George Norcross

George E. Norcross III
Born	(1956-03-16) March 16, 1956 Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, political organizer
Years active	Since 1979
Known for	Executive chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew; chairman of Cooper University Health Care System board; influential Democratic Party figure in southern New Jersey

George E. Norcross III (born March 16, 1956) is a prominent American entrepreneur, political organizer, and influential figure within the Democratic Party. He wields considerable influence in southern New Jersey politics.

Norcross holds the position of executive chairman at Conner Strong & Buckelew, a firm specializing in insurance and employee benefits brokerage. Additionally, he presides over the board of trustees for Cooper University Health Care System, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, and Cooper University Hospital located in Camden, New Jersey. Having served as a trustee since 1990, he played a pivotal role in founding the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and forging the partnership that led to the establishment of the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper in 2013.

With a political career spanning more than three decades in New Jersey, Norcross led the Camden County Democratic Committee from 1989 until 1993. He has been repeatedly identified by PolitickerNJ.com as one of the state's most influential non-elected political operatives.

Norcross was affiliated with the Democratic National Committee until 2021, when he changed his voter registration to Florida. Notably, he was once a member of Mar-a-Lago, the private club owned by former President Donald Trump.

In June 2024, New Jersey State Attorney General Matthew Platkin charged Norcross with 13 counts related to racketeering and criminal enterprise.

Early life

Born on March 16, 1956, at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, Norcross is the son of George E. Norcross Jr. (1928–1998), who served as president of the AFL–CIO Central Labor Union covering Camden and Gloucester Counties, and Anne Carol Norcross (1931–2016). His father was deeply involved in local community affairs, including roles on the Cooper University Hospital board and chairmanship of Camden County’s United Way board.

Norcross completed his secondary education at Pennsauken High School and attended Rutgers University–Camden for a short period. He has three brothers: Donald, who serves as a U.S. Congressman for New Jersey's 1st congressional district; Philip, who is managing partner at the law firm Parker McCay; and John, a psychologist and academic at the University of Scranton.

Insurance

Since 1979, Norcross has been with Conner Strong & Buckelew, where he currently serves as executive chairman overseeing insurance, risk management, and employee benefits brokerage services. NJBiz.com ranked him as New Jersey’s second most powerful business leader from 2014 to 2016 and consistently placed him within their top ten through 2021.

In September 2015, Norcross invested locally in The Camden Waterfront project—a $1 billion development originally initiated by Liberty Property Trust with architectural design by Robert A.M. Stern. His financial commitment to this venture amounted to $50 million. By March 2017, he announced that his company planned to move its headquarters to this waterfront location as part of an extensive $245 million development plan.

Cooper University Health Care System

Norcross chairs the Board of Trustees for Cooper University Health Care System, which includes Cooper University Hospital and the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper in Camden. Having been a trustee since 1990, he was instrumental in launching the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and facilitating the opening of the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper in 2013.

In response to the Veterans Health Administration scandal in 2014, Cooper implemented a "Veterans VIP Priority Program," providing day care services for veterans residing in southern New Jersey. For this initiative, both Cooper and Norcross were honored with the "Seven Seals" award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve later that year.

In 2012, Norcross championed a merger between Rowan University and Rutgers-Camden—a consolidation that received state approval within that same year.

Formica Freitag Bakery

In January 2022, Norcross and his family acquired a majority stake in Formica Bakery, the producer of the well-known "Atlantic City Original" bread, following its bankruptcy in 2019. The bakery was subsequently rebranded as Formica Freitag Bakery and, in January 2023, it combined operations with Valitni's Italian Bakery from Pleasantville to broaden its market reach.

Politics

Norcross has been identified as the dominant "political boss" behind the Democratic organization in South Jersey. He exercised control over local party structures, fundraising efforts, and candidate endorsements on the county ballot line. Holding the position of Camden County Democratic Party chairman from 1989 until 1995, he exerted considerable authority over employment and contract allocations within the county.

In 2011, journalist Steve Kornacki observed that no Democrat in South Jersey could run or secure victory without Norcross's endorsement. Leaked recordings from 2005 exposed his use of patronage to build alliances and marginalize adversaries. By 2003, he had sway over more than a dozen state legislators and managed government contracts through a pay-to-play arrangement that directed business contributions toward political campaigns.

Norcross played a key role in replacing Senate President Richard Codey with his ally Stephen Sweeney in 2009. His decision not to support Governor Jon Corzine factored into Corzine’s defeat by Chris Christie in the gubernatorial race that year; nevertheless, Norcross later fostered a constructive relationship with Christie.

The loss of Sweeney in the 2021 elections signaled a weakening of Norcross’s political influence. In 2023, he declared a scaled-back involvement in politics, stating it was "time for others to lead" and acknowledging that Sweeney’s defeat left him "sitting in the backseat."

Criticism

Norcross was investigated by both the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey during Chris Christie’s administration after secretly recorded conversations about state politics surfaced. Although these revelations attracted widespread media coverage, no charges were filed against him. Additionally, a federal probe in 2016 involving wiretapped phones included Norcross; this investigation was later closed without any action by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He has been associated with companies alleged to have received preferential treatment from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). A special investigative task force reviewed NJEDA operations, prompting Norcross to file a lawsuit aimed at preventing the release of a critical report. After judicial review, the request for an injunction was denied and the report was made publicly accessible.

Racketeering charges

On June 17, 2024, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin revealed a thirteen-count racketeering indictment against Norcross and five others, including his brother Philip. The indictment accuses them of conspiring to unlawfully acquire waterfront properties, fraudulently obtain millions in government tax credits, and attempt to corrupt public officials.

At a July 9, 2024 hearing at the Mercer County Courthouse in Trenton, New Jersey, Norcross and four co-defendants entered pleas of not guilty. His attorney Michael Critchley forcefully rejected the allegations before Superior Court Judge Peter E. Warshaw Jr.

On February 26, 2025, a Superior Court judge dismissed the charges against Norcross and his associates; nonetheless, Attorney General Platkin announced intentions to appeal this ruling.

Personal life

Norcross is a father of two. He formerly lived in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, but as of 2023, he spends roughly 90 percent of his time residing in Florida. In 2015, he was listed as the 41st wealthiest person in New Jersey, with an estimated net worth near $250 million, accumulated through his involvement in banking, insurance, and political enterprises.

External links

• Senatorial suspense on the CBT and arena, PoliticsNJ.com, July 2012; accessed December 22, 2014.
• Fast-Growing Commerce Bancorp Counts On Political Ties, w4.stern.nyu.edu, May 21, 2003; accessed December 22, 2014.
• Engle, Bob & McClure, Sandy (2008), The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption, St. Martin's Press, New York.
• "They Have No Choice", phillymag.com; accessed December 22, 2014.