John Bartlett, a Passaic County Commissioner, voting rights lawyer, husband, and father today announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th District.

Bartlett said he is running to make life more affordable for New Jersey families, defend democracy, and expand opportunity by taking on Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans. He brings a proven record of results and a sharp contrast to Washington's dysfunction, pledging to focus on public service, not self-service.

“My dad was a country doctor who kept a chainsaw in his pickup truck so nothing could keep him from a patient in need,” said Bartlett. “I learned from him that real service means caring about your community and making it a better place. But today, Donald Trump and his cronies have created a government of self-service and grift, enriching themselves while doing nothing to help families struggling to afford their basic needs. While MAGA Republicans are tearing down our democracy, I've built up our transportation system to make your commute easier and your community safer. In Congress, I'll continue the work to make life more affordable, protect voting rights as I always have, and put New Jersey families first."

Bartlett said he is ready for the fight in Washington because he’s already been fighting and winning here at home. As a lawyer and public official, he has successfully:

• Fought Donald Trump in the Supreme Court to stop him from weaponizing the Census against immigrant communities, preserving fair representation and the opportunity for every voice to be heard.
• Stood up to Republican Chris Christie when he tried to delay funding for road projects and senior services.
• Gone toe-to-toe with the Republican Party in federal court to protect our most sacred right - the right to vote.

As a County Commissioner serving over 525,000 New Jerseyans, Bartlett has a record of practical problem-solving and delivering on affordability and services, including:

• Lowering the county property tax rate for nine straight years;
• Balancing budgets while improving services; and
• Securing over $600 million in new federal funding for roads, bridges, and transit to make commutes faster and communities safer.

"I’ve spent my career fighting for people, not powerful special interests," Bartlett added. "I’ve taken on Donald Trump and Chris Christie and won. Families in the 11th Congressional District deserve another fighter who’s ready on day one, with a record of results and a focus on what really matters."

About John Bartlett

John Bartlett is running for Congress to make life more affordable for New Jersey families, and defend democracy by taking on Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans: a fight he has been fighting for years. John learned a lifelong dedication to service from his father, a country pediatrician who taught him to conquer any obstacle to help people. As a Passaic County Commissioner, John has a proven record of results, including nine straight years of lowering the property tax rate and balancing budgets while improving services, building new parks and public schools, and bringing in $600 million in federal transportation funding to grow our region’s economy and make commutes safer and easier. As a lawyer, he has been a leading voice for voting rights, taking on both Donald Trump and Chris Christie, and he is ready to bring this fight for our shared values to Washington.

A graduate of Brown University and Harvard Law School who also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a Raoul Wallenberg Scholar, he lives in Wayne with his wife, Dr. Khyati Joshi, and their college-age son.