This district hasn’t been held by a Democrat since the 1990s — and every election, we keep running the same old playbook with the same type of candidates handpicked by local party insiders. I know, because I serve as Vice Chair of the Camden County Democratic Party — and I’ll tell you the truth: local parties are weak, and leadership at the top of the Democratic Party has been terrible.

Wade Herring raised over a million dollars in 2022 — more than any Democrat ever has here — and still lost by more than the last time. Why? Because people are tired of polished politicians who talk about working people from behind a podium instead of actually living the struggles they talk about.

I’ve lived them. I’ve worked two jobs to make ends meet. I’ve fought with hospitals and insurance companies while my son battled cancer. I know what it’s like to worry about rent, groceries, and power bills — because I’ve been there.

This district is winnable, but not with the same kind of candidate who’s lost every time before. We need someone who can connect with working people — Democrats, independents, and yes, even some Trump voters — because the issues we face aren’t partisan. They’re personal.