Damon Galdo adds name to 1st district Republican primary

Damon Galdo, a West Deptford resident and construction superintendent, submitted petitions today for the Republican nomination in the 1st congressional district, currently held by Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden).

“I’m a union carpenter,” he said in a Facebook post announcing his campaign. “Just a regular guy with no political background. My wife thinks I’m crazy but I’m running for Congress in District One in NJ… I’m going to try as hard as I can but it’s a really uphill battle winning an election like this with no political background. However, I’m going to give it my all win or lose!”

Galdo said that his campaign is still in the early stages, and that his updated website will launch soon.

Also filing today for the Republican nomination in the 1st district was Claire Gustafson, who was the Republican nominee in 2020 against Norcross and is likely the favorite to win the nomination once again. It looked for a time like Gustafson would be nominated unopposed after Nicholas Magner dropped his bid, but Galdo’s entry likely forestalls that.

Norcross, a union electrician himself, won by a 25-point margin against Gustafson in 2020; regardless of which Republican he faces this year, he remains a prohibitive favorite for re-election.