Republican Kate Gibbs has formed an exploratory committee to run for Congress in the 3rd District.

“I have had enough of politicians in both parties spending so much time tearing our country apart for their own gain, rather than finding solutions that bring us together,” Gibbs said in a statement. “That is why I formed an Exploratory Committee and am seriously considering a campaign for Congress in New Jersey’s Third District.”

A former freeholder with strong Building Trades ties, Gibbs is examining the prospect of landing the GOP nomination and going up against incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (R-3) in 2020. Gibbs works for the Labor Management Fund of the Engineers Labor-Employee Cooperative, established by the members of Local 825 Operating Engineers.

First elected to the freeholder board in 2015 along with fellow newcomer and future Assemblyman) Ryan Peters, she lost her reelection bid in a control election last year.

“As a millennial Republican woman who has good friends on both sides of the aisle, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s brand of politics doesn’t represent me or everyone in my generation,’ said Gibbs. “Embracing socialism and turning our back on the great democratic experiment that is America is not the answer to our problems.

“I was born in South Jersey, raised by a single mom, worked to put myself through school, and became the first person in my family to graduate from college. I am deeply troubled about the direction of our country and sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone else to fix it isn’t my style. I expect to make a final decision about my plans in the coming weeks and appreciate all the encouragement I’ve received.”

Gibbs wants to restore the 3rd District seat to the Republican Party.

Running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3) in anti-Trump midterm elections when Democrats won all but one of New Jersey’s congressional districts, Kim snagged the CD3 seat in 2018 a narrow margin.