Hometown: Voorhees

Occupation: Member, US House of Representatives, Retired Electrician

Age: 67

Personal and/or professional background: Born and raised in South Jersey, Donald Norcross began his career in organized labor in 1979, working as an IBEW electrical apprentice. He rose through the ranks of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to become a business agent for Local 351. He is a former president of the Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council and served as president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO Central Labor Council for 16 years. Donald raised his son as a single father and knows the struggles families are facing.

What is your top issue? I believe the top issue facing our country is centered around jobs, affordability and the price to live in this country. I have sponsored a bill to raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour, and I have supported efforts to go beyond that. It is time that we take the necessary steps to ensure that all Americans are able to earn a dignified wage for their work.

How would you improve the economy and make the cost of living (groceries, housing, energy, etc.) more affordable? Currently, prices are too high and the Trump Tariff Tax has raised prices by 15% on all Americans. Families cannot afford to put gas in their car, food on the table, and pay their bills. We must stop foreign wars of choice, and we need to focus on lowering the costs of everyday goods domestically. We must ensure we have the supply chains in place across multiple industries so we are not reliant on foreign countries for our goods.

What is your plan to make healthcare more affordable and accessible? I have long supported efforts to bring down the cost of healthcare. Everyone deserves to have access to affordable healthcare. I have supported efforts to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and giving Medicare the ability to negotiate prices. We must do more, and I support efforts that will ensure Americans have affordable access to quality healthcare.

Do you support the war in Iran and federal defense spending? If not, what would you change? There is little doubt of the dangers that the Iranian regime posed, but there are serious questions as to why now, what is the end goal, and what is our plan in this conflict. Also, there are serious concerns that it is Congress who declares war, not the President. We are in need of real answers and until we get clarity on how this conflict is to proceed, I would not support supplemental funding to continue to conflict longer.

What are your thoughts about current immigration enforcement policies and what, if anything, would you do differently? I have serious concerns about how ICE has been deployed across American cities, sent in to terrorize families and children. Locally, in Lindenwold we saw this very thing unfold, with school children running scared. This is not who we are am Americans, and it is not who we can ever become. I believe in real immigration reform, with a pathway to citizenship for those who have been here and following the laws.

What changes, if any, should Congress or the president make in elections (requiring voter ID, regulating mail-in voting, etc.)? Elections are sacred, and the right to vote freely and fairly must never be in question. Over the last few election cycles we have heard continued worries about the fraud in our election systems, but with little to no evidence. There is no doubt we must ensure our elections are fair, and that only US citizens should be allowed to vote, but that does not include sweeping regulations that would alienate married women, or the millions of Americans who do not have the requisite photo ID or passport.

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Galdo did not answer the questionnaire. Instead, the information below was compiled from multiple sources.

Hometown: West Deptford

Occupation: Construction superintendent and podcast host

Graduated from La Salle College High School in 1999

Personal and/or professional background: Galdo’s website states: I am not a career politician. I am a working husband, father and tradesman who believes that South Jersey deserves better than what we have been given. Throughout my life, I have worked in construction and the trades, building real projects and earning a living just like most families in this district. I understand the importance of hard work and taking responsibility. I know what it means to balance a household budget, face rising costs and worry about the future that our children will inherit. After my last run for Congress I did not walk away. I listened. I learned. And I built something of my own. I started Americas Pulse Network and the Jersey Sure podcast because too many important conversations were being ignored or controlled. I am running for Congress again because South Jersey needs a representative who understands real work, real costs and real consequences.

On the economy and making the cost of living more affordable: Galdo’s website states his priorities are to reduce unnecessary federal spending; support affordable, reliable American energy; encourage economic growth and cut burdensome regulations.

On health care affordability and accessibility: Galdo’s website states he supports greater price transparency, expanding access to Health Savings Accounts, encouraging competition to lower costs, protecting patients with preexisting conditions and making prescription medications more affordable.

On the war with Iran and federal defense policy: WHYY’s voter guide reported that Galdo said he supports Israel’s right to exist and defend itself and he supports “efforts to prevent Iran and terrorist organizations from threatening Israel, the United States or our allies … I believe civilian lives matter and that lasting peace and stability should remain the objective.” Galdo further told WHYY that he supports military action in Iran, but he is against putting American troops on the ground. He would prefer the use of “economic pressure, sanctions, diplomatic leverage and, where necessary, measures such as a blockade to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weaponerests.”

On immigration enforcement: Galdo’s website states he supports secure borders, enforcing existing immigration laws and strengthening cooperation between federal and local law enforcement.

On elections and voting: Galdo’s website states he supports requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, voter ID, improving the accuracy of voter rolls and strengthening mail-in ballot security.

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