Who's running in New Jersey's 1st congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Donald Norcross currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Workers' rights, collective bargaining and apprenticeship training.
Manufacturing and infrastructure investment in South Jersey.
Health care access and lower prescription drug costs.
Gun safety legislation.
Abortion rights.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 1st District since November 2014; re-elected in 2024 with 57.8% of the vote.
Chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus and a vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Formerly an electrical apprentice, assistant business manager of IBEW Local 251, and president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO.
Served in the New Jersey General Assembly and State Senate before Congress.
Won the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed with 66,059 votes.
Reported $1,433,558 raised as of May 13, 2026.
Arguments in favor
Organised labour has backed him across the board, citing his chairmanship of the Labor Caucus: the state AFL-CIO, the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, the New Jersey Teamsters, AFSCME New Jersey Council 63, the Communications Workers of America and the National Education Association have all endorsed him for 2026.
— AFSCME New Jersey Council 63 and the NJ AFL-CIO endorsement lists
He carries endorsements from Governor Mikie Sherrill and from advocacy groups on abortion access, gun safety and the environment — Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Gun Sense Voter and the League of Conservation Voters.
— 2026 endorsements compiled from the groups named
Arguments against
He voted for H.R. 9495, which would have let the Treasury Secretary strip a nonprofit of its tax-exempt status; South Jersey Progressive Democrats called the vote "shocking" and said it would let a president "attack and silence any group whose work he does not approve of." More than 130 civil society organisations opposed the bill.
— Kate Delany, South Jersey Progressive Democrats, November 2024
Progressive critics in his own party say his voting record does not match his Progressive Caucus title — he has not co-sponsored either Green New Deal measure and voted in 2018 to expand natural gas exports — and that he functions as an extension of his brother's county organisation rather than as an independent legislator.
— South Jersey Progressive Democrats and Progressive Hub
What we couldn’t verify
The H.R. 9495 criticism dates from November 2024 and the natural gas export vote from 2018. Both predate this campaign; no 2026-cycle criticism of Norcross by name from Damon Galdo, from Galdo's campaign, or from the National Republican Congressional Committee could be found.
In 2019 a group of grassroots organisations asked federal and state prosecutors to investigate George, Donald and Philip Norcross over state Economic Development Authority tax subsidies, and a ProPublica and WNYC investigation reported that a 2013 state tax law the brothers pushed benefited George Norcross's insurance brokerage and its partners. Donald Norcross has not been charged with anything arising from this and denies wrongdoing; it is recorded here as an allegation, not a finding.
No campaign website could be verified for the 2026 cycle. Two plausible domains resolve to parked landing pages, and the site linked from directories is his official House office site, which is not a campaign site.
Affordability — lowering the cost of living for working families.
Accountability in government and term-limit-style challenges to career politicians.
Public safety and border security.
Parental rights in schooling and medical decisions.
Free speech, which he says is constrained by corporate media.
Prioritising American citizens in federal spending decisions.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Works in construction; founded Americas Pulse Network and hosts the Jersey Sure podcast.
Ran for this seat in the 2022 and 2024 Republican primaries and lost both; finished third with about 15% in 2024.
Won the June 2, 2026 Republican primary unopposed with 16,265 votes.
Endorsed by the Gloucester County Republican Organization and listed on the Republican line in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.
Filed 576 nominating petition signatures; Democrats challenged them and an administrative law judge ruled on March 30, 2026 that roughly 70 be struck, leaving him above the 500-signature minimum and on the ballot.
Reported $4,256 raised as of May 13, 2026.
Supports President Trump.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
For the first time in three attempts he has the county party organisation behind him rather than running against its preferred candidate, and he was unopposed for the nomination.
— Gloucester County Republican Organization endorsement, reported by New Jersey Globe
Arguments against
He has lost this primary twice before — filing late in 2022 against the organisation's choice and finishing third with 15% in 2024 — and reported $4,256 raised against the incumbent's $1.4 million in a district where Camden County gave Kamala Harris a nearly 30-point margin.
— New Jersey Globe reporting and Federal Election Commission filings
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Galdo by name from Donald Norcross, his campaign, or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee could be found, and no case for him beyond his own campaign material and the county party's endorsement. Searches covered DCCC materials, his name against criticism and opponent terms, and New Jersey Globe, New Jersey Monitor and NJ Spotlight News coverage.
His campaign platform is stated in one-word headings — affordability, accountability, public safety, parental rights — without published detail on the legislation or spending changes he would pursue.
Galdo himself told New Jersey Globe he is "not delusional" about the difficulty of beating Norcross in a Democratic stronghold.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
New Jersey held its primary on June 2, 2026. Two candidates appear on the November ballot: Democratic incumbent Donald Norcross and Republican Damon Galdo. Both were unopposed for their nominations. The roster is confirmed against the New Jersey Division of Elections official general election candidate list dated September 4, 2026, which lists no independent or third-party candidate in this district. The district covers the South Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia, including Camden and Cherry Hill. Every published forecaster rates the seat safe or solid Democratic.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New Jersey ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New Jersey Division of Elections.