Candidates competing in NJ's Congressional races campaign as Election Day approaches

From rallies with supporters to one-on-one door knocking, the candidates for Congress in New Jersey were in an all-out sprint Saturday ahead of Election Day.

News 12 Staff

Oct 29, 2022, 10:13 PM

Updated 776 days ago

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From rallies with supporters to one-on-one door knocking, the candidates for Congress in New Jersey were in an all-out sprint Saturday ahead of Election Day.
With just 10 days until Election Day, none of the candidates took anything for granted.
State Democrats stepped in to help Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski in his race against Tom Kean, Jr.
But additional spending by national Democrats is drawing attention to Bergen County and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, where his opponent, Republican Frank Pallotta, said the race may be getting closer.
Pallotta also heated up toward Election Day.
"We're within the margin of error and both sides know that, and both sides are ramping it up," he said.
Pallotta and Bergen County Republicans held a car rally from Saddle River to North Arlington on Saturday morning with the hope to drive up Republican turnout to defeat Gottheimer.
"He's talking about abortion. We're talking about crime. He's talking about Jan. 6. We're talking about inflation and the numbers, and what's keeping people up at night, and we constantly talk about parental rights," Pallotta said.
In Norwood on Saturday afternoon, Gottheimer went door to door with council candidates, mindful that this race might be tougher than 2020, when he beat Pallotta by 30,000 votes.
"These elections are always tight and right now, my district has always been a district where we got where it's always close, and I imagine it's going to be close this time. And you got to fight 'til every last hour," Gottheimer said.
In Rahway at the same time, Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski also campaigned.
"This is the bellwether race for the House of Representatives in the United States," Malinowski said.
Democrats united to rally behind their most at-risk candidate, Malinowski in his rematch against Republican Tom Kean, Jr.
"They're two Toms in this race but there's only one brain," said Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Kean voted early in Rahway after meeting voters in Westfield. At the Rahway rally, Democrats, including Sen. Cory Booker showed support for Malinowski.
"We are not going back that we are going to stand up," Booker said.
The race between Malinowski and Kean has been expected to be close, but the Washington Post reported that an outside spending group linked to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pouring money into ads to help Gottheimer.
Gottheimer said he's glad to have any assistance.