Incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne Sr. died in March 2012.

His son Donald Payne Jr. won the June 5, 2012 Democratic special and regular primaries for this seat and the subsequent special and regular general elections, winning all in landslides.

Voters were asked to select two candidates: one to serve the remainder of Payne's term in the 112th Congress, and the other to serve the full 2-year term in the 113th Congress beginning in January 2013.

[1] The following Democratic candidates ran in the special election primary on June 5, 2012: No Republicans declared their intent to run in the special election for the unexpired term.

Brian Kelemen ran as the Republican candidate for the full term.