Kyle Little

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This candidate is participating in a 2026 battleground election. Click here to read more about that election.
Kyle Little
Democratic Party
Candidate, U.S. House New Jersey District 12
Elections and appointments
Next election
June 2, 2026
Education
High school
Linden High School
Graduate
Montclair State University, 2014
Personal
Religion
Unaffiliated Christian
Profession
Entrepreneur
Contact
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Campaign Instagram
Campaign YouTube
Campaign TikTok

Kyle Little (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent New Jersey's 12th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on June 2, 2026.[source]

Little completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

2026 battleground election

See also: New Jersey's 12th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 Democratic primary)

Ballotpedia identified the June 2 Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.

Thirteen candidates are running in the Democratic primary for New Jersey's 12th Congressional District on June 2, 2026. Susan Altman (D), Brad Cohen (D), Adam Hamawy (D), Adrian Mapp (D), Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D), Shanel Robinson (D), and Jay Vaingankar (D) lead in endorsements and media attention.

Incumbent Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) is not running for re-election. As of May 12, 2026, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rated the general election as Solid Democratic. Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it as Safe Democratic.

Rider University's Micah Rasmussen said that Watson Colemon's retirement and the historical precedent that the incumbent president's party typically loses seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in midterm elections have led to a large number of candidates running in the Democratic primary.[1]

According to the New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox, the seven noteworhty candidates mentioned above all have viable paths to winning the nomination. Fox also wrote that Cohen, Mapp, Reynolds-Jackson, and Robinson have support in the areas that they represented in their elected positions heading into the Democratic primary.[2] The Democratic Committees in the four counties the district covers have endorsed different candidates. According to the New Jersey Globe's Zach Blackburn, the split in committee endorsements means that "[n]o candidate has dominant establishment support."[3]

Below is a background on each candidate. To read more about how Ballotpedia defines noteworthy candidates, click here.

  • Cohen is a physician and surgeon who was first elected mayor of East Brunswick in 2016. He previously served on the East Brunswick Board of Education from 2010 to 2016.[6] The Middlesex County Democratic Committee endorsed Cohen.[7]
  • Hamawy is a surgeon and business owner who served in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2011.[8] U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) endorsed Hamawy. In 2004, Hamawy operated on Duckworth following an attack on her helicopter in Iraq.[9]

Matt Adams (D), Elijah Dixon (D), Kyle Little (D), Squire Servance (D), Sujit Singh (D), and Samuel Wang (D) are also running in the primary.

Watson Coleman said she would not endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary.

Matt Adams (D), Adam Hamawy (D), Kyle Little (D), Adrian Mapp (D), and Samuel Wang (D) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

This is one of 57 open races for the U.S. House of Representatives this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. Across the country, 21 Democrats and 36 Republicans are not running for re-election. In 2024, 45 incumbents — 24 Democrats and 21 Republicans — did not seek re-election.

Elections

2026

See also: New Jersey's 12th Congressional District election, 2026

New Jersey's 12th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 Democratic primary)

New Jersey's 12th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 Republican primary)

General election

The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 12

The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 12 on June 2, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Matt Adams
Matt Adams Candidate Connection
Image of Susan Altman
Susan Altman
Image of Brad Cohen
Brad Cohen
Image of Elijah Dixon
Elijah Dixon
Image of Adam Hamawy
Adam Hamawy Candidate Connection
Image of Kyle Little
Kyle Little Candidate Connection
Image of Adrian Mapp
Adrian Mapp Candidate Connection
Image of Verlina Reynolds-Jackson
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson
Image of Shanel Robinson
Shanel Robinson
Image of Squire Servance
Squire Servance
Image of Sujit Singh
Sujit Singh
Image of Jay Vaingankar
Jay Vaingankar
Image of Samuel Wang
Samuel Wang Candidate Connection

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 12

Gregg Mele is running in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Jersey District 12 on June 2, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Gregg Mele
Gregg Mele

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from RealClearPolitics, when available. We will regularly check for polling aggregation for this race and add polls here once available. To notify us of polls available for this race, please email us.

Campaign spending

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Matt Adams Democratic Party $85,764 $65,942 $19,822 As of May 13, 2026
Susan Altman Democratic Party $490,068 $289,698 $200,369 As of May 13, 2026
Brad Cohen Democratic Party $700,545 $517,992 $182,553 As of May 13, 2026
Elijah Dixon Democratic Party $8,805 $7,890 $915 As of May 13, 2026
Adam Hamawy Democratic Party $1,028,937 $718,239 $310,697 As of May 13, 2026
Kyle Little Democratic Party $30,556 $35,090 $2,580 As of May 13, 2026
Adrian Mapp Democratic Party $430,668 $362,656 $68,013 As of May 13, 2026
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson Democratic Party $282,598 $220,829 $61,769 As of May 13, 2026
Shanel Robinson Democratic Party $140,250 $96,344 $43,907 As of May 13, 2026
Squire Servance Democratic Party $390,651 $333,046 $57,606 As of May 13, 2026
Sujit Singh Democratic Party $126,525 $43,171 $83,354 As of May 13, 2026
Jay Vaingankar Democratic Party $285,300 $249,170 $36,130 As of May 13, 2026
Samuel Wang Democratic Party $465,174 $294,285 $170,889 As of May 13, 2026

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[19][20][21]

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

By candidate By election

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Kyle Little completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Little's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

My name is Kyle Little I am a 36-year-old openly gay African American man and the owner of Isolation Fitness, which operates studios in Metuchen and Edison, New Jersey. I also serve as an adjunct college professor at Kean University. Originally from Union County, I graduated from Linden High School in 2006, and I earned my master’s degree from Montclair State University in 2014. I am running for Congress with the goal of rebranding and bringing change to the Democratic Party by advocating for better justice, equality, and rights for all Americans. If elected, he would become the first Black openly gay man to serve in Congress from the state of New Jersey.
  • A Fighter Against Fascism I believe the Democratic Party is missing one crucial element right now — the willingness to fight back against fascism of MAGA Republicans, with strength and clarity. I will be that fighter, ready to stand up against extremism and defend our democracy.
  • Stronger Voices, Stronger Messaging We need more leaders who can clearly and fearlessly communicate our values. I will bring bold, unapologetic messaging that inspires people, counters misinformation, and builds trust in the Democratic Party. We also need younger, more passionate voices. Right now, 31 Democrats in the House of Representatives are over 75 years old. The Party needs fresh energy and perspective to help lift its approval rating, which currently sits at just 27%.
  • Breaking Barriers for Justice and Equality As a 36-year-old openly gay African American man, small business owner, and college professor, I know what it means to work hard and fight for fairness. If elected, I will make history as the first Black openly gay man to serve in Congress from New Jersey — and I will use that platform to champion justice, equality, and opportunity for all Americans.
Education and Honest History

I am committed to strengthening our education system and ensuring that students learn the full, unfiltered truth about American history. Understanding our past is essential to building a better future.


Women’s Reproductive Rights and Maternal Health

I am deeply passionate about protecting women’s reproductive rights, with a special focus on addressing the alarming maternal mortality rate among Black women in New Jersey, who die during childbirth at seven times the rate of white women.


LGBTQIA+ Rights

With the Supreme Court being asked to reverse same-sex marriage, I am committed to defending and advancing LGBTQIA+ rights. As a gay married man who relies on my husband’s health insurance, these rights are
One of my greatest inspirations is Bayard Rustin: an openly gay Black man who served as a trusted advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was the chief architect of the historic March on Washington, the largest demonstration in United States history at the time, drawing over 250,000 people. As an openly gay Black man running for Congress, I pay homage to Rustin’s courage and vision. I will always share his story and legacy with the American people, because he paved the way for countless minorities to gain the rights and freedoms we have today. His life reminds us that true progress is built on the shoulders of those willing to stand boldly for justice; even when the world is not ready to accept them.
I believe elected officials must demonstrate true leadership and a willingness to fight for their constituents.
The core responsibility of this office is to vote in the best interest of the people, not the party. Be there to assist Mayors, Councilmen and other leaders in your district.
I want to leave a legacy built on truth, honesty, and always doing what’s right for the people. As an educator, small business owner, and a Black openly gay man, I understand firsthand the importance of standing up for marginalized communities.

By fighting for them, and for all the people of my district — I hope to leave behind a legacy rooted in righteousness, service, and the unwavering belief that leadership means putting people first.
The first major historical event I remember in my lifetime was the attack on September 11, 2001. I was in 8th grade, and I can still picture classmates being called out of school early as the news spread. There was a heaviness in the air: a sadness that seemed to blanket the entire country.

For me, the moment felt even more surreal because it came just a few weeks after the tragic death of R&B singer Aaliyah in a plane crash. Experiencing those two events so close together at a young age left a lasting impression on me about the fragility of life and the way sudden tragedy can unite people in grief.
My first job was a Pinho's Bakery in Roselle, NJ. I started working there at the age of 15 and I left at age 18, when I went off to college at Montclair State University.
My favorite book is Letters to a Young Brother by Hill Harper. I first read it as an 18-year-old freshman in college, right at the point in my life when I was stepping into adulthood and learning to navigate the challenges and responsibilities that come with it. The book guided me toward making better choices, staying focused on my goals, and maturing into the person I was meant to be.

It also inspired me to get involved in organizations, serve my community, and embrace the leadership qualities I had within me. Hill Harper’s words reminded me that our paths are shaped by the values we choose to live by — and they helped shape mine.
One of the biggest struggles in my life was growing up with divorced parents. My parents separated when I was just five years old, and from that point on, my family expanded in different directions. My father remarried and later divorced again, while my mother had another child — my little sister, Destiny, who has always been a great blessing in my life.

The divorce was difficult, especially as a child. I had to split my time between two homes, navigating birthdays and holidays in a way that often made me feel like a piece being passed back and forth. There were times I felt caught in the middle, but I was fortunate to have the unwavering love and support of both my parents.

That experience taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of cherishing family, no matter how it’s shaped. It also gave me a deep understanding of how life’s challenges can make us stronger and more compassionate toward others.
The House of Representatives plays a unique and vital role in our democracy because it can hold the executive branch more accountable. As the lower house of Congress, it serves as an equal branch of government with the power to represent the people directly.
Although I do not have prior political experience, I see that as an advantage rather than a liability. Too many career politicians have stayed in office for decades, becoming complicit and content.
One of the greatest challenges facing the United States today is overcoming the rise of fascism that has infiltrated our government.
I believe the two-year term length for Representatives is appropriate because it allows voters to hold them accountable quickly if they fail to represent their constituents effectively.
I strongly support term limits — no one should serve in Congress for more than 24 years: 12 terms in the House or 4 terms in the Senate. Long-term incumbency often leads to complacency and detachment from the needs of everyday Americans.
The current member of Congress I most admire is Representative Jasmine Crockett, because she is unapologetically committed to the fight for justice and equality. I would say that I am the "male version" of her.
While I believe compromise has its place in politics, there can be no compromise with MAGA Republicans, who are driven by self-interest and the demands of the wealthiest among us, with no concern for the well-being of the nation.
Laboratories of Democracy
I have many accomplishments that I’m proud of — earning my master’s degree in 2014, serving as the undergraduate representative for my fraternity, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated, from 2010 to 2011; but the one that means the most to me is opening my fitness studio, Isolation Fitness.
I built that studio entirely on my own, with no outside help, after working in numerous gyms across the state of New Jersey. Today, Isolation Fitness has grown to two physical locations. Even now, it’s still a little surreal to drive by and see my name and logo on the front of those stores — a constant reminder of hard work paying off.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.


Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Kyle Little campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026* U.S. House New Jersey District 12On the Ballot primary$30,556 $35,090
Grand total$30,556 $35,090
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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External links

Candidate

U.S. House New Jersey District 12
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ New Jersey Monitor, "58 line up to run in congressional primaries as Democrats eye gains," March 25, 2026
    2. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "The Final List Of Who’s Running For Congress In New Jersey In 2026," April 2, 2026
    3. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "NJ-12 Democrats try to find their groove," April 14, 2026
    4. ↑ LinkedIn, "Sue Altman," accessed April 12, 2026
    5. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "N.J. College Democrats Endorse Bennett, Altman," March 2, 2026
    6. ↑ LinkedIn, "Brad Cohen," accessed April 12, 2026
    7. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "Cohen Easily Wins Middlesex Dem Endorsement For NJ-12," March 11, 2026
    8. ↑ LinkedIn, "Adam Hamawy," accessed April 12, 2026
    9. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "NJ-12’s newest entrant: The former Army combat surgeon who saved Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s life," January 15, 2026
    10. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "Plainfield Mayor Will Run For NJ-12," November 26, 2025
    11. ↑ Union County Democratic Committee, "Mayor Adrian Mapp," accessed April 12, 2026
    12. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "Union County Democrats Back Mapp For Watson Coleman’s House Seat," February 8, 2026
    13. ↑ LinkedIn, "Verlina Reynolds-Jackson," accessed April 12, 2026
    14. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "Reynolds-Jackson Clears Field To Win Mercer Endorsement On First Ballot," February 26, 2026
    15. ↑ LinkedIn, "Shanel Robinson," accessed April 12, 2026
    16. ↑ New Jersey Globe, "Robinson Wins Somerset Democratic Endorsement In NJ-12 Primary," March 18, 2026
    17. ↑ Jay Vaingankar," accessed April 12, 2026
    18. ↑ National Today, "Former Energy Secretary Endorses Jay Vaingankar for Congress," April 3, 2026
    19. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
    20. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
    21. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021


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