U.S. House, New Jersey 6th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 6th Congressional District?
Frank Pallone has the strongest record in New Jersey's 6th Congressional District. Frank Pallone scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Frank Pallone's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Hillary Herzig (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Hillary Herzig
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Frank Pallone
On the ballot as Frank Pallone Jr.
66 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 69
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Hillary Herzig
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Frank Pallone
- On the record2024-02-06
Voted for the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act when Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted against it.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 38, 2024
- On the record2024-04-12
Voted against the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, the FISA reauthorization, when Leader Jeffries voted for it.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 119, 2024
- On the record2005-01-06
Voted Yea on the objection to Ohio's certified electoral votes; it failed 31 to 267.
- Credit2024
Two bills he sponsored were enacted in the 118th Congress, the HEARTS Act of 2024 and the Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024.
Source: GovTrack, enacted legislation
- Credit2019
GovTrack lists the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, which he sponsored, among his enacted bills.
Source: GovTrack, enacted legislation
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Hillary Herzig. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure is indexed by the Clerk. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00927335
Frank Pallone. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found, and his four periodic transaction reports from 2019 to 2021 were filed within the 45-day window.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00226928, House Committee on Ethics site search for Pallone
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. Voted against his party leadership on several significant measures, including for the 2024 Israel Security Supplemental and against the 2024 FISA reauthorization (Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act), both against Leader Jeffries's vote.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 38, 2024, House Clerk Roll Call 119, 2024
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. Hosted an in-person town hall at Metuchen High School on April 4, 2025, taking dozens of questions, his office reports. No 2026 general election debate or forum with Herzig found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. Has served in the House since 1988 and chaired the Energy and Commerce Committee before becoming its ranking member. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee finding found.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, House Committee on Ethics site search for Pallone
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. Voted Yea on the January 2005 objection to Ohio's certified electoral votes. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections and is not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus list.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 7, Jan. 6, 2005, House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Hillary Herzig. Describes more than a decade of federal civil service in national security, education, veterans affairs, agriculture and immigration; also an artist and entrepreneur. Has not held elected office.
Frank Pallone. In the U.S. House since November 1988, seeking a 20th full term.
Source: GovTrack, Frank Pallone
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Hillary Herzig. Publishes priorities in general terms on taxes, public safety, privacy and the environment.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Frank Pallone. Ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which he previously chaired.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Office site, home page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Hillary Herzig. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes a priorities page on her campaign site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Hillary Herzig, Campaign site, home page
Frank Pallone. His House office offers an e-newsletter, issue pages and constituent surveys. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Hillary Herzig. Says she was raised in Middletown and lives in Oceanport, Monmouth County. FEC by-state totals show about 65 percent of her $3,669 in itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Hillary Herzig, candidate survey, New Jersey Division of Elections, official candidate list, FEC contribution totals by state
Frank Pallone. Born in Long Branch, where his campaign and district office are based. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 30 percent of itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Frank Pallone, New Jersey Division of Elections, official candidate list, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Hillary Herzig. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00927335
Frank Pallone. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00226928
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 1.693 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.593, exceeding expectations. GovTrack lists 22 enacted bills he sponsored, including two in 2024.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. Missed 323 of 22,875 roll call votes, 1.4 percent, from January 1989 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. Runs district offices in Long Branch and New Brunswick and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.68567 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 262 of 436, negative but not in the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Hillary Herzig. No public record found.
Frank Pallone. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 6th Congressional District?
Frank Pallone has the strongest record in New Jersey's 6th Congressional District. Frank Pallone scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Frank Pallone's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Hillary Herzig (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New Jersey's 6th Congressional District in 2026?
Hillary Herzig (Republican), Frank Pallone (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Hillary Herzig a good candidate for Congress?
Hillary Herzig has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Frank Pallone a good candidate for Congress?
Frank Pallone scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New Jersey race scored, and the New Jersey 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.