Michael McGuire

McGuire served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1997 to 2001 and subsequently in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he remains a member.[2][4] WHYY reports that after four years in the Marines he joined the New York City Police Department, where he was a first responder on September 11, 2001; he describes his background as including service as a law enforcement officer.[2][3][4][6] He works as an attorney, and the New Jersey Globe describes his practice as family law and divorce; WHYY adds that he is a small-business advisor and tax practitioner.[2][4][6] McGuire lives in Freehold Township, according to the New Jersey Globe.[4]

McGuire told the New Jersey Globe that he had run for school board in the past; WHYY describes the congressional campaign as his first run for office.[4][6] The Globe reported that his decision to run for Congress followed the fall 2025 federal government shutdown, during which he and fellow Navy reservists missed paychecks.[4][3] He launched his campaign in January 2026 and defeated Jason Cullen and Justin Barbera in the June 2, 2026 Republican primary, receiving 57.9% of the vote.[3][7] Ballotpedia lists endorsements from Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, former U.S. Rep. Barry Morris Goldwater Jr., the Monmouth County Republican Committee and the Mercer County Republican Committee.[2] During the campaign, he said he was running on affordability, veterans' issues and term limits for members of Congress.[2][3][4] He received 35.5% of the vote to Herb Conaway's 62.6%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]