, in order to raise his profile ahead of an anticipated 1989 run for governor.
Weinstein criticized Courter's record on environmental legislation; he received the lowest rating in the New Jersey delegation from the League of Conservation Voters. Courter defended the attack by citing bills he had sponsored protecting clean air and water and restricting offshore dumping and oil drilling. Weinstein also criticized Courter's call to follow Michigan, Florida and New York in restricting lawsuits for all but the most serious automobile injuries and allowing automobile insurers to establish rates, rather than the state government.
Incumbent Republican Jim Saxton won. This district included parts of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean counties.
Saxton ran on his support for preserving Social Security benefits and providing home healthcare for the elderly, along with Ronald Reagan's economic program, which he credited for "the economic growth and low unemployment... that we have enjoyed for the last few years."
Smith said he supported trade restrictions on foreign imports to protect American jobs and industry; Saxton supported Reagan's decision to veto such restrictions. Smith also called for the restoration of "impact aid" for public school districts serving families of military personnel, a large number of which lived in this district.
Incumbent Democrat Frank J. Guarini won. This district included parts Hudson County.
After the primary, Russo was replaced by Fred Theemling Jr. on the general election ballot.