Democrats have another candidate to choose from in the 7th Congressional District.
Jason Blazakis announced on Aug. 14 that he will attempt to be the party’s nominee in what is expected to be one of the more hotly contested House races in 2024. Blazakis has spent most of his career in foreign policy circles, working in the U.S. State Department for 14 years, including a ten-year stint leading the department’s Counterterrorism Finance and Designations Office.
Blazakis, who was recently sanctioned by Vladimir Putin for his work speaking out against extremism abroad, said he is running in part to take on anti-democratic MAGA extremists here at home.
National Security Background
“I spent the last twenty years fighting terrorism, corruption, and the illegal drug trade overseas. Both home and abroad, I’ve seen the threats anti-democratic extremists pose to our democracy and am running for Congress to stop them,” said Blazakis.
“Whether it’s denying free and fair elections, taking away a woman’s right to choose, or making New Jersey more expensive to live in, the MAGA extremist agenda isn’t the Jersey agenda.”
National Race
A true swing congressional district, the 7th flipped Republican in 2022 when Rep. Tom Kean Jr. defeated incumbent Tom Malinowski by less than three percentage points after narrowly losing two years before. It is one of just 18 congressional districts that were won by President Biden in 2020, and is currently held by a Republican.
The district is considered one of the most competitive districts in the country and Cook Political Report ranks it as a toss up. Since taking office, opponents of Kean Jr. have portrayed him as a Republican that is falling in line with the extreme right wing orthodoxy of the party.
“Tom Kean is a rubber stamp for MAGA extremism,” Blazakis stated. “ On reproductive rights, on the cost of living, and on protecting democracy, Kean gives in to extremists and Jersey pays the price.”
Blazakis Background
“I grew up right here in NJ-07, I went to public school, paid my way through college and spent my career protecting Americans. I know this community and in Congress, I’ll stand up for our families, ensuring a safer, more affordable Jersey for all.”
Blazakis, who grew up in Harmony Township and now lives in Lambertville, promoted his national security credentials and work in Washington in his campaign announcement. In 2004, he joined the State Department and headed the U.S. Embassy’s narcotics affairs in Afghanistan that fought the Taliban’s heroin operations. He spent a decade with the State Department, primarily working in counterterrorism.
Blazakis enters the race with two experienced campaign operatives in North Jersey—Mollie Binotto and Zack Carroll have signed on as consultant for the campaign.
Three in Race
Binotto managed Mikie Sherrill’s bid to flip the 11th district in 2018 and was the campaign manager for Gov. Phil Murphy and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver when they sought re-election in 2021.
Carroll was the campaign manager for Andy Kim when he ousted two-term Rep. Tom MacArthur in the 3rd district congressional race in 2018.
Two other Democrats are already running for the Democratic nomination: former New Jersey Working Families Party director Sue Altman and Roselle Park Mayor Joe Signorello III.
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