The Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) hosted a forum on Sunday, February 15, for the 17 candidates seeking to succeed Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. The event took place at the Suzanne Patterson Center on Stockton Street and drew an estimated crowd of 400 people.
Each candidate was given one minute to answer several rounds of questions. A lightning round followed, where moderator Charlie Stile of the Bergen Record asked yes-no questions and candidates responded by raising their hands for “yes.” Only registered PCDO members could vote at the end of the forum, with a total of 154 votes cast using ranked choice.
Sue Altman, currently serving as state director for U.S. Senator Andy Kim, secured the PCDO endorsement by receiving 65 percent of the votes—surpassing the organization’s required threshold of 60 percent. Sam Wang, a Princeton University neuroscience professor and director of the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, finished third behind Altman and Adam Hamaway, a physician and army veteran based in Princeton Forrestal Village.
The forum covered topics including immigration enforcement, U.S. aid to Israel, healthcare access, housing affordability, government accountability, and climate change. The group of candidates reflected significant racial and ethnic diversity.
Rick Morales, a doctor and army veteran among the candidates, commented on the atmosphere: “he would be honored to be represented in Congress by any one of the candidates at the forum.”
While a PCDO endorsement does not have formal weight in determining ballot access or election outcomes, it can influence public perception during campaign season. Julia Sass Rubin, associate dean of Academic Programs at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School, said: “tonight’s forum in terms of the health of democracy was very exciting. It is incredible that we have 17 candidates. We do not know yet if each candidate will get the number of petition signers to qualify for a position on the ballot, but still the interest is awesome,”
The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University has been recognized through its Hall of Fame since 2013 and annual achievement awards dating back to 1994 (official website). The school also advances social impact through research centers focused on community development and other policy areas (official website). Its graduate urban planning program ranks third nationally while its undergraduate public health program ranks fourth (official website). Stuart Shapiro became dean in 2023 (official website).