Spotlight on New Jersey
Congressional Primary Watch
Affectionately known as “mid-terms” every even year, the country votes on all 435 members of the House of Representatives. In New Jersey, that means elections in all 12 congressional districts in addition to a Senate election and countless Mayoral and Town Council vacancies. While we can’t provide profiles on every Congressional race, here is some information on the candidates running in the Central Jersey districts.
2026 PRIMARY DATES TO REMEMBER
05/12,VoterRegistrationDeadlinefor Primaries
05/26-05/31,EarlyVotingPeriod
05/26,Deadlinetoapplyforamail-in ballot
06/02,PrimaryElectionDay
Irecentlyatten ofhope.AsI listenedtothe fthepeople onthatstagen doso.They haveafundamentalissue(s)withtheleadershipofourcountryandareproposingreal solutionstobetterthelivesofeveryoneinourarea.ItremindedmeofwhyIwasdrawnto nonprofitwork,tohelppeople.
Candidatesaregettingyounger,morepassionate,andrepresentthetruediversityofour country.Parentsofyoungchildrenlookingtocreateopportunityforthosetheylove. ImmigrantsfulfillingtheAmericandreamtheywerepromised.MillennialandGen-Z candidatesaren’twillingtowaitandaretakingstepstobettertheirownfutures.These candidatesarenotwillingtowaittheirturn,becausetheyknowjusticeandequalitycan’t wait.They’reshiningalightonthemarginalizedgroupstheyrepresentsoeveryoneinour statecanfeelseenandheard.Theyarebringingthe“others”intothemainstreamand givingthemaseatatthetable.
Theyareredefiningwhatleadershiplookslike.Ratherthanpolishedsoundbitesand distantrhetoric,manyofthemspeaktotheurgencyofpeoplewhohavelivedthe challengestheywanttosolve.Theytalkaboutrisingcostsbecausetheyarepayingthe samebillsastheirneighbors.Theyspeakabouteducationandgunsafetybecausetheir childrenaresittinginthoseclassrooms.Theydiscusshealthcarebecausetheyhave experiencedthesamesystemsandhospitalsasyouandme.Thatlivedexperiencebringsa levelofauthenticityandaccountabilitythatourpoliticshastoooftenlacked.Itremindsus thatdemocracyworksbestwhenthepeopleshapingourpoliciestrulyreflectthe communitiestheyserve.
Thesearedeeplygrassrootscampaignsbecausetheyhavetobe.Becausetheyaretruly lookingforthesupportofthepeople,nottheirpockets.Theyareveterans,physicians, lawyers,andactivists.Theyarefightingtoprotectyouandyourrights.Pleaserewardtheir hardworkbydoingyourresearchonthecandidatesandvotingthisprimaryseason.Our democracydependsonit.
New Jersey Senate (incumbent)
CurrentlyservinginhissecondtermintheUSSenate
FirstBlackU.S.SenatorfromNewJersey
ChairoftheSenateDemocraticStrategic CommunicationsCommittee
Co-SponsoredtheEmmettTillAntilynchingActandthe FirstStepAct-bothsignedintolaw
Cory Booker (D)
New Jersey Senate
Dr. Robert Lebovics (R)
Justin Murphy (R)
OtolaryngologistandENTsurgeonspecializingin infectiousandinflammatorydisorders
Self-described“centristwhobelievesindoingwhat’s right.”
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteareCostofLiving, HealthCareAffordability,EducationEquality,Social SecuritySolvency,andPreparingfortheFutureofAI
AttorneyandU.S.NavyVeteran
ReceivedendorsementsbyMercer,Camden,and GloucesterCountyRepublicans,andmore
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteareTaxes,Home Ownership,EducationandParentalRights,National Security,Immigration,Pro-lifepolicies,Crime,Health Care,andAdvocacyforSecondAmendmentRights
New Jersey Senate
FormerArmyandNationalGuardveteranincludinga deploymenttoIraq.AlsoservedNewJerseyasaState Trooper
EndorsedbyAtlantic,Hudson,Hunterdon,Middlesex, Ocean,Sussex,andUnionCountyRepublicansand more
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeLower Costs,SafeCommunities,Jobs,andAccountability
PoliticalReporterandanchorforNews12NewJersey
EndorsedbyEwingTownshipGOP,MonmouthCounty CommissionerTomArnone,BurlingtonCounty ChairmanSeanEarlen,andmore
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeEnding ChronicIllnessandPollution,SaferFood,SafeandFree Elections,andSecondAmendmentRights
Richard Tabor (R)
Alex Zdan (R)
District 3 (incumbent)
CurrentlyservinghisfirsttermintheHouseof Representativesafter27yearsintheNewJerseyState Assembly
FirstBlackrepresentativeofNewJersey’s3 district rd MemberoftheCongressionalCommitteesonSmall Business,andVeterans’Affairs
Dr. Herbert C. Conaway Jr. (D)
District 3
OwnerofJustinBarberaLLC-sine2008
Mostlyselffundedcampaign
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeServingthe Community,ConstitutionalRights,anAmericaFirst Agenda,ParentalRights,andIntenseonEnergy
Servesasaterritorymanagerinconsumer-packaged goods
EndorsedbyVeteransforAmericaFirstandthe BurlingtonCountyRepublicans
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeFairTaxes, USNationalDefense&Veterans,HealthCare,Medicare, andSocialSecurity,PublicSafetyandLawEnforcement Support,andPersonalFreedom
Justin Barbera (R)
Jason Cullen (R)
District 3
MarineCorpsveteran,formerNYPDofficer,andcurrent NavyReserveMember
EndorsedbytheMonmouthCountyRepublican Committee,AssemblywomanVickyFlynn,andothers StateSenatorDeclanO’Scanlon
Platformprioritieslistedonwebsiteinclude Affordability,TermLimits,andNationalDefenseand Veterans,
Michael McGuire (R)
District 4 (incumbent)
NewJersey’slongestservingmemberofCongress-has servedthe4 congressionaldistrictsince1981 th ServesontheHouseForeignAffairsCommittee AuthoredtheTraffickingVictimsProtectionActof2020 whichestablishedacomprehensivefederalstrategyto preventtrafficking,protectvictims,andprosecute traffickers
Chris Smith (R)
District 4
Navyveteranandunionelectrician
JohnDavidBlakedoesnothaveacampaignwebsiteat thetimeofpublication
Smallbusinessowner/entrepreneur
EndorsedbyNewJerseyCitizensAction,OceanCounty Democrats,MonmouthCountyDemocrats,andJackson
TownshipDemocraticClub
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeHealthcare, Housing,PaidFamilyLeave,GuaranteedChildcare,Our Environment,andEndingCitizensUnited
John David Blake (D)
Rachel Peace (D)
District 6 (incumbent)
HasservedNJ’s6 Districtsince1988,currently servinghis18 term th th
RankingmemberoftheHouseEnergyand CommerceCommittee,ViceChairmanofthe NativeAmericanCaucus
KeycontributoroftheAffordableCareAct
Frank Pallone Jr. (D)
District 6
Investmentanalyst
EndorsedbyBeyondtheBallot,ProgressiveVictoryNJ, andGen-ZforChange
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeUniversal Healthcare,UniversalChildcare, AbolishICE,Protect andExpandSocialSecurity,AffordableHousing,$17
MinimumWage,PaidFamilyLeave,PassthePROAct, andMoneyOutofPolitics
Softwareengineer
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeTaxthe Ultra-Rich,ElectricityPrices,ForeignPolicy,Universal Healthcare,Immigration,Housing,Finance, Environmental,Women’sRights,FreedomofthePress, Labor,Education,UniversalChildcare,Strengthening ourDemocracy,Infrastructure,LGBTQ,andFarming
Katie Bansil (D)
John Hsu (D)
District 6
Motherofthree,spouseofaUSArmyVeteran,andselfdescribedcareercivilservant
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeTaxes& CostofLiving,Education,Crime&Safety,Immigration, PublicHealth,ServingourVeterans&Seniors,Serving ourDiverseCommunities,Environment,and Infrastructure&Innovation
Hilary Herzig (R)
District 7 (incumbent)
CurrentlyservinghissecondtermintheHouseof Representatives,previouslyservedintheNJState Legislaturefor20years,firstasanassemblymember, thenstatesenator Kean’sofficehasreturnedover$56millionto constituentsbyresolvingprioritieswithfederal agencies
Tom Kean (R)
District 7
FormerUSNavyHelicopterPilot,officerintheAir
NationalGuard,andbusinessleaderinhealthcare
EndorsedbyHunterdon,Somerset,Union,andMorris CountyDemocrats,VoteVets,andMomsDemandAction
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeMaking NewJerseyMoreAffordable,GrowingNewJersey’s Economy,LoweringHealthcareCosts,Keepingour NeighborhoodsSafe,andDefendingourFreedoms
FormerseniorofficialattheUSSmallBusiness AdministrationunderPresidentJoeBiden
EndorsedbyIndivisibleGardenStateValues,Don Graves,KevinQuinn,NoraRadest,andothers
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludetheDay OneAffordabilityAgenda,BringingResourcesBackto NewJersey,andMakingWashingtonWorkForUs
Rebecca Bennett (D)
Michael Roth (D)
District 7
Dr. Tina Shah (D)
Brian Varela (D)
Tripleboard-certifiedICUphysicianandhealthcare policyexpert
EndorsedbyAAPIVictoryFund,NursesforAmerica, CongressmanAmiBeraandothers
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeLower Costs,FixHealthcare,SaveLives,Technologyand Innovation,EnsureDignityforOurSeniors,Protect ReproductiveFreedom,andCleanEnergy,LowerBills
Entrepreneur,father,andcommunityleader
EndorsedbyLatinoVictoryFund,PeaceActionPAC, OathofOffice,RasBaraka,SteveSweeney,andothers
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeStrengthen theEconomyforNJFamilies,DefendOurDemocracy& ProtectVotingRights,MakingHealthcareMore Affordable&Accessible,CuttingCosts&Tackling Inflation,andEnactUniversalChildcare
District 12
Congresswoman Watson Coleman announced her retirement in November 2025 leaving her seat open to challengers from both parties.
Matt Adams (D)
RetiredLieutenantColonelintheJAGCorpsoftheUS ArmyReserveandformerMiddlesexBoroughCouncil
President
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeRestoring IntegrityinGovernment,SlashICE’sBudget,Cutting DefenseSpending,RestoringCongressionalPower, HonoringVeteransandSupportingthosewithSpecial Needs,DefendingtheConstitution,andAffordability
Susan Altman (D)
FormerExecutiveDirectoroftheNewJerseyWorking FamiliesAllianceandFormerStateDirectorforSenator AndyKim
EndorsedbyNewJerseyWorkingFamiliesParty,New JerseyCitizenAction,PrincetonCommunity DemocraticOrganization
SueAltmandoesnothaveplatformprioritieslistedon herwebsiteatthetimeofpublication
District 12
Congresswoman Watson Coleman announced her retirement in November 2025 leaving her seat open to challengers from both parties.
OB-GYNphysicianandMayorofEastBrunswicksince 2017
EndorsedbytheMiddlesexCountyDemocratic Organization,SenatorLindaGreenstein,andothers
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeUniversal Healthcare,Women’sRights,Immigration,Housing, Education, LGBTQIA+Rights,GunControl,AIandData Centers,Environment,andFightingCorruption
Combattraumasurgeon,USArmyveteran,and reconstructiveplasticsurgeon
EndorsedbyJusticeDemocrats,SenatorBernie Sanders,SenatorTammyDuckworth,andothers
Platformprioritieslistedonwebsiteinclude Healthcare,Education,CivilRights,EconomicJustice, ForeignPolicy,Veterans,FightingCorruption&Fixing Democracy,andClimateChange
Dr. Brad Cohen (D)
Dr. Adam Hamawy (D)
District 12
Congresswoman Watson Coleman announced her retirement in November 2025 leaving her seat open to challengers from both parties.
Kyle Little (D)
Smallbusinessownerandadjunctprofessor
EndorsedbyOathofOfficePAC
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeWomen’s
ReproductiveRights,CommonSenseGunSafetylaws,
LGBTQIA+RightsandProtections,StudentLoanDebt andForgiveness,LoweringChildcareCosts,Housing
Affordability&First-TimeBuyers,Trenton
Revitalization,PassingtheJohnLewisVotingRightsAct
MayorofPlainfieldsince2014
EndorsedbyUnionCountyDemocraticCommittee,NJ
SenatePresidentNicholasScutari,andothers
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeHousing& CommunityDevelopment,GoodGovernment& EffectiveLeadership,EconomicOpportunity&Cost-ofLivingRelief,Education&YouthOpportunity,and Infrastructure&EnvironmentalResilience
Adrian Mapp (D)
District 12
Congresswoman Watson Coleman announced her retirement in November 2025 leaving her seat open to challengers from both parties.
StateAssemblywomansince2018,formerTrentonCity Councilwoman
EndorsedbyMercerCountyDemocraticOrganization, MercerCountyExecutiveDanBenson,andothers
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeProtecting Democracy,Affordability,PaidFamilyLeave,Medical DebtReliefandHealthcareforAll,DueProcessand ImmigrantProtections,andCriminalJusticeReform
FirstBlackwomantoserveasCommissionerDirectorin SomersetCountyhistoryandUSAirForceVeteran EndorsedbyWithHonorFund,SomersetCounty DemocraticOrganization,andothers
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeUniversal Healthcare,GoodPayingJobs&LivableWages, Housing/AffordableHousing,AccesstoExcellent EducationRegardlessofZipCode,andPublicSafety
Verlina ReynoldsJackson (D)
Shanel Robinson (D)
District 12
Congresswoman Watson Coleman announced her retirement in November 2025 leaving her seat open to challengers from both parties.
Squire Servance (D)
AttorneyandtheFounderofSyridexBio
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeCreatingan EconomyThatWorksforEveryone,Building OpportunityThroughEducation,Training,and Entrepreneurship,LoweringHealthcareCosts, ExpandingCare,InvestinginHousing,Safetyand ConnectedCommunities,andProtectingOur EnvironmentForHealthyCommunities
TechnologyConsultantandViceChairoftheWest
WindsorDemocraticCommittee
Platformprioritieslistedonwebsiteinclude Immigration&ICEReform,Affordability,Jobs& EconomicGrowth,Healthcare,Clean&Affordable Energy,Infrastructure,ForeignPolicy,ClimatePolicy, Democracy&CivilLiberties,Equity&Opportunity,and FamilyPlanning&ReproductiveHealth
Sujit Singh (D)
District 12
Congresswoman Watson Coleman announced her retirement in November 2025 leaving her seat open to challengers from both parties.
Jay Vaingankar (D)
FormerUSDepartmentofEnergyspecialadvisorunder theBidenadministration
EndorsedbyAAPIVictoryFund,CongressmanRaja Krishnamoorthi,JenniferM.Granholm,andothers
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeClean& AffordableEnergy,Housing,Healthcare,Immigration, GunControl,andInnovation
PrincetonUniversityneuroscienceprofessorand DirectorofthePrincetonGerrymanderingProject
EndorsedbyAndrewYang,andalistofNobellaureates
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeAIandthe FutureofAmericanWorkers,DefendHigherEducation, ProtectDemocracy,ProtectMedicalResearchand PublicHealth,ForeignPolicy,ProtectMedicalResearch andPublicHealth,andAbolishICE
Sam Wang (D)
District 12
Congresswoman Watson Coleman announced her retirement in November 2025 leaving her seat open to challengers from both parties.
AttorneyandmanagingpartneratMele&Associates
EndorsedbytheMercer,Middlesex,Somerset,and UnionCountyRepublicanOrganizations
PlatformprioritieslistedonwebsiteincludeEconomy andAffordability,Education,Healthcare,andPublic SafetyandCrime
Gregg Mele (R)
