Tahesha Way Entered the Race for Congress
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State Tahesha Way entered the race for Congress today with a message rooted in public service, resilience, and a deep commitment to New Jersey’s families. Her campaign launch underscored a career defined by defending democracy and expanding opportunity, as well as her belief that the state needs leaders who understand both the stakes and the struggles of everyday people.
Way’s decision to run comes at a moment when many of the issues she has spent her career fighting for are under threat. From voting rights to affordability, she argues that the concerns of working families are being overshadowed by partisan chaos and policies that raise costs. Trump-era tariffs, health-care rollbacks, and rising everyday expenses have placed enormous pressure on households across the state, and Way says the time has come for steady, principled leadership in Washington.
“Throughout my life, I’ve learned that when the stakes are high, you step up – not for yourself, but for the people who are counting on you,” Way said as she launched her campaign. Her message was clear: New Jerseyans deserve someone who will show up, push back against harmful policies, and fight to make life more affordable. “Families are being crushed by rising costs, MAGA politicians are attacking basic rights, and the Trump Administration continues to target our rights and freedoms,” she said. “People feel like the system is stacked against them – and they’re right. But I know we can fix it if we do the work together.”
For Way, the fight is personal. She often speaks about her upbringing as the daughter of a union bus driver and a rail clerk who worked nights, a childhood that taught her the meaning of sacrifice and grit. That foundation carried her through one of the most defining experiences of her life: surviving a brain hemorrhage in college. When her insurance denied the therapy she needed, she relearned how to read on her own. The experience forged her identity as a fighter and fueled her determination to advocate for families whose futures hang in the balance.
Her career reflects that resolve. As an attorney, Administrative Law Judge, and later a Passaic County Commissioner and Director of the Board of Commissioners, Way focused on expanding youth justice reform, improving food access, strengthening education, and balancing budgets without raising taxes. At each stage, she built a reputation for thoughtful leadership and a steady hand in moments of challenge.
Way’s tenure as Secretary of State placed her on the front lines of one of the most consequential battles over voting rights in New Jersey’s history. She modernized voting systems, implemented automatic voter registration, established early voting, expanded vote-by-mail, and pushed back against efforts by the Trump Administration to undermine the electoral process. Her work earned her national recognition—and relentless attacks from MAGA Republicans—but resulted in a more accessible, secure, and inclusive voting system for millions of New Jerseyans.
As Lieutenant Governor, Way expanded her portfolio of accomplishments. She signed legislation to support families facing rising utility costs, invested in mental health resources for college students, strengthened protections for tenants, and pushed for new opportunities for small businesses. Her leadership focused on ensuring that prosperity and progress reached communities statewide, not just a select few.
Two decades into her public service career, Way enters the congressional race backed by a broad and diverse coalition. Her endorsements include the Congressional Black Caucus, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, and the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State—organizations that recognize her as a proven leader with both experience and vision. For supporters, her candidacy represents a chance to send someone to Washington who has consistently delivered measurable results.
In Congress, Way vows to continue championing affordability, protecting health care, and defending working families against policies that threaten their stability. She emphasizes that her goal is not political theater but meaningful, practical solutions that reflect the realities facing New Jersey residents. Her message is grounded in a belief that leadership requires both empathy and strength—qualities she says her career has demanded at every turn.
Way’s personal story remains central to her public mission. Her resilience after her medical crisis, her upbringing in a union household, and her journey through the legal and political systems inform her understanding of what families need from their leaders. They also shape her approach to policymaking: grounded in fairness, informed by lived experience, and focused on ensuring that systems work for the people who rely on them.
As a mother of four daughters, Way often frames her policy priorities around the kind of future she hopes to help shape—one where access to health care is guaranteed, where opportunity is expansive, and where democracy remains strong and inclusive. Her husband, Charles, and their daughters have been fixtures in her story, offering support as she has navigated the demands of public life.
Now, as she seeks a seat in Congress, Tahesha Way brings with her a lifetime of service, a record of tangible progress, and an unwavering belief in the potential of New Jersey’s communities. Her campaign argues that the state needs a representative who not only understands its people but has already fought on their behalf—and is prepared to continue doing so at the national level.
Way’s launch marks the beginning of a new chapter in her public career, one grounded in the same values that shaped her from childhood: hard work, accountability, courage, and a commitment to lifting up others. She enters the race ready to carry those principles to Washington, determined to ensure that every New Jerseyan has a champion in Congress.
