Claire Gustafson

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Claire Gustafson

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 4, 2024

Education

Associate

Marjorie Webster Women's College

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

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Personal LinkedIn

Claire Gustafson (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent New Jersey's 1st Congressional District. She lost in the Republican primary on June 4, 2024.

Biography

Claire Gustafson was born in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and lives in Collingsworth, New Jersey. Gustafson graduated high school from Connelly School of the Holy Child, Potomac. She earned an associate degree in retail merchandising from Marjorie Webster Women’s College. Her career experience includes working as a wholesale sales representative and consultant.

Elections

2024

See also: New Jersey's 1st Congressional District election, 2024

New Jersey's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Republican primary)

New Jersey's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Incumbent Donald Norcross defeated Theodore Liddell, Robin Brownfield, Austin Johnson, and Joseph Spataro in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Donald Norcross (D)	57.8	208,808
		Theodore Liddell (R)	40.0	144,390
		Robin Brownfield (G)	1.6	5,771
		Austin Johnson (Independent)	0.6	2,091
	Submit photo	Joseph Spataro (American People's Freedom Party) (Write-in)	0.0	0

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 361,060
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Incumbent Donald Norcross advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Donald Norcross	100.0	61,308

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 61,308
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Theodore Liddell defeated Claire Gustafson and Damon Galdo in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Theodore Liddell	47.3	10,843
		Claire Gustafson	37.9	8,687
		Damon Galdo	14.9	3,410

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,940
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Nicholas Whitelock (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gustafson in this election.

2022

See also: New Jersey's 1st Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Incumbent Donald Norcross defeated Claire Gustafson, Patricia Kline, Isaiah Fletcher, and Allen Cannon in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Donald Norcross (D)	62.3	139,559
		Claire Gustafson (R)	35.2	78,794
		Patricia Kline (For the People)	1.5	3,343
		Isaiah Fletcher (L)	0.7	1,546
		Allen Cannon (Cannon Fire)	0.3	642

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 223,884
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Incumbent Donald Norcross defeated Mario De Santis in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Donald Norcross	76.7	44,985
		Mario De Santis	23.3	13,696

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,681
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Scot John Tomaszewski (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Claire Gustafson defeated Damon Galdo in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Claire Gustafson	69.0	13,411
		Damon Galdo	31.0	6,034

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 19,445
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Elaine DeAngelo (R)

2020

See also: New Jersey's 1st Congressional District election, 2020

New Jersey's 1st Congressional District election, 2020 (July 7 Democratic primary)

New Jersey's 1st Congressional District election, 2020 (July 7 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Incumbent Donald Norcross defeated Claire Gustafson in the general election for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Donald Norcross (D)	62.5	240,567
		Claire Gustafson (R)	37.5	144,463

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 385,030
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Incumbent Donald Norcross advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on July 7, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Donald Norcross	100.0	94,084

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 94,084
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1

Claire Gustafson advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 1 on July 7, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Claire Gustafson	100.0	27,616

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 27,616
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Joshua Duvall (R)

2015

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2015

Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 2, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2015. Since the general assembly uses multi-member districts, the top two candidates from each party in the primaries advanced to the general election. Incumbent Louis Greenwald and incumbent Pamela Lampitt were bracketed together and were unopposed in the Democratic primary. Holly Tate and Robert Esposito were bracketed together and were unopposed in the Republican primary. Esposito did not appear on the official candidate list for the general election and was replaced by Claire Gustafson. Greenwald and Lampitt defeated Tate, James Bracciante (G) and Amanda Davis (G) in the general election.

New Jersey General Assembly, District 6 General Election, 2015
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Louis Greenwald Incumbent	32.6%	21,087
	Democratic	Pamela Lampitt Incumbent	31%	20,028
	Republican	Holly Tate	17%	11,023
	Republican	Claire Gustafson	16.5%	10,679
	Green	Amanda Davis	1.5%	985
	Green	James Bracciante	1.3%	850
Total Votes				64,652

2014

See also: New Jersey's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014

Gustafson ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. House to represent New Jersey's 1st District. Gustafson sought the Republican nomination in the primary on June 3, 2014, but lost to Garry Cobb.

U.S. House, New Jersey District 1 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Garry Cobb	68.3%	6,405
Claire Gustafson	14.3%	1,337
Gerard McManus	9.2%	863
Lee Lucas	8.2%	767
Total Votes		9,372
Source: New Jersey Division of Elections - Official Election Results

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Claire Gustafson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Interview with NJ Spotlight News

Gustafson highlighted the following themes in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. The questions from NJ Spotlight News are bolded and Gustafson's responses follow below.

“

Reason for running: A conservative with a love for my country. I want my country back. People are afraid. Families can’t afford their groceries. Worry about paying their rent or mortgage. Taxes are through the roof. Utility bills go unpaid. Parents are paying taxes for public education that is failing our children. Children should be raised by their parent’s. I want to be a functional member of Congress. To do my best for my constituents. The House of Representatives was meant to be a cross section, a microcosm of our citizens. Not career politicians that get elected to feather their own nests or their wealthy families on the back of the tax payers. We need a change in Washington. Women won the rite to vote on August 18 1920. A woman has never won this Congressional seat. 104 years later. I want to be that woman. Biggest issue: Illegal Immigration Fentanyl poisoning Dangerous migrants Boarder Patrol and ICE agents not being allowed to do their jobs. Close the boarder to all illegals Enforce existing laws Energy Have an all of the above source of energy policy: Gas and oil. Open pipelines Nuclear Wind and Solar Coal Parent’s Rights. Children belong to their parents not the school Principles or Superintendent’s Leadership Love of Country Respect for our Declaration of Independence Obey the Constitution Keep the Oath of Office On the federal government’s role in women’s reproductive health: None. The Supreme Court of the United States sent Roe v Wade. Dobbs back to the States where it should be. It is a states rights issue. On the U.S. transition to clean energy: I answered this above. We need all sources so Americans can afford good, safe, clean choices. Nuclear is in fact one of the safest and cleanest forms of energy. On ensuring free and fair elections and the transition of power: Voter ID and consistency within the Boards of Election. In NJ the protocols are different county to county. United States’ role in foreign conflicts: Hundreds of Billions of dollars should not be going to protecting Ukraine’s boarders while millions of illegals are pouring through our boarders poisoning Americans with fentanyl and destroying our cities and communities. Gaza committed an act of War against our Israel. We should support Israel at all costs.

”

2022

Claire Gustafson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Gustafson's campaign website stated the following:

“	Illegal Immigration Illegal immigration is not a new problem and “amnesty” programs only make the problem of illegal immigration worse. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act granted legal status to 2.7 million illegal aliens and led to one of the greatest waves of illegal immigration in our nation’s history. After the invention of DACA we have seen a huge increase in unaccompanied minors illegally crossing our southern border and receiving temporary legal status. Rewarding bad behavior is never a good idea. We must stop illegal immigration and stop rewarding bad behavior. DACA rewards the children of illegal aliens for sneaking across the border. Amnesty rewards bad behavior. Let’s build the wall to help prevent more illegal border crossings and stop rewarding bad behavior. Abortion We have allowed the Democrats to frame the debate on abortion. They make the argument that abortion is about “reproductive rights.” They falsely claim abortion is a choice when the truth is the majority of the time the “choice” is made before conception – a simple trip to the “family planning aisle” at the drug store could prevent an unwanted pregnancy. For me, abortion is never an option, but I also understand there are exceptions to every rule and in cases of rape or in the extremely rare risk of life to the mother I believe the decision should be left to the mother, her doctor and her God. Second Amendment We must end the assault on our Second Amendment. In 2008 the Supreme Court settled the matter (District of Columbia et al v. Heller) writing in part, “The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes…” I strongly oppose any attempt to create a national registry and believe in the individual’s right to keep and bear arms. Economy Creating economic opportunity has to be more than just whining about the recent scandals revolving around the EDA tax breaks. According to a published report the FBI is investigating and I’m hopeful they’ll do their job and get those responsible. I choose to look at what leaders are doing to generate economic opportunity. One such leader is former Greenwich Township (Gibbstown) Mayor George W. Shivery, Jr. Under Mayor Shivery’s leadership the town now has a privately funded port being developed. The development of that port has led to another investor building warehouses in a neighboring 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. In Congress I’ll work to create a business-friendly environment by removing onerous regulations. Education When I was in grade school we learned the basics. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and even took a moment to pray in public school. Those days are long gone! The downfall of our public education system started with Common Core and “new math.” Today’s students can’t sign the back of a paycheck and many can’t tell time without a digital clock. The new “woke” culture is making education even worse. It is time to dismantle Common Core and get back to the basics. It is time to give power back to the parents. We must ensure that every parent has the right to choose to send their child to the school that is best for the student. School choice must be about more than picking a school owned by a member of South Jersey’s political cartel. That is why we must support organizations like the New Jersey Interdistrict Public School Choice Association and expand the New Jersey Interdistrict School Choice Program allowing families to choose the PUBLIC school that is best for their children WITHOUT taking money away from any school.	”
—Claire Gustafson's campaign website (2022)

2020

Claire Gustafson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Claire Gustafson campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House New Jersey District 1	Lost primary	$0	N/A**
2022	U.S. House New Jersey District 1	Lost general	$38,650	$15,544
2020	U.S. House New Jersey District 1	Lost general	$36,520	$21,761
Grand total			$75,170	$37,305
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also

2024 Elections

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Candidate

U.S. House New Jersey District 1

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Footnotes

[show]

New Jersey's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Cory Booker (D)

Andrew Kim (D)

Representatives

District 1

Donald Norcross (D)

District 2

Jeff Van Drew (R)

District 3

Herbert Conaway (D)

District 4

Chris Smith (R)

District 5

Josh Gottheimer (D)

District 6

Frank Pallone (D)

District 7

Thomas Kean (R)

District 8

Robert Menendez (D)

District 9

Nellie Pou (D)

District 10

LaMonica McIver (D)

District 11

Mikie Sherrill (D)

District 12

Bonnie Coleman (D)

Democratic Party (11)

Republican Party (3)