SOMERVILLE - The scion of wealth, U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. has no idea what working class New Jerseyans experience, the fight at the heart existence for most people, and so has no compunction about letting Donald Trump push him and the 7th District around. There's no fight in him, which is why his comfort zone is to disappear, so argues Brian Varela, who says he's different.

The son of immigrants and self-made businessman from the childcare industry says he watched his parents live paycheck to paycheck, struggle with basic necessities and seek traction against the odds. He knows what it's like to struggle and suffer and that's one of the main reasons the Democrat says he's running for Congress: to provide a working-class perspective on the significant issues confronting the people who live in the battleground Central New Jersey Congressional District.

In a big field of CD-7 Democratic Primary candidates, many of whom are elbowing one another to prove they would do a better job advocating for greater constituent opportunities, Varela says he stands out from the pack because he's been there.

"I'm a first-generation Hispanic with a working-class background. My parents were behind on bills when I was in high school and they were sued for not paying bills. I saw that. When you're growing up those are things you feel. You know, for example, what the impact is on families who lose Medicaid coverage. For me, it's personal. This is something I've experienced. It's not numbers on a spreads sheet for me."

Having moved from North Bergen to Washington Township in 2023, Varela says he sees rural farmers on the western side of the 7th and urban residents on the eastern side alike impacted by economic policies largely detrimental to their economic interests. He wants to go to Congress to work on reforging a strong and wide middle class. He sees the district as ready for a change from Republican Trump backer Kean. Even though the GOP numbers 20,000 more residents in the district than Democrats, "people are not siloed," the candidate insists. "They look to see who would represent their issues. Keep in mind that [Democratic Governor-elect] Mikie Sherrill won the district by a point."

Varela confessed to being frustrated last year by national Democrats' failure to connect with voters on real issues. "Last cycle I don't think we did a good job talking about the economy," he told InsiderNJ over coffee in downtown Somerville. "People saw the party as disconnected from its working-class base, and so they gravitated toward the candidate who talked about the price of eggs, which by extension benefited Tom Kean, Jr."

It will be different in 2026, he argues.

"First of all, let's be clear, he's [Kean's] not steering anything," Varela said. "He's being steered."

MAGA wants to make America Great Again, but Varela notes that the movement's adherents advocate for anarchistic policies that accomplish the opposite of the investments secured by America at the apex of 20th Century power.  With Trump as President and silent enablers like Kean on his side, "We don't have the education and infrastructure investments that created the jobs of the past. The way you measure an economy is by the productivity of its work force. If you invest in childcare, for example, you empower families to work and to contribute better to the economy. Parents with greater flexibility will complete a GED, for example, or pursue a career with more vigor. They will upgrade to be stronger contributors to our society by seeking education and becoming more skilled."

An enthusiastic campaigner, Varela has gotten people's attention in the CD-7 Primary.

"I think a lot of people are saying we're progressive, but we're showing there's depth here," the candidate told InsiderNJ. "You can see that in part in the diversity of our endorsements. We're backed, for example, by strong progressive Patricia Campos-Medina. We also have the support of former Senate President Steve Sweeney, who is viewed perhaps as more of a moderate. The point is people - leaders - from different areas of the party are showing strong support for us."

If Varela seeks the one-on-one general election showdown with Kean, where he craves that sharp contrast he says will drive his argument home with voters, he likewise insists on a hardnosed work ethic in the fast-developing and competitive Democratic Primary, where he and his rivals rumble for an edge.