Race tightens in NJ’s 5th Congressional District

In less than two weeks, New Jersey voters will decide who they want to represent them in Congress. Political analysts say very few of those races are really competitive.

 

The race that analysts now believe could be the closest is in the 5th District in North Jersey, where six-term incumbent Republican Scott Garrett is being challenged by Democrat Roy Cho, a lawyer who has never run for political office.

Rider University political science professor Ben Dworkin said that race has become more competitive because Cho has raised almost a million dollars.

“I think a Democrat has an easy time getting 42 percent in this district,” Dworkin said. “There are plenty of Democrats in the area, but they have rarely put together a sustained, well-financed challenge, and that’s what has happened this time.”

Analysts also say there may be a tight race in the 3rd District, where Republican Tom MacArthur and Democrat Aimee Belgard are seeking to replace retiring Congressman Jon Runyan.