February 2, 1980 was one of the greatest days of my life.  At 1:07 am, I became a father with the birth of my son, Neil Eric Steinberg at Cooper Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey. 

 When I returned home late that evening, politics was the furthest thing from my mind.  About 11:00 pm, I turned on the television and was shocked by what I saw.  News of the Abscam federal sting operation had just broken. The probe would result in the conviction and imprisonment of Camden Mayor Angelo Errichetti – and seven members of the United States Congress, including New Jersey US Senator Harrison Williams and Congressman Frank Thompson.

Chris Smith had been the Republican young sacrificial lamb, age 25, against Frank Thompson in the 1978 Congressional race.  In November, 1980, he ran against the disgraced Thompson and won with 57 percent of the vote.  Most New Jersey political pundits thought that Smith could never be reelected in a district that at that time was solid blue.  When the Democrats selected State Senate President Joe Merlino as their candidate in 1982, Smith was viewed as the presumptive loser.

But in a recession-plagued Reagan administration first midterm election in which the GOP lost 26 House seats, Smith won a shocking upset victory with 53 percent of the vote.  He also overcame the indignity of a Merlino insult.  After one of the debates, Smith approached Merlino to exchange pleasantries.  Merlino brushed him off with the comment, “Beat it, kid.”  On Election Day, however, the voters gave Merlino the brushoff, ending his political career. 

On Tuesday, Election Day, Chris Smith, now 65, will be seeking reelection to his 20th term.  He has been a superb Congressman, fighting for human rights in an international level, protecting the entitlements of veterans, safeguarding the environment, maintaining flawless ethics, and displaying a remarkable independence.  While I have endorsed the election of a Democratic House and Senate as a check on Trumpian authoritarianism and despicable ethnic and gender prejudice, I have simultaneously supported the reelection of Chris Smith.  He has earned it.  

At the same time, I do not hide the fact that I have a high degree of respect and admiration for Smith’s 4th Congressional District opponent, Josh Welle.  The fact that I feel this way has earned me the suspicion of supporters of each candidate. 

Josh Welle received his appointment to the United States Naval Academy on the basis of the recommendation of his then Congressman, ironically enough, Chris Smith!  He was an outstanding Naval Officer and is succeeding in the private sector as well.  He and Mikie Sherrill are examples of a new generation of retired military officers who in growing numbers show an inclination to seek office as a Democrat rather than as a Republican. 

Josh Welle has also showed excellent judgment in selecting staff and in carefully taking positions that enable him to retain the support of both progressive and mainstream Democrats.   This will serve him well in any future run he makes for the House of Representatives. 

The expectation here is that Chris Smith wins.  While he has been for the most part independent of Donald Trump, his margin will be slightly reduced by Trump toxicity.  But he will win nonetheless.  And when the Congress reconvenes in January, there will only be two Republican members in New Jersey’s 12-member House delegation:  Chris Smith and Tom MacArthur.

Alan J. Steinberg served as Regional Administrator of Region 2 EPA during the administration of former President George W. Bush and as Executive Director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission under former New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman.