The underdogs of the N.J.–12 race discuss affordability, ICE, military

Matt Adams, Sujit Singh, and Kyle Little are three of the 12 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to represent Princeton’s district in Congress following the announcement in November that sitting representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) would not seek reelection.

Adams, Singh, and Little spoke with The Daily Princetonian about their backgrounds and priorities as potential members of Congress. The three candidates have the lowest fundraising amounts in the race, and they did not meet the funding or endorsement thresholds needed to participate in the recent debate hosted by Rider University and the New Jersey Globe.

Adams is a lawyer who has served in the armed forces, and Singh is a technology consultant. Little is the owner of two fitness studios and an adjunct professor at Kean University. 

Regarding his campaign, Adams told the ‘Prince’ that he and his team decided to “really focus on the end of the campaign, the month of May.” 

“I would consider myself an underdog, sure, but that was almost anticipated with our focus on the closing month of the campaign. And so I feel like strategically, we’re well positioned,” Adams said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’

“One thing that I’m doing, and no one else is doing this, is [that] I’m running a 5k in every single town in the district,” he added. “It’s a fun thing to do, but more importantly, I am getting to know these towns.”

Singh pointed to his experience running for mayor last year in West Windsor, where he nearly unseated the incumbent Republican mayor, and his grassroots campaign efforts as experiences that gave him confidence going into the race. 

“I know almost every neighborhood in West Windsor. So that gave me confidence, and I ran a competitive race,” Singh told the ‘Prince.’ 

“We covered 10–15,000 doors. I mean, I’m not counting, but I was in most of the neighborhoods with my volunteers. I’m a grassroots person. I did not spend time [calling] every day [for] four hours for fundraisers … I rather was in communities talking to the people,” Singh said.

Little stated that “fundraising is probably the most challenging part, but I have been in the race for a year now, and I’ve been getting my name out there.” 

In terms of differentiating himself from other candidates, Little stated that “if elected to Congress, I’ll be the first openly gay man in the state of New Jersey to be elected to Congress. And that is significant, because representation matters.” 

Little also pointed out that he joined the race before incumbent Watson Coleman announced her retirement. 

“I actually went against the Democratic establishment. I challenged Bonnie Watson Coleman,” Little said. “So I was running for seven months, challenging the establishment, and I’m still challenging the establishment.” 

Many of the candidates pointed to affordability as one of the most important issues to voters. 

To address the affordability crisis, Adams suggested increasing condominium construction, reducing the tariffs that the Trump administration has imposed, and writing a more progressive tax code.

Singh pointed to the need for efficient public transit and added that Congress should incentivize electric vehicles and solar panels. 

Little pointed to healthcare and the revitalization of Trenton as two of his top priorities in addressing affordability. 

“My top priority, I would say, [is] universal health care. But we’re all going to say that, so I want to be different, right? So one policy of mine is revitalization of Trenton. It is our state capital, and is one of the poorest cities in the state of New Jersey,” Little said.

“Another policy of mine that differentiates from everybody else is, and you don’t hear a lot of people saying this, if elected to Congress, I’m going to donate $500 of my salary a month to a local New Jersey charity,” said Little.

U.S. involvement in ongoing foreign conflicts is a topic of nationwide contention, especially following discussions about military aid to Israel and the war in Iran. 

Adams highlighted his time in the U.S. National Guard, as an Army reservist, and as an Army lawyer in emphasizing his preparation in addressing foreign conflict.

“I was an Army lawyer, and so that is directly applicable to what’s going on with this administration right now and the violations of the law of war. So I’m very, very familiar with the rules, and I can see how [the administration] is breaking them,” he told the ‘Prince.’

“We need to ensure that whatever we are providing — in terms of aid, in terms of military — is for the purpose of protecting the United States and our interests, and we need to ensure that whatever [U.S. allies] do does not make the world less safe,” Adams added. “For example, we bombed a school in Iran. That was a violation of the law of war, and that has created a level of hatred towards the United States that may never go away.” 

Singh emphasized a need to rebuild alliances globally, and said that he supports the Block the Bombs Act. He said that he supports providing continued defensive military aid for Israel. 

One particularly controversial issue within the Democratic Party nationally is the role of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The interviewed candidates offered differing views on the agency.

“I do not think we should get rid of ICE. I think there is a role and a mission there that needs to be maintained, but they’re out of control,” Adams noted. “We need to reduce their funding greatly, and what we do provide them needs to be tied to their behavior.”

Singh said that “ICE has to go,” emphasizing that the country needs both “stronger borders” and an “immigration agency which is reformed and modern.”

The Democratic primary takes place on June 2. 

Emily Murphy is a senior News writer, senior Copy editor, and chief correspondent for the N.J.–12 congressional election. She is from New York City, and she can be reached at emurphy[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.