3rd Congressional District Primary Election 2026: Michael McGuire

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — The ballot season is in full swing in the Garden State, and Patch has asked local candidates aiming to win a seat in the United States House of Representatives to share their thoughts before the Primary Election on June 2.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign in Burlington County's official voting materials. The responses received will be published between now and the general election. Contact edward.callahan@patch.com with any questions regarding coverage.

Name: Michael McGuire

Age: 47

Town of residence: Freehold Township, NJ

Position sought: New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: Married; father of 4 and grandfather to a grandson

Education: BS Accounting, MBA Accounting, and Juris Doctoral

Occupation: Family law and divorce attorney. Also currently serving in the Naval Reserve and recently called to active military duty.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None, I'm a service member, not a politician looking for my next title.

Why are you seeking office?

I'm running because the people of New Jersey's 3rd District deserve a representative who shows up for duty, not one who shows up for a paycheck. I've watched career politicians go to Washington, line their own pockets, and leave working families behind to deal with crushing property taxes, rising costs, and a government that doesn't work for them.

I watched fellow service members miss paychecks during a government shutdown while serving in the Naval Reserve, and that was the moment I realized — if Congress won't do its job, I'll go up there and make them. Politicians have had their shot.

It's time to send a Marine.

What additional measures would you suggest to build on one or two things that are done right now within the 3rd District?

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is the economic engine of this district, and the district's largest employer, and we need to double down on protecting its mission and expanding the economic opportunities it creates for surrounding communities.

I'd push for increased federal investment in the Base's infrastructure and workforce development programs that connect our veterans and military families to good-paying jobs in the private sector. The Base should be used for national defense — period — and I'll fight to make sure Washington treats it that way.

If you were to start your own board or commission, what would it be for and why?

I'd establish a Middle-Class Affordability Commission focused specifically on why New Jersey families are being squeezed out of the American Dream.

We have some of the highest property taxes in the nation, a cost of living nearly 20% above the national average, and families earning six figures who still can't get ahead — that's a crisis, and it deserves serious, dedicated oversight.

The commission would examine the full picture — taxes, housing costs, energy prices, healthcare, and government waste — and produce real, actionable recommendations instead of the same empty promises we've been hearing from Trenton and Washington for decades.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm the only candidate in this race who has put on the uniform and put his life on the line for this country — not once, but three times.

My opponent is a salesman who has no real understanding of how the economy works or how taxes impact working families. I hold an MBA and have prepared thousands of tax returns — I know exactly where the money goes and who's getting squeezed.

My opponent wants to tax your Social Security, your tips, and your overtime again — making it even harder for families in this district to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. That's not fighting for the middle class — that's leaving them behind.

I'm not a politician looking for a title — I'm a Marine who's ready to fight for the families in this district the same way I've fought for this country my entire life.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence that you can handle this job?

I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps twice, served in the Naval Reserve, and spent years as an NYPD officer — including responding to Ground Zero on September 11th.

I've put myself through law school and built a career as an attorney, proving I can navigate complex problems and fight for people in high-stakes situations. Every chapter of my life has been about discipline, accountability, and showing up when it matters most.

Congress doesn't need another politician — it needs someone with the backbone to make hard decisions, and that's exactly what my record proves I can do.

What's a motto you live your life by?

Semper Fidelis — Always Faithful.

It's the motto of the United States Marine Corps, and it's not something you leave behind when you take off the uniform. It means showing up for duty, doing what is right, and serving your community and your country — no excuses, no shortcuts.

That's how I've lived my life, and that's exactly how I'll serve the people of the 3rd District.

What does it mean to you to represent Burlington County and the other sections of the district?

This district is home to the military families at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the working families in Hamilton Township, and the communities across Burlington, Mercer, and Monmouth counties who are tired of being squeezed by a system that doesn't work for them.

Representing them means understanding that a family earning good money still shouldn't have to choose between paying their property taxes and saving for their kids' future.

These are the people I served alongside in uniform, the neighbors I grew up with, and the families I fight for every day as an attorney - and I will never forget that it's their seat, not mine.

MORE FROM PATCH: Early Voting For Primaries Begins With Additional Polling Site In Burlington County

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