New Jersey congressional candidates are campaigning in fewer and different districts this fall after the state’s delegation to Washington was reduced from 13 to 12 members and the congressional map was redrawn to reflect a population loss.
In some cases, the new map is forcing party colleagues to face off against each other, according to the
Press of Atlantic City. In North Jersey, for example, the changes placed Democratic Reps. Steve Rothman and Bill Pascrell in the same district.
It also pushed some areas and townships in one district into another, as the boundary lines were redrawn. In South Jersey, third district Republican Rep. Jon Runyan lost voters in a number of areas to the second district now represented by Republican Frank LoBiondo.
LoBiondo, according to the Press, sees the new territory as a welcome addition. But his Democratic challenger Cassandra Shober says the enlarged district makes it tough for her to challenge the incumbent.
"It puts wear and tear on lesser-known candidates because you need to get out there,” said Shober campaign coordinator Frank Mahoney.
But while it may be tough breaking into a newly redrawn district, the Cook Political Report rates the second district as being more pro-Democratic now than Republican.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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