Pallone, Holt hold off challengers
BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer

Democratic incumbents won re-election to Congressional seats representing the 6th and 12th districts in the Nov. 4 elections.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) secured his 11th term as representative for the 6th Legislative District, while Rep. Rush Holt (D- 12th District) won his sixth term as representative of the 12th District.

According to unofficial tallies from the New Jersey Division of Elections, Pallone garnered a total of 157,379 votes, out of the 235,962 votes tallied for the two-year seat, which he has held for 20 years.

"I am pleased and honored to once again receive the support of my constituents in the 6th Congressional District," Pallone said in a postelection press release. "Our nation faces many challenges both at home and abroad, but I look forward to working with President-elect Obama to address those challenges by moving our nation in a new direction.

"In the coming months, I will work to pass an economic recovery package that creates good-paying jobs here in New Jersey. As the chairman of the Health Subcommittee, I am also excited to work with President-elect Obama to pass legislation that will make health care more affordable and accessible to all."

Challenger Robert McLeod, a Republican from Keyport, drew a total of 75,342 votes, and independent candidate Herb Tarbous had 3,241 votes.

The 6th Congressional District spans parts of Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Union counties.

On Pallone's home turf of Monmouth County, the congressman received 76,757, or 62.93 percent, of the 121,970 total votes cast. McLeod received 43,525 votes, or 35.69 percent of the total vote, and Tarbous finished with 1,631, or 1.34 percent of the vote.

Incumbent Democrat Rep. Rush Holt will serve a sixth term after winning the race for the 12th Congressional District seat Nov. 4.

According to the unofficial tallies from the N.J. Division of Elections, Holt walked away from the election with a total of 180,660 of the 289,102 votes tallied.

"I am honored and grateful to earn the confidence and support of central New Jersey voters to represent them for a sixth term in Congress," Holt said in a prepared statement. "Challenger Alan Bateman, a Republican and Holmdel Township deputy mayor, received a total of 104,024 votes, and David Corsi, who is from Oceanport and ran on the Common Sense Ideas ticket, received a total of 4,418 votes.

The 12th Congressional District covers portions of Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

In Monmouth County, Bateman gave Holt a run for his money, weighing in with 39,545 votes, or 47.45 percent, to Holt's 42,038 votes, or 50.44 percent of the vote. Corsi received 1,715 votes, or 2.06 percent of the vote. There were 83,345 total votes cast for the race in Monmouth County.