Justin Barbera, a Burlington County Republican best known as the 5th-place finisher in last year’s five-way GOP gubernatorial primary, will make another go at elected office this year, running for the 3rd congressional district against Rep. Herb Conaway (D-Delran).
Barbera, a contractor and real estate developer from Southampton, ran for the 3rd district once before, garnering 0.3% as an independent candidate in 2024. His bid for the governorship didn’t go much better; running against several far better-known and well-funded opponents, Barbera failed to make much headway in the statewide GOP electorate, and got 1.4% of the vote.
In the closing days of the gubernatorial campaign, Barbera spent a night in jail in Salem County for failing to pay child support. Barbera told the New Jersey Globe that he’s continuing to fight that case, and that he considers state statutes regarding child support to be a violation of his Constitutional rights.
“The jailing was the result of a constitutional violation of one of my freedoms, which is a familial bond with my children,” Barbera said. “I’m fighting a judge’s discretion in how they placed [state statutes] higher than our Constitution. It’s a major violation, and it’s treasonous.”
Compared to his little-noticed gubernatorial campaign, Barbera said that his House campaign will be better prepared to reach voters – he’s got a campaign website this time, he noted – and that he thinks there will be a wave of Republicans looking to support him.
“I believe this seat can switch if we have a groundswell of Republicans, and I’m willing to do the footwork to make that a reality,” he said.
Barbera’s website lists “secure borders, 2A rights, lower taxes, [and] Judeo-Christian values” as some of his top priorities, and he said that he wants the 3rd district to be represented by a pro-Trump congressman.
“I’ll support the president and all the hard work he’s doing in creating a world free of terrorism and cartels,” he said. “We need more congressmen in New Jersey backing the president, and I’m going to be one of those voices that really comes through here in the Garden State.”
Barbera isn’t alone in the Republican primary; sales professional Jason Cullen – who, like Barbera, once embarked on a longshot bid for governor – and Marine Corps veteran Michael McGuire are also in the race. The 3rd district leans towards Democrats, which will make defeating Conaway a difficult task for any Republican; Conaway won his first term in 2024 by a 53%-45% margin.
