The 5th Congressional District covers parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties. The Bergen communities are Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Glen Rock, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rockleigh, Saddle River, Teaneck, Tenafly, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake, Wyckoff and part of Maywood. The Passaic municipalities are Bloomingdale, Ringwood, Wanaque and West Milford. The Sussex County communities are Andover Township, Branchville, Frankford, Franklin, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardyston, Lafayette, Montague, Newton, Sandyston, Sussex Borough, Vernon and Wantage.
The voter registration split in the district is 35% Democrats, 27% Republicans and most of the rest unaffiliated.
Neither party primary is contested.
Five-term Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat, is the incumbent and he is unopposed.
The only Republican running is Sean Kirrane, founder and chief executive of an artificial intelligence company and a resident of River Vale.
Editor’s note: All candidates for the congressional primary are being contacted for the NJ Decides 2026 voting guide. Check back to see who responded and any answers provided.
