New Jersey's 12th congressional district

"NJ-12" redirects here. NJ-12 may also refer to New Jersey Route 12.

New Jersey's 12th congressional district
Current Representative		Rush D. Holt, Jr. (D–Hopewell Township)
Distribution	93.17% urban, 6.83% rural
Population (2000)	647,258
Median income	$69,668
Ethnicity	75.4% White, 11.7% Black, 9.1% Asian, 5.5% Hispanic, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% other
Cook PVI	D+5

New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional district is currently represented by Democrat Rush D. Holt Jr. The district is known for its research centers and educational institutions such as Princeton University, Institute for Advanced Study, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Voting trends

The present 12th Congressional District is a Democratic-leaning district, as measured by the Cook PVI. This along with an incumbent Democratic Congressman, has led the Republicans to not target the 12th since the election of 2002.

In the redistricting following the United States Census, 2000, several municipalities (with histories of supporting Democratic candidates) were added to the 12th. In 2002, despite an expensive challenge from former New Jersey Secretary of State Buster Soaries, Rush Holt was re-elected with 61%.

In 2004, Holt was re-elected over real estate executive Bill Spadea (59-41%) and again in 2006 over former Helmetta Council President Joseph Sinagra (65-35%).

In 2008, Holt defeated Holmdel Township Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman (62-36%).

In 2010, while Democrats suffered huge House loses, Holt defeated Princeton venture capitalist Scott Sipprelle and Independent Kenneth J. Cody (53-46-1%).

Counties and municipalities in the district

For the 108th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2000 Census), the district contains portions of five counties and 44 municipalities:

Hunterdon County (8)

Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Franklin Township, Frenchtown, Kingwood Township, Lambertville, Stockton, West Amwell Township

Mercer County (9)

Ewing Township, Hopewell Township, Hopewell, Lawrence Township, Pennington, Princeton Borough, Princeton Township, Trenton (part; also 4), West Windsor Township

Middlesex County (12)

Cranbury Township, East Brunswick Township, Helmetta, Jamesburg, Milltown, Monroe Township, North Brunswick Township, Old Bridge Township (part, also 6), Plainsboro Township, South Brunswick Township, South River Borough, and Spotswood Borough

Monmouth County (14)

Eatontown, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Freehold Township (part, also 4), Holmdel Township, Little Silver, Manalapan Township (part, also 6), Marlboro Township (part, also 6), Middletown Township (part, also 6), Oceanport, Rumson, Shrewsbury Township, Shrewsbury, Tinton Falls

Somerset County (1)

Franklin Township (part; also 6)

History

The 12th congressional district (together with the 11th district) was created starting with the 63rd United States Congress in 1913, based on redistricting following the United States Census, 1910.

Recent election results

Presidential races

Year	District winner	Margin
2000	Al Gore	56 - 40%
2004	John Kerry	54 - 46%
2008	Barack Obama	58 - 41%

Representatives

Representative	Party	Years	District home	Note
District created March 4, 1913
James A. Hamill	Democratic	March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1921		redistricted from the 10th district
Charles F. X. O'Brien	Democratic	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1925
Mary T. Norton	Democratic	March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1933		redistricted to the 13th district
Frederick R. Lehlbach	Republican	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937		redistricted from the 10th district
Frank W. Towey, Jr.	Democratic	January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939
Robert W. Kean	Republican	January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1959
George M. Wallhauser	Republican	January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1965
Paul J. Krebs	Democratic	January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967
Florence P. Dwyer	Republican	January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973		redistricted from the 6th district
Matthew J. Rinaldo	Republican	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983		redistricted to the 7th district
James A. Courter	Republican	January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1991		redistricted from the 13th district
Dick Zimmer	Republican	January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Michael J. Pappas	Republican	January 3, 1997 – January 3, 1999
Rush D. Holt, Jr.	Democratic	January 3, 1999 – Present		Incumbent

References

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present