Red Bank, New Jersey – On the heels of Tuesday’s wave election, Josh Welle, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 4th district, has released a new campaign ad for 2018.

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3hB5Wh7xcA&feature=youtu.be

Welle graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served 12 years active duty in the U.S. Navy including deployments in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Asia. He is an Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veteran and currently a Commander in the Navy Reserve.

The video highlights Welle’s background as a veteran and public servant, and calls for new leadership with integrity that works for the people. Welle is challenging Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) in 2018, whom Welle frames as an ineffective bystander to the Trump Administration. “After 36 years in office, he’s lost touch,” Welle charges. “[Smith] stands silent as health care premiums sore, the middle class goes unheard, and our President surrenders our leadership in the world day by terrifying day.”

The fourth district leans Republican, but results from Tuesday’s election put the 4th district in play. Good candidates and heavy organizing successfully won local seats in Monmouth County, including Legislative District 11 where Democrat Vin Gopal ousted incumbent Republican State Senator Jennifer Beck with 54% of the vote, a 15 point swing from 2013.