He was executive assistant to Governor William T. Cahill from 1971 to 1973, when the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission was created. He became the commission's first executive director, serving from 1973 to 1976. In 1976, Norcross ran as the Republican candidate for United States Senate against the incumbent Harrison A. Williams. A relative unknown, he used his expertise in campaign financing to attack Williams for what he said were unethical fundraising practices. Norcross was soundly defeated, but Williams would later be convicted of bribery and conspiracy in the Abscam scandal. He was selected by State Senator Raymond Bateman, then the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey, to replace Webster B. Todd as chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee in 1977. Norcross also became a member of the Republican National Committee in 1977. He went on to serve in a number of positions for the RNC, including counsel to the chairman (1983–1989) and general counsel (1993–1997). Norcross is a partner in the Philadelphia-based law and lobbying firm Blank Rome LLP. His dual role as RNC insider and lobbyist came under scrutiny during the 2004 Republican National Convention, for which Norcross served as chairman of the Committee on Arrangements.
He was executive assistant to Governor Willa T. Cahill from 1971 to 1973, when the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission was created. He became the commission's first executive director, serving from 1973 to 1976. In 1976, Norcross ran as the Republican candidate for United States Senate against the incumbent Harrison A. Williams. A relative unknown, he used his expertise in campaign financing to attack Williams for what he said were unethical fundraising practices. Norcross was soundly defeated, but Williams would later be convicted of bribery and conspiracy in the Abscam scandal. He was selected by State Senator Raymond Bateman, then the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey, to replace Webster B. Todd as chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee in 1977. Norcross also became a member of the Republican National Committee in 1977. He went on to serve in a number of positions for the RNC, including counsel to the chairman (1983–1989) and general counsel (1993–1997) . Norcross is a partner in the Philadelphia-based law and lobbying firm, Blank Rome LLP. His dual role as RNC insider and lobbyist came under scrutiny during the 2004 Republican National Convention, for which Norcross served as chairman of the Committee on Arrangements.