NJ 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT-MARTHA LEWAND FORM V
Josh Welle (D) is challenging incumbent Chris Smith (R)to represent New Jersey’s 4th congressional district. The district consists of two towns in Mercer County, thirty-four in Monmouth County, and seven in Ocean County. The population of the district is roughly 736,007 (2010 Census Bureau), consists of 85.3% White, 7.8% Black, 2.3% Asian, and 7.5% Hispanic, with a median household income of $71,084.
The 4th district has traditionally voted conservative, as Smith has been the region’s congressman since 1980 and has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2004; President Trump received sizeable support from this district, having won with the widest margin of 56-41% in the past four presidential elections. According to Ballotpedia.org, “The 2018 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+8, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district’s results were 8 percentage points more Republican than the national average”.
Smith has a notable history of landslide victories, often winning over 60% of the district vote. This time around, however, the race will be far more competitive. Welle “has broken fundraising records in that district, raising more than $1.3 million for his campaign to date” (NJ Patch). Welle attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy, conducting a tour in Afghanistan. He is pro-choice and often critical of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies and claims that “in light of the 2016 election, I am called to serve again, this time out of uniform” (welleforcongress.com). Smith, on the other hand, tends to be classified as a moderate Republican; he is pro-life and “has also expressed discomfort at gay marriage and adoption of children by gay couples” (NJ Patch). \
References: 2010 Census Bureau, Ballotpedia, and NJ Patch