Peter Jacob
| Peter Jacob | |
|---|---|
| Born |
September 16, 1985 Kerala, India |
| Residence | Union, New Jersey |
| Alma mater | Kean University, Washington University in St. Louis |
| Occupation | Licensed Social Worker |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
Peter Jacob (born in Kerala, India 1985)[1] was a 2016 Democratic Party candidate in New Jersey's 7th congressional district who ran against Leonard Lance.[2] Jacob, a resident of Union, worked as a Licensed Social Worker until he began campaigning full-time.[3] Jacob lost the election with 43% of the vote, while Lance was re-elected with 55%. The 7th district had been gerrymandered in 2011 to benefit the GOP, with portions of Morris County added, according to a report in NJ.com.[4]
Education
Jacob has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Kean University and a Master of Social Work from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis.[5] Jacob's time studying was accompanied with working with the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, the YWCA and the International Institute.[6]
Social work
Jacob began his professional career as a social worker after attaining his master's degree. Jacob's service included being the coordinator of Operation Warm Heart, which provides meals and shelter for the homeless during the cold winter months.[7] He said that his campaign "is a continuation of my social service [for the community]."[8]
2016 congressional campaign
Jacob ran in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District against Republican incumbent Leonard Lance. Jacob decided to run after witnessing through his social work the "challenges that many marginalized communities faced". He saw the main problem as being "special, corporate, corrupt interests being put above the people's...",[9] hence what later became Jacob's main campaign slogan "People Over Politics". The Jacob campaign consisted of a full-volunteer staff, and was not funded by any special interests.[10]
Jacob received more votes than any other candidate in a primary in the history of the 7th Congressional District. Jacob received 45,272 votes in the primary, and his opponent Leonard Lance received 31,489.[11]
In the general election on November 8, 2016, Jacob lost with 43% of the vote; Lance won with 54% of the vote (Jacob received 148,188 votes, and Lance received 185,850 votes).[12]
On February 22, 2017, as Jacob attended a Town Hall meeting with Lance, Jacob said that he was "pretty positive" he would run in the 2018 congressional elections.[13]
2018 congressional campaign
On June 20th, 2017, Jacob announced the launch of an exploratory committee for a potential 2018 congressional campaign. [14]
References
- ↑ Peter Jacob Hoping to Win New Jersey Congressional Seat With Focus on Public Service
- ↑ Progressive Newcomer Aims to Win Congressional Seat in Lance’s CD7
- ↑ Jacob pursuing American dream straight to Congress
- ↑ nj.com, Salvador Rizzo, November 6, 2012, N.J. 7th Congressional District winner: Leonard Lance, Retrieved December 20, 2016, "...Last year, parts of Morris County were added, which helped Republicans maintain an advantage in registered voters...."
- ↑ Peter Jacob Hoping to Win New Jersey Congressional Seat With Focus on Public Service
- ↑ Albanese Jr., Giovanni. "Peter Jacob Turns Focus to New Jersey 7th Congressional General Election". www.indiawest.com. Retrieved 7/20/16. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Winter shelter warms Union County’s homeless". nj.com.
- ↑ "New Jersey Congressional Candidate Peter Jacob, full interview". trofire.com.
- ↑ "New Jersey Congressional Candidate Peter Jacob, full interview". trofire.com.
- ↑ "New Jersey Congressional Candidate Peter Jacob, full interview". trofire.com.
- ↑ "CD 7 Candidate Jacob’s Record Breaking Primary". patch.com.
- ↑ "New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2016". ballotpedia.org.
- ↑ "Angry crowd dogs Lance over Obamacare and Trump at town hall meeting". NJ.com.
- ↑ "Peter Jacob Announces 2018 Exploratory Committee". YouTube.com.