Ramon Mora Jr. Runs for Congress as Progressive Independent
Photo courtesy of Ramon Mora Jr.
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
VINELAND – Ramon Mora, Jr. said he is clear headed about the challenge he faces running as an independent for the New Jersey Congressional District 2 seat held by Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew — and is willing to take his shot in November.
Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock emerged from a crowded Democratic primary to face Van Drew in June. Mora said the public should have another choice. He has lived in South Jersey for more than three decades, graduated from Vineland High School and Atlantic Cape Community College with a nursing degree.
“Soon after I sustained a back injury,” Mora told Front Runner New Jersey.com in a recent interview. “I focused on my physical recovery prior to this campaign for the past five or so years.
“On the end of my healing journey, I decided to go out and meet four out of the five potential Congressional candidates to which I decided this could not be our only choices forNovember. It was then that this campaign was launched.”
While progressive candidates have made inroads in many parts of the country this election cycle in Democratic primaries, Mora said recent Supreme Court decision that will allow more money to be fed to political candidates in each party has made the playing field more uneven than ever.
“The incredibly obvious [disadvantage] and biggest challenge is money,” Mora said. “The Supreme Court, coupled with Citizens United, recently just gave establishment candidates a nearly bottomless pool of money. With that said, every dollar given to me will be budgeted to it’s maximum potential.
“I lived nearly six years off just my hard work savings and gifts from family and friends who believed in my future. This experience has given me a unique perspective that will be a strength in looking for waste, fraud, and abuse in budgets should I be elected.”
Mora said he believes there is a real space for his campaign and has a campaign that is focused on affordability, housing and tackling high utility rates that will resonate with voters. Here are the other answers Mora gave to FRNJ in his campaign.
FRNJ: Why run as an independent as opposed to one of the parties?
Ramon Mora: I am running as a Progressive Independent due to my falling out with the Democratic Party over the years, In particular I refer to the Corporate/AIPAC owned democrats. I believe both major parties have failed to address the real needs of working families. One party campaigns on being for the people and yet does nothing but rip away from Americans for them corporate and foreign donors. The other campaigns as the party of change but govern as the party of maintenance for the other while beholden to their foreign and corporate donors. We saw that when congress wants to help their corporate and foreign donors they work at neck breaking speeds like they did with the TikTok Ban. But when the conversations are for benefits for the people, they say we need years of discussion. I want to offer a genuine alternative that is not beholden to party politics or corporate and foreign interests. Bring novel ideas and solutions that tackle root causes of issues we have in America.
FRNJ: What advantages do you hope your grassroots campaign will give you? And challenges?
Ramon Mora: The nature of a grassroots campaign is that it frees me from seeking establishment endorsements, and puts the focus on earning the endorsements of the people. If I get an endorsement from an individual or organization, it is because they believe in me and our campaign to put the people first and to invest in the people first.
FRNJ: Name two or three of the issues you’d like to tackle immediately if elected and why?
Ramon Mora: If elected my focus will immediately be on • 1)Affordability which encompasses Housing, Utilities, Healthcare, and food costs o The simplest why is that affordable cost of living in America has ran away from most Americans leaving them working to survive as oppose to working while living life. The stress people are under is palpable and is a result of them feeling as though they are stuck in survival mode where missing a day of work could result in them loosing out on an essential need.
• Infrastructure expansion, including building community centers that are just as vital of a public-good service such as the USPS. The why for this is about making America first class and not discount economy. I want our country to have the cleanest waters, best roads and bridges to connect communities with opportunities. I want expansion of electrical grids to reduce foreign energy dependence and to lower costs to Americans. It’s also about creating civilian infrastructure for community centers that are funded by the public. This creates opportunities for all ages as well as a focus on improving life for the youth with programs and activities that set them on a path to success.
Our youth over that last 2-3 decades have had major shifts from community to isolation and we have to change course. This infrastructure expansion also focuses on expanding public transit. This would reduce road maintenance costs, accidents, and environmental impacts while creating hands free & focus free forms of transportation. A robust, reliable, convenient, and affordable public transportation system can open up travel opportunities for leisure, employment, or access new areas to live.
• Expanding our education system making investments from regular academics to skill Trades. I want Americans to be top in class for as many fields as possible which includes trade skills. Its about making America more educated and skilled.
• Protecting the public’s health and wealth from AI Developers and against the natural side effects that come with AI Tech by passing a moratorium or temporary ban of AI Data centers. AI Development as it stands is a threat to our environment including our water supplies. While you may be able to generate a picture of a water bottle you won’t be able to drink it to keep you alive. Aside from the environmental concerns are the economic and moral/ethical concerns of AI. We need to have a plan for the mass unemployment AI can usher in time; the mass foreclosure and evictions related to mass unemployment; the hunger and famine associated with mass unemployment; and housing resale costs due to inhabitability of living close to these Hyperscale AI Data Centers.
FRNJ: What do you want voters to know the most about you, personally and as a candidate?
Ramon Mora: I want voters to know I am running because I have lived the struggle. From being unhoused as a teenager to the financial strain of a life halting injury. I want the people to know I am willing to fight for them to be able to live a happy and healthy life in America. That I am not a career politician; and that I am running to fight for the people who have been ignored. That it’s time a government works for you and not for the elite.
FRNJ: Anything else you’d like to add?
Ramon Mora: I want to add that I am focused on practical solutions not just platitudes or catchy one liners. That I am willing to fight the cheats so that everyone has a fighting chance to live a fair balanced life in America, regardless of who they voted for. I aim to be the presentative for EVERYONE in South Jersey CD-2. I made sure to do the work in talking to republicans, independents, and democrats from areas normally ignored to get on the ballot so that CD-2 had an option for change. I know I won’t be able to get there alone though. If we really want change, it’s going to take people volunteering to canvass, donate, or join in on the movement in some way. You can find more information on my campaign at www.SouthJerseyGrit.com.
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