William J. Hughes (born October 17, 1932 in Salem, New Jersey) was a Democrat who represented New Jersey's second district in the United States House of Representatives for 20 years. A graduate of Rutgers University (A.B., 1955; J.D., 1958), Hughes practiced law in Ocean City, New Jersey. He served as town solicitor for Upper Township, New Jersey from 1959 to 1961. He lost his first electoral bid for Congress in 1970, but ran again and won in 1974.
As a congressman, he managed the impeachment proceedings against District Court Judge Harry E. Claiborne. He served ten consecutive terms of office before retiring from Congress when he was appointed Ambassador to Panama (1995-1998).
