CWA District 1 Endorses Pro-Worker Slate for November Election, Backs Candidates Who Will Fight for Affordable Healthcare and Working Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2026
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Rodrigo Brandão
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CWA District 1 Endorses Pro-Worker Slate for November Election, Backs Candidates Who Will Fight for Affordable Healthcare and Working Families

Union identifies NJ-7 as top congressional priority and mobilizes members to elect leaders who will put workers ahead of corporate interests

TRENTON, NJ — The Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 1 today announced its endorsements for the November general election, backing a statewide slate of candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to protecting workers’ rights, lowering healthcare costs, strengthening public services, and standing up for New Jersey’s working families.

The endorsements come at a pivotal moment for working people. Families across New Jersey continue to struggle with rising healthcare costs, housing costs, and everyday expenses while large corporations, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare middlemen continue to drive up costs and profits at workers’ expense.

This November’s elections will help determine who fights to make New Jersey more affordable, and who continues to protect a system that asks working people to pay more while corporate interests reap the rewards.

“Working people need elected leaders who will stand with them, not the corporations driving up costs and weakening workers’ rights,” said Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President of CWA District 1. “CWA members are ready to organize and elect candidates who will fight for affordable healthcare, strong public services, and an economy that works for working families.”

In addition, CWA District 1 views New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District as a critical race for working people to demonstrate the strength of worker organizing and collective political action.

New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District is CWA District 1’s top congressional flip target this November, and Rebecca Bennett represents the strongest opportunity to reclaim the seat for working people. 

A former Navy helicopter pilot, Air National Guard officer, healthcare leader, and mother of two, Bennett has built a career around service and understands the challenges families face. Her campaign offers a powerful opportunity to unite union members, working families, and community allies around affordable healthcare, paid family leave, collective bargaining rights, and an economy that puts people before corporate profits.

CWA District 1 is also endorsing Zack Mullock in New Jersey’s Second Congressional District, backing a strong labor candidate in a district where working people deserve better representation. Mullock is committed to making healthcare more affordable and creating good-paying union jobs through smart infrastructure investments. He will also defend Social Security and Medicare and stand up to the corporate interests driving up costs for working families.

In the 12th Congressional District, CWA proudly endorses Dr. Adam Hamawy, whose commitment to healthcare justice, workers’ ability to organize and standing with union members closely aligns with CWA’s priorities.

“Our members know that affordability isn’t an abstract political issue, it’s what they live every single day,” said Anna-Marta Visky, New Jersey Political and Field Director for CWA District 1. “Our Locals are supporting candidates who will fight for a more affordable New Jersey.” 

CWA District 1 supports candidates for office who have demonstrated a commitment to protecting public services, supporting workers, and investing in their communities. The union’s full list of endorsements are as follows:

Federal Endorsements
 

NJ-1: Congressman Donald Norcross

NJ-2: Zack Mullock

NJ-3: Congressman Herb Conaway

NJ-6: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.

NJ-7: Rebecca Bennett

NJ-8: Congressman Rob Menendez

NJ-9: Congresswoman Nellie Pou

NJ-10: Congresswoman LaMonica McIver

NJ-11: Congresswoman Analilia Mejia

NJ-12: Dr. Adam Hamawy
 

County Endorsements

Bergen County

• County Executive Jim Tedesco
• County Commissioners Joan Voss and Rafael Marte
   

Burlington County

• Jonathan Chebra
• Randy Brolo

Essex County

• Abdur R. Yasin (At-Large)
• Christine McGrath (At-Large)
• Deborah Engel (At-Large)
• Wayne L. Richardson (At-Large)
• A’Dorian Murray Thomas (District 2)
• Medinah Muhammad (District 3)
• Leonard Luciano (District 4, CWA member)

Hudson County

• Bill O’Dea (District 2)
• Pam Johnson (District 3)
• Ron Bautista (District 5)
• Alex Valdez (District 9)

Mercer County

• Lucylle Walter
• Nakia White Barr

Camden County

• Jonathan Young
• Louis Cappelli
   

CWA Members Running for Office

CWA District 1 is also endorsing fellow union members who are stepping forward to serve their communities:

• Belinda Fontanez (Local 1036) — Mayor, Pemberton
• Jason Allen (Local 1040) — Pemberton Council
• Kevin Bucceroni (Local 1014) — Black Horse Pike Regional School Board
• Adam Bierman (Local 1033) — Princeton Board of Education
• Sarah Sanchez (Local 1037) — Saddle Brook Council

This fall, CWA District 1 members will once again organize, knock on doors, make phone calls, and mobilize voters across New Jersey to elect candidates who share these values and will continue fighting for an economy that puts workers before billionaires.

For additional information on CWA District 1 endorsements, please visit cwad1.org/vote2026nj 

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CWA District 1 represents over 170,000 active and retired members across New York, New Jersey, and New England in public service, telecommunications, media, healthcare, manufacturing, and other sectors, including roughly 70,000 members in New Jersey.