Who's running in New Jersey's 4th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Chris Smith currently holds this seat
High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Opposition to abortion, a position he has held throughout his career.
Human rights advocacy, particularly on China, and international religious freedom.
Anti-trafficking legislation, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Act he authored.
Veterans' benefits and services.
Lower taxes and reduced federal spending.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 4th District since January 1981; re-elected in 2024 with 67.4% of the vote.
Longest-serving member of Congress from New Jersey in the state's history.
Co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
Voted for the 2025 budget reconciliation bill that reduced Medicaid spending.
Won the June 2, 2026 Republican primary unopposed.
Arguments in favor
Organised labour has backed him over the Democrat in this race — the state AFL-CIO, the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, the New Jersey Teamsters and the American Federation of Government Employees all endorsed him.
— 2026 endorsements from the unions named
He carries President Trump's endorsement together with the Monmouth County Republican Organization, Americans for Tax Reform and New Jersey Right to Life PAC, and was unopposed for renomination.
— Donald Trump endorsement and endorsements from the organisations named
Arguments against
Constituent groups and his 2026 Democratic challengers say he does not meet voters: he has not held an open public town hall since 1993, and organisers including NJ 4th District Voice and Indivisible NJ say requests go unanswered. Julie Flynn, who ran before endorsing Peace, put it as "he never has town halls — he's not really representing the people of New Jersey."
— Julie Flynn and the NJ-04 constituent accountability groups NJ 4th District Voice and Indivisible NJ
Peace argues he voted for the 2025 reconciliation bill that cut Medicaid — coverage her own family relies on — and calls him a career politician who "still believes in trickle-down economics."
— Rachel Peace campaign
What we couldn’t verify
A constituent-run site, whereischrissmith.com, makes further claims — that Smith bought a Virginia home in 1983 and has lived there for most of his tenure while renting in New Jersey, and gives district-level Medicaid figures. The site describes itself as "political satire and commentary" and is not affiliated with a campaign, so those claims are recorded here rather than presented as established.
No verified 2026 campaign website was found; the site that appears in directories is his official House office site, which is not a campaign site.
No National Republican Congressional Committee or Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material naming him in this cycle was found — neither committee treats the seat as competitive.
Affordability in housing, food, energy and higher education.
Campaign finance reform, including overturning Citizens United.
Higher taxes on corporations and high earners.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Small business owner; has not held elected office.
Became publicly active opposing the 2025 budget reconciliation bill's Medicaid provisions.
Won the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary with about 73% against union electrician John Blake.
Endorsed at the Monmouth County Democratic convention, the first county convention of the 2026 cycle.
Arguments in favor
She consolidated the district's Democratic organisations early — the Monmouth and Ocean county committees — and won the primary with roughly three-quarters of the vote against a union-backed opponent.
— Monmouth and Ocean county Democratic committee endorsements; primary results reported by WHYY and the Associated Press
Senator Andy Kim endorsed her after the primary, and she carries New Jersey Citizen Action PAC and Gun Sense Voter, along with the endorsement of Julie Flynn, a rival candidate who withdrew in her favour.
— Endorsements from Senator Andy Kim, NJCA-PAC, Gun Sense Voter and Julie Flynn
Arguments against
She is a first-time candidate in what New Jersey Globe calls the state's reddest House seat: Smith has held it since 1981 and won by more than thirty points in 2024, and the Cook Political Report rates it solid Republican.
— New Jersey Globe and the Cook Political Report
What we couldn’t verify
Only one substantive criticism of Peace could be found. Searches covered NRCC materials, her name against criticism and opponent terms, her primary opponent John Blake, and coverage in New Jersey Globe, WHYY, Insider NJ and the Toms River Patch. Neither Chris Smith nor the NRCC has published anything naming her.
No fundraising figures for her general election campaign were reported in the material found.
A domain matching her campaign name shows only a "coming soon" placeholder and could not be confirmed as hers, so no website is listed.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
New Jersey held its primary on June 2, 2026. Two candidates appear on the November ballot: Republican incumbent Chris Smith and Democrat Rachel Peace. The roster is confirmed against the New Jersey Division of Elections official general election candidate list dated September 4, 2026 — Kevin Cupples filed paperwork as an independent but does not appear on the certified list and is excluded. The district covers the upper Jersey Shore and parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties, including Lakewood and Toms River. It is the most Republican congressional district in New Jersey; Smith won it with 67.4% in 2024 and forecasters rate it solid Republican.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New Jersey ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New Jersey Division of Elections.