William J. Hughes - Election History

Election History

Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, Hughes served 10 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's Second Congressional District longer than anyone in history. He first ran for Congress in 1970 when he challenged incumbent Congressman Charles W. Sandman and lost by fewer than 5,000 votes. Hughes did not run for office in 1972 but again sought election to Congress in 1974 and won with 57% of the vote as one of the so-called ”Watergate Babies” who were swept into office in the wake of the Watergate Scandal and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. In 1976, Hughes faced Assemblyman James R. Hurley of Millville in his first reelection bid and won with 62% of the vote. In subsequent elections, Hughes’ winning percentage averaged 60%. During the 1984 election, Hughes outpolled President Reagan in his district by a margin of 63% to 62%. He outpolled President Bush in 1988 by 66% to 58%, and outpolled President Clinton by 57% to 40%.

New Jersey's 2nd congressional district: Results 1970, 1974–1992

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
1970		William Hughes	64,882	48%		Charles W. Sandman, Jr.	69,392	52%
1974		William Hughes	109,763	57%		Charles W. Sandman, Jr.	79,064	41%		Andrew Wenger	Independent	2,693	1%
1976		William Hughes	141,753	62%		James R. Hurley	87,915	38%
1978		William Hughes	112,768	66%		James H. Biggs	56,997	34%
1980		William Hughes	135,437	57%		Beech N. Fox	97,072	41%		Robert C. Rothhouse	Libertarian	2,262	1%	*
1982		William Hughes	102,826	68%		John J. Mahoney	47,069	31%		Bruce Powers	Libertarian	1,233	1%
1984		William Hughes	132,841	63%		Raymond G. Massie	77,231	37%
1986		William Hughes	83,821	68%		Alfred J. Bennington, Jr.	35,167	29%		Len Smith	Pro Life, Anti-Abortion	3,812	3%
1988		William Hughes	134,505	66%		Kirk W. Conover	67,759	33%		Richard A. Schindewolf, Jr.	Pro-Life Conservative	2,372	1%
1990		William Hughes	97,698	88%		(no candidate)				William A. Kanengiser	Populist	13,120	12%
1992		William Hughes	132,465	56%		Frank A. LoBiondo	98,315	41%		Roger W. Bacon	Libertarian	2,575	1%	*

* Minor candidate notes: In 1980, Adele Frisch ran from the Socialist Labor party and garnered 939 votes (<1%). In 1992, Joseph Ponczek ran under the Anti-Tax party and had 2,067 votes (1%) cast for him; Andrea Lippi ran under the "Freedom, Equality, Prosperity" party and got 1,605 votes (1%).