As New Jersey prepares for a special election in the 11th Congressional District, voters will soon choose who will represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district includes portions of Morris, Essex, and Passaic counties and is home to thousands of students and families, including some from the Wayne Hills community.
The special primary election will take place on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Early voting will be held from January 29 through February 3, with Election Day voting occurring on February 5. The winner of the primary will advance to the special general election on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The election was scheduled after the seat became vacant when former Representative Mikie Sherrill resigned to become the governor of New Jersey.
To better understand where candidates stand on issues affecting young people, we reached out to candidates competing in the Democratic primary. Questions were sent to Democratic candidates because the primary features multiple contenders, while the Republican Party has only one declared candidate in the race. All candidates received the same set of questions, listed below.
Candidates were asked to respond to the following:
- What specific measures would you propose to strengthen public schools and support students in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District?
- What do you consider the most significant challenge facing teenagers today, and how would you address it as a member of Congress?
- How would you advocate for access to and funding for extracurricular activities such as clubs and sports in public schools?
Below are the responses from candidates who replied, along with brief background information for each. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
J-L Cauvin (Democrat)
Background:
J‑L Cauvin is a community advocate, lawyer, and nationally recognized comedian running for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th District. A Bloomfield resident, he previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in The Bronx and now represents vulnerable residents facing eviction while campaigning on issues like affordable housing, seniors’ protections, and regulation of artificial intelligence.
On strengthening public schools:
Cauvin said schools must ensure that artificial intelligence enhances learning rather than undermines it. He argued that AI should not become, in his words, a “cheat code” for students. Cauvin emphasized the need for congressional regulation to prevent AI from harming critical thinking, creativity, and civic engagement. While stressing the importance of well-funded schools and well-paid teachers, he said New Jersey must balance traditional education with responsible use of emerging technology so that “AI can be a tool for students rather than students being a tool for AI.”
On challenges facing teenagers:
Cauvin identified social media and online gambling as the biggest challenges facing teenagers today, citing their impact on mental health and learning. He emphasized the importance of limiting phone use in schools and explicitly supports the ban on phones in high schools as a step toward protecting students. Cauvin also said social media and online gaming companies need to take greater responsibility for the content they deliver, warning that they can “flood addictive and malicious content directly into the minds of young people.” To address these issues, he advocated for stronger laws holding companies accountable, restrictions on advertising aimed at young people, and increased funding for school-based mental health professionals.
On extracurricular activities:
Drawing from his own experience as a student athlete and student journalist, Cauvin said extracurricular activities should be treated as essential rather than optional. He argued that all students should have access to school-supported athletic programs, not just those who can afford private teams, and said arts and music should be valued equally with sports. Cauvin said he would advocate for expanded funding in Congress to ensure schools can provide these opportunities to all students.
Anna Lee Williams (Democrat)
Background Info:
Anna Lee Williams is a Democratic candidate from Morristown, a Rutgers University graduate, and a community advocate who has spent over a decade working with nonprofits like Make the Road NJ and Vietnamese Boat People to help immigrants understand their rights and build stronger communities. She is running for Congress on a platform she calls the Fair Deal, a set of policies focused on affordable education, healthcare, housing, worker protections, and expanding opportunity for everyday families.
On strengthening public schools:
Williams said strong public schools require sustained federal investment. She supports fully funding programs like Title I and IDEA to reduce schools’ reliance on local property taxes. She also advocates for affordable higher education, including capping college tuition and moving toward free public college and trade schools, so students can graduate without crippling debt. Williams said education should “expand opportunity, not create lifelong debt.”
On challenges facing teenagers:
Williams identified constant pressure as the biggest challenge facing teens, citing academic expectations, economic uncertainty, climate anxiety, and the normalization of lockdown drills. She also expressed concern about unregulated technology, particularly social media and AI, which can harm young people’s mental health, privacy, and sense of self-worth. To address these issues, Williams said she would push Congress to implement protections and guardrails, including regulations to hold tech companies accountable and safeguards that ensure students are not treated as “test subjects for tech companies.”
On extracurricular activities:
Williams described extracurricular activities as essential, not optional. Drawing on her own experience as a band student, she said programs like music, sports, and clubs provide leadership skills, teamwork, confidence, and mental health support. She said she would advocate for dedicated federal funding to ensure all students have access to these opportunities, regardless of budget constraints.
Zach Beecher (Democrat)
Background:
Zach Beecher is a Democratic candidate in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District and a Randolph High School graduate. A Major in the U.S. Army Reserves and Bronze Star recipient for his service in Iraq, he later worked in the private sector helping companies innovate and address social challenges, including fighting human trafficking and supporting healthcare initiatives. Beecher lives in Morristown with his wife and young son.
On strengthening public schools:
Beecher proposed a two-pronged approach to strengthen schools in NJ-11:
- Curriculum for the Future: He emphasized that students need 21st-century skills, not outdated instruction. Drawing on his experience in innovation and technology, he would work to increase federal grants for STEM, coding, and AI literacy, ensuring students are prepared to build the future economy rather than just react to it.
- Invest in Educators: Beecher said teachers are the backbone of the community, a value he credits to his parents’ work as a police officer and social worker. He supports federal funding to ensure educators are competitively paid and well-resourced, helping retain top talent in New Jersey classrooms.
“We cannot teach 20th-century skills in a 21st-century economy,” Beecher said, highlighting the need to prepare students for the future.
On challenges facing teenagers:
Beecher identified mental health and social connection as the biggest challenges facing teenagers, compounded by economic anxiety and the pressures of unregulated social media. Drawing on lessons from his mother’s work as a social worker for at-risk children, he said mental health cannot be treated as an afterthought.
To address these issues, he proposed two main actions:
- Mental Health Parity: Beecher said he would fight to enforce laws requiring insurance companies to fully cover mental health services, ensuring that no student is denied counseling or support because of cost.
- Service & Purpose: Recognizing that anxiety often stems from a lack of clear pathways, he supports expanding national service programs like AmeriCorps, giving high school graduates opportunities to serve their communities, gain skills, and earn money for college without taking on massive debt.
“No student should be denied counseling or support because their family cannot afford it,” Beecher said.
On extracurricular activities:
Beecher said extracurricular programs are essential “leadership labs” that teach resilience, teamwork, and citizenship. Drawing on his experiences in student government and athletics at Randolph High School, he said these skills were directly applicable when leading soldiers in combat, earning him the Bronze Star.
He supports a “Whole Student” approach to federal funding, including grants that protect arts, athletics, and civic programs during budget cuts and partnerships with local nonprofits to ensure all students have access, regardless of income.
“You learn how to be a citizen on the field and in the club room just as much as you do in the classroom,” Beecher said.
John Bartlett (Democrat)
Background:
John Bartlett is a Democratic candidate, a Wayne resident, and a Passaic County Commissioner. He has led nearly a decade of property tax reductions while improving county services, secured hundreds of millions in federal transportation funding for North Jersey, and worked on infrastructure, public safety, and economic opportunity. Bartlett holds degrees from Brown University and Harvard Law School and lives in Wayne with his wife and son.
On strengthening public schools:
Bartlett highlighted the importance of strategic investments in education, pointing to local programs such as the Passaic County STEM Academy, Biotech Academy, and expanded community college opportunities. He also emphasized supporting students who are not college-bound through school-to-work programs and trade school scholarships.
At the federal level, Bartlett said he would work to restore funding and staff to the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, which enforces protections for vulnerable students. He also supports increasing grants for college and professional school to help reduce student loan debt.
“Education tends to be funded locally, but federal support is essential to protect vulnerable students in New Jersey and across the nation,” Bartlett said.
On challenges facing teenagers:
Bartlett identified social media and electronic devices as a major challenge for teens, noting the risks of addiction, exposure to extreme content, and privacy concerns. He highlighted New Jersey’s recent ban on cell phone use by K-12 students during the school day as a step toward reducing anxiety and promoting in-person interaction.
He said Congress should consider restrictions on hyper-personalized algorithms, as well as safety and privacy protections, and content moderation, while consulting directly with young people on how legislation affects them.
“I would listen to young people when considering any legislation that affects their lives, including bans or regulations on devices and social media,” Bartlett said.
On extracurricular activities:
Bartlett said extracurriculars aren’t just “extras”: they’re essential for helping students grow, stay engaged, and develop skills they can use later in life. He pointed to his own experiences in student theater and journalism as examples of how these activities shaped his career.
He said he would work to make sure federal funding protects programs like music, arts, and clubs, so students don’t lose these opportunities when budgets get tight.
“Extracurriculars are the ‘balance’ to high-stress academic study and essential for personal development,” Bartlett said.
Several candidates shared their responses for this article, but not all had replied by press time. We will continue to seek input from every candidate to provide complete coverage. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and vote in the primary on February 5. Find your polling place and more information at nass.org/can-I-vote.
