Rep. Donald Norcross Suffered Life-Threatening Infection, Remains In Treatment

CAMDEN, NJ — Rep. Donald Norcross faces a lengthy recovery after suffering a life-threatening gallbladder infection.

Norcross (D-NJ) suffered the medical emergency while traveling down south earlier this month. He was admitted to a North Carolina hospital on April 6 and was transferred to Cooper University Hospital in Camden the next day.

The South Jersey congressman remained in intensive care as of Monday, according to his doctor, Eric Kupersmith, who is also Cooper's chief physician executive.

At Cooper, Norcross was diagnosed with a gallbladder infection called cholangitis, which progressed to sepsis, Kupersmith said. Sepsis is life-threatening and requires urgent treatment.

"The Cooper medical team was able to remove the gallstone and is treating the infection and its complications," Kupersmith said in a statement. "Congressman Norcross is responding well to treatment, but faces an extended recovery that could require physical rehabilitation."

Norcross, 66, is in regular contact with his staff and continues to monitor developments in the nation's capital, according to his office. His offices in Cherry Hill, Camden and Washington, D.C. remain open for constituent services.

But it's uncertain when Norcross will be able to return to Washington. His absence expands Republicans' narrow majority in the House of Representatives, since members of Congress must be physically present in the U.S. Capitol to vote on their constituents' behalf.

Norcross has represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district since 2014. The heavily Democratic district covers all of Camden County and portions of Burlington and Gloucester counties.

He was re-elected in November to a two-year term. Months before the infection, Norcross filed paperwork to run for re-election in 2026.