Norcross Re-Elected In NJ 1st Congressional District: AP

NEW JERSEY — Democrat Donald Norcross is projected to win re-election in New Jersey's First Congressional District, according to unofficial results posted by The Associated Press.

As of 10:02 p.m., Norcross had won 64.7 percent of the vote, and Republican challenger Claire Gustafson had won 35.3 percent of the vote. The Associated Press called the election with 330 of 530 precincts in the district reporting.

Norcross has served as the district's representative since 2015. He defeated Republican Garry Cobb in a race for the seat vacated by Rob Andrews in 2014. In 2016, he fended off a challenge from Republican Bob Patterson, and in 2018, he defeated Republican Paul Dilks.

After years of Democratic dominance in the district, which spans parts of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, the Republicans nominated Gustafson, a former Collingswood Board of Education member who is “unapologetically Republican and proudly standing with President Trump.”

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Norcross’s primary platform was raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

“I know that the best social program in the world is a good job with fair wages and the dignity that comes with it,” Norcross says on his campaign website. “Now serving in Congress, I can plainly say that raising wages is the moral issue of our time.”

He also opposes any effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act while looking to expand healthcare, believes in expanding education opportunities for everyone, and supporting police officers, firefighters and first responders.

“I led the successful push to reform our state’s bail laws and keep violence out of our communities by focusing on an offender’s risks, not their resources, and was recognized by the New Jersey NAACP for those efforts,” Norcross said. “I also worked to increase penalties for illegal gun trafficking and allow police officers to impound vehicles in cases that involve illegal weapons, drugs, or prostitution, effectively removing vehicles of crime from our streets. We don’t let suspected terrorists board airplanes, and I’m determined to make sure that ‘No-Fly’ means ‘No-Buy.’”

Gustafson said amnesty only makes the problem of illegal immigration worse.

“We must stop illegal immigration and stop rewarding bad behavior. DACA rewards the children of illegal aliens for sneaking across the border,” Gustafson said. “Amnesty rewards bad behavior. Let’s build the wall to help prevent more illegal border crossings and stop rewarding bad behavior.”

She said she personally never sees abortion as an option, but understands there can be exceptions in the case of rape or the potential risk to the mother’s life. She also opposes any attempts to create a national gun registry and supports the Second Amendment. She also looks to create economic opportunity.

“I choose to look at what leaders are doing to generate economic opportunity. One such leader is Greenwich Township (Gibbstown) Mayor George W. Shivery, Jr. Under Mayor Shivery’s leadership the town now has a privately funded port being developed,” Gustafson said. “The development of that port has led to another investor looking to build a warehouse in the township, again privately funded. This is happening in our district on the Delaware River, the same river Camden sits on. Why isn’t it happening in Camden? It’s not happening in Camden because folks there have had a Democrat as mayor for over 80 years, Democrats in the Assembly and state Senate since 1973 and a Democrat in Congress for over 40 years. Try something different, elect a Republican and I promise things will change.”

Voting in New Jersey was primarily vote-by-mail, but residents came out to vote in-person on Election Day.

There was a steady stream of voters at Cherry Hill High School East i Camden County between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., but no long lines. Voters had varying views on in-person voting and voting by mail this as opposed to voting in the past.

“It took a little longer this year, but it was easy enough,” said David Bross, who said he always intended to vote in-person. “I split my vote between the parties. I’m an independent, right-leaning centrist.”

Resident Andrew Athians said he normally knows what to expect when he votes electronically. Receiving a provisional ballot at the polls was knew, and he said he nearly forgot to turn his provisional ballot over. He originally wanted to vote-by-mail, but ultimately decided that voting in person was the best way to go.

“I voted for Biden and all the Democrats,” Athians said. “I absolutely was not a fan of Trump when he was running, and I was surprised he was even on the ballot in 2016. I don’t like Joe Biden, but I voted for him because I’d rather have someone who shows compassion.”

“Everything was perfect,” resident Carlos Herrera said. “I don’t trust the mail. I never considered voting by mail.”

“I’ve seen stories about ballots being found in empty parking lots, and in storage trucks,” said Nathaniel Mellul, who said he considered voting by mail for a time. “I prefer to do things in person. I hope this does this job.I hope my vote gets in correctly.”

Other residents told Patch the experience of voting in-person feels “more real,” while one resident who identified herself as Anna said voting by mail might have been a better option.

“If I knew what it was going to be like to vote here, I would’ve voted by mail,” she said.

For full coverage of the 2020 election in New Jersey, go here: New Jersey Elections 2020

Read more here: NJ Election 2020: President, Congress, Local Election Results