Who's running in New Jersey's 5th congressional district
3 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.
3 candidates · ballot order · Josh Gottheimer 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.
Restoring the full state and local tax deduction, a signature issue in a high-tax district.
Bipartisan legislating through the Problem Solvers Caucus.
Support for Israel and for the US–Israel security relationship.
Protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Lower utility and energy costs.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 5th District since January 2017; re-elected in 2024 with 54.6%.
Former co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
Speechwriter in the Clinton White House and a Microsoft executive before Congress.
Ran for governor of New Jersey in 2025 and lost the June Democratic primary to Mikie Sherrill.
Recorded as not voting on the Laken Riley Act in January 2025 while campaigning for governor.
Won the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed.
Arguments in favor
He has the district's labour and issue-group coalition behind him: the state AFL-CIO, the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, the New Jersey Teamsters, AFGE and the SEIU New Jersey State Council, alongside Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Gun Sense Voter.
— 2026 endorsements from the unions and organisations named
Governor Mikie Sherrill — the candidate who beat him for the gubernatorial nomination — endorsed him for re-election, as did the Passaic County Democratic Committee, AIPAC, Democratic Majority for Israel and the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
— Governor Mikie Sherrill and endorsements from the organisations named
Arguments against
He was recorded as not voting on the Laken Riley Act while campaigning for governor, and rival gubernatorial candidates in both parties attacked his attendance — one framing it as "the more someone campaigns, the less they vote."
— 2025 gubernatorial rivals, reported by Fox News and Insider NJ
He moved roughly $10 million out of his congressional campaign account into an outside group backing his run for governor — outside spending on his behalf reached $11.6 million by late May 2025 — and still lost the primary to a rival who was outspent on the airwaves throughout.
— New Jersey Monitor and New Jersey Globe reporting on 2025 gubernatorial campaign finance
What we couldn’t verify
Both criticisms date from the 2025 governor's race rather than this campaign. No criticism of Gottheimer by name from Sean Kirrane, from Kirrane's campaign, or from the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 2026 cycle could be found.
Progressive commentators have described him as running to the right of the Democratic field for governor, but no named organisation making that criticism in the 2026 cycle was found.
No verified 2026 campaign website was found; the domain matching his campaign name resolves to a parked landing page.
Universal health coverage built on a free-market plan paid for through income-based taxation with cost sharing, rather than single payer.
Fiscal restraint in federal spending.
Socially moderate positions, which he distinguishes from the national Republican platform.
Bringing an outsider's perspective rather than a political career.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Corporate consultant and executive; affiliated with Cortex-X, the Kirrane Group and Arcadia Health Partners.
Has never held or run for elected office before.
Endorsed by the Bergen County Republican Organization and the Passaic County Republican Party.
Became the nominee unopposed after John Aslanian withdrew and endorsed him.
Lives in River Vale, Bergen County.
Arguments in favor
He unified the district's Republican organisations early — Bergen and Passaic counties both endorsed him — and his only primary rival, John Aslanian, withdrew and endorsed him rather than force a contest.
— Bergen and Passaic county Republican organisation endorsements; John Aslanian's withdrawal and endorsement
Arguments against
New Jersey Globe reports that neither party treats this seat as especially competitive: Gottheimer won 55%–43% in 2024, and forecasters rate the district likely or solid Democratic, so national Republican money is not committed here.
— New Jersey Globe; Cook Political Report and Decision Desk HQ ratings
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Kirrane by name from Josh Gottheimer, his campaign, or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee could be found, and no criticism from within his own party over his universal-health-coverage position, despite searching for it. He has never run before and has generated little coverage beyond his launch.
No fundraising figures for his campaign were found in the material available.
His health care proposal is described in general terms — a designated plan for Americans paid for through income-based taxation with cost sharing — without published detail on cost or coverage.
Holds a degree in financial management and accounting from Bucknell University.
Co-founded Green Party 2.0, a grassroots effort to elect young professionals on environmental platforms.
Has not held elected office.
Qualified for the November 2026 ballot as an independent in all three counties of the district.
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 Rueda by name could be found — not from either major-party campaign, not from a party committee, and not in Bergen, Passaic or Sussex county news coverage — and no published case for him beyond his own campaign material. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
His campaign raises money through an Open Collective page rather than reporting figures found in the material available; no endorsements were found.
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. Three candidates appear on the November ballot: Democratic incumbent Josh Gottheimer, Republican Sean Kirrane and independent Adam Rueda, who runs under the slogan "Humane Sustainable Future." The roster is confirmed against the New Jersey Division of Elections official general election candidate list dated September 4, 2026. The district runs along the state's northern border from Sussex to Bergen counties. Decision Desk HQ rates it likely Democratic and the Cook Political Report solid Democratic; neither party treats it as a target.
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.