Bill Pascrell, a Democrat who has represented the 8th district since 1997, and Steve Rothman, a Democrat who has represented the 9th district since 1997, both ran for the nomination in the new 9th district [REF].
Blase Billack, a pharmaceutical sciences associate professor at St. John's University and Shmuley Boteach, a rabbi, author, and radio talk show host, sought the Republican nomination [REF].