Chris Smith is on pace to secure renomination, Save Jerseyans.
The four-decade incumbent led millennial challenger Mike Crispi by 56% to 38% in deep red Ocean County with about 50% of the precincts tabulated. Crispi, a conservative podcaster endorsed by the likes of Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone, would’ve needed a much better showing in rabidly pro-Trump Ocean to have had a chance to upset Smith district-wide.
President Trump himself had called for Smith’s ouster last fall after the controversial infrastructure vote, but POTUS never endorsed a challenger and the field of underfunded and relatively unknown challengers remained crowded until late in the primary cycle.
Given the district’s hard-right configuration post-redistricting, Smith is now very close to a lock for reelection in November.
