Marge Roukema
| Marge Roukema | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th district |
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In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Millicent Fenwick |
| Succeeded by | Scott Garrett |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 7th district |
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In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Andrew Maguire |
| Succeeded by | Matt Rinaldo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Margaret Scafati September 19, 1929 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2014 (aged 85) Wyckoff, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Richard Roukema |
| Alma mater |
Montclair State University Rutgers University, Newark |
| Religion | Reformed Christianity |
Margaret "Marge" Roukema (née Scafati; September 19, 1929 – November 12, 2014) was an American politician who represented New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives for twenty-two years as a Republican.
A graduate of Montclair State College, Roukema's first career was as a teacher in the Ridgewood Public Schools. She began her political career in the local board of education, becoming the vice president of the body in 1970. In 1980, she challenged three-term incumbent Democratic Congressman Andrew Maguire, and won in what was then the 7th District. She was one of several Republicans swept into office by Reagan's coattails. After decennial redistricting, Roukema's district was renumbered as the 5th District and became significantly more Republican than its predecessor. She was handily reelected in 1982 and nine more times after that with almost no opposition.
Roukema was a moderate Republican, as was the case with most Republicans from the Northeast. She faced a primary challenge from the right in 1992, defeating Louis Sette by a 62%–25% margin. In 1998, State Assemblyman Scott Garrett, a considerably more conservative Republican, challenged her in the primary. Roukema managed to fight him off, and did so again in 2000.
With the prospect of another primary challenge from Garrett in 2002 (in a district made even more conservative on paper by redistricting), as well as facing the loss of her subcommittee chairs due to caucus term limits, the Ridgewood Republican opted not to seek a 12th term and retired from politics. Garrett won the nomination with 45% of the vote and went on to win the seat, despite Roukema's refusal to endorse him; State Senator Gerald Cardinale, who Roukema endorsed in the primary to succeed her, came in third with 25% of the vote, behind State Assemblyman David C. Russo with 26%.
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