Linda Stender

Stender was the Democratic Party nominee for New Jersey's 7th congressional district (map), where she faced off against Republican incumbent Mike Ferguson. Stender lost the 7th District race by slightly more than 3,000 votes, or about 1.5% of all votes cast in the election. This is the closest challenge Ferguson has faced since being elected.

Stender campaigned as a self-escribed "progressive" and advocated for stem cell research.[6]

In April 2006, Stender was endorsed by EMILY's List[7] and Democracy for America (DFA).[8] In May 2006, Stender was endorsed by The Sierra Club.[9] On October 22, 2006, The New York Times endorsed Linda Stender over Mike Ferguson in the 7th district.[10]

The Ferguson campaign ran advertisements featuring the catchphrase "Linda Stender is a Spender," criticizing her voting record as a mayor and assemblywoman.[11]

In the end, The Star Ledger reported that it was in fact conservative-values women who helped to defeat Stender in her bid for Congress.

In late 2007, Stender announced another run for Congress in 2008. Ferguson stated on November 19, 2007, that he will not run for reelection in 2008.[12]

On November 19, 2007, EMILY's List announced their 2008 endorsement of Stender.[13] On January 18, 2008, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Stender would be part of its 'Red to Blue' fundraising program, indicating that the district has been targeted by national Democrats.[14] As of late January, Stender has raised over $615,000 for her 2008 campaign.[15]

On June 3, 2008, Republicans primary voters selected State Senator Leonard Lance to be Stender's opponent in the November general election.

Stender was defeated again for this seat, losing to Leonard Lance with 41.6% to his 50.8%.[16]

On June 8, 2006, Stender and Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley publicly criticized Ann Coulter's book Godless: The Church of Liberalism. Stender and Quigley issued a press release in response to Coulter's criticism of the Jersey Girls, four widows of the September 11, 2001 attacks from New Jersey who have criticized U.S. policies in the events leading up to September 11. They did not seek any legislative prohibition, but in the press release, they called on New Jersey retailers to "express their outrage by refusing to carry or sell copies of Coulter's book."

In February 2015, an investigation by NJ Advance Media found that Richard Stender, the husband of the Assemblywoman, had applied for assistance from Coastal Habitat for Humanity to demolish and then rebuild his house. The home, which was located in Manasquan, was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The home was deemed beyond repair and demolished with funds from the organization.[17]

In August 2014, plans were filled with the Manasquan Zoning Office to replace the original 700 square feet (65 m²) with a much larger 2,000 square feet (190 m²) home. The home that was requested was about three times larger than the original and much larger than the ones that the organization usually builds for low-income residents. When the organization received the plans, Maureen Mulligan, executive director of Coastal Habitat for Humanity immediately said "...no. This was not the type of house that Habitat builds, which is a three-bedroom one-and-a-half bath, 1,200 square foot house."[18]

Habitat for Humanity helps homeowners who make up to 80 percent of Monmouth County's median household income, which is $84,526.[19] However, Linda Stender's legislative financial disclosure records shows her combined income with her husband was at least $99,000 a year in 2012 and 2013.[17]

The financial disclosures also list the Manasquan property as the only one owned by either Stender or her husband. Stender registered to run for reelection in 2013 from a Scotch Plains address, and told her district-mate, Assemblyman Jerry Green, that she lives with her mother and that her husband lives in Manasquan.[17]

The controversy has led Stender to retire from the Assembly choosing not to run for re-election in 2015.[20]