NJ 9th District Election: Did Anthony Constantino Pull Off an Upset?

The dust is finally settling in New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District, and political observers across the state are catching their breath. For months, national pundits ignored this corner of North Jersey. It was supposed to be a safe, predictable hold for the Democratic party. Then came yesterday’s vote.

Republican challenger Anthony Constantino set out to do what many deemed impossible: flip a blue stronghold that has resisted GOP incursions for decades. Did he pull off the ultimate upset?

The short answer is no. But the longer answer should make every establishment politician in Trenton very nervous.

The Final Tally

Democratic nominee Nellie Pou managed to secure the seat, claiming victory late last night after a tense, nerve-wracking count. With nearly all precincts reporting, Pou holds a slim lead of roughly four percentage points.

In a district that the late Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. regularly won by double digits, this single-digit margin is a massive shift. Constantino did not win the seat, but he redefined what is possible for Republicans in urban North Jersey.

“We showed them that nobody owns these votes anymore,” Constantino told a room of cheering supporters at his watch party in Clifton. “They thought they could ignore us. They can’t ignore us now.”

Where the Race Was Won and Lost

Constantino’s campaign focused heavily on working-class communities in Passaic County, particularly in Paterson and Clifton. He hammered away at economic issues, focusing on inflation, rising food costs, and local business struggles. It was a message that clearly resonated.

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In traditional working-class neighborhoods, the Republican challenger outperformed past GOP candidates by significant margins. He tapped into a growing sense of economic frustration among Hispanic and blue-collar voters who feel left behind by the current administration.

However, the suburban pockets of Bergen County saved the night for the Democrats. Voters in towns like Tenafly and Teaneck turned out in high numbers to support Pou, neutralizing Constantino’s gains in the urban centers. Pou’s campaign relied heavily on her deep roots in the community and her long record in the state senate to carry her over the finish line.

A Warning Shot for New Jersey Democrats

This race was never supposed to be this close. The 9th District, which spans parts of Passaic, Bergen, and Hudson counties, has been a reliable Democratic bastion. When Bill Pascrell passed away in August, party leaders assumed a smooth transition of power to Pou.

Instead, they got a dogfight.

Constantino’s strong showing suggests that the political map in New Jersey is changing. The old rules of identity politics are shifting as economic anxiety takes center stage. Voters are increasingly willing to cross party lines if they believe a candidate will address their immediate financial concerns.

For Pou, the victory comes with an immediate challenge. She will head to Washington with a clear message from her constituents: the status quo is not working. To hold this seat in future cycles, Democrats will need to reconnect with the working-class base that nearly slipped through their fingers yesterday.