New Jersey's 4th congressional district is a congressional district that stretches along the New Jersey Shore. It has been represented by Republican Chris Smith since 1981, the second-longest currently serving member of the US House of Representatives and the longest serving member of Congress from New Jersey in history.

New Jersey's 4th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 95.08% urban
  • 4.92% rural
Population (2023)795,843
Median household
income
$93,402[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+14[2]

Although the 4th district had a presence in Mercer County for decades, it lost its two towns in the county (Hamilton and Robbinsville) following the redistricting process in late 2021, which was based on the 2020 census. The district is currently contained to Monmouth County and Ocean County. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+14, it is the most Republican district in New Jersey,[2] and it is also the only one that did not elect a Democrat since 2018.[3]

Counties and municipalities in the district

edit
 
The district from 2003 to 2013

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 Census), the district contains all or portions of two counties and 40 municipalities.[4]

Municipalities in the district are:[5][6]

Monmouth County (19)

Avon-By-The-Sea, Belmar, Brielle, Colts Neck Township, Eatontown, Farmingdale, Freehold Township (part; also 3rd), Howell Township, Lake Como, Manasquan, Middletown Township (part; also 6th), Ocean Township, Sea Girt, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Tinton Falls, Wall Township

Ocean County (21)

Beachwood, Berkeley Township (part; also 2nd), Bay Head, Brick, Island Heights, Jackson Township, Lacey (part; also 2nd), Lakehurst, Lakewood Township, Lavallette, Manchester Township, Mantoloking, Ocean Gate, Pine Beach, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant, Plumsted Township, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, South Toms River, Toms River

Election results in statewide races

edit
Year Office Results
2000 President Gore 50 - 46%
2004 President Bush 56 - 44%
2008 President McCain 52 - 47%
2012 President Romney 54 - 45%
2016 President Trump 56 - 41%
2017 Governor Guadagno 56% - 42%
2020 President Trump 55 - 44%
2020 Senate Mehta 55.0% - 43.4%
2021 Governor Ciattarellli 60% - 40%

List of members representing the district

edit
Member
District home
Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral History Counties/Towns
District established March 4, 1799
James H. Imlay
(Allentown)
Federalist March 4, 1799 –
March 3, 1801
6th Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1798.
Retired.
1799–1801
Burlington and Monmouth
District dissolved March 3, 1801
District re-established March 4, 1843
Littleton Kirkpatrick
(New Brunswick)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1842.
Retired.
1843–1845
Middlesex, Morris, and Somerset
Joseph E. Edsall
(Hamburg)
Democratic March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
29th Elected in 1844.
Redistricted to the 3rd district.
1845–1847
Morris, Sussex, and Warren
John Van Dyke
(New Brunswick)
Whig March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1851
30th
31st
Elected in 1846.
Re-elected in 1848.
Retired.
1847–1853
Middlesex, Morris, and Somerset
George H. Brown
(Somerville)
Whig March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
32nd Elected in 1850.
Retired.
 
George Vail
(Morristown)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1857
33rd
34th
Elected in 1852.
Re-elected in 1854.
Retired.
1853–1863
Bergen, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex
 
John Huyler
(Hackensack)
Democratic March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
35th Elected in 1856.
Lost re-election as a Lecompton Democrat.
Jetur R. Riggs
(Paterson)
Anti-Lecompton Democratic March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
36th Elected in 1858.
Retired.
 
George T. Cobb
(Morristown)
Democratic March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
37th Elected in 1860.
Retired.
 
Andrew J. Rogers
(Newton)
Democratic March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1867
38th
39th
Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Lost re-election.
1863–1873
Bergen, Essex (except Newark), Morris, Passaic, and Sussex
 
John Hill
(Boonton)
Republican March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1873
40th
41st
42nd
Elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Retired.
 
Robert Hamilton
(Newton)
Democratic March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1877
43rd
44th
Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Retired.
1873–1893
Hunterdon, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren
 
Alvah A. Clark
(Somerville)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1881
45th
46th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Retired.
 
Henry S. Harris
(Belvidere)
Democratic March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883
47th Elected in 1880.
Lost re-election.
 
Benjamin F. Howey
(Columbia)
Republican March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
48th Elected in 1882.
Retired.
 
James N. Pidcock
(Whitehouse Station)
Democratic March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1889
49th
50th
Elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Retired.
Samuel Fowler
(Newton)
Democratic March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1893
51st
52nd
Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Retired.
 
Johnston Cornish
(Washington)
Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895
53rd Elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.
1893–1903
Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, and Warren
 
Mahlon Pitney
(Morristown)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
January 10, 1899
54th
55th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898 but resigned on election to New Jersey State Senate.
Vacant January 10, 1899 –
March 3, 1899
55th
 
Joshua S. Salmon
(Boonton)
Democratic March 4, 1899 –
May 6, 1902
56th
57th
Elected to finish Pitney's term.
Re-elected in 1900.
Died.
Vacant May 6, 1902 –
June 18, 1902
57th
 
De Witt C. Flanagan
(Morristown)
Democratic June 18, 1902 –
March 3, 1903
Elected to finish Salmon's term.
Retired.
 
William M. Lanning
(Trenton)
Republican March 4, 1903 –
June 6, 1904
58th Elected in 1902.
Resigned on appointment as district judge of 3rd circuit.
1903–1933
Hunterdon, Mercer, and Somerset
Vacant June 6, 1904 –
November 8, 1904
 
Ira W. Wood
(Trenton)
Republican November 8, 1904 –
March 3, 1913
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd
Elected to finish Lanning's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Retired.
 
Allan B. Walsh
(Trenton)
Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
63rd Elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.
 
Elijah C. Hutchinson
(Trenton)
Republican March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1923
64th
65th
66th
67th
Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Lost re-election.
Charles Browne
(Princeton)
Democratic March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1925
68th Elected in 1922.
Lost re-election.
 
Charles A. Eaton
(North Plainfield)
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1933
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the 5th district.
D. Lane Powers
(Trenton)
Republican March 4, 1933 –
August 30, 1945
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Resigned to become member of New Jersey Public Utilities Commission.
1933–1967
Burlington and Mercer
Vacant August 30, 1945 –
November 6, 1945
79th
 
Frank A. Mathews Jr.
(Riverton)
Republican November 6, 1945 –
January 3, 1949
79th
80th
Elected to finish Powers's term.
Re-elected in 1946.
Retired.
 
Charles R. Howell
(Pennington)
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1955
81st
82nd
83rd
Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
 
Frank Thompson Jr.
(Trenton)
Democratic January 3, 1955 –
December 29, 1980
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
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 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election and resigned early.
1967–1971:
Hunterdon, Mercer, Sussex, and Warren
1971–1973:
[data missing]
1973–1983:
Parts of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, and Ocean
Vacant December 29, 1980 –
January 3, 1981
96th
 
Chris Smith
(Manchester Township)
Republican January 3, 1981 –
present
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
1983–1985:
Parts of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, and Monmouth
1985–1993:
Parts of Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean
1993–2003:
Parts of Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean
2003–2013:
 
Parts of Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean
2013–2023:
 
Parts of Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean
2023–present:
 
Parts of Monmouth and Ocean

Recent election results

edit

2012

edit
New Jersey's 4th congressional district, 2012[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Smith (incumbent) 195,146 63.7
Democratic Brian Froelich 107,992 35.3
Independent Leonard Marshall 3,111 1.0
Total votes 306,247 100.0
Republican hold

2014

edit
New Jersey's 4th congressional district, 2014[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Smith (incumbent) 118,826 68.0
Democratic Ruben M. Scolavino 54,415 31.1
Independent Scott Neuman 1,608 0.9
Total votes 174,849 100.0
Republican hold

2016

edit
New Jersey's 4th congressional district, 2016 [9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Smith (incumbent) 211,992 63.7
Democratic Lorna Phillipson 111,532 33.5
Independent Hank Schroeder 5,840 1.8
Libertarian Jeremy Marcus 3,320 1.0
Total votes 332,684 100.0
Republican hold

2018

edit
New Jersey's 4th congressional district, 2018[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Smith (incumbent) 163,065 55.4
Democratic Joshua Welle 126,766 43.1
Libertarian Michael Rufo 1,387 0.5
Independent Ed Stackhouse 1,064 0.4
Independent Brian Reynolds 851 0.3
Independent Felicia Stoler 844 0.3
Independent Allen Yusufov 371 0.1
Total votes 294,348 100.0
Republican hold

2020

edit
New Jersey's 4th congressional district, 2020[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Smith (incumbent) 254,103 59.9
Democratic Stephanie Schmid 162,420 38.3
Independent Hank Schroeder 3,195 0.7
Libertarian Michael Rufo 2,583 0.6
Independent Andrew Pachuta 2,067 0.5
Total votes 424,368 100.0
Republican hold

2022

edit
New Jersey's 4th congressional district, 2022[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Smith (incumbent) 173,288 66.9
Democratic Matthew Jenkins 81,233 31.4
Libertarian Jason Cullen 1,902 0.7
Independent David Schmidt 1,197 0.5
Independent Hank Schroeder 905 0.3
Independent Pam Daniels 437 0.2
Total votes 258,962 100.0
Republican hold

References

edit
  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". July 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "New Jersey Congressional Districts: 2022-2031" (PDF). New Jersey Redistricting Commission. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  4. ^ [1], New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2021. Accessed November 5, 2022.
  5. ^ District, Chris Smith (New Jersey politician). Accessed June 15, 2016.
  6. ^ Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed November 6, 2016.
  7. ^ "Election Information" (PDF). NJ Department of State. November 6, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "Election Information" (PDF). NJ Department of State. December 2, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Election Information" (PDF). NJ Department of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  10. ^ Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "Official General Election Results: U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  12. ^ "2022 Official General Election Results: U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State - Division of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2022.

40°09′36″N 74°25′27″W / 40.1600°N 74.4242°W / 40.1600; -74.4242