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U.S. House · New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District

Central New Jersey, covering Burlington County and parts of Ocean and Mercer counties, including Willingboro, Mount Laurel, and Toms River.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Herbert C. Conaway Jr., projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Herb Conaway171,80862.6%
Michael McGuire97,28535.5%
Ryan Kelly3,6461.3%
Steven Welzer1,6830.6%

About 96% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • Incumbent Herbert C. Conaway Jr. ran unopposed in the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary. Michael McGuire won a three-way Republican primary with 57.9% of the vote (14,810 votes), ahead of Jason Cullen (24.4%) and Justin Barbera (17.7%).[1]
  • Cook Political Report rated the district's Partisan Voter Index as D+5 as of September 2026; Kamala Harris won the district 53.4%–45.0% under the current district lines in the 2024 presidential election.[2]

On the November 3 ballot · 4 candidates

Herbert C. Conaway Jr.DINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative for New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District (since 2025); physicianFull profile →Michael McGuireRFull profile →Ryan KellyAffordability, Accountability, People PartyFull profile →Steven WelzerGFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Supports[4]

    Supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law and the Right to Contraception Act; as a state legislator co-sponsored a bill protecting nondisclosure of reproductive-healthcare patient information and access for out-of-state patients.

  • Michael McGuire
    —
  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    Supports[7]

    Supports codifying Roe v. Wade and ensuring full reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.

Stricter gun laws

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Supports[13]

    Cosponsored H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (119th Congress), which would ban the sale and manufacture of many semiautomatic assault weapons.

  • Michael McGuire
    —
  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Recorded votes[15][16][17][18]

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.

  • Michael McGuire
    In their own words[5]
    “strengthening border security through enforcement of existing laws”

    In his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, listing areas of public policy he cares about

  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Recorded votes[16][17][18]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.

  • Michael McGuire
    —
  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Recorded votes[16][17][18][20]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies.

  • Michael McGuire
    —
  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    —

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Recorded votes[16][17][18]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.

  • Michael McGuire
    —
  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    Supports[7]

    Supports a Green New Deal-style program to invest in renewable energy infrastructure, end fossil-fuel subsidies, and require new buildings to reach zero emissions by 2035.

Raise the minimum wage

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Supports[14]

    Cosponsored H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (119th Congress), which would raise the federal minimum wage.

  • Michael McGuire
    —
  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    —

Continue U.S. military aid to Israel

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    —
  • Michael McGuire
    Supports[8]

    Said the U.S. must maintain security cooperation with Israel, including weapons systems support such as the Iron Dome.

  • Ryan Kelly
    In their own words[8]
    “The United States should not provide a blank check for military actions that violate international or humanitarian law”

    As quoted in WHYY's 2026 NJ-3 voter guide

  • Steven Welzer
    Opposes[7]

    Describes U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts as driven by a "bipartisan endless war machine" and calls for cutting the military budget in favor of diplomacy, in the context of describing constituents' concerns about relatives in Gaza.

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Recorded votes[23]

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Michael McGuire
    —
  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Recorded votes[19]

    Voted no on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Michael McGuire
    —
  • Ryan Kelly
    —
  • Steven Welzer
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Herbert C. Conaway Jr.
    Recorded votes[21][22]

    Voted yes on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted yes on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

  • Michael McGuire
    In their own words[8]
    “vital national security interests at stake, clearly defined and attainable objectives, robust congressional oversight, and a focus on keeping our service members out of unnecessary harm.”

    As quoted in WHYY's 2026 NJ-3 voter guide

  • Ryan Kelly
    Supports[8]

    Opposes open-ended war without congressional authorization and wants Congress to reclaim its war-powers role (per WHYY).

  • Steven Welzer
    —

Research notes & limits

Michael McGuire's, Ryan Kelly's, and Steven Welzer's entries rely on their 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses (and, for Welzer, a 2024 NJ Spotlight News interview reproduced by Ballotpedia). Per the research brief, Conaway's federal floor votes and FEC totals are added separately by script. Biographical detail for Ryan Kelly is limited to his Ballotpedia profile and survey; no campaign website or news profile was loaded.

Sources · 36

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Herbert C. Conaway Jr. · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2026 (Cook PVI and 2024 presidential results by district table) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  3. 3.Herbert C. Conaway Jr. · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  4. 4.On the Issues · Herb Conaway for Congress campaign Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Michael McGuire (New Jersey) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  6. 6.Ryan Kelly (New Jersey) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  7. 7.Steven Welzer · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  8. 8.NJ election 2026: 3rd Congressional District voter guide · WHYY News report
  9. 9.Herbert C. Conaway Jr. · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  10. 10.On the Issues · Herb Conaway for Congress campaign Candidate's own words
  11. 11.About · Office of Rep. Herb Conaway Official record
  12. 12.New Jersey 3rd Congressional District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  13. 13.H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (Assault Weapons Ban of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  14. 14.H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (Raise the Wage Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  17. 17.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  24. 24.Michael McGuire (New Jersey) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  25. 25.Michael McGuire wins Republican primary for New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District · WHYY · 2026-06-02 News report
  26. 26.Attorney, Marine Corps veteran joining GOP primary for NJ-3 · New Jersey Globe · 2026-01-09 News report
  27. 27.Herbert C. Conaway Jr. · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  28. 28.New Jersey election 2026: What to know about the 3rd Congressional District race · WHYY · 2026-10-01 News report
  29. 29.U.S. House · New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  30. 30.Ryan Kelly (New Jersey) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  31. 31.New Jersey election 2026: What to know about the 3rd Congressional District race · WHYY · 2026-10-01 News report
  32. 32.U.S. House · New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  33. 33.Steven Welzer · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  34. 34.Herbert C. Conaway Jr. · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  35. 35.NJ election 2026: 3rd Congressional District voter guide · WHYY · 2026-10-01 News report
  36. 36.U.S. House · New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District results 2026 · NBC News News report