An area resident came up short in his bid to unseat a longtime member of the U.S. Congress and represent a portion of central New Jersey in Washington, D.C.
On Election Day, Nov. 6, Republican businessman Rich Pezzullo, a resident of Freehold Township, conceded the race for Congress in New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District to longtime Democratic incumbent Frank Pallone Jr., a resident of Long Branch. Pallone’s new term will run from January 2019 through December 2020.
The Sixth Congressional District contains all or parts of two counties. In Middlesex County, the district includes Carteret, Edison, Highland Park, Metuchen, New Brunswick, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Sayreville, South Amboy, South Plainfield and Woodbridge.
In Monmouth County, the district includes Aberdeen Township, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Deal, Hazlet, Highlands, Interlaken, Keansburg, Keyport, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Marlboro, Matawan, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Union Beach and West Long Branch.
Federal law does not require a candidate to live in the district in which he is seeking election.
Results showed Pallone winning re-election with approximately 63 percent of the vote to Pezzullo’s 37 percent. In raw numbers, Pallone outpolled Pezzullo by a count of about 135,770 to 78,570.
Pallone’s office did not respond to a request for comment upon the congressman’s victory.
In a statement, Pezzullo said, “I congratulate the congressman on his victory and I urge him to work in the best interests of the people of New Jersey. I want to thank everyone who worked for me.
“Whether you knocked on doors, made phone calls or donated, I am so deeply humbled you put your time, money and heart on the line to send me to Congress. We fought as hard as we could, but the people spoke and it didn’t go our way.
“It was so heartening to see so many people get involved this year, on both sides of the aisle. This country is in good hands. Elections are designed to settle arguments, not start them. My prayer is that we can come together to decide things as a free people so we can stay that way,” Pezzullo said.
