Q&A with the Star and Wave
CAPE MAY−Lifelong New Jersey resident and civil rights lawyer Tim Alexander is one of four Democrats challenging U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew for his seat in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District.
As a young man, right at the start of his career in law enforcement, Alexander survived a violent encounter with Newark Police, where he was shot, beaten and wrongly charged.
“That event, along with my grandfather’s encouragement, motivated me to continue the path to a career in law enforcement on the premise, ‘In order to create change, it is best to do it from within,'” Alexander said. “I spent nearly 30 years in law enforcement. These roles give me credibility in public safety and justice because I’ve been on both sides of the badge.”
Alexander had planned to step away from politics, but the election of President Donald Trump in 2024 and his policies convinced Alexander to run again.
What is your background?
I was born in Newark [and] moved to Vineland in seventh grade and have spent most of my life in the NJ-2 district. During high school, I benefited from free and reduced lunch programs and my family lived in a public housing program that helped us transition from renting to owning a home. After graduating from Vineland High School, I joined the police academy at 18.
At 19, I experienced police brutality when officers shot at me and beat me during a mistaken identity incident. I fought the charges, cleared my name and later received damages. That experience fuels my activism.
I earned a bachelor’s degree from Drexel University in 2006, a graduate degree from Drexel’s LeBow College of Business in 2008. I spent nearly 30 years in law enforcement starting with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, moving to the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, and finally serving 23 years in the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, retiring as a captain of detectives.
During that time, I earned my law degree [from Rutgers School of Law] and served as an assistant district attorney and assistant city solicitor in Philadelphia, before focusing on civil rights litigation.
Today, I am a civil rights lawyer and activist advocating for people whose rights have been violated. My wife and I are parents, and our oldest daughter [has a] rare illness, which required a heart transplant at age 33. [That] has made access to affordable health care policy deeply personal for our family.
What made you decide to run?
I’m running because South Jersey needs a representative who will listen and fight for working families. Having been shot at by police when I was young and later serving as a captain of detectives, I have experienced both sides of our justice system.
[Recently], I have seen extreme policies in Washington strip away benefits and protections that supported my family and many others. When communities are losing jobs, health care benefits and basic rights, you can’t just watch from the sidelines. I’m running to bring my experience and passion to Congress and ensure South Jersey families of all socioeconomic and ethnic communities are not forgotten.
What issues are the focus of your campaign?
Jobs and economy: One of my top priorities is creating good-paying jobs in South Jersey. I support expanding and updating infrastructure.
- Health care: My daughter’s rare disease showed me that access to affordable, quality care is a matter of life or death. I will fight to lower health care costs, strengthen Medicaid and Medicare, and restore the ACA subsidies so no family [goes] bankrupt because of medical bills.
- Social justice and civil rights: Having experienced both being a victim of police violence and serving as a law enforcement officer, I will push for bipartisan legislation to end excessive force, increase transparency in police departments, and eliminate racial and religious profiling.
- Gun safety: As a gun owner and former detective, I believe we can respect the Second Amendment and keep our communities safe. I support universal background checks, extreme-risk protection orders, and safe-storage laws.
- Women’s and LGBTQ+ rights: I support protecting women’s reproductive health, closing the gender wage gap. I back the Equality Act, to safeguard LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination. These issues matter to me not just professionally but personally; my daughter is part of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Environment and infrastructure: I will fight for South Jersey to receive its fair share of resources for climate adaptation and infrastructure improvements.
- Protecting democracy: I support the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to reduce the influence of money in politics and protect voting rights.
- Education funding: I have developed a plan to bring money to assist school funding. Decriminalizing cannabis on a federal level will create revenue for our public pre-K through 12 education.
What issues do you believe will resonate in this conservative district?
[NJ-2] leans conservative, but there is common ground. People here want good jobs, safe communities and honest government. Expanding infrastructure and industry will create good-paying jobs and boost economic growth.
Many residents are responsible gun owners; my career and personal experience with firearms enable me to advocate for common-sense gun safety measures that respect the Second Amendment.
The cost of living and health care are bipartisan concerns; families across the spectrum worry about paying rent or medical bills, so making child-tax-credit expansions permanent and lowering health-care costs will resonate.
Conservative voters also care about government accountability; my refusal to take corporate PAC money and my commitment to transparency demonstrate that I am accountable only to the people.
How do you balance your campaign with your home life/family/work?
As a husband, father and working attorney, maintaining balance is essential. I organize
campaign activities around family commitments and keep open communication with my wife and children. My daughter’s health issues remind me daily why this work matters, and my family is fully dedicated to this cause. I also have a professional team handling campaign logistics, which allows me to continue practicing law, spend time with family, engage with constituents, and participate in fundraising.
The country is politically divided more so than ever. How do you plan to work across the aisle to bring change to South Jersey?
Our country has been torn apart and deeply wounded by the unprecedented level of hate and vitriol from the White House and its sycophants. However, there is hope. I’ve built my career on bringing people together. I have sat at kitchen tables with families from all political backgrounds and served alongside officers with different beliefs.
My experience [in] law enforcement and [as a] gun owner allows me to speak credibly to conservative voters about public safety and responsible gun ownership.
I support bipartisan police reform legislation to end excessive force, increase transparency and believe in finding common ground on immigration and national security issues. I will work to remove ICE agents from our streets, as they are not qualified to be there and are unredeemable.
In your past positions, how have you handled difficult decisions?
During my 23 years with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, I was often responsible for life-or-death decisions affecting officers and communities. I learned to gather all available information, different perspectives and base decisions on facts and justice rather than politics.
As a civil rights attorney, I have challenged police departments and government agencies when they have violated peoples’ rights. I have also defended them when they carried out their duties honorably. These cases demand tough judgments and the courage to challenge powerful institutions. Whether leading a criminal investigation or representing a client in court, I make decisions guided by integrity, transparency and service.
What are the major issues that southern New Jersey residents are facing?
Southern New Jersey faces real challenges:
1. Economic insecurity and job loss have hit the region.
2. Aging infrastructure: roads, bridges, and public transit are deteriorating, and broadband access remains unreliable.
3. Health care costs and access. Rural hospitals and clinics are struggling, and families can’t afford necessary care.
4. Environmental threats. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events threaten our coastal communities and agricultural economy.
5. Public safety and justice. Residents want secure communities without sacrificing civil liberties [and] are worried about gun violence. They also want to feel safe exercising their rights to free speech.
What ideas do you have to address these issues?
- Investing in infrastructure and jobs. I will fight for federal funding to rebuild our roads, bridges and ports, and to expand rail and bus services.
- Making the child tax credit and earned income credit expansions permanent. Protecting Medicaid, Medicare and rural hospitals. [I’ll] fight to restore the cuts to Medicaid [and] CHIP.
- Affordable health care and prescription drugs are crucial. I will advocate for caps on out-of-pocket costs and negotiate drug prices to reduce expenses. I will support my plan to allow anyone to buy into Medicare.
- Responsible gun safety. New Jersey has some of the most comprehensive gun laws in the nation and should serve as a model for federal legislation.
- Police reform and civil rights. I will collaborate on bipartisan bills to reduce excessive force, improve transparency and eliminate racial profiling.
- Climate resilience and clean energy. I will support investments in coastal protection, renewable energy, and climate-resilience. I will fight to restore funding to protect our District’s shorelines.
- Protecting voting rights and fair representation. I support the [acts] to stop gerrymandering and safeguard democracy.
- Attracting independent voters. [They] seek practical solutions rather than partisan talking points.
Why are you the strongest candidate to take on U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew?
I am uniquely qualified to challenge Jeff Van Drew because of my life and career experiences, which mirror the struggles and hopes of people in South Jersey. Programs like free and reduced-price lunches, [and a] housing program were lifelines that allowed my family opportunities that we otherwise would not have had.
[My] roles give me credibility in public safety and justice because I’ve been on both sides of the badge. I often joke that I have sat in every chair in a courtroom except the judge’s bench.
This is my third run for Congress. I’m running because this community invested in me when I had very little financially and I’m determined to restore and protect the programs that helped my family succeed.
Anything else you’d like to add that I didn’t ask?
I’m grateful for the support and enthusiasm I’ve received across South Jersey. I have been endorsed by Atlantic, Salem, Ocean, and Cumberland County Democratic Committees. I also received endorsements from several active mayors and council members, Unite Here, Local 54, and Indivisible: Empathy United.
This campaign isn’t about me. It’s about building a future where every family can thrive. Together, we can make South Jersey a place where every child can dream big and succeed.
– By RACHEL SHUBIN/For the Cape May Star and Wave
