Who's running in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district
4 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.
4 candidates · ballot order · Herb Conaway 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.
Health care access and affordability, including reproductive health care.
Lower prescription drug costs and limits on insurance cost-sharing.
Environmental health — lead exposure, PFAS screening, clean vehicles and climate action.
Veterans' health services in New Jersey.
Child health, including tobacco restrictions and limits on social media harms.
Public education funding.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 3rd District since January 2025; elected in 2024 with 53.2% against Republican Rajesh Mohan.
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1998 to 2024, where he chaired the health committee.
A practising physician at Cooper University Hospital and a former Air Force officer; holds both an MD and a law degree.
Missed 14 of 645 roll call votes between January 2025 and July 2026, about 2.2% — close to the House median.
Won the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed.
Arguments in favor
Organised labour and the major issue groups lined up behind him: the state AFL-CIO, the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, the New Jersey Teamsters, 32BJ SEIU, AFGE and CWA District 1, alongside Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Giffords, Gun Sense Voter and the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund.
— 2026 endorsements from the unions and organisations named
Governor Mikie Sherrill and the Burlington and Monmouth county Democratic committees endorsed him, and he was unopposed for renomination after twenty-six years in the legislature representing part of this district.
— Governor Mikie Sherrill and county Democratic committee endorsements
Arguments against
McGuire argues he is part of the problem he campaigns against: "Could you imagine blaming everyone else for how expensive New Jersey has become — when you were one of the people in Trenton for decades?" Conaway sat in the legislature from 1998 until 2025.
— Michael McGuire campaign, August 2026
In the 2024 Democratic primary, Assemblywoman Carol Murphy argued he was a passive supporter on reproductive rights — that he voted yes on the bills but did not sponsor or advance them unless circumstances forced it: "He says 'I believe in reproductive rights' period. That is not what we need."
— Carol Murphy, April 2024
What we couldn’t verify
The Murphy criticism is from the 2024 Democratic primary, not this cycle. It is included because it is the most substantive published criticism of his legislative method found, but readers should know its vintage.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Conaway was found; the committee has not placed this district on its target list.
Reducing the cost of living for middle-class households.
Public safety and support for police.
Veterans' pay, benefits and services.
Holding federal agencies accountable.
Opposition to abortion, reflected in his New Jersey Right to Life PAC endorsement.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
United States Marine Corps veteran and Navy reservist; former New York City police officer; practises family and divorce law.
Won the June 2, 2026 Republican primary with 58% against Jason Cullen (24%) and Justin Barbera (18%).
Endorsed by the Mercer and Monmouth county Republican organisations, New Jersey Right to Life PAC, state senators Owen Henry and Declan O'Scanlon, assembly members Gerry Scharfenberger and Vicky Flynn, Manalapan mayor Jack McNaboe, and Barry Goldwater Jr.
Lives in Freehold, in Monmouth County.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He consolidated Republican elected officials across the district — two state senators, two assembly members, a mayor and the Mercer and Monmouth county organisations — and was endorsed by New Jersey Right to Life PAC.
— Endorsements from the officials and organisations named
He won the three-way primary outright with 58%, and carried 55% in Burlington County even though the Burlington Republican organisation had endorsed his opponent there — evidence of support beyond his own organisational base.
— New Jersey Globe primary analysis
Arguments against
The Republican organisation of Burlington County — the county that holds most of the district's voters and its political centre — endorsed Jason Cullen over him in the primary, and he lives in Freehold, in the Monmouth County portion at the district's edge.
— Burlington County Republican Organization endorsement of Jason Cullen
New Jersey Globe describes him as facing a difficult fight: Conaway won the seat by eight points in 2024, Kamala Harris carried the district, and the NRCC has left it off both its 2025 target list and its July 2026 expansion, so national Republican money is not committed here.
— New Jersey Globe; NRCC target lists of March 2025 and July 2026
What we couldn’t verify
No fundraising figures for McGuire's general election campaign were found. Wikipedia's primary-period table lists him alongside Jason Cullen without figures reproduced here.
His detailed policy positions are published only on his campaign site, which refuses automated retrieval; the positions above are taken from its front page and from news coverage of his launch.
Served as a councilman in Lake Como, New Jersey at age 22.
Has taught in New Jersey schools and worked with young people through the Civil Air Patrol.
Has worked as a first responder and within the Department of Homeland Security.
Qualified for the November 2026 ballot as an independent.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Kelly by name could be found — not from either major-party campaign, not from a party committee, and not in Burlington, Mercer or Monmouth county news coverage — and no published case for him beyond his own campaign site. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
No fundraising figures, endorsements or polling for his campaign were found.
Ecological responsibility and a transition away from fossil fuels.
Single-payer universal health care.
Campaign finance reform and reducing the role of money in politics.
Affordable housing.
Anti-militarism and grassroots democracy.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
One of the founders of the Green Party of New Jersey in January 1997.
Green Party nominee for this district in 2024 and for the 14th legislative district in 2025.
Holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University (1976) and a graduate degree from Rutgers (1983).
Serves on the editorial board of the New Green Horizons webzine and the elections committee of the Green Party of New Jersey.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Welzer by name could be found and no published case for him beyond his own campaign site and Green Party material. As a minor-party candidate he has drawn very little coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either.
No fundraising figures for his 2026 campaign were found. He received a small share of the vote in this district in 2024.
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. Four candidates appear on the November ballot: Democratic incumbent Herb Conaway, Republican Michael P. McGuire, independent Ryan Michael Kelly running under the slogan "Affordability, Accountability, People", and Green Party candidate Steven Welzer. The roster is confirmed against the New Jersey Division of Elections official general election candidate list dated September 4, 2026. The district is centred on Burlington County with parts of Mercer and Monmouth. Kamala Harris carried it by single digits in 2024 and Conaway won it by eight points, but the National Republican Congressional Committee did not include it on its 2026 target list or its July 2026 expansion of that list.
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.