IMDB

Actor

1953-03-04 · Rahway, New Jersey, U.S. · Male

3 series in the catalog

Christopher Henry Smith (born March 4, 1953) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 4th congressional district since 1981. Though it has taken various forms, his district has always been situated in central New Jersey. Currently, the district contains parts of Ocean and Monmouth counties. Smith is a member of the Republican Party, having switched from the Democratic Party in 1978.

Smith has focused much of his career on promoting human rights abroad, including authoring the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 and several follow-on laws. From 1993 to 2019, he was the top House Republican on the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He has used his leadership positions to author multiple pieces of legislation focused on human rights and conduct aggressive oversight of human rights abuses, actions that have earned him scorn from affected nations.

Smith is the dean of New Jersey's congressional delegation. As of 2025, Smith is tied with Hal Rogers for being the longest currently serving member of the House of Representatives.

Early life, education, and early career

Smith was born in Rahway, New Jersey, on March 4, 1953. He attended St. Mary's High School in Perth Amboy, where he competed as a runner and wrestler. He graduated from there in 1971.

He attended Worcester College (since renamed University of Worcester) in 1974. In 1975, he earned a B. S. at Trenton State College (since renamed as The College of New Jersey.

After graduating with a B.A. in business administration from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), Smith worked in his family's sporting goods business. In the 1976 election cycle, he managed the Democratic primary challenge of Steven Foley, an attorney and anti-abortion activist, against incumbent Senator Harrison A. Williams; Foley received about 15% of the vote, losing to Williams. He also ran to represent New Jersey's 19th legislative district as a delegate to the 1976 Democratic National Convention. Smith supported Ellen McCormack, the chair of the New York State Right to Life Party, for president of the United States and ran as a delegate pledged to support her candidacy.

In 1978, Smith switched to the Republican Party, and became executive director of the New Jersey Right to Life Committee, a part-time role.

In 1983, he bought a home in Herndon, Virginia, just outside Washington DC. According to an Observer article from 2008, he, “has lived in Virginia for most of that time” he has spent as a congressman. Politico says that Smith’s daughter, “obtained in-state tuition privileges at a prestigious Virginia university”.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

1978

In 1978, while working at his family's sporting goods store, 25-year-old Smith ran for Congress as a Republican. He lost to long-time Democratic incumbent U.S. Congressman Frank Thompson 61%–37%.

1980

In 1980, Smith ran against Thompson again. Initially, Smith was thought to have a very slim chance of winning, but Thompson was indicted as part of the FBI's Abscam probe. With the race now considered competitive, Republicans considered replacing Smith, but two alternative candidates seen as more competitive, Hamilton mayor John K. Rafferty and 1978 Senate nominee Jeff Bell, declined. Helped by Ronald Reagan's strong performance in the district, Smith defeated Thompson 57%–41%.

1982

In 1982, Smith's district was redrawn to include more Democratic voters, and his Democratic opponent was former New Jersey Senate President Joseph P. Merlino, who had directly controlled the redistricting process and run a competitive campaign for governor the year before. It was widely assumed that Smith's 1980 victory over the scandal-plagued Thompson was a fluke, and that he would lose to the better-known Merlino. At the end of one of their debates, Smith approached Merlino to exchange pleasantries. Merlino was quoted as saying "Beat it, kid."

During the campaign, Merlino ran a negative ad comparing Smith to Jimmy Stewart's character in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. In response, Stewart released a statement endorsing Smith and denouncing the ad: "When I played Mr. Smith in that picture, I did not think he was a naive hick. I thought he believed in honesty and integrity in government, the right of the people and the love of his country." Merlino pulled the ad.

Smith won the race with 52.7% of the vote.

Subsequently, a federal court found the 1982 redistricting was impermissible gerrymandering, and Smith's district was redrawn to more closely resemble the one used in 1980. He has not faced another contest that close since.

1984

Smith ran for a third term and defeated Democratic candidate James C. Hedden in the general election.

1986

Smith ran for a fourth term and defeated Democratic candidate Jeffrey Laurenti in the general election.

1988

Smith ran for a fifth term and defeated Democratic candidate Betty Holland in the general election.

1990

Smith ran for a sixth term and defeated Democratic candidate Mark Setaro in the general election.

1992

Smith ran for a seventh term and defeated Democratic candidate Brian M. Hughes in the general election.

1994

Smith ran for an eighth term and defeated Democratic candidate Ralph Walsh in the general election.

1996

Smith ran for a ninth term and defeated Democratic candidate Kevin Meara in the general election.

1998

Smith ran for a tenth term and defeated Democratic candidate Larry Schneider in the general election.

2000

Smith ran for an eleventh term and defeated Democratic candidate Reed Gusciora in the general election.

2002

Smith ran for a twelfth term and defeated Democratic candidate Mary Brennan in the general election.

2004

Smith ran for a thirteenth term and defeated Democratic candidate Amy Vasquez in the general election.

2006

Smith ran for a fourteenth term and defeated Democratic candidate Carol Gay in the general election, winning 66% of the vote. Smith's win was the highest percentage for any Republican in the New Jersey delegation.

2008

Smith ran for a fifteenth term and defeated Democratic candidate Josh Zeitz in the general election, winning 66% of the vote.

2010

Smith ran for a sixteenth term and defeated Democratic candidate Howard Kleinhendler in the general election.

2012

Smith ran for a seventeenth term and defeated Democratic candidate Brian Froelich in the general election.

2014

Smith ran for an eighteenth term and defeated Democrat Ruben Scolavino in the general election.

2016

Smith ran for a nineteenth term and defeated Democrat Lorna Phillipson in the general election, winning 63.7% of the vote.

2018

Smith ran for a twentieth term and defeated Democratic nominee Joshua Welle, winning 55% of the vote. Smith was the only Republican to win a congressional race in New Jersey that year, reducing the GOP to its smallest presence in New Jersey's House delegation since 1918. This was Smith's closest election since 1982.

2020

Smith ran for a twenty-first term and defeated Democratic nominee Stephanie Schmid in the general election, winning 59.9% of the vote.

2022

Smith ran for a twenty-second term and defeated Democratic nominee Matthew Jenkins with 66.9% of the vote.

2024

Smith ran for a twenty-third term and defeated Democrat Matthew Jenkins in the general election, winning 67.3% of the vote.

Tenure

Smith was ranked the 17th most bipartisan member of the House of Representatives during the 114th United States Congress (and the second most bipartisan from New Jersey) in the Bipartisan Index by the Lugar Center.

In November 1997, Smith was one of 18 House Republicans to co-sponsor a resolution by Bob Barr that sought to launch an impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton. The resolution did not specify any charges or allegations. This was an early effort to impeach Clinton, predating the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal. That scandal led to a more serious effort to impeach…