Ex-Burlington County Freeholder Enters Congressional Race

Last year, Republicans across Burlington County were unseated by Democrats in a blue wave many attribute to national politics. Kate Gibbs was one of the Republicans unseated, as she and Linda Hughes lost their seats on the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Gibbs is now looking to return to elected office, this time at the national level. She announced on Wednesday that she will challenge Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) in the 2020 Congressional Elections.

“As a millennial Republican woman who has good friends on both sides of the aisle, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s brand of politics doesn’t represent me or everyone in my generation,” Gibbs said. “Turning our back on America, embracing socialism, threatening to eliminate private health insurance, and adopting Phil Murphy’s out-of-touch policies on Sanctuary Cities and taxpayer-funded giveaways to illegal immigrants is not a message that is going to sell in the Third Congressional District in 2020.”

Gibbs announced her candidacy in a release that describes Kim as “one of the most vulnerable freshman Democrats in the country.” The same year Gibbs lost her seat on the freeholder board, Kim edged Tom MacArthur to claim his first term in Congress in a race in which votes continued to be counted more than a week after Election Day. Read more here: Kim Edges MacArthur In NJ's 3rd Congressional District, AP Says

Gibbs is the Deputy Director for the Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative, which represents members and signatory contractors of Local 825 Operating Engineers. She believes her personal story will resonate with Third Congressional District voters.

“I was born in South Jersey, raised by a single mom, worked to put myself through school, and became the first person in my family to graduate from college,” Gibbs said. “From there, I went on to become one of the youngest women ever elected to countywide office in New Jersey, where I cut property taxes, improved school security, made life easier for working moms, and guaranteed equal pay for equal work. I want to bring that same common sense, pragmatic approach to Washington, and be a leader in Congress who isn’t anyone’s rubber stamp.”

Gibbs is the second Republican to enter the race. Barnegat Deputy Mayor John Novak has also filed to run for the party’s nomination in next year’s race, according to the New Jersey Globe.

Gibbs told the Burlington County Times she wants to focus on the voters’ issues and her record, not the president. Those issues include infrastructure and immigration. Gibbs said she believes she can appeal to moderate Democrats as the party moves further to the left.

In his first term in office, Kim helped introduce legislation to designed to help homeowners and businesses alike receive aid during and after a storm; voted to close gun safety loopholes and ensure universal background checks; and is focusing on the country’s opioid crisis, according to WOBM.

Before her election to the freeholder board, Gibbs served on the Rowan College at Burlington County Board of Trustees. During her tenure, she helped establish the former Burlington County College’s relationship with Rowan University, and helped expand the county’s Workforce Development Institute, she said.

She is an active member on boards and committees for various Chambers of Commerce and business and industry organizations throughout the state.

She earned her Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She also earned a B.A. from The American University, with a Double Major in Public Communications and Political Science.