Camden County has been the most durable Democratic stronghold in South Jersey — and, for nearly four decades, the center of George E. Norcross III’s political empire.
Republicans have not won a countywide election there since 1990, the second-longest drought in New Jersey, behind only Hudson County, where the GOP’s last victory came in 1956. Democrats reclaimed control of the Board of Freeholders in 1991, even as voter anger over Gov. Jim Florio’s tax increases produced a historic Republican landslide across the state. They have not relinquished it since. Even in 2024, when New Jersey shifted sharply to the right, Camden County gave Kamala Harris a nearly 30-point victory.
The son of a prominent South Jersey labor leader, Norcross learned politics of organization early. His rise began in 1979, when he helped then-Rep. Jim Florio engineer a takeover of the Camden County Democratic organization from Angelo Errichetti, the powerful Camden mayor and state senator whose career would soon be destroyed by the Abscam scandal. Florio’s insurgent slate defeated Errichetti’s organization candidates in a bitter countywide Democratic civil war, placing the future governor firmly in control of his home county.
A decade later, Florio turned to Norcross to lead the organization. Norcross became county chairman in 1989 and transformed a fractious local party into one of the most disciplined and consequential political machines in the state. Although he formally relinquished the chairmanship four years later, he never surrendered control. From Camden County, Norcross built a network of elected officials, labor unions, public contractors, law firms and major institutions that extended across South Jersey and into the highest levels of state government. His organization elected legislators, shaped leadership contests in Trenton and frequently determined which statewide candidates received South Jersey’s money, manpower and coveted organization lines.
Norcross’ power has been tested in recent years by progressive insurgents, changes to New Jersey’s primary ballot and a criminal indictment that was later dismissed. But there is little evidence that anyone has displaced him at home. His endorsement helped deliver the Camden County organization to Tammy Murphy in the 2024 U.S. Senate primary, and his allies fought to retain control of the Cherry Hill Democratic organization after progressives prevailed in an unusual county committee election in 2025. An appellate court ultimately ruled against the organization in that dispute, but the battle demonstrated how aggressively the Norcross faction continues to defend its political territory.
In 2026, Camden County voters appear comfortable keeping Democrats firmly in charge. The more meaningful question is not whether Republicans can end their 36-year countywide losing streak, but whether any Democrat can seriously challenge the organization Norcross built. So far, the answer remains no.
Democrats are uncontested in Audubon Park, Barrington, Brooklawn, Chesilhurst, Clementon, Haddon Heights, one council seat in Laurel Springs, Lawnside, Lindenwold, Magnolia, Merchantville, Oaklyn, Pennsauken, Pine Hill, two council seats in Runnemede, the mayor’s office in Somerdale, Voorhees, and Woodlynne.
Republicans are uncontested in one council seat in Laurel Springs.
There are no municipal elections in Audubon, Berlin Township, Camden, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gloucester Township, Haddon Township, Haddonfield, Mount Ephraim, and Tavistock.
Gloucester City Mayor Dayl Baile, an independent, is unopposed for re-election. Earlier this month, State Sen. James Beach, the Camden County Democratic Chairman, called out Baile for not voting in the Democratic primary. He was elected as a Democrat.
Gibbsboro holds nonpartisan municipal elections in November.
U.S. Senate
Two-term U.S. Sen. Cory Booker is seeking another six-year term in Washington.
Booker has carried Camden County in all three of his previous Senate elections, winning it by 31 points against Steve Lonegan in the 2013 special election, 32 points against Jeff Bell in 2014, and 34 points against Rik Mehta in 2020.
Booker faces former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Murphy. Curtis Bashaw, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024, lost Camden County to now-Sen. Andy Kim by 32 points.
1st Congressional District
Six-term Rep. Donald Norcross is seeking re-election in the 1st Congressional District, which includes all of Camden County.
Norcross faces Republican Damon Galdo, a conservative podcaster who works in the construction industry.
This is Galdo’s third bid to challenge Norcross. He secured the Republican organization’s backing this year after failing to do so in 2022 and 2024.
Democrats have held the Camden County-based district since 1974, when then-Assemblyman Jim Florio flipped the seat during the Watergate wave.
County Commissioner
Democratic County Commissioners Louis Cappelli and Jonathan Young are seeking re-election to new three-year terms.
The pair faced a progressive primary challenge from consultant Vonetta Hawkins and registered nurse Constance Mercedes, who ran with the South Jersey Progressive Democrats. The Camden County Democratic organization, one of the strongest in the state, easily beat back the challenge.
Cappelli was first elected to countywide office in 2003 after serving two terms on the Collingswood Board of Education and ten years as a Collingswood commissioner. He is a law partner of State Sen. Douglas Steinhardt (R-Lopatcong).
Young became a Camden County freeholder in early 2015 after winning a special election convention to replace Scot McCray. He also serves as political director for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters.
Republicans are running only one candidate for commissioner this year: Robert Stone, the Stratford Republican municipal chairman. This is Stone’s fourth campaign for commissioner.
Republicans recruited a second candidate, Winslow entrepreneur Shane Bernat, but he failed to submit enough valid petition signatures. The GOP also failed to secure enough write-in votes in the June primary to place a replacement candidate on the ballot, leaving Stone as its lone nominee.
Bellmawr
Democratic Mayor Charles Sauter is seeking another four-year term against Republican George Kaufman Jr.
Democratic Councilmembers James D’Angelo and Johann Fina are seeking re-election to new three-year terms. They face Republicans Blake Przybyszewski and Bonnie McGuckin, vice president of the Bell Oaks Middle School parent-teacher organization.
Bellmawr leans Democratic. Kamala Harris carried it by less than one point in 2024 after Joe Biden won it by five points in 2020. Gov. Mikie Sherrill carried the borough by 15 points in 2025.
Berlin Borough
Independent Councilmembers Len Badolato and Keith Hohing are seeking re-election to the Berlin Borough Council against Democratic, Republican and independent opposition.
Democrats are running John McPeak, a political science student at Rutgers–Camden, and Suzanne LaLena, a technology vice president at a global bank. Republicans are running Patricia Ferri and Stephen Nakovich, president of the Berlin Borough Athletics Association. William Behnke, a longtime member of the Berlin Fire Company, is running as an independent.
The borough council is currently split among three independents, two Republicans and one Democrat.
Berlin Borough is politically competitive. Donald Trump carried it by three points in 2024, while Sherrill won it by 11 points in 2025.
Hi-Nella
Democratic Councilwoman Cindy McCoy is running alongside fellow Democrat Tyran Basil, vice president of the Hi-Nella Board of Education.
Republicans are running Councilmembers Harry Uber and John Lex III, who currently hold the two seats up for election. Because of earlier vacancies and appointments, three sitting councilmembers appear to be competing for two seats.
Hi-Nella has a Democratic mayor, and Democrats currently control three seats on the borough council.
The borough is strongly Democratic at the top of the ticket. Harris carried it by 23 points in 2024, and Sherrill won it by 37 points in 2025.
Runnemede
Democratic Mayor Nick Kappatos is seeking re-election without Republican opposition, but he faces independent candidate Dan Conrad, a local blogger.
Democrats hold all six seats on the borough council.
Runnemede leans Democratic. Harris carried the borough by four points in 2024, while Sherrill won it by more than 20 points in 2025.
Somerdale
Democratic Councilmembers Larry Sefchick and Thomas Leakan are seeking re-election to the Somerdale Borough Council. Software engineer John Lackey is the only Republican candidate, meaning Democrats are guaranteed to win at least one of the two seats.
Democratic Mayor George Badey is unopposed for another term. Democrats currently hold every seat on the council.
Somerdale is a Democratic stronghold. Harris carried the borough by 25 points in 2024, and Sherrill won it by 34 points in 2025.
Stratford
Democratic Councilmembers Pat Gilligan and Mike Tolomeo are seeking re-election to the borough council. They face Republicans Nicholas Hafto, a regional sales manager, and Edward Maenner.
Independent socialist Otrum Snow, a community activist, is also challenging the Democratic incumbents. Democrats currently hold every seat on the council.
Stratford is solidly Democratic. Harris carried the borough by 15 points in 2024, and Sherrill won it by 24 points in 2025.
Waterford
Republicans Jaclyn Hettinger and Colin Matthews are seeking two open seats on the Waterford Township Committee. They are running to succeed Republican Committee members Robert Doney and Thomas GianGiulio.
Democrats are running Joel Thompson and Pete Wristbridge, a member of the Waterford Environmental Commission. Thompson previously ran for the governing body as a Republican, losing to independent Andrew Wade, 53%-46%. He ran as a Democrat in 2025 and finished fourth behind Republicans Stephanie Jones-F and Edward Yucis and Democrat Richard Yeatman.
Republicans currently control four of the five Township Committee seats, with Wade, an independent, holding the remaining seat.
Waterford is one of the most Republican municipalities in Camden County. Trump carried the township by 24 points in 2024, and Jack Ciattarelli defeated Sherrill there by 17 points in 2025.
Winslow
Republican Ward 1 Councilman Vincent Borrelli Jr. is seeking another three-year term against Democrat Robert Stimelski, the Winslow Township police chief.
Democratic Ward 2 Councilwoman Evelyn Leverett faces Republican consultant Paul Stubee. Democratic Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacquelyn Lee faces Republican small-business owner Linda Young. Democratic Ward 4 Councilman Charles Flamini faces Republican Rory Boettcher, an assistant principal in the Gloucester City Public Schools. All three Democratic incumbents are seeking new three-year terms.
Democrats dominate Winslow politics. Republicans hold only the Ward 1 seat, while the township’s other wards are strongly Democratic.
Winslow is also a Democratic stronghold at the top of the ticket. Harris carried the township by 29 points in 2024, and Sherrill expanded the Democratic margin to 37 points in 2025.