Despite resignations, N.J. congressional delegation expected to stay evenly split by party

Incumbents’ names will not be on the ballot this November in several of New Jersey’s congressional races.

Next year, 25 percent of the Garden State’s Congressional Districts will be represented by new lawmakers because incumbents there have decided not to seek re-election.

But, according to Rider University political science professor Ben Dworkin, that doesn’t necessarily make those races more competitive.

“Just because both candidates will have enough money to run aggressive campaigns doesn’t mean that the races are really up for grabs,” he said. “The fact is each of these districts tends to favor one party or the other.”

Only one of the districts is potentially in question, said Monmouth University political analyst Patrick Murray.

“That’s the 3rd District. The other two, the 12th and 1st Districts, are solidly Democratic and so once we’ve gotten past the primaries there, the Democratic nominee really has the upper hand in retaining those seats,” he said.

There are currently six Republican and six Democratic members in New Jersey’s Congressional delegation, and analysts do not expect the election will alter that partisan balance.