40°
Here's one last look at who's on the ballot in the Garden State's 12 Congressional races, and what you need to know.
District 1: All of Camden County, as well as parts of Burlington County and Gloucester County.
- Democratic candidate Incumbent Rep. Donald Norcross: A father of three and electrician, Norcross was elected in 2014 having previously served in both the State Senate and Assembly.
- Republican candidate Teddy Liddell: A licensed attorney and West Point grad with roots in Chicago who currently lives in Gloucester Township with his wife and their six children. He resigned from military service after six years and earned his MBA from Columbia and a JD from St. Louis University School of Law. He has been practicing law for 15 years serving major corporations in the biopharmaceutical, medical device, and nutrition sectors, his website says.
District 2: Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties, some towns in Gloucester and Ocean counties.
- Democrat Joe Salerno: The lifelong New Jersey resident and father of four graduated from Princeton with a degree in engineering and a law degree from Rutgers. Salerno's website says he worked hard and took nothing for granted, becoming an "entrepreneur who created new companies and hundreds of jobs in businesses ranging from a machine shop to software development companies."
- Republican incumbent Rep. Jeff Van Drew: A retired dentist with children and grandchildren, Salerno was elected in 2018 as a Democrat but switched parties in 2020. He previously served as mayor of Dennis Township.
District 3: (With Rep. Andy Kim running for U.S. Senate, there is no incumbent in this district) Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem
Democratic Herb Conaway: Conaway has been an Assemblyman in the 7th Legislative District for 25 years. He finished undergrad at Princeton University before earning a medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and finally a law degree from Rutgers Law School in Camden. He joined the U.S. Air Force serving as a captain in the medical corps at McGuire Air Force Base. He practiced medicine in primary care settings before working as a clinical professor for an inner-city community hospital, his bio says.
- Republican Rajesh Mohan: Mohan is a quadruple board ceritified cardiologist with two sons and a wife of 33 years. He holds an MBA and serves as the president and managing partner of a prominent multi-specialty medical practice, his bio says.
District 4: Monmouth/Ocean counties
Democrat Matthew Jenkins: A Toms River native, Jenkins earned his degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Rutgers after attending Ocean County Community College. he worked in biomedical research, then opened a custom furniture shop and expanded into a general contracting company, his bio says.
- Republican incumbent Rep. Chris Smith: First elected in 1980 after switching from the Democratic party, Smith works in a family business and has four children. He is currently serving his 22nd term.
District 5: Towns across Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties.
Democratic incumbent Josh Gottheimer: In his fourth term in office, worked in the Clinton White House after graduating from esteemed universities as one of the youngest presidential speechwriters in history, his bio says. He went on to join Ford Motor Company and, prior to running for congress, Gottheimer worked at Microsoft as the general manager for corporate strategy.
- Republican Mary Jo Guinchard: Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Guinchard studied music and worked as a professional singer, which brought her to New York City — and then all around the world. In 2015, Guinchard became mayor and police commissioner of Tuxedo Park. She currently serves as a member of the Republican County Committee in Ridgewood.
District 6: Middlesex and Monmouth counties
- Democratic incumbent Rep. Frank Pallone: Pallone is a dad of three who served as a council member and state senator before he was elected to Congress in 1988 for District 3.
- Republican Scott Fegler: Fegler has spent two decades working in various roles in the food industry, having served on the USDA Pork Board, his bio says.
District 7: Towns across Warren, Morris County, Somerset County, Sussex County and Union Counties.
- Democrat Sue Altman: Altman grew up in Clinton and became a teacher after playing professional basketball. She "led a coalition of unions, advocates, and community members to shed light on a $1 billion corporate tax incentive program in Camden," her website says.
- Republican incumbent Rep. Thomas Kean Jr.: First elected in 2022, Kean was a staffer for Rep. Bob Franks and served in the EPA during President George H.W. Bush's administration.
District 8: Newark, Elizabeth, and Hudson County towns.
- Democratic incumbent Rep. Rob Menendez: Son of Senator Bob Menendez, Menendez is a lawyer who was on the Port Authority of NY/NJ's board of commissioners before being elected in 2022.
- Republican Anthony Valdes: A West New York native, Valdes works as a multiple dwelling inspector for the NJ Department of Community Affairs.
District 9: Towns across Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties (The seat is vacant following the death of Anthony Pascrell Jr. in August).
Democrat Nellie Pou: Pou has served in the Senate since 2012, having previously represented the 35th district in the General Assembly, and became the first woman and LatinX to represent the district.
- Republican Billy Prempeh: Born to Ghanaian immigrants, Prempeh enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served overseas. This is his third time running for the seat in the 9th District.
District 10: Jersey City and towns in Essex/Union counties
Democratic incumbent Rep. LaMonica McIver: McIver won the special election held following the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. and previously served as Newark's city council president.
- Republican Carmen Bucco: A small business owner, Bucco says he's a product of the foster care system.
District 11: Towns across Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties.
- Democratic incumbent Rep. Mikie Sherrill: A former pilot in the U.S. Navy, Sherrill is a mom of four and a lawyer. She was first elected in 2018.
- Republican Joe Belnome: Belnome is a building inspector who appears to be a fitness buff.
District 12: Towns across Mercer, Middlesex County, Somerset County and Plainfield in Union County.
Democratic incumbent Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman: Coleman was elected in 2014, making her the first black woman elected to the house from the Garden State. She worked for New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs and Department of Transportation.
- Republican Darius Mayfield: Mayfield grew up living in Section 8 housing with his mom and sister but later became the youngest sales manager of a Top 25 US auto group, his website says.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Manasquan-Brielle and receive free news updates.
