New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Democratic primary)

I believe that we must get beyond our divisions to move our country forward. I reject the notion that my neighbors can be separated into “good vs. evil,” based on their voter registration and will focus on ways we can work together to solve real problems that affect our communities.

In Congress, I will work hard to protect reproductive rights and civil liberties. I've spent 20 years as a civil rights lawyer and I have a history of successfully defending reproductive freedom and civil liberties . In states with Republican majority legislatures, I have secured big victories by leading successful campaigns against bills that would forbid students and professors from discussing racial equality in college classrooms; that would outlaw conversations in states that have banned abortion about where women could obtain abortions lawfully; and I successfully urged the Governor of North Dakota to issue a line item veto of budget provision that would have banned colleges from using state resources to host pro-choice speakers.

If I am elected I will do everything I can to end the chaos in Washington and defend democracy itself from those that would attack the press, attempt to overturn elections, and build barriers to voting.

Never in my lifetime has our Democracy been under such pressure from extremists. In order to defend it, we must elect people who will fight for everyone's rights and who recognize that our biggest national security threat is our inability to work together across our differences.

Throughout my career, I have worked tirelessly to build bipartisan support for civil liberties. If I'm elected, I will continue to work tirelessly to build a coalition of the reasonable focussed on solving our nation's most pressing problems.

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Women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. Full Stop. I am going to pass legislation that codifies Roe protections for all NJ women and women across the country. The choice of an abortion is between women and their doctors - not the government. Men, specifically Republican men, who wish to take us back to the 1800’s before women could vote sure as hell have no say in this decision either. I will work tirelessly to make this a reality for all women.

I will work to expand and strengthen healthcare access and affordability. When our oldest was two years old, we watched what looked like an allergic reaction go from puffy eyes to swollen limbs and body. Because of the ACA, he was able to get the care he needed when he was diagnosed with a kidney disease and we didn’t have to make medical decisions based on our bank balance. When our foster children need medical care, we are lucky to be established patients, but many struggle to find doctors that will accept Medicaid insurance.

As a recipient of survivor benefits when my father took his own life, I know the importance of Social Security. Threats to cut Social Security are a non-starter. Our seniors shouldn’t have to choose between their medications and food or housing stability. Working to ensure the stability of programs that millions of seniors paid into is crucial.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Amidst widespread division and hate, I aspire to be a unifying force—bridging gaps rather than widening divides. We need representatives like myself who are not beholden to special interests but are driven by a genuine desire to serve the people they represent.

We can’t keep sending the same type of career politicians to Washington expecting new results. We need new voices and fresh perspectives to help fight some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century.

I want to be a leader who is a true representation of the people. I am committed to staying connected with constituents so I can always be the best voice for our district in Congress.

The most pressing issue facing America right now is the need to defend our democracy, which includes protecting voting rights , defending a free press, and fighting censorship in the classroom and in libraries. We must have a functioning government to make lasting progress on other crucial topics.

Another crucial priority for Congress is defending reproductive freedom, the right to birth control, and care like IVF treatments.

My other priorities include working on lowering the costs of prescription drugs, helping Americans save for retirement, lowering higher education debt, defending worker's rights, fighting climate change, criminal justice reform, and fixing our broken immigration system while treating immigrants with dignity.

Students and teachers are dealing with an education system that has been consistently undermined and under-supported for decades. Continuing the work of supporting teachers and students by: increasing classroom expenses tax deduction, raising teacher pay to better solve teacher attrition, and incentivizing college and career training with 0% interest student loans alongside increased scrutiny for skyrocketing higher education costs is just the beginning.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Womens rights, affordability, healthcare, gun control, mental health, education, foreign policy

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Doris Kearns Goodwin's 'Team of Rivals', which is a biography of President Abraham Lincoln, impacted my political thinking greatly. President Lincoln not only respected his political rivals, but shared authority with them. This atypical approach helped him navigate the tremendous strain our Democracy faced during the years leading up to the civil war. Another book that has shaped my thinking is Jonathan Rauch's masterpiece, the Kindly Inquisitor. In it Mr. Rauch explains why dialogue and free speech are such necessary components of discovering truth. We cannot solve problems without understanding their contours and we cannot reach understandings when viewpoints are suppressed. To determine which arguments are persuasive, we must subject them to scrutiny. It's this process of scrutinizing arguments that helps us determine which are strongest.

First, and foremost, elected officials must be honest and principled. They should be transparent about their positions and they must represent the interests of all of their constituents—even those who voted against them.

The best lawmakers work tirelessly to meet with and hear from their constituents in order to understand their needs.

The elected officials I respect the most work hard to understand the competing arguments. They are open minded about working with others with whom they have disagreements. They try their best to build on common ground.

Another important quality is a deep understanding of, and respect for, the US Constitution. Unconstitutional solutions are not solutions at all and lawmakers must take their oaths' to defend the Constitution seriously.

The ability to find commonalities, work collaboratively, and build working relationships are essential for legislative work. Compromise is not a dirty word.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty, sincerity, hardworking,

I have unique personal experiences with many of the issues that are of concern to voters: Social Security, Education, Heathcare, and Affordability. Bringing these personal experiences to legislative work is essential in finding solutions to the problems.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I am a young energetic woman who is motivated to fight for real change.

The core responsibility of each member of Congress is to represent their constituents with integrity. To do so, representatives must have constant communication with their constituents, must always stay informed on the issues, and work to constantly inform their constituents of their positions and key developments.

Members of Congress must constantly work to move America forward by addressing the key challenges it faces.

Unfortunately, lately our Congress has been broken. Members prioritize their party and their re-elections over the needs of our citizens. Several times last year, members of Congress challenged witnesses in hearings to fights. Republicans killed an immigration reform deal that had strong bipartisan support, after former President Donald Trump urged Republican members of Congress to kill the deal, so that President Biden could not share credit for addressing a pressing need. This type of electoral gamesmanship must end because Congress's core responsibility is to legislate. When Congress fails to legislate our problems remain unsolved or the executive branch often steps in to fill the void. Without legislation, the executive branch sometimes oversteps its authority. It is Congress's responsibility to perform its legislative function to avoid this problem.

Another key responsibility of Congress is its oversight function. The legislative branch provides a key check and balance by ensuring that the other branches don't abuse their power. But Congress must exercise this authority with integrity, which requires avoiding wild goose chases, like the ongoing impeachment investigation into President Biden, despite the complete lack of evidence to proceed.

Finally, it is Congress's responsibility to determine when America goes to war. Congress must reassert this authority by insisting that troops are only sent into foreign combat with its blessing, barring exceptional emergency circumstances.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Any elected official must be consistent in communicating with constituents. Hearing their concerns in order to best represent the needs of the district and explaining how and why decisions are made. In this current political climate, another important responsibility is to remain civil, especially in disagreement. As a teacher, I am practiced at being even-keeled when things get heated.

When my career is done I want the world to have been a better place as a result of my work. I hope to be the best Representative in history on First Amendment issues because that is my particular area of expertise. I want to leave a real legacy of improving civil rights and civil liberties across the board. This includes securing meaningful criminal justice reforms.

I want to be remembered for championing policies that lift people out of poverty and help our struggling middle class secure their financial futures. This includes providing funding for childcare, driving down healthcare costs, making it easier for people to save for retirement, and thoughtfully reducing the burdens of student debt.

I also want to be a driving force behind securing protections for the environment. And because they do not have a voice of their own, I want to be a consistent advocate for the rights of animals.

At the end of the day, if I am elected and can improve the lives of my constituents, I will consider my service a success.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I’d like to leave a better world for the next generation

When I was young, my mom and step-dad told me that I could not get a car, unless I had a job that required me to do manual labor. They suspected that I would pursue a career behind a desk and wanted me to appreciate how hard people who work in the field have to labor. So, when I was 13 years old, I took a job with AA Active Pest Control, the company that serviced my home to be a pest control operator. I studied for two months to pass the licensing exam and then worked weekends and evenings after school. I had a phobia of insects and the job was a way for me to face my fear. I worked at AA Active until I was 18 years old. When I was 18, I volunteered for a political campaign and was quickly hired by Dan Hart and Associates, the firm representing the candidate. The position was entry level, but the firm represented elected official on the local, state, and federal levels. It also represented advocacy organizations like the National Environmental Trust, the Sierra Club, and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. It was exciting work that helped teach me the importance of grassroots advocacy and community organizing.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I worked at TCBY for a couple of years. My favorite flavors were White Chocolate Mousse and Butter Pecan.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I don't know that I have a "favorite" book. Shell Silverstein's the Giving Tree probably had the biggest impact on my outlook as a child, but his book Where the Sidewalk Ends was the book I read the most for enjoyment. As a teenager, Douglas Adams' classic the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was my favorite read.

In my adulthood, I really enjoyed:

Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography of Abraham Lincoln, Team of Rivals , which helped shape my political philosophy. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson which was just gripping from beginning to end. Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow which taught me so much about logical reasoning. The Color of Water by James McBride which paints such a compelling picture of the complexities of race, religion, and family in America. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee which underscored the crucial need for due process and the inequity of our criminal justice system.

Randy Paucsh's The Last Lecture, which taught me a great deal about kindness and perspective.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

If I could be any fictional character for a day, I'd like to be Jeffrey Lebowski, the other Jeffrey Lebowski, so I could just compensate the dude for his rug.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Having a family member who suffers from mental illness, I have struggled to navigate the system throughout my adult life. I want to serve as a resource for people and make things easier, especially during hard times.

Experience in policy making is extremely beneficial for representatives, but prior elected office is not as beneficial. So many state legislatures, like New Jersey's, are dominated by one political party. In Congress, on the other hand, both parties—regardless of who is in the majority—have real political power. State legislators seeking federal office who come from the majority party in their state rarely have experience securing policy objectives in contexts where their political adversaries have real political power.

As a civil rights and civil liberties attorney who has fought censorship in legislatures across the country, I have often had to convince the majority party to vote no on one of its own bills that would have censored their adversaries. This is because people in power tend to try to censor those with whom they disagree, and not their allies. Consistently throughout my career I have beaten bills that would have censored those in the political minority. For example, in 2023 I led a campaign against a DeSantis-backed Florida bill that would have rolled back the freedom of the press. Republicans had the numbers to ram the bill through, but were convinced to kill the bill. I also was instrumental in securing a line-item veto of a part of an appropriations bill in North Dakota that would have made it criminal for a college employee to enter into a contract for their school to pay to bring a pro-choice speaker to campus.

I am the only candidate in the race who has been able to secure victories for issues that matter for Democrats in places Republicans had the majority.

This experience in policy advocacy is even more valuable than prior elected office.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Some of the best leaders in Congress are those without previous experience in the government or politics. I believe we are facing very challenging times that requires leaders with diverse backgrounds and fresh perspectives.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Our greatest challenge is overcoming our polarization. If we cannot find ways to work across our differences, we are doomed to failure.

With limitations on voting rights, manipulation of ballots, attacks on the press, bans on what can be taught in college classrooms, or bans on books in libraries, online censorship, extremists willing to resort to political violence, and the candidacy of Donald Trump, who tried to dismantle our system's checks and balances, at no point in my lifetime has our democracy been under such serious threat.

Defending our democracy must be our top priority and we must cut through our polarization and build a "coalition of the reasonable" if we are going to succeed. I'm running for Congress because Washington needs people who have worked throughout their career to bring people together.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I fully support term limits

Some of the current representatives and delegates I admire the most and wish to model myself after, include Representatives Jamie Raskin (D MD), Mary Gay Scanlon (D PA), Andy Kim (D NJ), Hank Johnson (D GA), Mikie Sherrill (D NJ), and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D DC). I also admire the late Representative John Lewis whose leadership on civil rights was a personal inspiration.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Andy Kim is a role model for what a representative can be. He is kind, calm, and a consistent communicator. I would be honored to follow in his footsteps while working for the constituents of NJ 3rd.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Moorestown who shared his deep sadness over the political climate in this country. He told me how proud he was to serve in World War II, and how scared he is for the future of a country where we treat our political adversaries as enemies. I have heard many veterans share this same sentiment, but he stood out because he was trembling as he spoke and was tearing up.

We owe our freedoms to men and women like him who served our nation, and too much is at stake now for us to tear our democracy apart through our divisions. I'll work as hard as I can to help heal our country so we can work on the many real challenges we face together.

While out canvassing in Evesham Township, I met a woman who needed a late-term abortion to save her life. She desperately wanted the child, but to bring the pregnancy to term would have killed her. Fortunately, she lived in New Jersey, where she could get the procedure, but there were only two doctors in the state who could perform it. Making matters worse, the insurance company deemed the procedure “elective,” despite the fact that she would have died without it. This designation meant that the insurance would cover only a fraction of the costs. She is still fighting the insurance company today. Her story underscores how important it is—especially in light of the Dobbs decision—for Congress to provide a federal right to reproductive care.

I'm running for Congress because all Americans need a strong voice in Washington.

Yes. Members of Congress must be principled and must seek solutions that are true to their beliefs. Lawmakers should have a short list of policy priorities where they will hold firm. For example, I am avidly pro-choice and I am firmly against censorship. On these constitutional issues, my commitment is unwavering. But we cannot make meaningful progress as a society if lawmakers are uncompromising across the board. In a diverse Democratic society, compromise is necessary in order to make policies that reflect the broad array of American viewpoints. One of the biggest problems in American politics today, is our political leaders' unwillingness to negotiate in good faith and make meaningful compromises that move the nation forward.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Compromise is not a dirty word. Democracy requires compromise.

What committees interest you?

Fraternity and Sorority PAC

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I am interested in joining the Committee on Education & the Workforce, the Judiciary Committee, the Armed Services Committee, and Appropriations.