Who's In the Race

Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) faces Democrat Rachel Peace in the Nov. 3 general election in New Jersey's 4th Congressional District. ​

Smith has represented the district since 1981 and is known for his work on human trafficking, including authoring the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Peace is a Jersey Shore native, founder of Hyperfocused Communications, and a working mother who describes firsthand experience with the cost of health care and child care. She won the Democratic primary with about 73 percent of the vote over John Blake.

What They Stand For

Peace has proposed reassessing federal poverty standards to improve housing affordability, according to the New Jersey Monitor. She has also supported universal health coverage, universal pre-K for three- and four-year-olds, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

Smith's official House biography says he is known for his work to combat human trafficking and authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

The Money Behind the Race

Smith raised about $592,000 through June 30 and had about $488,000 in the bank, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Peace raised about $34,000 through June 30 and had about $5,400 on hand; she carried about $25,700 in debt. Outside spending in the race totaled $2,000 as of Oct. 13, all of it supporting Peace, with DCOC PAC as the largest spender.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Republican as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans a 96.32 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 13; Democrats stood at 3.68 percent.

Smith carried New Jersey's 4th District with about 67 percent in both 2022 and 2024. Statewide, Democrats won nine of New Jersey's 12 U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024, with Republicans holding three. Democrat Kamala Harris carried New Jersey in the 2024 presidential race with about 52 percent of the vote.

New Jersey's voter registration deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 13; the state does not allow same-day registration. Mail ballot applications must be submitted by mail by Tuesday, Oct. 27, or in person by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2. Early voting runs Saturday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 1; hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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