Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. House · New Jersey's 12th District

4 candidates on the ballot — an open seat, with no incumbent running.1,2

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Adam Hamawy
Democratic · Open seat
Gregg Mele
Republican · Open seat
Andres Jinete
Green Party · Open seat
Winston Jordan
GET MONEY OUT · Open seat

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

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Adam HamawyGregg MeleAndres JineteWinston Jordan
Party on the ballotDemocratic1,2Republican1,2Green Party1,2GET MONEY OUT1,2
StatusOpen seatOpen seatOpen seatOpen seat
Raised$1,993,157 through October 14, 20263$101,521 through October 14, 20264Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Cash on hand$239,8453$13,5664Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Outside spending$1,900,174 for · $0 against5Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Abortion lawHis campaign website lists reproductive rights and bodily autonomy among its civil rights priorities and says he supports writing the right to abortion into federal law, with politicians not involved in decisions made by doctors and their patients.6,7Not found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website lists, among its equity and opportunity goals, writing into law protections for bodily autonomy and abortion access.8His policy platform website lists guaranteeing abortion access and defending reproductive freedom in the district against federal rollbacks.9
Who sets abortion law
A national law making abortion legal in every state, at least until viability, as under Roe v. Wade
His campaign website says control over one's own body should not depend on where a person lives, and that he supports writing the right to abortion into federal law.6		Not found in the public sources we checked
A national law making abortion legal in every state, at least until viability, as under Roe v. Wade
His campaign website calls for a law that protects abortion access and bodily autonomy.8		Not found in the public sources we checked
Discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity
Pass broad protections such as the Equality Act
His campaign website says he will oppose efforts that undermine the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans and support legislation to protect them, including the Transgender Bill of Rights, which it says would set clear federal anti-discrimination protections.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website lists defending LGBTQIA+ rights and protecting gender-affirming care among its equity and opportunity goals.8
Pass broad protections such as the Equality Act
His policy platform website lists strong civil rights enforcement by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including expanded and explicit protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, education and health care.9
Ethics rules for Supreme Court justices
Pass a law setting a binding ethics code, with outside review of complaints and recusal decisions
His campaign website says he will fight to create an ethics code for Supreme Court justices that can be enforced.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedHis policy platform website lists ethics enforcement for the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary as part of restoring the courts' independence and accountability.9
Supreme Court term limits
Set fixed terms, such as 18 years
His campaign website says he supports imposing term limits on Supreme Court justices.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Set fixed terms, such as 18 years
His policy platform website lists 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices as well as for Congress.9
Voting Rights Act protections
Restore and widen protections by law, such as federal approval of voting changes in places with a history of discrimination (for example, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act)
His campaign website says he supports restoring and strengthening the Voting Rights Act and protecting and expanding the right to vote.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Restore and widen protections by law, such as federal approval of voting changes in places with a history of discrimination (for example, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act)
His policy platform website lists strengthening the Voting Rights Act and restoring its protections.9
Federal minimum wageHis campaign website says the minimum wage should be raised to a living wage.6,7Not found in the public sources we checked
Raise to $15 or more
His campaign website calls for a federal minimum wage of $25 an hour, up from $7.25, with future increases tied to inflation.8		Not found in the public sources we checked
Trade agreementsHis campaign website says international trade agreements must include labor and environmental protections.6Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedHis policy platform website lists trade agreements with high labor and climate standards and opposition to investor-state dispute settlement provisions.9
Union organizing rules
Make it easier to form a union (for example, the PRO Act)
His campaign website says he supports the PRO Act, which it says would make it easier for workers to organize and harder for employers to undermine unions.6		Not found in the public sources we checked
Make it easier to form a union (for example, the PRO Act)
His campaign website calls for mandatory union recognition once 50% of authorization cards have been signed, and for higher National Labor Relations Board fines and penalties for labor violations.8		Not found in the public sources we checked
Student loan forgiveness
Broad cancellation of student debt
His campaign website says it is time to cancel student debt.6		Not found in the public sources we checked
Broad cancellation of student debt
His campaign website calls for the government to buy and forgive all student debt.8,10
Broad cancellation of student debt
His policy platform website lists cancelling all existing student loan debt, which it describes as restitution for decades of reduced public funding of higher education.9
Tuition-free college
Free tuition at public colleges and universities
His campaign website calls for public colleges and universities to provide education at no charge.6		Not found in the public sources we checked
Free tuition at public colleges and universities
His campaign website calls for bringing back and expanding free tuition at state and community colleges nationwide, plus free vocational training and trade schools.8
Free tuition at community colleges
His policy platform website lists making all community college free nationwide and returning to earlier federal subsidies for private and state universities so that students pay between several hundred and a few thousand dollars per semester.9
Campaign finance rules
Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
His campaign website says he supports overturning Citizens United, including through a constitutional amendment, along with public financing of elections and full disclosure of dark money donors, and that he has committed to refusing corporate PAC money.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
His policy platform website lists overturning Citizens United, banning dark money and supporting H.R. 415 (the Stop Act), which would keep sitting lawmakers from raising money themselves for political committees; his campaign says it accepts no donations of any kind.9,11
Drawing district lines (redistricting)His campaign website says he supports ending partisan gerrymandering.6Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Have independent commissions, not lawmakers, draw district lines
His policy platform website lists independent redistricting to end gerrymandering.9
Stock trading by members of Congress
Ban members and their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks
His campaign website says he supports a complete ban on stock trading for lawmakers, their spouses and senior officials in the executive branch.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedHis policy platform website lists a pledge of no PAC or corporate donations and no stock trading among its accountability pledges.9
Data centers and electricity costsNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Pause or limit new data centers
His campaign website calls for a complete ban on new data centers.8
Require data centers to pay the full cost of the power plants and lines they need
His campaign website says developers of data centers should cover the costs of the electricity supply, grid, water, roads and emergency services their facilities need so residents do not subsidize them through taxes or utility rates, and his policy platform website lists requiring developers to pay in advance for their own substations, interconnection lines and transmission upgrades.9,12
Child care costsHis campaign website says he will fight for universal, high-quality child care and higher pay for child care workers.6Not found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website calls for funding universal child care and pre-K.8His policy platform website lists expanding pre-K and child care access, including universal pre-K.9
Paid family and medical leave
Create a national paid leave program for all workers
His campaign website says he will fight for a national program that gives every worker at least 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Create a national paid leave program for all workers
His policy platform website lists a federal standard for paid family and medical leave.9
Foreign aid
Restore or increase foreign aid, including programs cut in 2025
His campaign website says he will work to reverse the dismantling of agencies such as USAID.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Restore or increase foreign aid, including programs cut in 2025
His policy platform website lists scaling up global health, education and climate finance in place of militarized interventions.9
Military aid to Israel
Reduce or end military aid to Israel
His campaign website says he supports cutting off military aid to countries that commit gross human rights violations, and names Israel among them.6		His campaign website says he supports a strong security partnership between the United States and Israel and Israel's right to defend its people.13,14Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Military spending
Cut military spending
His campaign website says he supports significantly cutting the Pentagon budget and shifting spending toward priorities such as health care.6		Not found in the public sources we checked
Cut military spending
His campaign website calls for cutting the military budget by two-thirds and progressively closing more than 700 overseas bases, using the savings for social programs.8		His policy platform website lists an independent audit of the Pentagon, limits on what defense contractors charge and redirecting the savings to other investments.9
Who decides on military action
Require Congress to approve military action in advance, except to defend against an attack
His campaign website says Congress, not the president, holds the authority to declare war and authorize military force, and that Congress should reclaim that power.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Require Congress to approve military action in advance, except to defend against an attack
His policy platform website lists ending unauthorized wars, repealing outdated military authorizations and requiring Congress to authorize the use of force.9
Health insurance system
One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
His campaign website says he will fight for Medicare for All, a universal single-payer system with no out-of-pocket costs.6,7		His campaign website says he supports patient-centered healthcare that includes price transparency, more choice and competition and fewer administrative burdens, and that medical decisions should stay with patients, families and health professionals rather than distant bureaucracies.13
One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
His campaign website calls for a free, single-payer universal health care system covering everyone, regardless of status.8,10
One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
His policy platform website lists single-payer Medicare for All with no premiums or copays at the point of care and free choice of provider, and says he would first pilot a VA+ national health care program in the district.9
HomelessnessHis campaign website says he supports full funding for HUD-VASH housing vouchers and more transitional and permanent supportive housing, with the aim of ending veteran homelessness.6Not found in the public sources we checked
Provide permanent housing first, without requiring treatment or sobriety beforehand
His campaign website says it would use a Housing First approach to homelessness, without conditions for getting into public housing.8		Not found in the public sources we checked
Immigration enforcement inside the country
Abolish ICE and move any remaining enforcement work to other agencies
His campaign website says he supports abolishing ICE, calls for holding its agents and their supervisors accountable through congressional hearings and prosecution, and says the Department of Homeland Security should be dismantled.6,15		His campaign website says he supports legal immigration and a secure border, and wants to regain control of the border and enforce current immigration law.13
Abolish ICE and move any remaining enforcement work to other agencies
His campaign website lists abolishing ICE as a demand, along with dismantling the Department of Homeland Security, closing detention centers and a full overhaul of the immigration system that includes a new amnesty.8,10
Abolish ICE and move any remaining enforcement work to other agencies
His policy platform website lists abolishing ICE in its current form, with accountability for people in the agency who committed crimes and immigration enforcement rebuilt under a new framework.9
Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
A path to citizenship for most who meet requirements such as background checks
His campaign website says undocumented immigrants who have built lives in the United States deserve an achievable path to citizenship, and that he will work to protect DACA recipients and mixed-status families from deportation.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website says its plan to overhaul the immigration system includes a new amnesty.8
A path to citizenship for most who meet requirements such as background checks
His policy platform website lists a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including Temporary Protected Status holders and long-settled immigrants.9
Highway and transit fundingHis campaign website lists transformative public transportation investments among its climate priorities, saying expanded public transportation infrastructure would better serve New Jersey commuters and the climate.6Not found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website calls for investment in electric, high-speed mass transit systems that could replace car commuting and air travel.8His policy platform website lists making NJ Transit more reliable and on time and electrifying NJ Transit's buses and trains, and its infrastructure investment plan includes upgrading NJ Transit.9
Social Security benefit levels
Increase benefits, for example with larger yearly cost-of-living raises
His campaign website says he supports protecting and expanding Medicare and Social Security benefits.6		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Increase benefits, for example with larger yearly cost-of-living raises
His policy platform website lists doubling Social Security payments to guarantee a livable retirement income.9
Federal income tax ratesNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website calls for shifting the tax burden to the top 1% of earners and ending income taxes on households with middle or low incomes.8His policy platform website lists a 50-year tax holiday for the bottom 99% as part of its American Economic Security Act.9
Property taxesNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website says schools and after-school programs should be paid for by the federal government rather than property taxes.8His policy platform website lists addressing the property tax burden to ease costs for New Jersey residents.9
Taxes on very large fortunesHis campaign website says he will fight to tax wealth, not only income, and use the revenue for health care, education, housing and care programs.6Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedHis policy platform website proposes a $50 billion wealth cap on individuals and taxation of wealth above $50 billion to pay for infrastructure and other programs.9
Rules for artificial intelligenceNot found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website calls for comprehensive regulation of artificial intelligence.8
Set rules for specific risks and uses, such as deepfakes, hiring decisions and safety disclosures
His campaign website says its AI policy would add enforceable protections for areas including deepfakes and digital likeness, privacy, children, creators, displaced workers and high-risk systems, and his policy platform website lists requiring companies to publish assessments of how new AI tools would affect workers before using them.9,12

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Adam Hamawy — 10 issues
  • Number of Supreme Court justices
    Add justices to the court
    His campaign website says he supports expanding the Supreme Court.6
  • Books in school libraries
    His campaign website says he opposes book bans in schools and libraries and lists fighting book bans and censorship among his education priorities.6
  • US Department of Education
    Keep the department and its programs, or expand it
    His campaign website says he will fight efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and work to build a department that is stronger and more effective than before.6
  • Voting by mail
    His campaign website says he supports expanding early voting and voting by mail.6
  • International climate agreements
    Rejoin the Paris Agreement and the UN climate treaty, and set new emissions goals
    His campaign website says he will push for the United States to rejoin treaties such as the Paris Agreement and to follow through on its financial commitments under international climate agreements.6
  • Child tax credit
    His campaign website lists ending childhood poverty among its economic justice priorities and says child poverty fell by almost half in one year under the expanded Child Tax Credit, then rose again after Congress let the credit expire.6
  • Medicare dental, vision and hearing coverage
    His campaign website says Medicare for All would also add hearing, dental and vision coverage.6
  • Medicare drug price negotiation
    His campaign website says Medicare should be empowered to negotiate prescription drug prices, noting that Americans pay far more for prescription drugs than people in other countries.6
  • Private care for veterans
    Expand the VA's own hospitals and clinics, using private care mainly when the VA can't provide it
    His campaign website says he will fight attempts to privatize or defund the Department of Veterans Affairs and wants to expand its capacity so veterans can get care close to home, rather than being pushed toward for-profit alternatives.6
  • Veterans' disability and survivor benefits
    His campaign website says the PACT Act must be fully funded and implemented so veterans made sick by toxic exposure, including burn pits, do not have to spend years proving their service caused it, and that he rejects weakening veterans' benefits to pay for corporate tax breaks.6
Gregg Mele — 1 issue
  • Federal spending levels
    His campaign website says he supports responsible budgets and wants Congress to publish the costs, funding sources and expected results of programs, require cost estimates and a funding plan before votes, and audit programs for waste before expanding them.13,14
Andres Jinete — 3 issues
  • Mandatory minimum sentences
    Reduce or end mandatory minimums for nonviolent drug crimes
    His campaign website calls for banning mandatory minimum sentences in federal cases and restoring more discretion to judges.8
  • Marijuana laws
    Make it legal for adults to buy and use
    His campaign website calls for legalizing marijuana at the federal level and ensuring dispensaries can get banking services.8
  • Limits on rent increases
    Freeze rents or keep yearly increases low, as in traditional rent control
    His campaign website lists rent control as a demand and says it would include a renters' bill of rights with compensation for displacement caused by rent increases and a ban on evictions during the school year and winter months.8,10
Winston Jordan — 13 issues
  • Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs
    Keep DEI programs, and restore those ended in 2025
    His policy platform website lists protecting DEI initiatives and blocking federal rollbacks of them.9
  • Federal workforce and job protections
    His policy platform website lists civil service protections to defend the government workforce.9
  • Ranked-choice voting
    Use ranked-choice voting in more elections
    His policy platform website lists support for ranked-choice voting.9
  • Term limits for Congress
    Longer limits, such as 12 to 18 years in each chamber
    His policy platform website lists 18-year term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court.9
  • Aid to Ukraine
    His policy platform website lists supporting Ukraine with aid paired with anti-corruption oversight and diplomacy, sanctions on Russia and a path to NATO membership.9
  • Iran's nuclear program and sanctions
    Negotiate a deal that eases some sanctions in exchange for verified limits on Iran's nuclear program
    His policy platform website lists returning to verifiable nuclear non-proliferation agreements with Iran through diplomacy rather than war.9
  • Help for first-time homebuyers
    His policy platform website lists support for first-time homebuyers through fair financing.9
  • Asylum rules
    His policy platform website lists restoring asylum, guaranteeing due process and counsel, and staffing immigration courts with more judges and support staff, and says there should be no violations of asylum law at the border.9
  • Refugee admissions
    His policy platform website lists restoring asylum and expanding refugee resettlement.9
  • High-speed internet access
    His policy platform website lists expanding broadband access in underserved neighborhoods, digital equity grants for low-income families and municipal broadband options, and his campaign website says high-speed internet should be treated as a utility like water and electricity, with large technology companies paying access fees to fund it.9,12
  • DC statehood and self-government
    Make most of DC a state, with two senators and a voting House member
    His policy platform website lists statehood for Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.9
  • Puerto Rico's political status
    Make Puerto Rico a state
    His policy platform website lists statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.9
  • VA staffing
    His policy platform website lists protecting VA staffing and services for New Jersey veterans.9

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.