Elijah Dixon is a Democratic candidate for the 12th Congressional District in New Jersey, which includes Princeton. His campaign focuses include universal healthcare, social housing, and climate justice. A self-described democratic socialist, Dixon is one of 17 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination.
Dixon has previously served as an ambassador for President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative in Trenton and worked for a community development organization called Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
“I’m very left of center,” he said. “I believe that I’m only one of two [candidates in the N.J.-12 race], perhaps, who have self-described as a socialist.”
He described democratic socialism as “a way in which we can control the resources, institutions, and policies within our communities, so that those who are generating the value and creating the value are able to benefit from that value.”
Dixon works with the University’s Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education and collaborates with visiting lecturer Majora Carter for her class EGR 361: The Reclamation Studio: Humanistic Design Applied to Systemic Bias.
The class “explores the humanistic design practices applied by social entrepreneurs from low-status communities near Princeton (our ‘clients’) that counteract that history of systemic bias with innovative development projects,” according to its course listing.
“I have a distinction of working with a class from Princeton,” Dixon told the ‘Prince.’ “It’s been a very rewarding experience.”
Dixon discussed free speech and recent pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses nationwide.
“A lot of times, whoever is in a position of power is able to impose their view,” he said. “I believe that external police should never be called onto campuses for any matters, not just pointing to the encampments, but just period.”
Dixon elaborated on his views on law enforcement more broadly, discussing his views on calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Aside from just the ‘abolish ICE’ narrative, we need to look at the structural drivers encouraging people to make that perilous journey from wherever they’re from to the U.S. in the first place,” Dixon noted. He added that the Department of Homeland Security is “being weaponized against predominantly Black and Brown communities under the guise of illegal immigration.”
Dixon expressed his belief that his background as an organizer brings “unique value” to the race, saying that his experience allows him to “understand complex capital systems” at both a local and federal level. If elected, he hopes to have local representatives in each of the 32 municipalities of the district, who would serve as the district’s “eyes and ears.”
“I would actually seek to create and be an organizer-in-chief; to collate disparate interests and synthesize disparate views into a meaningful action plan for our district,” he said.
Dixon also discussed his support for universal healthcare, specifically through a public option. He emphasized his goal of separating profit from the healthcare industry. “I’m looking to have … the option to access these government-run programs,” he said, “as a means to increase competition and therefore bring down prices.”
Affordable housing is another pillar of his campaign. He described how he hopes to “see the proliferation of government-owned and developed housing,” with the goal of lowering housing costs.
“Until we get the profit motive out of these industries, we’re not going to see a material change,” he told the ‘Prince.’
Dixon also criticized the Trump administration’s January decision to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from taking into account the health impacts on local communities when making regulations: “The whole purpose of the EPA is to protect the environment, which sustains us and gives us life. The degradation of our federal institutions is a major, major cause of concern.”
He also advocated for changes to U.S. foreign policy.
“At top of mind for many of the youth and the younger generations is the imperialism here, within the U.S., and our conquest abroad,” Dixon noted. He added that “the longest-standing economic embargo in history” on Cuba and “the genocide in Gaza” are both “giving Americans a bad rap” globally.
“We need to get back to the economic warfare,” he said. “I’m not suggesting physical warfare … but economic withdrawal from the corporations that are supporting these politicians is a way to make them feel and understand it.”
Emily Murphy is a senior News writer, senior Copy editor, and chief correspondent for the N.J.–12 election. She is from New York City and can be reached at emily.murphy[at]princeton.edu.
Elizabeth Hu is a staff News writer, assistant head Copy editor, associate Data editor, and staff Podcast producer from Houston, Texas. She can be reached at eh9203[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
A correction was made on March 5, 2026: A previous version of this article said Dixon is one of 18 candidates running for the Democratic nomination. He is one of 17, not 18. The ‘Prince’ regrets this error.
Read More
Mid-season recap: Men’s tennis rides wave of momentum after historic start to the year
Julian Benkin DanoffMen’s tennis has built momentum for conference play after a promising first portion of season.
Men’s tennis has built momentum for conference play after a promising first portion of season.
Women’s indoor track and field team earns back-to-back Ivy League Championship titles
Siena SydenhamAt the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Track and Field competition this past weekend at the Armory in New York City, the Princeton women’s indoor track team came out on top, defending the Ivy League title.
At the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Track and Field competition this past weekend at the Armory in New York City, the Princeton women’s indoor track team came out on top, defending the Ivy League title.
Medical examiner releases post-mortem for Maria Bowling GS
Luke GrippoThe post-mortem examination report for Maria Catotola Bowling GS determined her cause of death as drowning and manner of death as uncertain.
The post-mortem examination report for Maria Catotola Bowling GS determined her cause of death as drowning and manner of death as uncertain.