N.J. 08: Pascrell wins

(AllPolitics, Nov. 5) -- Democrat William Pascrell Jr. delivered on party hopes as he seized New Jersey's 8th District seat from freshman Republican Rep. Bill Martini.

Pascrell, a state representative, called for government retraining for workers while also supporting a capital gains tax cut. He also pointed to the 91 percent voting support Martini gave the GOP's "Contract with America."

Martini campaigned for fiscal conservatism, including the GOP's balanced budget plan, but insisted he was more moderate, voting for the minimum wage hike and the assault weapons ban.

Martini narrowly won in 1994, with an 1,800-vote margin over Democratic incumbent Herb Klein to become the area's first Republican congressman in more than 30 years.

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