New Jersey 1st District Voter Guide: Norcross and Galdo on Costs and Health Care
Two candidates are on the ballot in New Jersey's 1st Congressional District on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Democratic Rep. Donald Norcross, a former electrician and labor leader seeking another term, and Republican Damon Galdo, a construction superintendent and podcast host from West Deptford.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the two candidates on the cost of living and health care. Here is where each one stands, based on the video, the candidates' own websites and statements, and the NJ Spotlight News voter guide.
The district covers Camden County and parts of Burlington and Gloucester counties. It leans heavily Democratic: NJ Spotlight News reports that 44% of registered voters are Democrats and 21% are Republicans, with most of the rest unaffiliated. The New Jersey Globe reported that President Donald Trump lost the district by 19 percentage points. This is Galdo's first run as the Republican nominee; he lost the party's primary for the same seat in 2022 and 2024.
Why Costs and Health Care Are Issues
New Jersey households have faced higher utility bills: New Jersey Policy Perspective reported that electric bills for typical households were set to rise by more than $20 a month starting in June 2025, driven by the regional power grid's capacity auction. On health care, the state marketplace Get Covered New Jersey says Congress did not extend the enhanced federal premium tax credits, which ended on Dec. 31, 2025, leading to higher premiums for most plans in 2026. The state Department of Banking and Insurance said in April that 68,830 people who signed up for 2026 marketplace plans had since dropped their coverage, a 14% decline, the New Jersey Monitor reported.
Donald Norcross (Democrat, Incumbent)
Norcross, 67, of Voorhees, has represented the district since winning a November 2014 election, and NJ Spotlight News describes him as a six-term Democrat. He raised his son as a single father, his guide answers say. He began his career in 1979 as an electrical apprentice with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, became a business agent for IBEW Local 351, and served 16 years as president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, according to his campaign. In Congress, he says, he is a founding co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus.
On the cost of living, the video says Norcross supports raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour or more and strengthening domestic supply chains. In his answers to the NJ Spotlight News guide, Norcross wrote, "I have sponsored a bill to raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour, and I have supported efforts to go beyond that." In a 2025 report to constituents, he said, "I'm fighting to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 an hour." He also told the guide that tariffs have raised prices and that "We must ensure we have the supply chains in place across multiple industries so we are not reliant on foreign countries for our goods."
On health care, the video says Norcross supports lower prescription drug costs and allowing Medicare to negotiate prices. He told NJ Spotlight News, "I have supported efforts to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and giving Medicare the ability to negotiate prices." His campaign website says he has been "on the forefront of fighting to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices," backs limiting out-of-pocket insulin costs to $35 a month, and wants to protect the rules that ended discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.
Damon Galdo (Republican)
Galdo, 45, lives in West Deptford and works as a construction superintendent, WHYY reported. He founded the America's Pulse Network and hosts the Jersey Sure podcast. "I am not a career politician," his campaign website says, describing him as "a working husband, father and tradesman." The Burlington, Camden and Gloucester county Republican organizations have endorsed him, according to WHYY. The NJ Spotlight News guide lists no answers from Galdo and compiled his positions from his website.
On the cost of living, the video says Galdo supports less unnecessary federal spending, reliable American energy and fewer burdensome regulations. His campaign platform lists those priorities: "reduce unnecessary federal spending," "support affordable, reliable American energy," "encourage economic growth" and "cut burdensome regulations." It also calls for temporarily capping credit card interest. Galdo told WHYY he wants lower taxes for working families, an energy policy that lowers utility and transportation costs, and to keep overtime pay and tips free from federal taxes. "People may hear that economic statistics are improving, but they still have to pay their grocery bill, electric bill, mortgage or rent, insurance and property taxes," he said.
On health care, the video says Galdo supports price transparency, broader health savings accounts and protection for pre-existing conditions. His platform says he would "provide greater price transparency," "expand access to Health Savings Accounts," "encourage competition that lowers healthcare costs," "protect patients with preexisting conditions" and "work to make prescription medications more affordable."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Donald Norcross: @DonaldNorcross on X and @donaldnorcross on Instagram; campaign @DonNorcross4NJ on X and @donnorcross4nj on Instagram. Damon Galdo: @DamonGaldoNJ on X and @damongaldonj on Instagram.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: New Jersey Division of Elections, Official List, Candidates for House of Representatives, General Election 11/03/2026: https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2026/2026-official-general-candidates-us-house-0904.pdf ; NJ Spotlight News, 1st Congressional District Election Guide: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/special-report/2026-primary-election-profile-1st-congressional-district/ ; WHYY, "NJ election 2026: 1st Congressional District voter guide": https://whyy.org/articles/election-2026-new-jersey-1st-congressional-district-voter-guide/ ; New Jersey Globe, "Republican Damon Galdo will make third attempt in NJ-1" (Jan. 8, 2026): https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/republican-damon-galdo-will-make-third-attempt-in-nj-1/ ; Donald Norcross campaign, About: https://www.donaldnorcrossforcongress.com/about/ ; Donald Norcross campaign, Improving Health Care: https://www.donaldnorcrossforcongress.com/issue/improving-health-care/ ; Camden County, "Congressman Donald Norcross Reports on 2025 Progress": https://www.camdencounty.com/congressman-donald-norcross-reports-on-2025-progress/ ; Rep. Donald Norcross, House website: https://norcross.house.gov/ ; Wikipedia, Donald Norcross: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Norcross ; Damon Galdo campaign, Platform: https://votedamongaldo.com/platform ; Damon Galdo campaign, About Damon: https://votedamongaldo.com/about-damon ; New Jersey Policy Perspective, "Why Are New Jersey's Electricity Bills Going Up": https://www.njpp.org/publications/explainer/why-are-new-jersey-electricity-bills-going-up-and-what-does-pjm-have-to-do-with-it/ ; Get Covered New Jersey, Featured Updates: https://www.nj.gov/getcoverednj/findanswers/updates/ ; New Jersey Monitor, "69,000 drop NJ marketplace health plans after enrolling" (April 21, 2026): https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/04/21/69000-drop-nj-marketplace-health-plans-after-enrolling/
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