Anna Lee Williams

Anna Lee Williams (Democratic Party) ran in a special election to the U.S. House to represent New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. She lost in the special Democratic primary on February 5, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Anna Lee Williams, and I’m running for Congress because you deserve a fair deal from your government. I was born and raised in South Plainfield in a middle-class Vietnamese-Italian American family. My mom has worked at Rutgers University for over 25 years, and my dad is a welder at a chemical factory. Growing up, there was always a quiet worry — what if someone got hurt, lost a job, or the factory closed? My parents did everything they were supposed to do, but security still felt fragile, and that experience shaped how I see the world. I was the first in my family to earn a college degree, studying political science and anthropology at Rutgers University, where I graduated at the top of my class, and I learned that most people want the same basic things: to be healthy, feel safe, and have a real chance to build a good life. For the past decade, I’ve worked across the nonprofit and private sectors building education access, workforce development, and small business support programs, partnering with community organizations to deliver real, on-the-ground impact and leading initiatives focused on mentorship, training, and expanding opportunity for working families. I also volunteer locally with organizations addressing food insecurity and youth empowerment. I’m running for Congress because New Jersey should be a place where you can afford to stay, raise a family, and retire with dignity — and because we need leaders who are ready to fix it.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Healthcare — You deserve healthcare that won't bankrupt you.

You deserve universal healthcare — care that’s there when you need it, no matter where you work or how much you earn. Too many people lose coverage when they change jobs, face medical debt after emergencies, or avoid care because it’s too expensive. A Fair Deal means healthcare as a right, with mental health care fully covered and an end to surprise bills and insurance games. I will fight for universal healthcare at the federal level — and if Washington won’t act, I’ll work to help deliver it here in New Jersey. Your health should never depend on your employer or your paperwork skills.Housing — You deserve to live in a home you can afford.

You deserve a safe, stable, affordable place to live. Right now, rising rents and home prices are pushing people out while corporations and venture capital firms treat housing like an investment instead of a home. A Fair Deal means building more middle housing like duplexes and townhomes, converting empty malls and warehouses into apartments, and restricting large investors from buying up single-family homes. It means using community land trusts and rent-to-own models, building new housing near public transit, helping young families build wealth, and making it easier for seniors to downsize and age with dignity. Housing should be a source of stability, not stress.Education — You deserve a path to education without crushing debt.

You deserve an education system that opens doors, not one that depends on your ZIP code or leaves you buried in debt. A Fair Deal means fully funding public schools so students aren’t penalized by where they live, paying teachers fairly, and expanding mental health and special education supports. It also means affordable, high-quality childcare and universal pre-K so families can work and kids can thrive from the start. From tuition-free community college to debt relief and strong apprenticeship pathways, education should lead to real opportunity and economic security — not a lifetime of loans.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about building a future that actually works for people. That means regulating AI so it protects workers, privacy, and democracy instead of concentrating power and accelerating inequality. I care deeply about rooting out corruption and corporate influence, because our government should answer to voters — not billionaires or special interests. As the child of immigrants, I’m committed to fair, humane immigration policies that reflect our values and recognize immigrants as essential to our communities and economy. At the end of the day, my focus is on moving our country forward — with accountability, dignity, and opportunity for everyone.