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
District map as of 2013 District map as of 2013
Current Representative		Bonnie Watson Coleman (D–Ewing Township, Mercer County)
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+14

New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional district is represented by Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman. The district is known for its research centers and educational institutions such as Princeton University, The College of New Jersey, Institute for Advanced Study, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

File:NJ12congressdistrict.gif

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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

A change was made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections. The district currently contains portions of four counties and 31 municipalities:

Mercer County (10)

Ewing Township, East Windsor, Hightstown, Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, Lawrence Township, Pennington, Princeton, Trenton, West Windsor Township

Middlesex County (14)

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

Somerset County (4)

Bound Brook, Franklin Township, Manville, South Bound Brook

Union County (3)

Fanwood, Plainfield, Scotch Plains (part, also 7)

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
75px Robert W. Kean	Republican	January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1959
George M. Wallhauser	Republican	January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1965
75px 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
75px 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
75px Rush D. Holt, Jr.	Democratic	January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2015
Bonnie Watson Coleman	Democratic	January 3, 2015 –

References

• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present