Paul J. Krebs

Paul Joseph Krebs (May 26, 1912 – September 17, 1996) was an American labor organizer and Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who represented Newark and suburban Essex County in the United States House of Representatives from 1965 to 1967. He was the Democratic nominee for United States Senate in 1972, but he lost to incumbent Clifford P. Case.

Labor organizer (195054) Krebs served as political director of the New Jersey United Auto Workers (UAW) from 1950 to 1954.

In 1954, Carl Holderman resigned as president of the New Jersey Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) to become New Jersey Commissioner of Labor. Krebs outmaneuvered Joel Jacobson, president of the Essex-West Hudson CIO and a more militant advocate for social causes, to succeed Holderman.

1972 U.S. Senate campaign

In 1972, Krebs ran as the party-endorsed candidate in the race for United States Senator. He defeated advertising executive Daniel Gaby, a supporter of George McGovern, in the primary. In the general election against popular incumbent Clifford P. Case, Krebs had little support, and even his former union endorsed Case. Krebs only received 35 percent of the vote; as of 2026, he is the most recent Democratic nominee to lose a race for United States Senate in New Jersey.

1974 U.S. House campaign

Krebs made his final run for office in 1974, when ran for the House again, seeking the open seat of Republican incumbent Peter Frelinghuysen Jr. In the Democratic primary, he faced former Lyndon B. Johnson aide and television broadcaster Frederick Bohen, who had been the party nominee against Frelinghuysen in 1972. Krebs attacked Bohen as a moderate who had canceled a broadcast critical of Johnson. Although Krebs had the Essex County organization's endorsement, Bohen won the primary with 49 percent of the vote to Krebs's 18 percent. Krebs only narrowly carried Livingston. Bohen lost the general election to Millicent Fenwick.

In 1978, Krebs endorsed John Cryan for Essex County Executive. He served as an early mentor to Livingston mayor David Wildstein, a Republican.

Personal life and death Krebs died in September 1996 in Hallandale, Florida.