Meet 2 Republicans Who Want To Take Rep. Frelinghuysen’s Seat

As one of New Jersey’s longest-tenured U.S. Representatives and one of the most powerful Republicans in the state prepares for his surprising retirement later this year, a pair GOP contenders are gearing up to take his place in the 2018 election.

Rodney Frelinghuysen, who represents New Jersey’s 11th District, announced his plans to retire last month, leaving his congressional seat without an incumbent for the first time in decades.

• See related article: Rep. Frelinghuysen's Challengers Speak About His Retirement

Frelinghuysen’s Democrat challengers include Mikie Sherrill, Tamara Harris, Mitchell Cobert and Mark Washburne. But with the veteran lawmaker’s departure from the race in the 11th District, two Republican challengers are also set to make their presences felt in the election booth.

JAY WEBBER

State Assemblyman Jay Webber, who represents New Jersey’s 26th District, announced that he will be running for Frelinghuysen’s congressional seat on Saturday.

Webber, who identifies himself as “the conservative conscience of the State Legislature” on his website, lives with his wife Johanna live with their seven children in Morris Plains, where Webber is a trustee of St. Virgil’s Parish and a volunteer youth basketball and baseball coach.

He serves on the Assembly’s Labor and State & Local Government Committees, and has earned the Taxpayer Hero Award from Americans for Prosperity-NJ; the Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award from the NJ Society for Environmental Economic Development; and the Defender of the Family Legislative Award from the NJ Family Policy Council.

From 2009 to 2011, Webber served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party, and serves on the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors, which is dedicated to preserving President Reagan’s former ranch in Santa Barbara, California as a historical property.

Webber grew up in Clifton and attended St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale. currently practices law with Webber McGill LLC in Whippany.

“I am grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement I have received in the hours since I announced my candidacy for Congress,” Webber said Monday. “Our campaign is building a great team that will help spread our common-sense conservative message of job creation, strong national defense and New Jersey values.”

MARTIN HEWITT

A former Democrat who first registered to run for Congress as an independent and later switched to the GOP, Martin Hewitt recently signed a lease for an apartment in Morris Township. The attorney describes himself as “socially liberal and fiscally conservative,” and says that his grassroots campaign has thus far consisted of “small contributions from supporters on both the left and the right of the political spectrum.”

As opposed to Frelinghuysen, who was recently criticized for refusing to hold town hall meetings with his constituents, Hewitt said that he is eager to bring back town halls in the 11th District.

• See related article: Frelinghuysen Criticized At Activist-Held Essex County Town Hall

“Town Hall conversations are one of the oldest, most proven methods of engaging with neighbors and coming to agreements on issues,” Hewitt said. “Whether a Town Hall conversation takes place at Town Hall or a bar, the important thing is getting residents together and having a civilized dialogue. As a resident of this district, I feel strongly that our representatives and prospective representatives owe us the decency of asking for our input on critical issues.”

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Photo 1 (left): Martin Hewitt / hewittforcongress.com

Photo 2 (right): Jay Webber / jaywebber.org