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The 1996 Congressional election in NJ-12, because of the decision by Incumbent Representative Dick Zimmer, the now open 12th District held a contet between Conservative firebrand Mike Pappas and Mayor of Lambertville David Del Vecchino.
It wasn't pre-ordained that Pappas would be the nominee, as other strong republicans such as Senate Majority Leader John Bennet and Hunterdon Assemblyman Leonard Lance decided to run.
because Pappas got second place throughout the district, this allowed him to squeak by with 38%, to 34% for Bennet and 26% for Lance.
Pappas's nomination oppened up the Traditionally republican district which George H.W. Bush won by 3% over Bill Clinton, and Dick Zimmer had carried easilly in all his runs to competive status, with Democrat's, and the press playing down Pappas's chances thinking that Del Vecchio could win
However, in the end, Pappas did win, besting Del Vecchio with 50.5% of the vote to 46.7%, granting Pappas a term in congress thanks to his strong showing in Hunterdon, and his Native Somersett, despite Delvecchio's win in Mercer and Middlesex counties.
It was not all smooth sailings for Pappas, as he not just retained a target in a seat that was trending Democrat's way (Bill Clinton would win the seat by 48%-42% for Bob Dole in 1996), but his actions durring the Clinton Impeachement, brought him to the top of the Democrat's list of targets
In reading a Poem that went "Twinkle, Twinkle Kenneth Star, now we see how brave you are. We could not see which way to go, if you did not lead us so", Pappas became the embodiment of the unpopularity of Newt Gingrich's actions in congress, including the Clinton impeachment trial.
This brought forth a litteny of negative media attention to Pappas, which Democratic Candidate, and Son of Former West Virginia Senator Rush Holt (1933-1941), Rush Hold Jr sought to exploit.
In addition to exploiting Pappas' ubnpopularity, Holt also enphasized gun controll, abortion rights, environmental issues and protecting Social Security against GOP attacks, winning him the seat in what was a surprise 3% margin of victory.
Holt improved on Del Vecchio's showing on nearly everywhere in the seat, but in especially the central areas of the Seat in the Princeton area, and Monroe Township in Middlesex county
Upon Holt's victory it became clear that former Representative Dick Zimmer as well as defeated Rep Mike Pappas would try again to reclaim the 12th seat, with the former being beleived to give Rep Holt a tougher reelection in 2000.
And the reelection was tough, with Zimmer easilly becoming the Nominee due to the support of county leaders, some early missteps including lying about Zimmer never voting for an education bill, and not supporting women's health issues landed him in hot water.
But still, despite Zimmer enphasizing his longstanding moderation, the political winds of the seat had changed, and the Republican brand was now incredibly toxic. As such, with Gore besting Bush 51-46% in this seat, Holt was able to scrape by with a 0.23% win over Frm Rep Zimmer.
Compared to His showing in 1998 Holt improoved mainly in the Trenton Suburbs, especially Ewing Township, while losing ground everywhere else.
And compated to Del Vecchio's showing, Holt improoved throughout almost the entire district, only holding steady compared to Del Vecchio in Hunterdon County.
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