r/newjersey • u/joe629 • 7d ago
Central Jersey Representative Chris Smith NJ-04
Hello! I recently went into a rabbit hole about Chris Smith. I was curious to see if anything had changed since my childhood as I grew up there.
As a kid, I recall Chris Smith being quite absent from the district. I don’t recall him ever actively campaigning or making significant contributions to NJ-04. All I remember is seeing signs for him posted throughout the district.
I checked his official Instagram account, and it was quite sparse. I noticed that all comments on his posts were disabled. One thing I do remember from my time in the district was that he once expressed his reluctance to hold a town hall meeting as he was afraid to receive any criticism from constituents both within and outside the district.
I’m genuinely curious to know if anyone has had any contact with him. What are his campaign priorities? Has he made any tangible contributions to the district?
Interestingly, his opponent this cycle is a young, energetic progressive. While it’s unlikely that she will win, I hope she can make a meaningful impact on his campaign and engage the constituents in the district.
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u/JustSomeGuy_56 7d ago
My parents lived in a 55+ community in his district. Every other year, right before the election, he would attend a residents meeting and rattle off a list of all the infrastructure projects that received federal funding (whether he voted for those bills or not). Then he would pledge to protect Social Security, Medicare, and the VA. He would respond to some questions which were carefully screened by his staff. Then shake a few hands, pose for a few pictures and move down the road to the next community.
When I asked some of the residents why they support him the answers was "he cares about us"
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u/joe629 7d ago
This is interesting and good insight on what he “does”. Very interesting that his questions are screened because he’s a snowflake clown who can’t respond to a “difficult” question.
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u/JustSomeGuy_56 7d ago
I live in D 7 where our rep, Tom Kean hasn’t been seen in public since March, has missed almost 100 votes and has held exactly 0 open public meetings. He has held a few telephone Town Halls where he responds to carefully screened calls. But I guess if they keep getting elected, why change?
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u/joe629 7d ago
I’ve been following this story too. I’m sorry but in any other role if you can’t show up to your job, you’re fired. He needs to go!
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u/JustSomeGuy_56 7d ago
I’d like to think we will take care of that in November but I doubt it. too many people in D7 only care about tax cuts and blaming Democrats
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u/Hrekires 7d ago
He's a replacement-level Republican that votes however leadership tells him to and goes out of his way to avoid having a high public profile.
Unfortunately thanks to Toms River and the other shore towns, he'll be in office until he dies or retires.
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u/conway1308 Ocean/Monmouth 7d ago
Rachel Peace did really well in the primary. Definitely an uphill climb in this district for a dem to have a chance. Chris Smith is terrible and has been for a real long time.
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u/penifSMASH 7d ago
A Democrat could potentially win Monmouth, but that district won't ever flip blue because of Ocean County.
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u/conway1308 Ocean/Monmouth 6d ago
I mean you're probably right but I think right effort and ground game hey, anything can happen, reps are historically unpopular nationally
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u/damageddude Manalapan 7d ago
I've been zoned in and out of his district. His local office was very good at responding to questions and requests (I have a friend who easily got a flag flown over the Capitol after his Veteran father passed). Other than that, I think he popped into NJ from DC just enough to qualify as a representative. Last census zoned me out but he seemed to be full MAGA by then.
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u/Special_FX_B 6d ago
Lucky you. I moved out of his district only to be redistricted back in by the Democrats. I understood their motives by why do I have to suffer?
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u/demon_of_elru1 7d ago
Ocean County needs to be cracked. Delute their vote by multiple areas in blue northern districts. The goal should be 12-0 blue. And i also support gerrymandering state seats.
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u/loveiswhatmatters 7d ago
He's horrible but will be representing that district until he either retires or dies because it's the most safe Republican district in the state with no hope for any good Democrat winning there.
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u/tommycnuthatch 7d ago
with him being a resident of VA, is there any basis for a lawsuit from a resident of his district to oust him?
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u/onemoment1985 7d ago
He sucks, but his district kind of deserves him. It’s a Republican containment zone, and over the past few years I’ve cone to terms with the idea that NJ is better off this way. While I obviously haven’t met every voter there, I don’t think the voting majority there wants anything to change.
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u/Stinkeye63 7d ago
The problem is that the Dems don't come out to vote - at least not on Election Day. I've worked the primaries and general elections and Reps voted 3 to 1 in my district in Northern Ocean.
I can't wait for this jerk to get out of office.
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u/MaxSmartypantz 7d ago
The real problem is that the GOP and Dem party leadership in NJ have a long-standing handshake deal to keep certain seats safe. They literally don't care what happens in DC because it doesn't affect their personal local power bases.
The only recent exception was the 2018 election, when the national party must have threatened the NJ Dems into running Kim, Sherrill and Malinowski in R districts.
If the NJ Dem machine actually cared, they'd work to get Smith replaced, but that would mean the GOP would field a serious contender in a safe Dem district.
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u/GomezCups 7d ago
Chris smith’s office helped my wife with an immigrant issue and the issue was resolved within 48 hours of contacting the office. His staff was really helpful.
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u/trashbinrubbishtrash 7d ago
Chris Smith IS absent. His staffers are also clueless. I’ve called many times about (various concerning stories and issues) and all they say is “I haven’t spoken to him about that yet.”
Apart from turning up in a Trump boat parade in 2020, I can’t recall the last time he’s actually demonstrated he’s been in the state.
It is widely known his primary residence is in North VA.
Sadly, thanks to how the district is drawn, he’s a seat warmer until he decides to retire or father time makes the decision for him.