Short campaign updates—what I’m hearing, what I’m building, and what I’m working on. No hype. Just progress.
People Over Politics: Lunch with Steve Welzer
September 4, 2026
I had a great lunch in East Windsor with fellow NJ-03 candidate Steve Welzer. Yes, we are opponents on the ballot, and we can still sit down together, share a meal, talk about our community, discuss the issues, find common ground and enjoy the conversation.
We discovered quite a few connections, from Mercer County Community College to Hightstown and East Windsor, and talked about how much this community has changed over the years.
Steve and I have both been willing to show up, have conversations and engage on the issues. If two people running against each other can sit down for lunch and talk like neighbors, why can’t our politics look a little more like this?
We can disagree. We can compete. We can debate. And we can still respect one another. That is what democracy is supposed to look like. People over politics.
Ryan Michael Kelly and fellow NJ-03 candidate Steve Welzer after lunch at Town Diner in East Windsor on September 4, 2026.
The Choice in NJ-03: A Campaign Series
September 2026
Voters deserve to hear directly from the people asking to represent them. The Choice in NJ-03 examines statements from the 2026 campaign and Republican primary debate in context, followed by where I stand.
The series includes serious disagreements, areas of genuine common ground, and the different visions of representation voters are being asked to consider. New installments are being released throughout September.
The complete series is available in one place on the campaign website.
What Happened in Hightstown — And Why I Want to Replace ICE
August 2026
What happened here in Hightstown reinforced why I believe America’s immigration-enforcement system needs fundamental reform.
I spent more than a decade working inside the Department of Homeland Security in civil-rights and civil-liberties oversight. Immigration enforcement must operate within the Constitution, respect due process, and be subject to meaningful independent oversight.
I support abolishing ICE and replacing it with a lawful, humane enforcement structure built around legitimate public-safety needs, due process, civil rights, transparency, and accountability.
Congress has the authority—and responsibility—to establish the law, fund or defund agencies, conduct oversight, protect civil rights, and reform institutions that are failing.
Recent concerns surrounding the Freehold Public Library raised questions about transparency, governance, public participation, technology oversight, and access to public records.
Rather than rely on rumors or social-media claims, I attended a Library Board meeting, listened, reviewed what was publicly available, and filed public-records requests seeking additional information.
Some of those requests remain limited by exemptions and ongoing-investigation claims. I will continue distinguishing between what can be documented and what remains unverified.
That is what accountability should look like: ask questions, obtain records, examine the evidence, and do not claim more than the facts support.
Congress Must Reclaim Its Responsibility for War and Spending
August 2026
I believe America should be extraordinarily cautious about sending people to war.
Congress has a constitutional responsibility over war powers and federal spending. Those responsibilities should not be surrendered to presidents of either party or reduced to rubber-stamping enormous military packages without meaningful debate and oversight.
I oppose unnecessary military escalation and believe diplomacy should come first. When Congress considers extraordinary military expenditures, members should be able to explain what the money is for, what the objective is, what oversight exists, and why those resources should not instead address urgent needs here at home.
Supporting our troops also means being responsible about when we ask them to fight.
Recognized as a 2026 Gun Sense Candidate
August 2026
I received the 2026 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction.
My position on firearms does not fit neatly into the usual political boxes. I support the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding firearm owners. I also support effective background checks, secure storage, community violence prevention, suicide prevention, and Extreme Risk Protection Orders with strong due-process protections.
I do not believe protecting constitutional rights and taking gun violence seriously are mutually exclusive.
The Gun Sense Candidate distinction is not an endorsement by Moms Demand Action or Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund.
I signed the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s 2026 Cancer Promise, committing to support cancer research, prevention and early detection, and affordable access to healthcare.
Cancer touches virtually every family eventually. Congress has an important role in supporting research while making sure people can actually obtain screenings, treatment, prescriptions, and follow-up care without being financially devastated.
This commitment fits into my broader belief that healthcare should be guaranteed to everyone—not determined by income or employment.
Supporting organized labor should not begin and end with asking unions for endorsements.
Kelly for NJ-03 is choosing union printing for campaign literature whenever practicable, and our current campaign literature is union-printed and carries the union bug.
Campaign spending is one small way candidates can demonstrate their values. If we ask voters to support good jobs, collective bargaining, fair wages, and workers’ rights, campaigns should think about those principles when spending their own money too.
Happy 250th Birthday, America
July 4, 2026
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what this country means, what it asks of us, and what we owe to the next generation.
Our founding ideals were never fully realized at the beginning. The work of America has always been about expanding the promise of liberty, dignity, equality, and self-government to more people.
Today, families across New Jersey are facing real challenges: affordability, healthcare, housing, civil rights, public safety, war, division, and whether government is still listening to ordinary people.
This Independence Day, I believe we should recommit ourselves to building a country worthy of its promise — one where government serves people, protects rights, and leaves the nation stronger for those who come after us.
Earlier this summer, I announced that our campaign had filed its petitions. Now we can close that chapter: Kelly for NJ-03 is on the ballot for the November general election.
We submitted 318 petition signatures after meeting people throughout Burlington and Mercer Counties. Every signature represented someone willing to give an Independent candidate the opportunity to compete and voters another choice.
Getting on the ballot was not the destination. It gave us the opportunity to do the real work: listening across NJ-03, developing detailed positions, earning trust, and giving voters an alternative to politics as usual.
Thank you to everyone who signed, volunteered, introduced me to a neighbor, or simply stopped to talk.
Campaign Update: Petitions Filed
June 5, 2026
Petitions have officially been filed.
Over the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet hundreds of people from more than 30 communities across Burlington and Mercer Counties. Whether it was at libraries, senior centers, community events, planning board meetings, rallies, neighborhood gatherings, or simply conversations along the way, one thing became clear: people want to be heard.
The issues that came up most often weren’t surprising. Families talked about affordability, healthcare, housing, public safety, civil rights, government accountability, and whether elected officials are truly listening. Many people also shared concerns about international issues, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Others spoke about LGBTQ rights, economic security, education, and the challenges facing their communities.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who signed a petition, stopped to talk, shared ideas, offered advice, introduced me to neighbors, invited me to events, or simply encouraged me to keep going.
A special thank you goes to Lisa, who volunteered her time to help collect signatures and support the campaign throughout the petition process.
Running as an Independent has never been about making things easier. It’s about giving voters more choices and building a campaign that answers to people rather than political parties.
While a few procedural steps remain and petition challenges are always possible, I feel optimistic about where we stand. The petition process was an important milestone, but it was never the finish line. In many ways, it’s the beginning.
Now we move into the next phase: growing the campaign, earning support, building relationships, and continuing to listen. If you’d like to help, we’re looking for volunteers, local endorsements, community leaders, supporters willing to spread the word, and grassroots fundraising assistance.
Every conversation matters. Every introduction helps. Every supporter makes a difference. Thank you for helping bring us this far. I’m looking forward to the road ahead.
Pride, Community, and Solidarity in Haddon Township
June 4, 2026
I joined the Full Circle Pride Parade in Haddon Township, marching down Haddon Avenue alongside members of the community and organizations participating in the annual celebration.
I had been invited to march with the South Jersey DSA contingent. People from several groups participated, including advocates with South Jersey for Gaza, and I carried Palestinian flags during the parade.
For me, showing up for LGBTQ+ equality and expressing solidarity with Palestinians are both rooted in a belief in human dignity. People should be able to live openly, safely and equally — and human rights should not depend on where someone lives or who they are.
Ryan Michael Kelly at the Haddon Township Full Circle Pride Parade on June 4, 2026.
No Kings in Hightstown
March 28, 2026
I joined neighbors in Hightstown for the March 28 No Kings demonstration, part of a nationwide day of peaceful protest focused on democracy, constitutional government and limits on executive power.
One of the things I value about community demonstrations is seeing how people find their own ways to participate — sometimes serious, sometimes creative, and occasionally involving a unicorn.
Democracy requires more than voting every few years. It also requires people who are willing to show up, speak out, ask questions and insist that those entrusted with power remain accountable to the public.
At the No Kings demonstration in Hightstown on March 28, 2026.
Standing for Peace in Mount Laurel
March 26, 2026
I joined a South Jersey for Gaza vigil in Mount Laurel, one of the recurring Thursday gatherings calling attention to the continuing humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinians.
I believe Americans can oppose antisemitism, care about the safety of Israelis and still demand protection of Palestinian civilians, humanitarian access, accountability under international law and an end to policies that perpetuate war and displacement.
Peace requires more than saying we oppose war. It requires being willing to question how American power and resources are used, insist on meaningful congressional oversight and keep the human consequences of foreign policy in view.
Ryan Michael Kelly with participants at a South Jersey for Gaza vigil in Mount Laurel on March 26, 2026.
War Is Never Just Strategy — A Personal Reflection
March 4, 2026
Over the past few days, I have taken time to reflect on the news that the United States has entered into conflict with Iran.
For many Americans, war can feel like a distant policy debate. But for military families, it is never abstract.
My father served his entire career in the United States Air Force and retired as a colonel. He is now buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Supporting our troops means being absolutely certain that when we send Americans into harm’s way, it is necessary, lawful, and supported by the American people.
One year ago on President’s Day, I stood with federal workers, families, veterans, and neighbors during the 50501 “No Kings” gathering. There was a church choir singing, kids bundled up in the cold, and one message that echoed again and again: Congress, do your job.
I’ve been thinking about that moment a lot. We don’t need more shouting—we need people willing to show up, roll up their sleeves, and fix what isn’t working. A year ago, I was asking Congress to do its job. Today, I’m asking for the chance to go do it.
Speaking up for students and steady school leadership
October 2025
I spoke during public comment at the East Windsor Regional School District Board of Education meeting on October 13, 2025. My remarks came after a mix of political framing from some speakers and thoughtful comments from students.
I wanted to re-center the conversation on what actually matters: students benefit from stable, effective school leadership, and transitions should be handled carefully and transparently — not turned into a game of “gotcha” politics.
I also thanked the district team for presenting data in a way that was understandable and usable — because if we’re going to talk about outcomes, we should be serious about evidence, not just narratives.
Years ago, early in my own public service, I was part of a generation of people who believed we were closer than ever to guaranteeing healthcare as a right, not a privilege. That belief wasn’t partisan — it was moral and practical.
The Affordable Care Act was a step forward. It expanded coverage and helped millions. But it was also a compromise, and it left too many people exposed to rising costs, complexity, and uncertainty.
What stayed with me wasn’t a person or a photo op — it was the idea that some promises are bigger than any single career. Universal healthcare is one of them. We can do better than a system that rewards middlemen and punishes people for getting sick.
Early in my public service, at a New Jersey labor event.
Why I’m running
January 2026
I’m running for Congress because NJ-03 deserves representation that’s serious, honest, and focused on solving real problems—without the noise, cynicism, and performative politics that have become normal in Washington.
I’m not running to “go viral.” I’m running to do the work: listen carefully, study the issues, and build practical solutions that people can understand and trust.
Why I’m running as an Independent
January 2026
I’m running as an Independent because I don’t believe our district benefits from automatic party loyalty. I want to be accountable to the people who live here—not to party leadership, consultants, or national incentives.
Independence isn’t about refusing to work with others. It’s about being able to work with anyone when it helps NJ-03, and being willing to say no when something is wrong—regardless of who proposed it.
What we’re building right now
January 2026
This campaign is being built the right way: steady, transparent, and grounded in real conversations across the district.
Near-term priorities:
Listening sessions and outreach across NJ-03
Publishing “working draft” policy notes that show real thinking
Recruiting volunteers and building neighborhood-level capacity
Making it easy for people to get involved without hype or pressure
If you want to help, the simplest place to start is the Get Involved page. Even one hour a week makes a difference.
