There is no civic requirement to vote in the United States, but it is one of the most important rights and responsibilities bestowed upon citizens. As you consider who should take over the longtime Congressional seat of Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) or who should be chosen to run against two-term Senator Cory Booker (D), there are more than a dozen New Jerseyans who have raised their hands to fulfill these federal roles. We asked them why they are taking their civic actions to this level and what they would bring to these roles.
With 12 Democrats now vying for the NJ-12 seat, and four Republicans seeking to run against Booker for Senate, there is a lot for members of each party to learn before heading to the primary polls. Below, we share information about each candidate and why they feel they deserve your vote in June. You can see your sample ballot here.
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES FOR NJ-12
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman is retiring at the end of this term, after serving more than 50 years in public service. More specifically, she’ll be vacating a seat she has held for six terms. In NJ’s 12th Congressional District, one that has historically favored Democrats over Republicans by 13 points more than the national trends, the field of 13 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination is fierce. There is also one Republican headed for the ticket in November.
Matt Adams (D) is a retired U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel in the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps and a corporate technology attorney. He has served his community as a two-term Middlesex Borough Councilman, Fire Commissioner, Finance Chairman and Council President. Adams is now setting his sights on Congress.
“My goal in life is to use my skills and experience to make people’s lives better. I believe the qualities I bring, including my sense of responsibility, humor, tenacity, patriotism, professional experience, and a genuine respect for others, have shaped how I’ve approached service throughout my career and have prepared me to serve in Congress,” Adams explains. “Given the far-reaching impact of meaningful service in the House, I believe I can help a significant number of people improve their lives and continue that mission at a broader level.”
To learn more about the people he seeks to serve, Adams is running 3.1 miles across all 32 towns that make up U.S. District 12. Through this commitment, he will log over 100 miles to meet his constituents.
“What sets me apart is the breadth and depth of my experience and how directly it applies to the role. I’ve served 6 years in local government, spent 30 years in the military, including as an Army lawyer, and built a career navigating complex federal and defense issues. I’ve spent countless hours working closely with veterans, families, youth and people with special needs and I understand the challenges people are facing because I’ve lived many of them myself. That combination of experience and perspective isn’t common and it’s exactly what this moment requires. I’m running to bring that level of preparedness, along with integrity and genuine commitment to public service, to work for the people of New Jersey,” Adams says.
Susan Altman (D) has most recently served as State Director for Senator Andy Kim. She is also the former Executive Director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance. Altman lost her bid for Congress against Rep. Tom Kean in District 7 in 2024 and has chosen this year to run for District 12.
“After the past year as Senator Andy Kim’s State Director, I saw firsthand the chaos, cruelty, and corruption of the Trump administration,” Altman states. “I’ve seen enough insider politics in DC and NJ to know there are no superheroes coming to save us. We can’t rely on the same playbook that got us here to save us from this mess. It’s up to us to find a path forward. Yes, we must fight Trump and hold his billionaire cronies accountable with fierce urgency. But we cannot go back to the status quo. We have to rebuild our party, our government, and our country with a vision that both unifies and proves our government can, in fact, deliver for people.”
Altman says she has the backbone to do what needs to get done and a proven track record of coalition building she feels is needed to take on the fight.
“Corporations and the ultra-wealthy are buying access to the most corrupt administration in American history, while working people struggle to make ends meet and masked men terrorize immigrants and execute American citizens in the streets,” said Altman. “We are embarking on one of the most vulnerable moments in American history, and what we do in the next few years will set the course for the next century. The fights for an unrigged economy and a fair democracy are one and the same. We must pass Medicare for All, abolish ICE, lower costs for working people, tackle Trump’s rampant corruption head on, and rein in the billionaires and corporations trying to control us.”
Brad Cohen (D) is a physician and surgeon who has been Mayor of East Brunswick since 2017. He is running for Congress because he believes this is a time for leaders like him to step up, those with knowledge of how to move the levers of government and the experience of delivering real solutions.
“Whether I am wearing a white coat in an exam room or standing at a podium in Town Hall, the mission has always been exactly the same: to listen, to diagnose, and to deliver a cure. I see my drive to become a physician and my decision to serve as mayor as two sides of the same coin, and it is that very same calling that now leads me to run for Congress,” offers Cohen.
Cohen is focusing his campaign on three pillars: healthcare as a right, defending democracy and affordability. He aims to use his decades of understanding as a physician specializing in women’s health to codify a women’s right to choose into federal law and ensure universal healthcare is available for everyone. Cohen hopes to actively work to protect democracy.
“I am committed to restoring accountability in Washington and protecting our democratic institutions from extremism. I will use the full oversight power of Congress to ensure that no president is treated as though they are above the law. This means demanding transparency from the White House, protecting whistleblowers who expose corruption, and ensuring that federal agencies serve the American public, not the personal or political whims of the President,” Cohen details. “In Congress, I will apply the same fiscal discipline that defined my leadership as mayor, where I successfully kept municipal taxes stable for the last 10 years. I understand that for New Jersey’s middle class, affordability isn’t just a talking point. I intend to view every federal dollar spent through the same lens of responsibility I used at the local level to ensure our government works for you, not against your wallet.”
Adam Hamawy (D) is a surgeon. He became a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army, serving as a combat trauma surgeon with medical teams in disaster zones including Iraq and Haiti. He says he is furious about what is happening across the country and is running to solve problems, not make them worse.
“Every day I see hospitals that can’t staff their emergency rooms. Doctors, who are trying to take care of their patients, have to fight with insurance companies and battle an insane level of bureaucracy just to do their jobs. And families — that’s all of us — are paying higher insurance premiums and getting less care. Too many people are being left without the care and stability that is a human right – and this affects all of us, whether you’re rich or poor and whether you have insurance or not. The system isn’t built for regular people—it’s built for the ultra-wealthy and the powerful,” Hamawy’s website states. “We need to get back to talking about the real issues that are hurting you and your family.”
Whether through Medicare for All, fighting for Palestinian rights, or reviving the education system, Hamawy says he is running to build a government for the people.
“In the richest country in the world, you shouldn’t have to choose between taking your medication and paying your bills. Your child’s education shouldn’t depend on their zip code. The economy should work for people whose hard work builds and sustains our communities—not just billionaires and corporations. Our country faces crises of affordability and authoritarianism. We need a new generation of leaders with the courage to stand up to corruption and the competence to make life better for working families,” the website adds.
Kyle Little (D) is the owner of two Isolation Fitness Studios and is an adjunct professor at Kean University and Middlesex County College.
“As a Black and openly gay man, I represent two of the most loyal constituencies of the Democratic Party. But I have also felt for a long time that the Democratic Party has not fought hard enough for the very communities that continue to show up and vote for them. This moment demands a fighter. I launched my campaign last year before the field became crowded. I did not wait for an open seat or a political opportunity. I stepped up early because I believed then, and I believe now, that we need leaders who are willing to challenge the establishment and the status quo,” Little notes.
Little describes himself as a fighter against fascism and a voice for the people. As an entrepreneur who supports community wellness, he is hoping to take on extremism and fight for working families.
“I am also the most relatable candidate in this race. I am a true hard worker who personally collected over 500 petition signatures by myself to get on the ballot. I know what it means to work, grind, and fight for every inch,” says Little. “NJ-12 is one of the most diverse districts in the country, and I believe I am the best representation of that diversity. I am running to protect our rights, defend our communities, uphold the Constitution, and hold accountable anyone in power, including the Trump administration, who brings harm to the people of the United States.”
Adrian Mapp (D) was born in Barbados and immigrated to the U.S. as a young adult. A certified public accountant and municipal finance specialist, he is currently serving his fourth term as Mayor of Plainfield.
“After serving as Mayor of Plainfield, I have seen firsthand how decisions made in Washington affect people’s daily lives at the local level. Housing costs, healthcare access, immigration policy, taxes, infrastructure, public safety, education, and economic opportunity are not abstract issues to me. They show up in the lives of families, seniors, young people, small business owners, and working residents every single day. As mayor, I have spent my time in public service listening to people, solving problems, and delivering results. We have strengthened Plainfield’s finances, attracted major investment, improved public safety, expanded recreational opportunities, and moved our city forward in a real and measurable way. But I also know that local government cannot do it alone. Too many of the challenges our communities face require a stronger federal partner,” states Mapp.
After keeping taxes flat for four years, Mapp is running for Congress because he wants to take his experiences building coalitions and leading through crises, to Washington.
“Voters have a real choice in this race, and I respect anyone who steps forward to serve. But I believe my record sets me apart. I am not running on theory. I am running on results. For more than a decade as mayor, I have had to make decisions that directly affect people’s lives. I have had to balance budgets, protect taxpayers, respond to emergencies, work with unions, support small businesses, attract investment, improve neighborhoods, and bring people together across differences. That experience matters, especially at a time when people are tired of politics that produces more noise than progress,” Mapp explains. “What I offer voters is tested leadership. I know how to listen, how to govern, and how to get things done. I understand the struggles of working families because I have lived them, and I understand the machinery of government because I have led it. In Congress, I will fight for affordable housing, accessible healthcare, fair immigration reform, relief for taxpayers, stronger schools, and policies that help people build stable, dignified lives.”
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D) is currently serving in her fourth term as Assemblywoman for NJ-15. A social worker, Reynolds-Jackson became the first Black woman elected to Trenton’s East Ward Council and later became Council President.
As an Assemblywoman, she has “Delivered real progress on affordability, from protecting families against medical debt to expanding access to paid family leave. Fought to address New Jersey’s maternal mortality crisis and strengthen healthcare access for every community. Championed legislation to support students, strengthen public schools, and ensure every child has a fair shot. Now she’s ready to take that fight to Congress,” her website reads.
Reynolds-Jackson has spent her career in service, and now serves in the Assembly as Constituent Outreach Chair, Chair of the Education Committee, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Schools and Vice Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Her priorities in Congress are stated on her website as including, “Fighting against Trump’s attacks on our democracy by spearheading the John Lewis Empowerment Act of New Jersey, a landmark legislation to protect and expand voting rights. Protect New Jersey families against Trump’s harmful fiscal policies. Standing firm against Trump’s mass detention in the deportation machine and fighting to ensure rights, dignity and constitutional protections for all.”
Shanel Robinson (D) is the first Black woman to serve as Somerset County Commissioner Director. An Avionics Specialist and Flight Leader, she is a U.S. Air Force Veteran, President of the New Jersey Association of Counties and has served on the Franklin Township Council and as its Deputy Mayor. She hopes her next role is as Congresswoman for District 12.
“I am running because I have a proven record of delivering results and not empty promises. I have run contested races. I have earned votes. I have flipped power. And I have governed successfully, measurably, and meaningfully for the people that I serve,” Robinson shares. “As an Air Force veteran, mother, grandmother, and a domestic violence survivor; everything I do, every decision that I make, and every fight I take on is shaped by that reality. I know what it’s like to stretch a dollar and navigate hardship; these experiences don’t sit in my past yet drive me forward every day.”
Her desires to provide access to affordable healthcare for everyone drives her support for Medicare for All. She also hopes to help produce livable wages (including an increased federal minimum wage), protecting rights and addressing the needs of the LGBTQ+ community and working towards comprehensive housing solutions.
“I’ve always believed that the dignity of work, and the rights of working people are worth fighting for. I am rooted in this community, shaped by real life, and ready to lead, work with and for the residents of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District,” states Robinson.
Squire Servance (D) is Senior Of Counsel at a global law firm that focuses on the life sciences and Founder and Managing Partner of Syridex Bio, a life sciences venture studio based in Princeton. A Board Trustee and Member of the Executive Committee for Rutgers, he has also served on the Board of The Wistar Institute, Metropolitan Camden Habitat for Humanity and Strategic Advisory Board for Penn Health-Tech. He says it now feels like time to step up and serve in Congress.
“The short answer for why I decided to run is that I became frustrated with the state of politics in this country and felt like I could either complain about it or do something about it. I decided to do something about it,” Servance states. “The longer answer is that, after nearly two decades as an attorney, entrepreneur, and healthcare executive, I’ve spent my career solving problems, building organizations, and bringing people together to improve lives and deliver results. Over time, I became increasingly frustrated that too much of our politics had become focused on division and rhetoric instead of practical solutions for the challenges families across New Jersey face every day, including rising costs, housing affordability, healthcare expenses, and aging infrastructure. I believe Congress needs leaders with real-world experience who know how to build consensus, navigate complexity, and actually get things done.”
Servance believes he is part of a new generation of leadership that is not focused on political theater but can have a real impact on improving lives with practical, solutions-oriented efforts.
“I believe I offer a different lived experience, both personally and professionally, than the other candidates. I’m part of the sandwich generation, balancing the responsibilities of raising children while also helping care for aging family members, which gives me a firsthand understanding of the economic and healthcare pressures families are facing today,” he explains. “Professionally, I’ve spent my career at the intersection of healthcare, life sciences, business, and public policy. I’ve been called to advise Congress on healthcare and life science policy issues, and I’ve built companies here in New Jersey focused on creating jobs, advancing innovation, and expanding opportunity in underserved communities. I believe many voters are looking for leaders who have not just talked about solving problems, but have actually built things, created jobs, and delivered solutions in the real world.”
Sujit Singh (D) has spent over 30 years working in technology consulting and enterprise transformation. Through these roles he says he has worked on modernization programs to improve lives across 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Singh ran for Mayor of West Windsor last year after serving two terms as a Democratic Committee Member in town. He has also served the West Windsor Democratic Committee as Secretary and Vice Chair.
“After more than 30 years in technology consulting and serving in local leadership roles, I have seen firsthand how policy decisions impact families in real ways. I have worked on large-scale systems that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver results, and I believe that the same practical, problem-solving approach is needed in government today,” Singh notes. “I am running for Congress because too many people feel unheard and disconnected from decision-making, especially when it comes to affordability, jobs, healthcare, and opportunity. My campaign is focused on bringing practical, solution-driven leadership that listens, engages, and delivers real results for the community.”
Singh feels his background and vision enable him to see the challenges and opportunities ahead and deliver a plan to focus on concrete results.
“What sets me apart is my focus on execution and innovation. I am proposing an Innovation Model District approach for NJ-12 that connects industry, research institutions, and local communities to lower housing costs, create jobs, and drive economic growth. I am also focused on reducing everyday costs for families, expanding access to healthcare, investing in infrastructure, and building a future-ready economy. This campaign is about ensuring that every voice is heard and that policies reflect real needs. I am not running on rhetoric, but on practical solutions that can be implemented and measured,” details Singh.
Jay Vaingankar (D) is a former White House and Department of Energy official who now works to increase supply and lower energy bills for families through community solar. He hopes to bring new energy to Congress as well.
“I’m running for Congress because Central Jersey families cannot afford leaders who are content to go back to normal. As a member of Gen Z, normal for my generation has meant forever wars in the Middle East, recessions, a pandemic, political extremism, and a cost-of-living crisis that is pushing too many people out of the communities that raised them. I grew up here in Mercer County, the son of immigrants from India, and I went to Washington to help deliver clean energy investments that brought millions of dollars back to New Jersey. Now I’m running to bring that experience home,” Vaingankar explains.
After graduating from college, Vaingankar worked as a community organizer to stand up against the Trump administration. Beyond energy, he believes there is a crisis of affordable housing and immigration policy, and more needs to be done to implement Medicare for All and create new gun laws and background checks.
“I bring both new energy and the experience to deliver on day one. I’m the youngest congressional candidate in the country, but I’ve already worked in the White House and Department of Energy to implement major federal legislation, and I’ve worked in clean energy to lower costs for families. This district deserves a representative who understands how to get things done in Washington, who speaks to the diversity of Central Jersey, and who has the urgency to fight for people who cannot wait for change,” states Vaingankar.
Samuel Wang (D) is a Princeton-based neuroscientist. He is also founder of the Gerrymandering Project, Princeton Indivisible and Princeton for All. Wang was an expert witness in the lawsuit that struck down New Jersey’s ‘county line’ ballot system, and he served as a Congressional Science Fellow, advising in both the House and Senate.
“I’ve spent my career as a neuroscientist studying how complex systems work and how early intervention, particularly in areas like autism, can change the trajectory of a life. That work has shaped how I see public service. Good policy, like good science, is about building systems that
are fair, functional, and grounded in evidence,” says Wang. “Over time, I became increasingly focused on the health of our democracy itself. Through the Princeton Gerrymandering Project and Princeton for All, I’ve worked to make our electoral systems more transparent and more representative, because the science is clear that when systems are distorted, outcomes suffer. Right now, both our democratic institutions and the role of science in public life is under assault. I’m running for Congress because I believe we need people who understand how systems break down and how to fix them before the damage becomes irreversible.”
Helping families to get answers fast is something Wang has accomplished as a neuroscientist. He hopes to translate that into Congress, restoring its role as a “co-equal branch of government.”
“For too long, under leaders of both parties, Congress has ceded its authority to the executive branch. That has weakened our system of checks and balances and left too many decisions concentrated in one place. If we are serious about protecting our democracy, Congress has to
take that power back,” Wang adds. “My background is rooted in understanding how systems function and what happens when they break down. Through my work on gerrymandering and democratic reform, I have spent years studying the mechanics of representation and accountability. I understand not just the values at stake, but the structure of how Congress is supposed to work and how it can assert itself again. I am running to be part of a Congress that does not sit back and react, but one that actively governs, sets priorities, and defends its constitutional role. That is how we rebuild trust, and that is how we meet the moment we are in.”
Elijah Dixon (D) appears on the ballot but has dropped out of the race.
Gregg Mele (R) is the sole Republican running for US-12, facing no contest in the primary election. He works as an attorney, a businessman and is a graduate professor at Stevens Institute of Technology and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mele has actively supported the Republican party in both hands-on and financial ways at the local, legislative and statewide levels.
Raised by blue collar parents, Mele knows the struggle of high prices and hopes to oppose bloated spending and implement tax cuts for working families. A proponent of school choice, he also aims to work to lower healthcare costs by creating more competition, transparency and choice.
In 2018, Mele ran as an Independent for Congress in the 7th District. He has also run as a Libertarian candidate both for Mayor of Bridgewater and as a nominee for NJ Governor. In 2022, he switched to the Republican Party, with runs for U.S. Senate and NJ-6.
CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE
Senator Cory Booker (D), the senior U.S. Senator for New Jersey, has held his seat since 2013. He will run uncontested in the primary on June 2. From City Council member to Mayor of Newark, he then became the first Black U.S. Senator from New Jersey in a special election. Booker has since been re-elected for two terms.
There is a field of four Republicans vying for the chance to run against Booker in the General Election come November. This contested primary race will see a doctor, lawyer, reporter and state trooper working to add a Republican to New Jersey’s Senate presence.
Robert Lebovics (R) is an otolaryngologist and ENT surgeon who says he lives the American Dream because of the opportunities he worked hard to earn. He helps people live a better life as a doctor and hopes to do the same in the Senate.
“I want to leave my profession as an ENT surgeon and otolaryngologist at the top of my game, and I was always raised to give back to my community,” Lebovics describes. “I’m running for U.S. Senate to deliver for New Jersey residents and support President Trump’s agenda. New Jersey deserves better than Cory Booker, a senator who has done nothing meaningful and is more preoccupied with running for President than fighting for New Jersey.”
With what he defines as a “Common Sense Plan for New Jersey,” Lebovics aims to reduce everyday costs, work to expand choice and transparency in healthcare, fight for educational equality, protect Social Security and prepare for the future of artificial intelligence.
“Primary voters should choose me because I’m the only candidate who can beat Booker. We’ve built a winning coalition to deliver a Republican victory in November, and my longstanding support for President Trump and other America-first candidates has been what drives the grassroots support we’re seeing,” states Lebovics.
Justin Murphy (R) has always had a passion for political science. After four years in the U.S. Navy (honorably discharged), he went on to study the subject and later become a lawyer, now practicing for over 20 years. Alongside his professional endeavors, Murphy has been involved in New Jersey politics for nearly 40 years and has served as Deputy Mayor of his hometown of Tabernacle. His interest is really on federal government, displayed through prior runs for Congress in 2010 and Senate in 2024.
“I have always had the passion for political pursuit, and I’ve been fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to participate and run. Hopefully this year I’ll get a break, get a nomination and see how it goes in November,” explains Murphy. “I just have the propensity and background for it. Everything I’ve done – military service, studying political science, and judicial law has been geared toward more national and federal issues.”
It hasn’t been since 1972 that New Jersey elected a Republican for Senate, and Murphy hopes to be the next. As a self-employed small business owner, he says he understands the plight of the middle class.
“I’m very clear and concise, transparent and open. I’m conservative and very detailed on my policy positions. My resume speaks for itself: activism, author, I cared for my mom for 10 years. I know what daily struggle is and what the economic issues are. Being in small business, you live through tough times economically,” Murphy shares. “I can connect with people. Voters can identify with me easily. I try to get off the beaten path. I really try to shoot it straight, so people have a clear understanding of me.”
Richard Tabor (R) has already served the United States through his time in the U.S. Army and National Guard, having been deployed to Iraq. He has since worked for New Jersey as a State Police Trooper and is hoping his next role will be in the U.S. Senate.
Tabor’s website describes his life as hard earned, from growing up in the projects to where he is today. His platform, “Service before Self, Country Before Politics” aims to stop reckless spending to lower costs for families, back law enforcement to make streets safer, bring jobs back to New Jersey and take on special interests to put NJ first.
“Guided by his faith and a calling from God to serve others beyond the badge and the uniform, Richard founded New Life Direction, an initiative focused on empowering local youth, providing enriching programs and rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Through mentorship, leadership development and positive engagement, Richard’s work with New Life Direction helps young people believe in themselves, achieve their potential and inspire others to do the same,” the website states. “New Jersey doesn’t need another career politician.”
Alex Zdan (R) was a longtime News 12 New Jersey political reporter and anchor. He has continued anchoring special presentations for TV Asia and as a conservative political commentator for multiple news channels. He believes he can unseat Senator Booker.
“Cory Booker is running for President: I am running to make life better for each and every one of the 9.5 million people in New Jersey. Elections against an incumbent are a referendum on that incumbent, and Sen. Cory Booker has sped to the far left of his party with his performative antics and a desperate drive for likes and clicks to fuel a presidential run,” states Zdan. “As an award-winning investigative reporter and television newscaster, I know this state from north to south and everywhere in between. I’m a professional communicator accustomed to delivering under pressure.”
With support he shares is from both the establishment and grassroots, Zdan feels he can unite the Republican party, something necessary to win across New Jersey.
“I’ve fought corruption in this state, and I’ve done something else no one else on the ballot this year has done: I have interviewed Sen. Booker before. I have a track record of going toe-to-toe with the senator and exposing his performative deception. I am the candidate to expose the corruption and collusion between Big Pharma, Big Food, Big Ag and our government that keeps Americans sick and unhealthy,” Zdan adds. “Our Republican party needs strong leadership to rebuild from losses in 2025, and I am the best candidate to lead our ticket in 2026. I will fight for every office up and down the ballot alongside our great Republican candidates.”
WHERE AND WHEN TO VOTE
Primary Election Day is June 2, but there are also six days of Early Voting available in person, as well as the Vote-by-Mail option. You can read about all the voting details as well as learn insight into the local and county candidates on the ballot in our article Civic Participation: Everything You Need to Vote Informed!
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!