New Jersey US House District 6 Choose 1
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
info@katiebansilfornj.com
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/katiebansilforcongress
Twitter
@katiebansil4nj
Website
https://www.katiebansil.com/
What are the most important challenges facing our country, and how do you propose to address them?
The current affordability crisis must be addressed with the urgency it demands. But let’s not forget that American families have been struggling for decades because of their government’s failure to invest in their future. Congress cannot keep sleepwalking into recurring cost-of-living crises and then simply waiting for prices to come down of their own accord. We must deliver universal healthcare, universal childcare, a $17 federal minimum wage, and make significant federal investments in affordable housing to guarantee a decent life to every American. It is hard to imagine these changes coming about in a meaningful sense until we get money out of our political system. I will fight to overturn Citizens United, ban congressional stock trading, and ban former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists or sitting on the boards of publicly traded corporations.
What policies would you support to ease the cost of living and strengthen long-term economic stability for families in this district?
Universal healthcare, universal childcare, and $17 federal minimum wage have been central to my campaign from the beginning. No one should delay treatment, ration medication, quit jobs to stay home for childcare, or work multile jobs just to stay afloat. In Congress, I will fight to create a truly universal, single-payer system that guarantees coverage for all while allowing people to keep seeing their trusted providers. For childcare, sending your child to pre-K should not cost more than sending that same child to a university one day. We need universal childcare that is guaranteed and accessible for every family. I will push to fully and equitably fund our public schools and expand labor protections for teachers and staff. I will fight to cancel student debt, make public colleges and universities tuition-free, expand access to trade schools, and ensure every student who needs a Pell Grant gets it.
What changes would you support to make healthcare and mental health services more affordable, accessible, and easier to navigate?
Whether you are rich or poor, when you get sick, you should have the right to see the doctor. Healthcare is a human right. I support a universal healthcare system that guarantees coverage to all. In the short term, Medicare must be allowed to negotiate drug prices. We need to cap drug costs and end surprise billing for good. We must invest in mental health services, maternal health, reproductive care, and addiction treatment. We also need to strengthen our healthcare workforce by funding residency slots, supporting nurses and home health aides with fair wages, and expanding telehealth so working families, seniors, and rural residents can access care. We need to expand telehealth services to mental health needs as well.
What is your position on immigration reform? What do you think the relationship between federal immigration enforcement and state or local government institutions should be?
Every human being who comes to this country seeking opportunity or refuge should be treated with dignity and respect. So long as ICE exists, that will not happen. Created in a fever of xenophobia in 2003, ICE tested the idea that the executive branch could enforce immigration law outside the chain-of-command structures of the military and mature federal agencies. It failed the test. Both Republicans and Democrats laid the groundwork for this rogue, deadly agency to murder innocents in our streets. We must restore authority to local police, INS, and CBP, and work together to create sane, humane, and affordable pathways to citizenship for all.
What is your stance on access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare? And what roles should the federal government and the states each play on reproductive healthcare?
As a woman, this is personal to me. We need to codify Roe v. Wade. Reproductive healthcare is healthcare. Since Dobbs stripped away the constitutional right to abortion, we've watched women in states across the county get turned away from emergency rooms, lose pregnancies that could have been saved, and face criminal investigations for private medical decisions. Reproductive healthcare is a human right. I also support access to contraception, IVF, prenatal care, and all other services that make up quality reproductive healthcare, which should all be covered under universal healthcare. We need fully funded community health centers that serve everyone.
What actions would you support to strengthen climate resilience and protect infrastructure and neighborhoods from the impact of extreme weather?
When we talk about the environment we can’t forget the working people who will make the energy transition happen. We need a Green New Deal to create jobs and protect our future by leading a safe and timely energy transition. We need a firm deadline for ending our reliance on fossil fuels timed with the green energy infrastructure buildout. In the meantime we must cap the margins of oil and gas companies to ensure no transition cost would be passed onto consumers. We should also require cumulative impact assessments before approving any new industrial project in the state. I will also strengthen the oversight and accountability measures on corporate polluters by closing regulatory loopholes that allow emissions and waste violations to go underreported. It’s important that the low-income and marginalized communities will get sufficient resources to address climate-related risks.
What measures do you support to expand voter access and restore trust in our elections?
We must be expanding, not restricting, voting access. I support automatic voter registration at age 18, expanding online voter registration, declaring Election Day a federal holiday, and expanding early voting and mail-in voting. The gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court was egregious. We must restore and strengthen the VRA to protect minority voting power and replace the broken partisan gerrymandering system with independent redistricting commissions. And we must get special interest and PAC money out of our democracy for good by creating a robust public finance system for federal elections.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
HerzigforCongress@gmail.com
Campaign phone
551-389-1857
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/HillaryHerzigForCongress
Twitter
@HillaryHerzig
Website
https://www.herzigforcongress.com
What are the most important challenges facing our country, and how do you propose to address them?
The most pressing challenges facing our country are the rising cost of living, public safety, border security, and restoring trust in our institutions. Families are being squeezed by high housing costs and energy prices while too many in Washington ignore the daily realities of working parents. I support policies that strengthen domestic energy production, secure our borders, and ensure tax dollars are used responsibly and transparently. We must also restore confidence in government through accountability, equal application of the law, and policies that put American families first.
What policies would you support to ease the cost of living and strengthen long-term economic stability for families in this district?
Families in this district need relief from rising costs in housing, utilities, insurance, and groceries. I support expanding domestic energy production to lower utility and fuel costs, and cutting regulations that drive up prices for small American businesses and consumers. I also support tax policies that protect middle-class families and encourage job growth here in New Jersey. Long term stability comes from reducing the pressure on supply and demand by enforcing the law equally, workforce development, and protecting families from policies that make daily life more expensive.
What changes would you support to make healthcare and mental health services more affordable, accessible, and easier to navigate?
Healthcare should be affordable, accessible, and transparent. I support expanding price transparency so patients know the cost of care before receiving services. Patients deserve clear information, real competition in the marketplace, and the freedom to choose the care that best meets their needs, therefore I support incorporating holistic and alternative care options, as well as recognizing physical fitness and preventive wellness as part of healthcare.
Mental health and substance abuse services must be easier to access without excessive bureaucracy. I support improving access to mental health care, addiction treatment, and recovery services so individuals and families can get help when they need it most. In addition, I support strengthening community based care and ensuring federal funds are used effectively to expand provider availability, reduce wait times, and improve access in underserved communities.
What is your position on immigration reform? What do you think the relationship between federal immigration enforcement and state or local government institutions should be?
I support comprehensive immigration reform grounded in secure borders, enforcement of existing federal law, and a fair legal immigration process. Federal immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and state and local institutions should cooperate with lawful federal authorities to protect public safety. Local governments should not obstruct federal enforcement efforts involving criminal offenders or gang activity. At the same time, our legal immigration system should be more efficient and transparent so that those who follow the law are treated fairly and with dignity.
What is your stance on access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare? And what roles should the federal government and the states each play on reproductive healthcare?
Following the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, the authority to set abortion policy has been returned to the states. In respect of the court’s constitutional role - state governments now hold primary responsibility in this area. At the federal level, focus should be on protecting women’s health by ensuring access to essential healthcare services, including prenatal, maternal, and preventive health care. As a woman, I understand that many women use contraceptive medications for the treatment of uterine and other gynecological conditions and I support the access to these medications for this purpose. Healthcare, by definition, should prioritize protection, and the well-being of all people, both women and men. The first principle of medical treatment should always be first to do no harm. Healthcare policy should emphasize informed consent, ensure that patients receive clear information about medical options, risks, and long-term physical and emotional considerations.
What actions would you support to strengthen climate resilience and protect infrastructure and neighborhoods from the impact of extreme weather?
Our district needs practical infrastructure resilience, especially in coastal and flood-prone communities. I support strengthening stormwater systems, flood mitigation projects, shoreline protection, modernized power infrastructure, and emergency preparedness investments. Federal resources should prioritize resilient roads, bridges, utility systems, and neighborhood protections against storms and flooding. Climate resilience must focus on protecting people, homes, and critical infrastructure with measurable, local results.
What measures do you support to expand voter access and restore trust in our elections?
I support secure, transparent, and accessible elections. Voters should have reasonable access to early voting, and clearly communicated polling information, while also maintaining strong safeguards such as accurate voter rolls, chain-of-custody protections, and verification standards that build public confidence. Restoring trust requires transparency, timely reporting, and consistent election administration standards so every lawful vote is counted and voters have confidence in the outcome.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
info@johnhsuforcongress.com
Campaign phone
7324295685
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550507007257
Twitter
@johnhsu4nj
Website
https://www.johnhsuforcongress.com/
What are the most important challenges facing our country, and how do you propose to address them?
The cost of living, the rise in authoritarianism and funding foreign wars.
Prices are rising because corporations are monopolizing and manipulating their markets, many under the umbrella of private equity companies. Electricity prices are rising because AI data centers receive a discount wages are not going up, and many people are losing their jobs to AI. It is time to regulate and break up large corporations, build affordable housing, and have a living wage of at least 20/hr.
I support abolishing ICE, an agency created in 2003 as a reaction to 9/11. This agency has been used to deny rights and silence dissent.
After funding the genocide in Gaza and violating our own Leahy law, Trump has now started an illegal war with Iran and committed war crimes, including murdering over 100 Iranian school-age girls and bombing the school again when rescuers .
I support impeaching Trump for violation of War Powers and with the Emoluments clause and holding all of his enablers accountable.
What policies would you support to ease the cost of living and strengthen long-term economic stability for families in this district?
The price of housing is out of control. We must not allow developers to continue manipulating the market and restrict private equity and hedge fund ownership of homes by either restricting ownership outright or through tax disincentives. They inflate prices by keeping homes off the market, limiting the construction of new homes and cornering housing markets to inflate prices and rent.
We must also address electricity prices. The number one reason for our higher electric bills is AI. We need to create a new consumer class for tech companies so that they are required to pay for all the electricity that they use.
We must pass Medicare for All so no household goes into debt because of medical bills and raise the minimum wage to a living wage of at least $20/hr.
What changes would you support to make healthcare and mental health services more affordable, accessible, and easier to navigate?
Any bill that expands and/or lowers the cost of healthcare will have my full support. This includes lowering the age of Medicare, expanding what Medicare and Medicaid cover, limiting the role of Medicare Advantage and getting a public option.
All of these things would be a great improvement to our current healthcare system, but Medicare for All will always be the ultimate goal since it would be the cheapest, most efficient, and fairest healthcare system. Everyone gets the same well-funded, quality healthcare. Health care is a human right and can only be so through Medicare for All.
What is your position on immigration reform? What do you think the relationship between federal immigration enforcement and state or local government institutions should be?
I support Comprehensive Immigration Reform that promotes fairness, equality, labor rights, family unification, and a path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants living in America. We must stop Trump’s anti-immigrant policy and his unconstitutional actions against undocumented and Green card-holding people. I support abolishing ICE. There is no reason to have an agency whose only purpose is to terrorize people like our farmers, construction workers, service workers, and neighbors. Unfortunately, many Democratic politicians have become more anti-immigrant,but I call on Democrats to do the opposite. We must be clear that we need more immigration, not less. Immigrants and undocumented people should not live in fear. I will fight to create laws that remove red tape that slows down the process of non-citizens becoming citizens or permanent residents and fight for the federal government to hire more immigration judges to make the slow process of processing cases of asylum much faster.
What is your stance on access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare? And what roles should the federal government and the states each play on reproductive healthcare?
Every woman and person deserves the fundamental right to make their own decisions about their body without interference from politicians or the government. I will support and champion any bill that expands abortion coverage and guarantees everyone the right to an abortion. By restoring and enshrining Roe v. Wade into federal law, we can ensure that reproductive freedom is protected nationwide, providing consistency, equality, and security for women and everyone, no matter where they live.
What actions would you support to strengthen climate resilience and protect infrastructure and neighborhoods from the impact of extreme weather?
I support the return of a revamped Civilian Conservation Corps to restore our wetlands and make our beaches more sustainable and resilient to storms.
I want to provide federal funding to revamp our combined sewer systems including the one in Perth Amboy that results in sewage flowing in the Raritan when flooding occurs.
I want to look into microgrids that can provide power when power is down.
I want to invest in funding for energy efficient homes so that they can be warmed and cooled with less power.
I support the state's Blue Acre's program that buys back properties if they are damaged beyond repair in wetlands. I want to look into how the federal government can support this program.
What measures do you support to expand voter access and restore trust in our elections?
Voting is a right, and no American should be prevented from voting. Every American who turns 18 should be automatically registered to vote and Election Day should be a holiday to make voting easier. I also believe we should adopt rank choice voting. Doing this would allow voters to rank their preferred candidates in order of preference, ensuring that candidates only win with at least 50% +1 of the vote. This would give every candidate a fair shot, eliminate strategic voting, and make sure that the candidate who wins is the majority preference.
To restore trust in our elections, we must end Citizens’ United so corporations and the rich can no longer buy elections. I also believe in public financing of elections, where candidates running for office would receive matching public funding for their small-dollar donations. These things would greatly help build trust. They would keep large corporations and the very rich from buying elections and make sure the voices of the people are heard.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
emily@pallonefornewjersey.com
Campaign phone
732-571-4141
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/PalloneforNJ
Twitter
@pallonefornj
Website
https://www.pallonefornewjersey.com/
What are the most important challenges facing our country, and how do you propose to address them?
The most important challenges facing our nation are the Trump Administration’s assault on our democratic institutions, the Constitution, and the rule of law and the affordability crisis. Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly abused executive power for personal gain and pushed policies that hurt working families. Until there is real accountability of this administration under a Democratic Congress, we won’t be able to effectively deal with the affordability crisis because Trump will always be working to find a way to line his pockets. Protecting our democratic institutions also means ensuring we have a government that works for the public instead of one that is only focused on corruption and self-dealing.
What policies would you support to ease the cost of living and strengthen long-term economic stability for families in this district?
I will continue working to reverse Trump and Congressional Republicans’ policies that have failed working families while enriching billionaire donors and corporate interests. Prices have risen due to tariffs on key trade partners, war in Iran, cuts to renewable energy projects, and attacks on SNAP. I have pushed back through court action, congressional oversight as the top Democrat on my committee, and public pressure demanding accountability.
I do not support the war in Iran, and it must end immediately. It continues to drive up gas and energy prices. I have worked to lower prescription drug costs through Medicare negotiation and capped insulin prices. I have supported strong bipartisan funding for affordable housing. I strongly support protecting and expanding SNAP to help families, seniors, and veterans afford food. As the top Democrat on my committee, I have worked to expand renewable energy to reduce fossil fuel dependence and lower costs.
What changes would you support to make healthcare and mental health services more affordable, accessible, and easier to navigate?
The best way to immediately make healthcare and mental health services more affordable, accessible, and easier to navigate is to overturn the Republican’s Big Ugly Bill that devastated Medicaid and bring back the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for people on the ACA marketplaces. In New Jersey, about 350,000 people could lose Medicaid or NJ Family Care coverage, while thousands more face rising healthcare costs because the tax credits expired. I helped lead the opposition to the “Big Ugly Bill” that imposed these cuts and supported legislation extending the tax credits for three years, which passed the House 230-196 with bipartisan support. While Chairman of my committee, I was able to get the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act signed into law.
I am a supporter of Medicare For All. No American should be forced to go without coverage because they can’t afford it, or have to make the impossible choice of buying groceries or going to their doctor.
What is your position on immigration reform? What do you think the relationship between federal immigration enforcement and state or local government institutions should be?
The Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement policies have been a disaster. We don’t have to choose between humane treatment and enforcing laws. ICE should not conduct warrantless arrests, target sensitive locations, engage in racial profiling, or operate like a secret police force. We don’t need $75 billion for detention warehouses like Roxbury or Delaney Hall. We need affordable housing, healthcare, and lower costs.
I support comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have no criminal record and pay taxes. I support the Immigrant Trust Directive signed by Governor Sherrill to ensure state and local law enforcement can focus on their jobs, not federal immigration enforcement.
What is your stance on access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare? And what roles should the federal government and the states each play on reproductive healthcare?
I am a strong supporter of a woman’s right to choose. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I helped advance the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) in the House, which would establish a federal statutory right to access abortion care free from medically unnecessary restrictions and bans. Republicans continue their assault on reproductive rights despite broad public support for legal, accessible abortion. This is clearly about controlling women, not health. I am once again an original cosponsor of WHPA this Congress. I have also co-led amicus briefs to the Supreme Court supporting access to Mifepristone and guaranteeing women’s rights under EMTALA. And I also support the Right to Contraception Act to protect access to birth control. Reproductive healthcare decisions should remain between a woman and her doctor.
What actions would you support to strengthen climate resilience and protect infrastructure and neighborhoods from the impact of extreme weather?
I first came to Congress after seeing how corporate polluters harmed New Jersey. I have passed legislation and pushed our federal agencies to prevent ocean dumping of toxic waste. My bills have also strengthened the Superfund laws and created the federal brownfields program, both to cleanup toxic waste sites.
Looking ahead, I helped advance the Living Shorelines Act to fund natural infrastructure that protect coastal communities from increasingly severe climate fueled storms. I am also a supporter of FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers, and have fought to ensure they are fully funded, properly staffed, and free from political interference.
We must rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, and push to implement it through statute and agency action. That means reversing President Trump’s gutting of the Clean Air Act and doubling our efforts to address pollution from methane and HFCs. I was the author of legislation to phase out methane from gas pipelines and utilities, as well as, to ban HFCs
What measures do you support to expand voter access and restore trust in our elections?
Voting, including mail-in voting, should be accessible to every eligible American citizen. Yet the Trump Administration has repeatedly spread false claims about voter fraud and pushed policies like the SAVE Act that would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote, including married women, military families, rural voters, and survivors of domestic violence. I oppose these barriers and support restoring and strengthening the Voting Rights Act after key protections were stripped away by the Supreme Court. I also support overturning Citizens United to reduce the influence of corporate money in politics and restore faith in our democracy.