NJ-07: In crowded primary, Dem hopefuls swear off corporate PAC donations
Back in 2018, when Democrats were angling to take control of the House of Representatives, lots of swing-district Democratic congressional candidates – including two from New Jersey who ended up winning – made pledges not to take any campaign money from corporate PACs, the committees that corporations use to donate to political candidates and promote their interests. For voters to trust them, they argued, they needed to be free from financial entanglements with big business.
Eight years later, Democrats are once again hoping to take back the House majority, and the Democratic candidates in New Jersey’s most competitive congressional seat are sticking to a similar promise.
All eight Democrats running for the state’s 7th district – climate scientist Megan O’Rourke, attorney Vale Mendoza, physician Tina Shah, criminal justice professor Beth Adubato, former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth, businessman Brian Varela, former Summit Councilman Greg Vartan, and former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett – told the New Jersey Globe that their campaigns won’t take corporate PAC contributions.
“When politicians accept corporate PAC money, they can become beholden to corporate special interests instead of the people they’re supposed to represent,” Varela said. “By rejecting corporate PAC contributions, I’m ensuring that my only obligation is to the voters of New Jersey’s 7th District. Politics should be about serving people, not the highest bidder.”
https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/in-crowded-nj-7-primary-dem-hopefuls-swear-off-corporate-pac-donations/