Today, Brian Varela, a first-generation American, entrepreneur, and longtime Democratic organizer, officially announced his campaign for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th District. Varela enters the race with a promise to bring working-class grit and real-world experience to Washington—offering a sharp contrast to Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr.

“I’m not running for a title—I’m running to fight back,” said Varela. “I’ve lived the struggles that New Jersey families face every day. I’ve made impossible choices, raised my younger brother after my mom passed, and built a nationally recognized business during one of the toughest economic crises in modern history. I know what it’s like to struggle, to sacrifice, and to win—and that’s the fight I’ll take to Congress.”

The son of Colombian immigrants, Varela was born and raised in New Jersey. After putting himself through college while working full-time, he went on to build a successful small business that now employs over 120 people. His work has earned national recognition from Inc. Magazine and NJ Business Magazine, but it’s his grassroots activism that has made him a standout Democratic voice in NJ-07.

“I understand what it takes to run a winning campaign,” Varela said. “We’re building a team of national caliber professionals and local grassroots organizers. We will raise the funds we need to be a strong competitor in this race.” In recent years, Varela has become a trusted organizer across Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, Somerset, and Sussex counties—helping launch Democratic infrastructure where none existed, organizing Latino voters, and advocating for democratic reforms like ranked-choice voting.

“We need new voices in Washington—leaders who aren’t born into a political dynasty, who don’t come from privilege, and who actually understand what families are going through,” said Varela. “If you want to know who I’ll be fighting for, it’s everyone from cooks to food servers, truck drivers to Uber drivers, single parents to two-income families barely making ends meet. These are the people I’ve known my entire life. And I will never let them down.”

Varela’s campaign will focus on lowering costs for families, expanding student loans, creating more apprenticeships and good-paying jobs, and taking on both parties when they serve the wealthy instead of hard-working people.

The 7th District is considered one of the most competitive House seats in the country and the most competitive in New Jersey. NJ CD-07 is therefore key to Democrats’ efforts to retake the majority in 2026. Republican Tom Kean Jr. won the seat in 2022 by a narrow margin, after having previously lost the seat in 2020.

“Our campaign is built on people, not power,” said Varela. “We’re not waiting for permission—we’re organizing, mobilizing, and fighting for a future where every family has a fair shot.”

To learn more about Brian Varela and his campaign, visit www.varelaforcongress.com