2006 elections This district was considered solidly
Democratic, with the winner of the Democratic Party primary the near-certain winner in November's general election, both in the special and regular elections. Sires won the seat in a
special election on November 7, 2006, after
Bob Menendez resigned from this seat on January 16, 2006 in advance of his assumption of the
Senate seat vacated by
Jon Corzine, who in turn left his Senate seat to become
Governor of New Jersey. Sires also won the general election, and will represent the district through at least 2008. In the special primary to fill the remaining two months of the current term, Sires won approximately 90% of the vote, defeating
James Geron, assuring Sires of the seat as no Republican opposed him in the special election. Sires was sworn into Congress on November 13, 2006. The two most prominent names running for the seat in the regular election were the former Speaker of the
New Jersey General Assembly,
Albio Sires of
West New York, and Assemblyman
Joseph Vas, who is also Mayor of
Perth Amboy, both of whom ran in the Democratic primary. While the two faced off to fill the full two-year term, Vas decided not to run in the special election to fill the two months remaining in Menendez's term. In the primary for the full two-year term, held on June 6, 2006, Albio Sires beat Joseph Vas, capturing almost 75% of the vote. In the general election, Sires beat
Republican John Guarini, who had run unopposed for the GOP nod. == Election results from statewide races ==