Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) told the New Jersey Globe today that he will “enthusiastically” seek re-election to a 21st term in Congress next year.
“I’ve never been more enthusiastic about a job in my life,” Smith said. “I hope to have another decade here. I love it that much.”
Smith became the only Republican in the New Jersey congressional delegation earlier this year after Democrats flipped four House seats in the 2018 mid-term elections.
The 4th district congressman pushed back on speculation that he might retire after twelve House Republicans – some from competitive districts – have said that they will not seek re-election in 2020. Smith said the same thing happened in 2018 when MoveOn.org tried to raise money by speculating that he would not run again.
“It’s a type of smear,” Smith said of retirement rumors. “It’s factually untrue. It’s unethical.”
Smith told the Globe that he’s written more laws than 433 other members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including three that were signed last year. He expects his Autism bill to become law this year.
“I have more enthusiasm, not less, than in my early years,” Smith said. “I get things done.”
Federal prosecutors are using a law Smith wrote to charge hedge fund manager Jeffrey Epstein on sex-trafficking charges.
Another indication of Smith’s decision to seek re-election: his first and second-quarter fundraising numbers have been more active than usual this cycle. He has $319,122 cash-on-hand.
Democrats thought they had a shot at beating Smith last year when Democrat Josh Welle raised $1.8 million, the often underestimated Smith raised $1.5 million and won by 12 percentage points.
Smith was first elected to Congress in 1980, at age 27, after thirteen-term Rep. Frank B. Thompson, Jr. (D-Trenton) was indicted as part of the Abscam scandal. Smith won, 57%-41%, in a district that Ronald Reagan carried by three points.
Now 66, Smith is still younger than five other New Jersey House members, including freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis).
The 4th is the only House district in New Jersey to become more Republican over the last decade.
So far, Smith has no announced opponents. Among the Democrats mulling a challenge: David Applefield, a former writer for the Financial Times; lobbyist Tiffany Kaszuba; holistic business and leadership coach Christine Conforti; and former Asbury Park Councilman Jim Keady, who lost Democratic House primaries in 2017 and 2018.
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I live in Chris Smith’s district. He hasn’t had a town hall in over a decade. He lives in Virginia and I have seen other NJ Congress people at local events more than him.
It is true that he is prolific writing laws. Please share that has either written or co-sponsored more bills to tear down women’s rights to abortion and birth control as he is opposed to birth control such as IUDs and the pill. He never mentions these to his constituents in his newsletters when he mentions bills for autism. He writes bills for something like autism on the one hand then voted against funding it on the other. NJ press does residents a disservice by writing fluff pieces for him without holding him to account for his complete record and thereby informing his constituents.
I just saw this on another group. Chris Smith hasn’t had a town hall in over a decade, he lives in Virginia and while prolific with bills, he only tells constituents about his autism bills or anti-human trafficking bills but never about his bills tearing down women’s rights to abortion. He is against birth control bills like the IUD and the pill because he considers them abortifacents (sp?). NJ media please stop writing fluff pieces and start writing real articles with his entire record, not just the fluff. Thanks!
Chris who? Those of us who live in NJ haven’t seen this joker in more than a decade. He’s a walking ad for term limits.
NJ Media is not a news source. They only exist to get money from advertisers and don’t do any research of facts to deliver the whole truth. This story is filled with half truths and doesn’t give the reader the full story. Shame on the so called journalism.
Chris Smith hasn’t had a town hall in over a decade, he lives in Virginia and while prolific with bills, he only tells constituents about his autism bills or anti-human trafficking bills but never about his bills tearing down women’s rights to abortion. He is against birth control bills like the IUD and the pill because he considers them abortifacents (sp?). NJ media needs to stop writing fluff pieces and start writing real articles with his entire record, not just the fluff.
This guy has to get voted out of office. He doesn’t hold townhall meetings and it’s extremely hard to contact him. He does like to send form letters and beg for money. He’s too cowardly to face his constituents and it’s time for someone brave enough to stand up to “Orange Julius”, and his marauding clowns. When it’s time for his bid for 2020 he will have to show up to ask for money. Not true. Last time around he did private fundraisers. We will be waiting to see if has an explanation as to why we abandon our allies, “the Kurds” and blatantly lies on a daily, no hourly basis. With Mr Smith, you’re safe, only if you’re a fetus