GOP Rep. Chris Smith, who represents Lakewood as part of his 4th Congressional District, is walking away with stronger electoral chances after former NJ Supreme Court Justice John E. Wallace Jr. this morning chose the Democrat-proposed map for New Jersey’s redistricting – a process that takes place following each US Census.
Under the map proposed by Democrats, heavily Republican areas will be added to 4th Congressional District, giving Smith a leg up over possible Democrat challengers in next year’s midterm election, as well as in other future elections.
The Democrats’ map is not meant to be nice to Smith. Rather, by adding very Republican areas to Smith’s district, they are at the same time reducing the number of Republicans in Democrat Andy Kim’s district, thereby making it easier for him to win future elections as well. And with Kim a rising star in the Democrat party, his party colleagues were keen – and have now been successful at – propping up his electoral chances.
The Republican map would have kept heavily Republican areas in Kim’s district, making it more difficult for him to win reelection, with party members knowing that Smith represents an already strongly Republican district.
Interestingly, the Democrat map makes it far more likely that they will lose a congressional seat in next year’s midterms. The map they proposed, and which has now been accepted, creates tremendous headaches for Rep. Tom Malinowski, removing heavily blue areas from his district, and Governor Phil Murphy lost the areas in which Malinowski’s district now lies by double digits in his reelection bid this November.
If the election outcomes do indeed favor Republicans, as it appears most likely, Democrats will wind up with 9 of their party members representing New Jersey districts in the House of Representatives, while Republicans will have 3 of their party members in the House. Currently, there are 10 Democrats and 2 Republicans representing New Jersey districts in the House.
Chris must vote for The Republican agenda, too many times he votes with the dem’s, including this garbagetruckure bil
Bye Bye, Murphy.
@Nice Move
What, exactly, are you talking about? In case you forgot, Murphy was re-elected for another 4 years.
Although Murphy won re-election, it wasn’t flat across the state. In certain districts he crushed, and in certain districts – like this new one being referenced above, he lost by double digits.
The census compared to voters made more districts Red. Murphy will have to answer to them. He may not be gone but the scene around him changes. The people have been shifted. They do this after every election. Re-district. We’ll have to see. There are still mid-terms and local elections in 22.
The mid-terms will not impact state government, just our congressional representatives. Local elections in 2022 will be mostly unaffected by the Congressional redistricting. There could be some impact caused by “coat tails”- a popular congressman sometimes brings votes to the candidates underneath him on the ballot.
Our largest neighbors in Ocean County will be unaffected. Brick and Toms River do not have 2022 local elections. Jackson has a non-partisan form of government. Candidates do not run as Democrat or Republican, so there will be no “coattails”
Dear New Jersey,
We should vote in 2022 only Republican Party and not the Democrats Party. We need to win end crazy Laws in NJ.
Remember gerrymandering is good when democrats do it, also this former justice lost his job when the Republican governor didn’t renominate him for tenure.
Smith was always very strong. The elections are not even close. He doesn’t need to be any stronger.