Election Results: Josh Gottheimer Defeats Scott Garrett

WYCKOFF, N.J. — Democrat Josh Gottheimer defeated Rep. Scott Garrett Tuesday, ending the controversial congressman's 13-year service to the Garden State and raising the question of what a federal Democratic representative will bring to North Jersey.

CNN reported Gottheimer reportedly received 156,028 votes to Garrett's 146,428.

"They said this couldn't happen, that our district was too partisan and the odds too long," Gottheimer said to a crowd of cheering supporters at the Hasbrouck Heights Hilton at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. "But living room by living room, handshake by handshake, you proved them wrong. We stood up for common sense solutions, we stood up for Jersey values."

Gottheimer attacked Garrett's voting record early and often. Gottheimer's campaign often referred to Garrett as a "bigot" for not supporting gay marriage and gay candidates, "anti-women" for supporting a Constitutional amendment that would ban a woman’s right to choose, even in cases of rape and incest, often mentioned his lack of early support of 9/11 first responders, and for voting against banning confederate flags in military cemeteries. Such views, according to an ad run by the House Majority PAC, are "perfect for rural Alabama" and not New Jersey.

"Ensuring that women get equal pay for equal work, isn't a partisan issue, it's a 5th District issue," said Gottheimer, a married father with two children.

Garrett, an Englewood native, was able to fend off challenges from opponents quite easily in years past, including former Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn. Garrett never received less than 55 percent of the vote in previous elections.

Gottheimer was a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton when he was president. Garrett gave voters the impression that Gottheimer is a Washington insider who is very close to the Clintons and who cannot be trusted.

The district race was one of the most watched in the state, with CNN referring to is as a "battleground" district.

The 5th Congressional District includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties. Most of the district's 647,000 residents, 75 percent, live in Bergen County.

“North Jersey voters have rejected Scott Garrett’s shameless bigotry and chosen a representative who actually reflects their values by electing Josh Gottheimer to Congress,” said House Majority PAC Executive Director Alixandria Lapp. “House Majority PAC is thrilled to have played a critical role in making sure Josh Gottheimer will bring fiscally responsible, socially progressive leadership to Washington.”

Garrett's campaign issued a statement at about 1 a.m. Wednesday morning regarding the need to count the remaining 20,000 outstanding ballots.

"We've run an issue-based campaign, as opposed to Josh Gottheimer's campaign of name-calling. During my entire time on the campaign trail, from Hackensack to Hackettstown, voters shared with me their top concerns, which are creating jobs, revitalizing our economy, and strengthening our national defense," Garrett said. "I am confident that the election results will reflect these concerns and that voters will choose to send me back to Washington as their representative."

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