1996Final results
1996 election for New Jersey's 7th District
U.S. House · New Jersey
Bob Franks (R) won with 55.4% of the vote, defeating Larry Lerner (D) by 13.6 points.
Bob FranksRepublican · winner
55.4%128,821
Larry LernerDemocrat
41.8%97,285
Dorothy DelauraIndependent
1.8%4,076
Nicholas W. GentileIndependent
0.7%1,693
Robert G. RobertsonIndependent
0.3%696
232,571 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Larry LernerBob Franks
$808.6K
Raised by the campaign
$1.2M
$801.8K
Spent by the campaign
$1.3M
$6.8K
Cash on hand
$65.3K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Bob Franks (R)Larry Lerner (D)
Also on the ballot: Dorothy Delaura (Independent), 1.8%; Nicholas W. Gentile (Independent), 0.7%; Robert G. Robertson (Independent), 0.3%