Sean
Kirrane
Republican businessman Sean Kirrane is challenging incumbent Rep. Josh Gottheimer in New Jersey's 5th Congressional District in 2026.
- sources
- 10
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 12
Background
Sean Kirrane is the Republican candidate challenging incumbent Josh Gottheimer in New Jersey's 5th Congressional District in the November 2026 general election. He is a lifelong New Jerseyan from River Vale and a graduate of Bergen Catholic High School; he later attended Villanova University and earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Saint Joseph's University. 158
Kirrane's campaign biography describes more than 20 years of experience across healthcare, finance, and technology, including work on capital-markets transactions and healthcare-company restructuring. He is described as co-founder of Cortex-X and Arcadia Health Partners, and his LinkedIn profile lists him as CEO of Cortex-X. 15
The New Jersey Division of Elections certified Kirrane as the Republican nominee for District 5 following the 2026 primary, and the FEC lists his campaign committee (C00918342) as a Republican House principal campaign committee. 7818 No prior elected office is identified in the sources reviewed.
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 5, New Jersey
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Co-founder and CEO, Cortex-X; Republican candidate for U.S. House, NJ-5
- Website
- seankirrane.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Sep 17newsKirrane calls Gottheimer's Stop Rogue AI Act 'directionally right' but incomplete on alignment
In response to Rep. Josh Gottheimer's proposed Stop Rogue AI Act, Kirrane stated he supports 'a risk-based approach that protects American innovation while increasing safeguards as AI becomes more autonomous and consequential.' He called the bill directionally right but said it did not fully address the AI alignment problem.
Why NJ's Gottheimer is leading charge for new AI controls · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30filingFEC filing shows Kirrane raised $55,656 with $8,034 cash on hand through June 30
Campaign finance figures through the June 30 reporting period showed $55,656 in receipts (including approximately $24,953 in candidate loans), $47,622 in disbursements, $8,034 cash on hand, and $24,325 in outstanding debt.
Sean Kirrane – Candidate Profile - Who Are These People? · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 2filingKirrane wins Republican primary for NJ-05 with 19,529 votes
Sean Kirrane won the Republican nomination for New Jersey's 5th Congressional District, recording 19,529 votes with no opposing Republican candidate on the ballot.
NJ-05 Race Overview - Who Are These People? · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Mar 30newsPrimary opponent John Aslanian withdrew and endorsed Kirrane, leaving him unopposed
The New Jersey Globe reported that John Aslanian ended his Republican primary campaign and endorsed Sean Kirrane. A second potential challenger, Chandiha 'Sandy' Gajapathy, failed to gather the required signatures to qualify, leaving Kirrane as the sole Republican candidate.
Sean Kirrane Archives - Page 3 of 3 - New Jersey Globe · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Brian Bergen officialNew Jersey Assemblymember, LD26 seankirrane.com
- Kristin Corrado officialNew Jersey State Senator, LD40 seankirrane.com
- Al Barlas officialNew Jersey Assemblymember, LD40 seankirrane.com
- Robert Auth officialNew Jersey Assemblymember, LD39 seankirrane.com
- Christopher DePhillips officialNew Jersey Assemblymember, LD40 seankirrane.com
- Holly Schepisi officialNew Jersey State Senator, LD39 seankirrane.com
- John Azzariti Jr. officialNew Jersey Assemblymember, LD39 seankirrane.com
- Joseph Pennacchio officialNew Jersey State Senator, LD26 seankirrane.com
- Jay Webber officialNew Jersey Assemblymember, LD26 seankirrane.com
- John Aslanian otherFormer Republican primary rival who withdrew and endorsed Kirrane; quoted: 'It's critical that Republicans unite behind one candidate who can win this race and deliver real results for the people.' newjerseyglobe.com · Mar 30, 2026
- Bergen County Republican Organization organizationIdentified as county line organization on NJ Division of Elections unofficial primary candidates list nj.gov · Mar 26, 2026
- Passaic County Regular Republican Organization organizationIdentified as county line organization on NJ Division of Elections unofficial primary candidates list nj.gov · Mar 26, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $56K
- Spent
- $48K
- Cash on hand
- $8,034
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6NJ05221(opens in a new tab)
Sources 10
- [1] Sean Kirrane Archives - Page 3 of 3 - New Jersey Globe(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [2] Real Problems. Real Solutions for New Jersey Families.(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [3] NJ-05 Race Overview - Who Are These People?(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [4] Sean Kirrane – Candidate Profile - Who Are These People?(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [5] Why NJ's Gottheimer is leading charge for new AI controls(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [6] 03/26/2026 Page 1 of 17 Unofficial List Candidates for ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 2, 2026
- [7] Sean Kirrane for Congress(opens in a new tab) Jul 24, 2026
- [8] Press(opens in a new tab) Jun 17, 2026
- [9] Aslanian ends run for Congress, endorses Kirrane - New Jersey Globe(opens in a new tab) Mar 30, 2026
- [10] 'Socially moderate' Republican will challenge Josh Gottheimer in NJ-5(opens in a new tab) Sep 9, 2025