U.S. Representative
Christopher H. Smith
New Jersey District 4
RepublicanModerate Conservative
Contact
Voting Profile
Legislative Record
Most Active Policy Areas
#1 budget#2 other#3 defense#4 environment energy#5 agriculture
1000
Votes Analyzed
Data sources: voteview, congress.gov
Political Position
Ideology Spectrum
0.18Moderate Conservative
Representative Christopher H. Smith holds a moderate conservative position within the Republican Party, with an ideology score significantly more liberal than the average Republican member. His voting record suggests he occasionally breaks from party orthodoxy, positioning him as one of the more centrist members of his caucus.
LiberalModerateConservative
Republican avg
More liberal than the average Republican (0.52)
Data source: VoteView NOMINATE scores (UCLA/UC San Diego)
Policy Positions
Category Breakdown
1000
total votes analyzed
Overview
Christopher H. Smith has served as a Republican representative from New Jersey with a lengthy congressional career spanning decades, as evidenced by voting records dating back to 1981. His moderate conservative positioning reflects the political character of his mid-Atlantic constituency, where he has balanced traditional Republican principles with more pragmatic approaches on certain issues. Across his extensive voting record of 1,000 recorded votes, Smith has shown consistent engagement across all major policy areas. His highest approval rates appear in the 'other' category (81% yea) and social security matters (81% yea), while showing more selective support on defense-related legislation (62% yea). Smith's deviation from the Republican Party average (0.182 vs. 0.520) indicates a willingness to chart an independent course on various issues. This moderate positioning has characterized his approach throughout his lengthy tenure in Congress.
Key Positions
- •Strong support for social security programs (81% yea votes)
- •Consistent engagement on budget matters with selective support (69% yea)
- •More moderate stance on defense policy compared to party averages
- •Active participation in agricultural legislation (74% yea)
- •Supportive approach to taxation legislation (74% yea)
By Policy Area
Budget & Spending293
69% yea31% nay
Other254
81% yea19% nay
Defense120
62% yea38% nay
Environment & Energy68
69% yea31% nay
Agriculture50
74% yea26% nay
Foreign Policy35
66% yea34% nay
Taxation27
74% yea26% nay
Education24
67% yea33% nay
Infrastructure23
70% yea30% nay
Social Security21
81% yea19% nay
Housing14
71% yea29% nay
Criminal Justice12
92% yea8% nay
Trade12
75% yea25% nay
Labor11
55% yea45% nay
Healthcare11
82% yea18% nay
Immigration7
57% yea43% nay
Banking & Finance6
83% yea17% nay
Civil Rights6
33% yea67% nay
Analysis updated: January 9, 2026
Campaign Finance
Follow the Money
Includes all authorized campaign committees (principal committee, joint fundraising, and other authorized committees). Outside spending by Super PACs and independent groups is shown separately below. Verify on FEC.gov →
Career: $13.4M
Fundraising Over Time
Raised per election cycleSpent
Contribution Sources
Individual$356K
62%
PAC / Committees$214K
37%
Party Committee$3K
0%
Individual Breakdown
Itemized (>$200)
$270K
Small Dollar (<$200)
$85K
Donation Sizes
Under $200
$108K · 30%
$200 – 499
$21K · 6%
$500 – 999
$41K · 11%
$1,000 – 1,999
$54K · 15%
$2,000+
$139K · 38%
Share of individual contribution dollars by donation size, current election cycle.
Where the Money Comes From
In-state (NJ)$182K · 65%
Out-of-state$97K · 35%
Itemized individual contributions only (donations over $200 report the donor's state). Small-dollar donations are not included because the FEC does not itemize them.
NJ
$182K
VA
$18K
PA
$16K
NY
$14K
TX
$11K
MD
$10K
CT
$7K
OT
$7K
Top Contributors
Top Contributing Industries
Top Donor Employers
SELF$51K
RETIRED$51K
DREXEL LIQUOR STORE, INC.$11K
HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH$7K
WEINER LAW GROUP$7K
EQUINOX PARTNERS$7K
ZAIS GROUP, LLC$7K
HILL & COMPANY$7K
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY$6K
BROAD MANAGEMENT GROUP$5K
PRESIDNET HOLDINGS LLC$5K
HARRIS FRC CORPORATION$5K
Employer as self-reported by itemized donors. “Not Employed” and “Self-Employed” typically rank highest for small-dollar campaigns and include retirees.
Where the Money Goes
Spending by Purpose
Other / Uncategorized
$381K
Administrative
$61K
Fundraising
$19K
Advertising
$3K
Materials
$1K
Purpose categories are self-reported on FEC filings; large “Other” totals are common.
Top Payees
1.$67K
CHASE CARD SERVICES
2.$67K
CLEMENT, MELISSA MRS.
3.$65K
ROLDAN, MARY MRS.
4.$56K
PAYCHEX, INC.
5.$55K
MINUTEMAN PRESS
6.$49K
MAI & ASSOCIATES LLC
7.$40K
SAGE STRATEGIES LLC
8.$18K
BREAKERS ON THE OCEAN
Detailed Breakdown
Expenditures
Operating Costs
$457K
Net Operating
$457K
Refunds
Individual Refunds
$800
Outside Spending (Super PACs)
Supporting
$399K
Opposing
$37K
Total Outside Spending
$436K
Top Outside Spenders
01
$246KAUTISM HEAR US NOW PAC INC
+$246K
02
$45KNEW JERSEY RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE FEDERAL PAC
+$45K
03
$44KHUMANE SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE FUND
+$44K
04
$33KDRAIN THE DC SWAMP PAC
-$33K
05
$30KNATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE VICTORY FUND
+$30K
06
$17KWOMEN SPEAK OUT PAC
+$17K
07
$9KUNITED POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
+$9K
08
$4KAMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
+$4K
Independent expenditures are made without coordination with the candidate. Source: FEC Schedule E filings.
Coverage: 1/1/2025 – 6/30/2026FEC: H8NJ04014Updated: 8/12/2026Source: FEC.gov (all authorized committees)
Voting Record
Congressional Votes
2,956 votes across 21 categories