Rachel Peace

Rachel Peace earned a high school diploma from Brick Township Memorial High School and a bachelor's degree from Hofstra University in 2014. Her career experience includes working in communications.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Rachel Peace, the Congressional District 4 nominee, was born and raised at the Jersey Shore. Until now, the millennial has made her voice heard as a concerned mom speaking out about ways to make life more affordable for NJ families - from healthcare to housing to food. Her perspective is that the unbearable cost of living is a reflection of a broken system, not individual failures. Peace has also contributed to efforts to curb pollution and protect open spaces for a healthy future for her five-year-old.

She continues to consider herself a public servant, not a politician, unlike incumbent Chris Smith. After 45 years, she feels he has had time and a half to make positive changes for the community. Peace believes he should step aside for a new generation of leadership to propose “A Better Way” than “the way things have always been.” The founder of Hyperfocused Communications, Peace launched her business in 2022 and offers media relations and content marketing to founders, nonprofits, and startups. Earlier in her career, she had a hand in NYC Broadway Week, drawing on her theatrical roots planted at Brick Township Memorial High School. Rachel earned her BA in Public Relations from Hofstra University in 2014, double minoring in Drama & Sociology.

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?

Our campaign is grounded in the premise that everyone should be able to see their doctor when they are sick. Like 20% of New Jerseyans, my son and I are recipients of NJ Family Care, so I know from firsthand experience how essential low-cost coverage can be. I support guaranteed healthcare for all Americans. Even as the richest nation on Earth, we have more medical bankruptcies than any other country and millions are underinsured. All this while the insurance companies have record profits. The U.S. is one of the only developed nations that does not have guaranteed healthcare; using data from the Commonwealth Fund we can build the best healthcare system for Americans.If we want to support families, we have to support parents. I support guaranteed 3k and 4k, so parents can return to work knowing their children are safe. As a working mom, I know how critical childcare can be in getting back to work. We need to expand pre-k beginning at age three to everyone who wants it, not just the lucky few who can afford it. With childcare more costly than a mortgage, parents need the option to return to work and know their children are being enriched, socialized, and protected. I also believe every parent, should be eligible for 12 weeks of paid leave after having a child. 96% of the world guarantees something like this - so should America. Good for parents, good for children, and good for our economy.Super PACs and dark money nonprofits have broken our campaign finance system and supercharged rising wealth inequality. On my first day in Congress, I'll cosponsor legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to undo the Supreme Court's disastrous ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. The system itself needs reform: SCOTUS nominations have become brawls of political gamesmanship, not genuine examinations of judicial character. It's time to end the legalized bribery and partisan squabbling that has plagued our politics for decades, and give power back to We the People.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Everything is too expensive. Tackling the cost of living crisis means making tough choices, but not at the expense of working people. From rental assistance and childcare support, to a job guarantee which prioritizes well-paid union jobs, fixing this crisis means investments which help our communities. One critical area of investment is environment and disaster preparedness: constant coastal flooding, extreme weather, and wildfires are increasing in frequency, intensity, and cost. Let's make polluters pay: big Oil and Gas have created the problem - they should use their record profits to solve it. We need a new generation of environmental legislation, protecting the Jersey shore - and all our nation's shores - for generations to come.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury is a strong advocate for survivors, an issue which is extremely important for me, and one which has been critically underlegislated on.

As a Coastal Congressman, Frank Pallone has an exceptional record as an advocate for our environment, an example I will do my utmost to follow, and as a champion for access to healthcare in Central Jersey and nationwide.

I admire public servants, even those I disagree with on policy, who prioritize constituents’ concerns over preserving their own power and status as career politicians. Reflecting the voices of my community is how I’d effectively fulfill my duties as a real representative.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, transparency, and a commitment to public service over personal gain.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Serving your constituents, and being accessible to them. Securing funding for your district, showing up to legislate, and building strong and bipartisan coalitions.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I hope to show those in my community that when we come together, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. I hope that by the end of my time in Congress, everyone in America can see a doctor when they’re sick.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I’ve always been a hard worker. At age 12 I became certified as a recreational soccer referee. I’d later work minimum wage jobs at Wendy’s, and various pizza parlors as a teenager to save up to put myself through college. I was also a babysitter and employed at a local daycare the summer before college, where I saw firsthand how underfunded and under-resourced our childcare system is. Throughout college, I worked on-campus security and event jobs while also holding down internships and coursework. I graduated with a job lined up in PR.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Like many people my age, I pursued the American Dream. I got straight As, a scholarship, and then went away to college. Although I graduated with a degree and job in my profession, I was immediately saddled with debt, not making enough to save, and working two jobs to survive. I quickly realized owning my own home was out of reach, and as a single mom and renter, financial struggles continue to be my reality today. Meanwhile, corporations, CEOs, and billionaires are getting exponentially richer while ⅔ of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck. A majority of us are one unexpected crisis away from being uninsured, unhoused, or unable to make ends meet. This has to change. We have to make college affordable, entrepreneurship viable, and apprenticeships, internships and trade work with union paying wages a reality. Young people and families deserve the chance to live comfortable and prosperous lives, right now they’re set up for failure.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

New Jersey Citizen Action Committee

Derel Stroud

Jackson Democrats

Julie Flynn

Monmouth County Democrats

Ocean County Democrats

Moms Demand Action - Gun Sense Candidate Distinction (NOT an endorsement)

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

Columbine.