New Jersey 5th District Voter Guide: Gottheimer, Kirrane and Rueda on Costs and Health Care
Three candidates are on the ballot in New Jersey's 5th Congressional District on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who is seeking a sixth term, Republican Sean Kirrane, a River Vale business executive, and Adam Rueda, a 29-year-old Sussex County native running as an independent under the ballot line Humane Sustainable Future.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the three 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 5th District covers parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties in North Jersey, according to the state's official candidate list. Gottheimer has held the seat since 2017. He ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025 and lost, then returned to his House reelection bid.
Why the Cost of Living and Health Care Are Issues
On her first day in office in January 2026, Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency on utility costs and directing regulators to offset electricity supply increases with bill credits, according to the state Board of Public Utilities. In September, the board voted to keep electric rates roughly level, New Jersey Monitor reported. On health care, the enhanced federal Affordable Care Act tax credits ended on Dec. 31, 2025. By April, 68,830 people who had signed up for 2026 coverage through Get Covered New Jersey had dropped their plans, a 14% decline, and many who stayed moved to cheaper plans with higher out-of-pocket costs, according to the state Department of Banking and Insurance, as reported by New Jersey Monitor.
Josh Gottheimer (Democrat, Incumbent)
Gottheimer, 51, of Wyckoff, was first elected in 2016. Before Congress, he was a speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and a general manager for corporate strategy at Microsoft, according to his answers to the 2024 NJ Spotlight News guide. He is vice chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. The 2026 NJ Spotlight News guide lists no answers from him and says his campaign website is silent on both topics, so the positions below come from his congressional office.
On the cost of living, the video says Gottheimer says he is focused on cutting taxes and combating rising utility bills. After a telephone town hall in July, his office quoted him saying, "I'm focused on cutting taxes and lowering costs to keep more money in your pockets. I will keep fighting to combat rising utility bills, bring down your taxes." In March, he announced an "all-of-the-above" energy plan to increase production and modernize the grid, and his office said utility bills across the state had risen roughly 45% in two years. In April, he introduced a bill to double the cap on the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT, for married couples filing jointly, from about $40,400 to $80,800.
On health care, the video says Gottheimer wants caps on prescription drug costs and a crackdown on pharmacy benefit managers. His office says he has pushed "to cap the cost of prescription drugs, crack down on pharmacy benefit manager middlemen, and help millions of people lower their health care costs," and that he wants to protect Social Security and Medicare without cutting earned benefits.
Sean Kirrane (Republican)
Kirrane, of River Vale, says he has spent more than 20 years in health care, finance and technology, including turning around failing hospitals. He co-founded Cortex-X, an artificial intelligence governance company, and built Arcadia Health Partners, a health care management company, according to his campaign. He describes himself as a "socially moderate, fiscally disciplined Republican." The NJ Spotlight News guide lists no answers from him and draws on his website.
On the cost of living, the video says Kirrane supports the full SALT deduction, no tax on retirement income and more domestic energy. His campaign website says he would restore the full SALT deduction, eliminate taxes on retirement income "so seniors can afford to stay in New Jersey," cap administrative waste in federal programs at 10% and expand domestic energy production. His housing plan, which he calls the American Citizens' Primary Residence Mortgage Act, would offer temporary federal interest relief and 30- and 40-year fixed mortgages, paid for by taxes on speculative and foreign real estate purchases.
On health care, the video says Kirrane supports universal baseline coverage and income-based caps on out-of-pocket costs. His website says his American Citizens' Health Insurance Act would provide "universal baseline coverage for all American citizens" with income-based caps on out-of-pocket costs and full coverage of mental health and preventive care. Private insurers would compete to offer plans, and the program would be funded through "progressive contributions and non-citizen participation," according to the site.
Adam Rueda (Independent)
Rueda grew up in Andover Township in Sussex County and is a first-generation graduate of Bucknell University, where he studied business administration. He has worked as a senior financial analyst and in interior design and hospitality, according to his campaign and his NJ Spotlight News answers. He has pledged never to own stocks or cryptocurrency while in office. His top issue in the guide is immigration detention; he calls for closing Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility.
On the cost of living, the video says Rueda would enforce antitrust laws and invest in clean energy and public transit. In his NJ Spotlight News answers, he wrote that "we need to enforce anti-trust and greatly reduce the presence of monopolistic forces in this country." He said he would work toward "making basic housing a human right," expand public transit and electric vehicle charging, offer incentives for employers that allow remote work, and invest in clean energy. He also wrote that ending the war with Iran would lower gas prices.
On health care, the video says Rueda supports universal, comprehensive health care regardless of income or employment. He told NJ Spotlight News he will "fight for universal, comprehensive, compulsory healthcare that guarantees every American access to quality care regardless of income or employment." He wrote that for-profit companies are not compatible with the mission of health care. His campaign website lists universal health care among his priorities and calls health care "a human right."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Josh Gottheimer: @Josh4Jersey (campaign) and @RepJoshG (House office) on X. Sean Kirrane: @VoteKirrane on X and @vote.kirrane on Instagram. Adam Rueda: @reprueda 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 (Sept. 4, 2026): https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2026/2026-official-general-candidates-us-house-0904.pdf ; Ballotpedia, New Jersey's 5th Congressional District election, 2026: https://ballotpedia.org/New_Jersey%27s_5th_Congressional_District_election,_2026 ; NJ Spotlight News, 2026 Election: 5th Congressional District: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/special-report/primary-election-profile-5th-congressional-district/ ; Office of Rep. Josh Gottheimer, telephone town hall release (July 23, 2026): https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-hosts-telephone-town-hall-to-discuss-health-care-costs-medicare-social-security-utility-prices-affordability-in-jersey ; Office of Rep. Josh Gottheimer, utility bills plan (March 16, 2026): https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-announces-plan-and-bipartisan-legislation-to-lower-utility-bills-for-jersey-families ; Office of Rep. Josh Gottheimer, SALT marriage penalty bill (April 14, 2026): https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-ahead-of-tax-day-gottheimer-announces-new-legislation-to-eliminate-salt-marriage-penalty-and-cut-taxes-for-jersey-families ; Josh Gottheimer campaign: https://josh4jersey.com ; Sean Kirrane campaign, Platform: https://www.seankirrane.com/platform ; Sean Kirrane campaign, About Sean: https://www.seankirrane.com/about ; Adam Rueda campaign, About: https://adamrueda4nj5.com/about ; Adam Rueda campaign, Key Issues: https://adamrueda4nj5.com/issues ; New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Feb. 12, 2026): https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/2026/approved/20260212.html ; New Jersey Monitor, "NJ utilities board votes to keep electricity rates level" (Sept. 24, 2026): https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/09/24/utilities-board-votes-electric-rates/ ; 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/ ; Get Covered New Jersey, Featured Updates: https://www.nj.gov/getcoverednj/findanswers/updates/
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