Blue Wave Hits NJ: 12 Key Takeaways From 2026 Midterm Election

It’s going to be a lonely two years in Congress for Chris Smith.

If the projected results of Tuesday night’s election hold up, Smith (NJ-4) will soon be the only Republican from New Jersey serving in the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate.

Democratic candidates swept all but one Congress race in the Garden State in the 2026 midterm. The results were a stark contrast to 2024, when five counties in New Jersey flipped red and Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris for the U.S. presidency.

Trump told The New York Times that he is “absolutely willing” to accept the results, adding that he is prepared to work with Democrats moving forward. The president blamed his party’s Election Night losses on the fact that he was not on the ballot.

Some Republican leaders urged GOP voters to keep their heads high and look to future elections on the state level.

“Though the outcome of this year’s general election was not the result New Jersey Republicans worked toward, we will not be deterred in our mission to tackle the serious issues impacting all New Jerseyans as a result of decades of failed Democrat policies in Trenton,” New Jersey Republican Party chair Christine Hanlon said.

Other Republicans such as New Jersey State Sen. Jon Bramnick said this year’s midterm election is proof that Garden State voters are getting tired of “Trumpism” and the MAGA movement.

Bramnick also pointed to Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s loss to Gov. Mikie Sherrill last year.

“Hopefully my fellow New Jersey Republicans have received a strong message from the voters,” he commented. “No more excuses. We must return to our traditional principles and reject the hateful politics that has no place in our state.”

On the other side of the aisle, Gov. Sherrill said the Democratic Party’s overall message of “driving down costs, taking care of our kids, bringing accountability to government, and standing up to Trump’s chaos and corruption” paid big dividends on Election Night.

Sherrill congratulated Rebecca Bennett and Zack Mullock for flipping a pair of “critical” U.S. House seats, and Nellie Pou for her victory in a “frontline district.”

“A new generation of leadership is coming, and I am ready to work alongside them,” the governor said.

Here’s what happened in New Jersey congressional races on Tuesday, as per projections from the Associated Press:

• SENATE – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, the Democratic incumbent, easily fended off bids from Republican challenger Justin Murphy, Joanne Kuniansky of the Socialist Workers Party, and independent candidate Joanne Kuniansky. MORE: 'The Start Of Our Comeback': Booker Reflects On Senate Win, Dems' Victory
• 1^ST DISTRICT – Donald Norcross, the district’s Democratic congressman, defeated Republican challenger Damon Galdo by a wide margin, capturing more than 70 percent of the vote (with 93 percent of ballots counted as of Tuesday night).
• 2^ND DISTRICT – Cape May Mayor and Democrat Zack Mullock defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew and Ramon Mora Jr. (independent). Van Drew, a Trump ally who was previously a Democrat before changing parties, conceded defeat Tuesday night. MORE: Van Drew Ousted In Stunning South Jersey Upset
• 3^RD DISTRICT – Democratic congressman Herbert Conaway Jr. emerged with a victory against Michael P. McGuire, the Republican nominee, Steven Welzer (Green Party), and Ryan Kelly (Affordability, Accountability, People Party). MORE: Conaway Defeats McGuire In 3rd Congressional District House Vote, AP Says
• 4^TH DISTRICT – New Jersey will continue to have a Republican representing its 4th district in the House of Representatives after Chris Smith’s win against Democratic challenger Rachel Peace. MORE: Winner Declared In NJ 4th District Congressional Race
• 5^TH DISTRICT – Josh Gottheimer, the Democratic incumbent, captured more than 60 percent of the votes (with 96 percent of ballots counted on Tuesday night), soundly defeating Republican challenger Sean Kirrane and Adam Rueda of the Humane Sustainable Future Party.
• 6^TH DISTRICT – Frank Pallone won re-election in the 6^th district, with the Democratic incumbent defeating GOP challenger Hillary Herzig. MORE: Winner Declared In NJ 6 Congress Race: Frank Pallone Vs. Hillary Herzig
• 7^TH DISTRICT – Democrat newcomer Rebecca Bennett unseated incumbent Republican Tom Kean Jr. and Seamus O'Toole (Stop Israel's Genocide Party). Kean Jr. was seeking his third term in office. However, he had a 117-day absence during the year. MORE: Rebecca Bennett Declares Victory In NJ 7th Congressional Race
• 8^TH DISTRICT – Incumbent Democrat Rob Menendez Jr. won re-election against Aristotle Eliopolous (independent), Craig Honts (Socialist Workers Party), and Da'Shone Hughey (We The People Party). No Republican ran in the district. MORE: AP Calls NJ-8 Congress Race: Rob Menendez Vs. 3 Challengers
• 9^TH DISTRICT – Nellie Pou, the Democratic incumbent, defeated Rosie Pino (Republican) and Terrisa Bukovinac (Save Our Babies Party). Pou saw more than double the votes of Pino, according to the AP, which called the race in her favor with 94 percent of ballots counted.
• 10^TH DISTRICT – LaMonica McIver, the Democratic incumbent, defeated Republican challenger Carmen Bucco. McIver, who recently had a new baby, is still facing federal assault charges in connection with an incident outside an ICE detention center, which she says were politically motivated. MORE: AP Calls NJ-10 Race, McIver Defends Her Congress Seat
• 11^TH DISTRICT – Rep. Analilia Mejia, the Democratic incumbent, emerged with a win against GOP challenger Joe Hathaway and independent candidate Alan Bond in Gov. Sherrill’s old congressional district. MORE: Mejia Takes Home Win On Election Night In NJ-11
• 12^TH DISTRICT – Democrat Adam Hamawy defeated the GOP candidate, Gregg Mele, independent candidate Winston Jordan, and Green Party candidate Andres Jinete in a race to replace longtime Democratic congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who is retiring. MORE: NJ Will Send First Muslim Congressman To Washington From NJ-12

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