Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) is set to once again face a primary challenge from the left this year, with South Jersey Progressive Democrats selecting postpartum health specialist Tiff D’Amico as their candidate for Norcross’s 1st congressional district.
D’Amico, a resident of Cherry Hill, does not appear to have run for office before. She’ll be the heavy underdog against Norcross, who has represented Camden County and parts of Gloucester and Burlington Counties since 2014.
South Jersey Progressive Democrats, an anti-machine group led by former Collingswood Democratic municipal chair Kate Delany, typically run candidates every year against George Norcross’s Democratic organization, which remains dominant throughout much of South Jersey. In 2022, Mario De Santis ran on the South Jersey Progressive Democrats line for the 1st congressional district and lost 77%-23%.
This year, the group is also fielding three candidates for Camden County Commissioner: former Camden school board member and mayoral candidate Elton Custis; Susan Druckenbrōd, who ran a symbolic campaign for Camden County Democratic chair in 2019; and Kyle Irwin. 2022 county commissioner candidate Rebecca Holloway will run for county clerk.
None of the challenges are likely to be successful, though there is an extra wrinkle this year at the top of the ticket. First Lady Tammy Murphy is set to have the Democratic organizational line for U.S. Senate in Camden and Gloucester Counties, but Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) is running a strong off-the-line effort; if Kim or another Senate candidate chooses to bracket with the South Jersey Progressive Democrats slate, that could give them a high-profile boost they’re usually lacking.