U.S. House, New Jersey 1st Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 1st Congressional District?
Donald Norcross has the strongest record in New Jersey's 1st Congressional District. Donald Norcross scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Donald Norcross's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Damon Galdo (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Damon Galdo
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Donald Norcross
64 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 85
- Performance
- 56
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Damon Galdo
- On the record2025
Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey for his 2026 House campaign.
Source: Ballotpedia, Damon Galdo
Donald Norcross
- Mark against2025-09-04
Filed a periodic transaction report on Sept. 4, 2025 disclosing a June 4, 2024 IRA sale of Toronto Dominion Bank stock past the 45-day deadline; he acknowledged it and said he self-reported to House Ethics.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20030894, NOTUS, Sept. 9, 2025
- On the record2025-06-24
Voted against tabling a resolution to impeach President Trump when Democratic leaders voted to table it.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 175, 2025
- On the record2024-02-06
Voted for the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act when Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted against it.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 38, 2024
- Credit2026-06-09
His Faster Labor Contracts Act, setting deadlines and mediation for first contracts, passed the House with 20 Republican votes.
Sources: GovTrack, H.R. 5408 (119th Congress), WHYY, Sept. 17, 2026
- Credit2023-12-22
Two defense supply bills he sponsored, including the MINDS Act, were enacted through the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
Sources: GovTrack, H.R. 3438 (118th Congress), GovTrack, enacted legislation
- Credit
Rose from union electrician to president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO, a post he held for nearly 20 years.
Source: WHYY, Sept. 17, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Damon Galdo. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00930941
Donald Norcross. A September 2025 periodic transaction report disclosed a June 2024 IRA stock sale about 15 months after it occurred; he acknowledged the late report to NOTUS. FEC reports on file; no House Ethics finding or FEC fine.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Committee on Ethics site search for Norcross, House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20030894, NOTUS, Sept. 9, 2025
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. Voted against his party leadership on several significant measures: for the 2024 Israel Security Supplemental when Leader Jeffries voted Nay, and against tabling a 2025 impeachment resolution when Jeffries voted to table.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 38, 2024, House Clerk Roll Call 175, 2025
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. Hosted an in-person town hall in Chesilhurst in February 2025 that his office says drew more than 300 residents, and has appeared at Camden County town halls. No 2026 general election debate or forum found.
Sources: Office press release, Feb. 24, 2025 (Capitol Releases mirror), Patch, Jan. 18, 2022
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. Has served in the state Assembly, state Senate and, since 2014, the U.S. House, and led the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO for nearly 20 years. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee matter found.
Sources: WHYY, Sept. 17, 2026, House Committee on Ethics site search for Norcross
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes and is not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania House amicus list. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Damon Galdo. Works as a construction superintendent and carpenter foreman. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Damon Galdo, WHYY, Sept. 17, 2026
Donald Norcross. In the U.S. House since November 2014, seeking a seventh full term, after serving in the New Jersey Senate and Assembly.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Damon Galdo. Published positions in general terms on the cost of living, taxes, energy and foreign policy.
Source: WHYY, Sept. 17, 2026
Donald Norcross. Ranking member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces and a member of Education and Workforce. Two of his sponsored defense supply bills were enacted through the FY2024 NDAA.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, GovTrack, H.R. 3438 (118th Congress)
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Damon Galdo. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, gave WHYY statements on his positions and publishes a platform page.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Damon Galdo, WHYY, Sept. 17, 2026, Campaign site, home page
Donald Norcross. His House office offers an e-newsletter, telephone town halls and issue pages, and he gave WHYY statements on his positions. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Ballotpedia, Donald Norcross
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Damon Galdo. Born in Philadelphia and lives in West Deptford, in the district. FEC by-state totals show about 77 percent of his $4,292 in itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Damon Galdo, WHYY, Sept. 17, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Donald Norcross. Born and raised in South Jersey and lives in Voorhees, in the district. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 57 percent of itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.
Sources: Office site, About, WHYY, Sept. 17, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Damon Galdo. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00930941
Donald Norcross. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine found. Earlier led the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO; the size of that staff was not found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00558320
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.566 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.543, meeting expectations. Two bills he sponsored were enacted through the FY2024 NDAA, and his Faster Labor Contracts Act passed the House in June 2026.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation, GovTrack, H.R. 5408 (119th Congress)
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. Missed 239 of 6,452 roll call votes, 3.7 percent, from November 2014 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. Runs district offices in Camden and Cherry Hill, open weekdays, and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Sources: Office site, Camden District Office, Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.07982 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 145 of 436, negative but not in the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Damon Galdo. No public record found.
Donald Norcross. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 1st Congressional District?
Donald Norcross has the strongest record in New Jersey's 1st Congressional District. Donald Norcross scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Donald Norcross's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Damon Galdo (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New Jersey's 1st Congressional District in 2026?
Damon Galdo (Republican), Donald Norcross (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Damon Galdo a good candidate for Congress?
Damon Galdo has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Donald Norcross a good candidate for Congress?
Donald Norcross scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 85 of 100, performance 56 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New Jersey race scored, and the New Jersey 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.