1998Final results
1998 election for New Jersey's 8th District
U.S. House · New Jersey
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D) won with 62.1% of the vote, defeating Matthew J. Kirnan (R) by 26.6 points.
Bill Pascrell, Jr.Democrat · winner
62.1%81,068
Matthew J. KirnanRepublican
35.4%46,289
Jeffrey LevineIndependent
0.6%804
Stephen SpinosaIndependent
0.6%762
Bernard GeorgeIndependent
0.6%722
Thomas Paine CaslanderIndependent
0.5%625
Jose L. AravenaIndependent
0.2%318
130,588 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 1998
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.
Bill Pascrell, Jr.Matthew J. Kirnan
$1.2M
Raised by the campaign
$293K
$968.3K
Spent by the campaign
$289.9K
$274.4K
Cash on hand
$3.1K
Other candidates' campaigns: Stephen Spinosa $1.2K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D)Matthew J. Kirnan (R)
Also on the ballot: Jeffrey Levine (Independent), 0.6%; Stephen Spinosa (Independent), 0.6%; Bernard George (Independent), 0.6%; Thomas Paine Caslander (Independent), 0.5%; Jose L. Aravena (Independent), 0.2%