As the N.J.-12 congressional primaries approach, student volunteers and faculty are mobilizing for candidates including Sam Wang, Adam Hamawy, and Sue Altman — three of the 13 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in June.
The House seat opened after Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman announced her retirement, which includes the municipality of Princeton.
Campus support for these candidates has come in a variety of forms, from canvassing to phone banking to endorsements.
Thirty-six New Jersey academics, including four Princeton-affiliated Nobel laureates, endorsed Wang, a Princeton neuroscience professor, in a letter published on his campaign website. The Nobel laureates are John J. Hopfield, David MacMillan, Daniel C. Tsui, and Eric A. Wieschaus.
The letter outlines the recent damage that has been done to the scientific community in recent years due to the Trump administration and argues that science must be defended in the wake of its setbacks.
“The White House is slashing science budgets, nominating unqualified ideologues to lead scientific agencies, imposing destructive rules, and undermining vaccine development,” the letter reads.
“American science built this country’s future. Sam Wang will defend it.”
Wieschaus, the Squibb Professor in Molecular Biology and Nobel Prize laureate for his work on embryonic development, explained the value of having a science-based perspective in politics when asked what he found attractive about Sam Wang’s campaign.
“This willingness that you have as a scientist to test ideas, test your statements by quantitative measurements, is something that’s characterized so much of Sam’s work, and I think that would be a really significant contribution to the way Washington works,” Wieschaus told The Daily Princetonian in an interview.
“Sam has demonstrated this kind of broad interest in this willingness to invest time in public policy issues, and also to talk,” he continued. “What [the job] obviously demands is a willingness to talk to people.”
Peter Grant, an emeritus ecology and evolutionary biology professor, also signed the letter endorsing Sam Wang.
“A scientist knows how to assess evidence and is thus well placed to detect and reject misinformation,” Grant wrote to the ‘Prince’ in support of Sam Wang.
In particular, Grant noted that he respects Sam Wang’s “knowledge about the political process combined with his determination to use it for everyone’s benefit.”
Benjamin Midler GS, a graduate student volunteer for Sam Wang’s campaign, told the ‘Prince’ about his motivations for working for Sam Wang’s campaign. His volunteer work has included organizing campaign events, contributing during policy and strategy discussions, and writing material for the campaign website.
“I’m not a political person and I’m certainly not a partisan person,” Midler wrote to the ‘Prince.’ “That’s not what it’s about for me. I do, however, care a lot about what the U.S. government does and how it impacts people both living here and around the world. Volunteering for the campaign is a way to get involved with these issues.”
Princeton undergraduates are also volunteering for candidates in the upcoming elections. Alex Norbrook ’26 volunteers for the campaign of Hamawy, who is an U.S. Army veteran and now works as a plastic surgeon in Princeton.
“This district is progressive, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t bring to Congress someone who’s equally progressive, who can maybe be one of the leaders of the Democratic Party of the future,” Norbrook said of his support for Hamawy.
As part of his volunteer work, Norbrook has phone-banked and hosted canvassing events for Hamawy. Additionally, he plans to table at Frist to encourage voter registration.
About 14 Princeton students have volunteered for candidate Sue Altman’s campaign, according to co-lead organizer of Princeton College Democrats Paul Wang ’27, who serves as a volunteer for Altman himself.
Paul Wang said in an interview with the ‘Prince’ that he is looking for a congressperson who can make change, and he appreciates Altman’s activist roots and involvement in progressive fights.
“She fought back against the New Jersey State Legislature, both Republicans and Democrats when there were cuts to public school funding,” he said. “I think this is a very special opportunity for us to elect someone who is of the activist movement.”
Paul Wang’s work for the campaign has included gathering signatures to get Altman on the ballot, and he hopes to do more student meet and greets with Altman.
“Coleman has been an incredible representative, but she’s been in there for over a decade now, and I think this is our maybe once in a decade opportunity to elect a new congressperson, and who we elect … is going to shape what’s going to happen in the House, especially after this election.”
Ryan Buschman is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Haddonfield, N.J. and can be reached at rb8146[at]princeton.edu.
Danielle Burke is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from New Jersey and can be reached at db5008[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
USG doesn’t approve new clubs, tackles scholarship and disciplinary reform at meeting
Gray CollinsOn Sunday, the USG senate delayed new club approvals again while advancing discussions on outside scholarship restrictions and revising a disciplinary reform referendum ahead of upcoming elections and administrative meetings.
On Sunday, the USG senate delayed new club approvals again while advancing discussions on outside scholarship restrictions and revising a disciplinary reform referendum ahead of upcoming elections and administrative meetings.
Play the Tuesday Crossword, ‘Musically Inclined’
Elisabeth Forrester(Photo: “Floating notes” by oksmith / CC0 1.0 Universal) Settle into spring with this puzzle by Elisabeth Forrester.
(Photo: “Floating notes” by oksmith / CC0 1.0 Universal) Settle into spring with this puzzle by Elisabeth Forrester.
Novelist Percival Everett on AI, literature, and not giving a f--k
Lily HutchesonSenior writer for The Prospect Lily Hutcheson covers Percival Everett's recent public lecture.