Mr. Norcross Goes to Washington

On his first day in the U.S. House of Representatives, Donald Norcross introduced himself as a blue collar union man.

“I grew up in the profession as an electrician and look where we are now. Member of the House. This is truly the American dream and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Norcross defeated former Eagles linebacker Gary Cobb to win the November election in New Jersey’s 1st congressional district. He replaced Rob Andrews, who resigned amid an ethics probe. He spent two decades as a private sector labor leader in South Jersey and then moved quickly up the ranks of the state legislature.

In his very first Congressional vote, he broke from fellow Democrats to support the Keystone Pipeline for the jobs he believes it will bring. Then, a few weeks later, the freshman congressman had the honor of flying to New Jersey with President Obama on Air Force One.

There was just one hitch.  New Jersey’s largest news site confused him with his brother, George Norcross – which is perhaps understandable. (The mistake has since been cleared up, with no correction.)

“George Norcross's influence in New Jersey is I think the thing that's important to talk about because it is so extensive but at the same time relatively hidden,” said Ross Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers. He says the man is political boss, the likes of which have become rare in the United States.

Norcross picks candidates for local and legislative races. He raises campaign money for them, including from companies doing business with the state. Once beholden to him, these politicians join his powerful South Jersey voting block in Trenton.

An insurance tycoon, George sits on the board of Camden’s Cooper Hospital. He briefly co-owned The Philadelphia Inquirer and runs Camden County’s Democratic Committee.

“Like the Wizard of Oz, he operates behind a curtain,” Baker explains, “yet it’s felt throughout the state.”

Norcross emerged from behind the curtain briefly in the early 2000s when he was the target of a federal investigation. He was taped by a councilman from Palmyra, N.J.,  boasting about his influence over elected officials. On the recordings, he curses and gives orders. At one point, he says no one will ever look down on or double-cross South Jersey again:

“Because they know we put up the gun and we pulled the trigger and we blew their brains out.”

After the so-called Palmyra tapes came out, it looked like Norcross would face corruption charges. The prosecution was dropped in 2005 by then-US Attorney Chris Christie who said the investigation had been botched.

Today, Norcross is the Governor’s Christie’s most powerful Democratic ally. Christie has mocked the fascination with their relationship.

“I say to folks all the time that I am unabashed that I have a good relationship with George and that we work hard together to try to make the state a better place.”

WNYC reporter Matt Katz, who covers the governor and is on leave to write a biography of him,  says the governor owes much of his legislative successes to his relationship with Norcross.”

 “If they join forces it’s good as automatic,”  Katz said. “Together with Christie’s Republican votes in the legislature and the votes that fall under Norcross’s wing of the legislature they can get anything passed.”

One place they’ve focused on is Norcross’s home turf: Camden. Norcross suggested Camden Mayor Dana Redd run for the office and she now describes him as a member of her West Wing.

“He's been a friend to my family and to Camden for many years and we're grateful to have him as our coach on our team, if you will.”

Redd had two powerful allies in Christie and Norcross. They both want to remake the city of Camden, and so far they've been able to accomplish much of what they set out to do. They reshaped the waterfront, replaced the entire police force to break the union, created a more powerful state university and are bringing more charters to the public school system.

Donald Norcross has taken some of the credit for introducing legislation in the state legislature but Camden activists like Mo’Neke Ragsdale unhappy with their vision of education reform have focused their ire on George Norcross.

“I spoke to Donald, I think George has the power,” she insists, saying she believes that will be the case even with Donald Norcross in Washington.

George Norcross declined to be interviewed for this story. But Donald Norcross insists he’s always acted independently.

“The fact of the matter is I'm building relationships," Donald Norcross said. "I’ve been in organized labor for 25 years and have developed those relationships outside of what any of my brothers do.”

But New Jersey Star Ledger columnist Tom Moran says whether it’s a legislator from South Jersey or his brother, George Norcross is always the most powerful guy in the room.

 “I wouldn’t say Donald is his pawn. I would say the two are allied closely,” Moran says.  

In a recent article, the New Yorker quoted a powerful North Jersey democrat saying he envied what Norcross can accomplish with two people in the state senate and twelve in the assembly. It remains to be seen what having a brother in Congress can do for his political machine.