PHILLIPSBURG - Running in a crowded field, Brian Varela, son of Colombian immigrants and Democratic candidate for Congress told InsiderNJ that his party needs to get better at addressing the worries, doubts, and needs of working class voters in Congressional District 7.

He's the guy who can do it, he told InsiderNJ, as he attempts to win a Democratic Primary next year to go up against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr.

"People see it as one of the more affluent districts in country, but what they don't realize is at two ends, it's working class: farmers on one end and commuters and people in multi-family homes on the other end," Varela said of CD-7 at a Phillipsburg event here this morning.

"it's really important to speak to that working class voter," he added. "You have to focus on a message of working class populism. [You can have other issues] but you have to land on that, by addressing universal childcare, which will drive the economy forward and everyone's livelihood will benefit."

What about Tom Kean?

"Tom Kean cannot relate to the people in this district," Varela said. "When he votes to cut SNAP, these are numbers on a spreadsheet."

For (the FULL!) interview in Phillipsburg with CD-7 Democratic candidate Brian Varela, please see below: