2024 New Jersey Election Overview: Critical Races, Polls, and Voting Day Details

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Election Day in New Jersey will be on November 5, 2024.

All state offices will be closed that day, meaning state employees can vote while the polls open.

Some cities, such as Newark, Hoboken, and Long Branch, will also close their offices.

Thus, for families with school-aged children, it’s a good idea to check with your local school district, as many schools may close on Election Day.

This year, the presidential election showed a strong lead for Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate.

In a recent poll of 400 likely voters, Harris leads former President Donald Trump by 12 points.

Harris holds 56% of the votes, while Trump has 44%, continuing New Jersey’s voting trend for Democratic candidates.

It’s safe to say New Jersey is seeing some major political shifts this year.

Two long-serving members of Congress, Bill Pascrell and Donald Payne, Jr., have passed away.

Additionally, former Senator Bob Menendez is no longer in office due to corruption charges.

These changes mean new leaders will take their place, making this an important election for New Jersey.

The New Jersey Senate race is among the most crucial contests this year.

Democratic candidate Andy Kim, who currently serves in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, is running for the seat left by Menendez.

And Kim gained attention after winning the primary.

His opponent is Republican Curtis Bashaw, a businessman from Cape May.

Bashaw is trying to become the first Republican to win a New Jersey Senate seat in over 50 years.

In New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District, Rob Menendez, the son of former Senator Bob Menendez, is running for re-election.

He successfully distanced himself from his father’s troubles and beat a strong opponent, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, in the primary.

If Rob Menendez wins and Nellie Pou wins in another district, New Jersey will have two Hispanic lawmakers in the U.S. House for the first time.

In the 1st Congressional District, Donald Norcross, the Democratic incumbent, is running against Republican Teddy Liddell.

Norcross is expected to win, as his district leans heavily Democratic.

However, the race is interesting because of the legal troubles faced by Norcross’s brother, George Norcross, a major political figure in the state.

Meanwhile, the 7th Congressional District is shaping up to be one to watch closely.

Tom Kean, Jr., the current Republican representative, is running against Sue Altman, a Democrat with a strong campaign.

Kean comes from a well-known political family, and this race could be competitive, especially if Kamala Harris performs well in New Jersey.

LaMonica McIver, a Democrat and former Newark Council President, is running for re-election in the 10th Congressional District against Republican Carmen Bucco.

Given the district’s strong Democratic voting history, McIver is widely expected to win.

In the 9th Congressional District, Democratic State Senator Nellie Pou is running against Republican Billy Prempeh.

With the passing of former representative Bill Pascrell, this race has now opened up.

And the seat will stay open until the winner takes office in January.

Another race to follow is in the 3rd Congressional District.

Four candidates are running for the seat Andy Kim left to pursue his Senate bid.

The district has more unaffiliated voters than Democrats or Republicans, so it’s an open race.

Dr. Herb Conaway, a Democrat, is one of the candidates.

Conaway has been in the New Jersey Assembly since 1998 and has a background in medicine and law.

His primary focus is on issues like border security, women’s health rights, and international conflicts, such as supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Dr. Rajesh Mohan, a Republican and a heart doctor, also ran in this district.

Mohan is concerned about immigration and wants to close the southern U.S. border to stop illegal immigration.

He supports legal immigration but believes the system needs to be improved.

He also shares concerns about politicians interfering in health decisions, especially regarding abortion.

All in all, the 2024 election is a major event for New Jersey.

With many important races taking place, the results could significantly shape local and national politics for years to come.