Donald Norcross

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."

New Jersey Election Updates: Don't miss local, county and statewide announcements about the general election. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

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.

Montclair, NJ | News | 15m NJ Legalizes Recreational Marijuana: AP New Jersey voters were asked a big question: Should the state legalize recreational weed? See unofficial results here. Thank Reply Share

"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.'"

Montclair, NJ | News | 15m NJ Legalizes Recreational Marijuana: AP New Jersey voters were asked a big question: Should the state legalize recreational weed? See unofficial results here. Thank Reply Share

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."