October 20, 2026 · NJ-03
12 Issues. Four Candidates. One Congressional District.
Voters deserve more than slogans. This comparison brings together public statements, policy positions, congressional votes, and campaign-finance reports from the four candidates for NJ-03. Watch the video, then explore the issues and original sources below.
Watch the comparison
Issue-by-issue comparison
A statement, a proposal, and a recorded vote are different kinds of evidence. Not finding a position in the reviewed materials does not mean a candidate has no position. Fundraising figures are through September 30, 2026.
- 01
Universal Healthcare
Kelly and Welzer support single-payer healthcare. McGuire favors insurance competition and price transparency. Conaway emphasizes prescription drug affordability.
- 02
Affordable Housing
Kelly supports public and affordable housing. Conaway voted Yes on H.R. 6644 (House Roll 224, June 23, 2026). McGuire criticized developer arrangements involving affordable-housing requirements. Welzer supports stronger affordable-housing requirements.
- 03
Living Wages & Workers’ Rights
Kelly supports living wages, paid leave, and union rights. Conaway voted Yes on H.R. 5408, the Faster Labor Contracts Act (Roll 216, June 9, 2026). McGuire proposes payroll-tax relief. Welzer supports a $25 minimum wage.
- 04
Student Debt Relief
Kelly supports student-loan forgiveness pathways and reducing education debt. Specific student-debt positions of the other candidates were not established in the reviewed materials.
- 05
Civil Rights & Due Process
Kelly emphasizes civil-rights protections and agency oversight. Conaway was recorded Not Voting on the FISA surveillance extension, S. 4465 (Roll 155, April 30, 2026). McGuire discussed due process in immigration detention. Welzer supports legal safeguards.
- 06
Abolishing ICE
Kelly supports abolishing ICE and restructuring immigration enforcement. Conaway has criticized ICE conduct and funding under certain conditions, but has not called for abolition in the reviewed material. McGuire supports ICE enforcement. Welzer favors reform and citizenship pathways.
- 07
Social Security & Medicare
Kelly opposes phasing out Social Security. McGuire called it a “Ponzi scheme” and discussed private accounts. Welzer supports broader Social Security taxation. No specific Conaway financing proposal was established. These statements do not automatically establish positions on Medicare.
- 08
Better Care for Veterans
Kelly wants shorter VA care and benefits delays. Conaway advocates more VA services in New Jersey. McGuire has discussed private-care options and VA reform. Welzer supports public veterans’ care.
- 09
End Blank-Check Military Aid
Kelly calls for diplomacy, aid conditions, and congressional war powers. Conaway voted No on an amendment restricting Israel military funding (Roll 243, July 15, 2026), and No on the overall appropriations bill (Roll 247). McGuire expressed strong support for Israel and advocated financial pressure for internal regime collapse in Iran. Welzer supports arms-sale restrictions and reduced military spending.
- 10
Get Big Money Out of Politics
Through September 30, 2026, Conaway reported $1,110,764.05 in total receipts, including $593,611.50 from other political committees; McGuire reported $210,524.88, including $9,000 from other political committees. Kelly rejects corporate and trade-association PAC contributions. Welzer supports public financing. The FEC category “other political committees” is not the same as corporate PAC money.
- 11
Congressional Accountability
Kelly supports ethics safeguards and independent oversight. McGuire favors fundraising transparency. Welzer supports limits on congressional stock trading. No specific Conaway stock-trading proposal was established in the reviewed material.
- 12
Real Climate Action
Kelly supports clean energy and utility accountability. Conaway emphasizes environmental protection and EV charging. McGuire discussed private-sector PFAS cleanup; that alone does not define his full climate position. Welzer supports a Green New Deal and ending fossil-fuel subsidies.
Sources and records
- Kelly platform ↗
- The Choice in NJ-03 ↗
- Military & Veterans ↗
- Conaway campaign positions ↗
- House FISA Roll 155 ↗
- House Housing Roll 224 ↗
- House Labor Roll 216 ↗
- House Israel funding Roll 243 ↗
- House appropriations Roll 247 ↗
- FEC Conaway committee ↗
- FEC McGuire committee ↗
- Jersey 1st Republican debate, May 20, 2026
- League of Women Voters forum, October 5, 2026
- AMAC forum, October 19, 2026