2000Final results
2000 election for New Jersey's 12th District
U.S. House · New Jersey
Rush Holt (D) won with 48.7% of the vote, defeating Richard Zimmer (R) by 0.2 points.
Rush HoltDemocrat · winner
48.7%146,162
Richard ZimmerRepublican
48.5%145,511
Carl J. MayerIndependent
1.9%5,811
John P. DesmondIndependent
0.4%1,233
Worth WinslowIndependent
0.4%1,225
299,942 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 2000
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.
Rush HoltRichard Zimmer
$2.7M
Raised by the campaign
$2.2M
$2.6M
Spent by the campaign
$2.2M
$104.1K
Cash on hand
$27.4K
Other candidates' campaigns: Carl J. Mayer $259.3K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2000.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2000
The candidates
Rush Holt (D)Richard Zimmer (R)
Also on the ballot: Carl J. Mayer (Independent), 1.9%; John P. Desmond (Independent), 0.4%; Worth Winslow (Independent), 0.4%