Republican Primary Heats Up Ahead of June 3 Congressional Primary

A former Philadelphia Eagle and a former Collingswood School Board Member are waging war against each other as they seek the Republican nomination in the special election for the vacant First Congressional District seat, the Associated Press reports.

Garry Cobb, of Cherry Hill, and Claire Gustafson have targeted each other in the four-way race for the nomination with less than a month to go until the June 3 primary.

Gustafson points to Cobb’s lawsuit against the NFL over concussions and “various neurological impacts,” according to the report.

In 2012, Cobb told The Philadelphia Daily News he had some memory problems that he feared could get worse over time.

Cobb has accused Gustafson’s campaign consultant of attempted blackmail. Gustafson’s campaign consultant Steve Kush called the accusation “absolutely ridiculous,” according to the report.

Real estate agent Gerald McManus and commercial food equipment repairman Lee Lucas are also running for the seat, vacated by Rob Andrews earlier this year. The candidates are running for a full Congressional term to begin in January simultaneously.

State Sen. Donald Norcross and Logan Township Mayor Frank Minor compete for the Democratic nomination.

The First Congressional District covers parts of Camden, Gloucester and Burlington counties.