NJ-11 special Democratic nominee?
$2.3M
JAN 1, 2027
Candidate standings
Live market pricing for the leading candidates in this election.
Overview
Current roleTownship committee member
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationNew Jersey
BackgroundTownship committee member
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Notable personal detailsDean Dafis is a member of the Maplewood Township Committee in Essex County, New Jersey, and served as Maplewood’s mayor from 2022 to 2023. He has worked as an attorney and has described experience in business, finance, and public service, and he has worked for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in housing-related roles. He has been a candidate for the U.S. House in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District (2026 cycle).
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports reversing the 2017 tax cuts for billionaires, restoring the SALT deduction for New Jersey families, and redirecting revenue to strengthen public services and working-class programs. Advocates changing the tax code to favor working-class Americans and reinvesting in education, housing, and other public services.
Healthcare
Supports major public expansions of health coverage, including past support for Medicare for All and more recently campaigning for a public option to expand access and affordability. Centers public health in policy priorities and frames health coverage as part of a broader safety-net for working families.
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Immigration & Border
Supports a pro-immigrant, humanitarian framing of immigration and criticizes harsh enforcement practices used under prior administrations; emphasizes that the United States is a nation of immigrants and expresses concern about immigrants being detained or targeted. No detailed immigration-policy proposals (e.g., pathway to citizenship or specific enforcement changes) are listed on his campaign site.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports reproductive freedom and opposes rollback of abortion rights, calling for continued advocacy to protect women’s autonomy and access to care. Campaign materials emphasize protecting rights and public health for women and LGBTQ+ communities.
Climate & Energy
Supports an aggressive clean-energy agenda including restarting New Jersey’s offshore wind program, ending reliance on fossil fuels, exploring modular nuclear reactors, holding oil and gas corporations accountable for climate damage, and pursuing large-scale climate mitigation and coastal protection investments. Advocates for policies that reduce carbon footprints at the local level and require polluters to pay for Superfund and other environmental cleanups.
Public Safety & Guns
Dean Dafis supports stronger gun safety measures and has called for removing guns from public spaces and for gun reform to reduce community gun violence. In local roles he has participated in gun-violence-awareness actions and cited gun control as a component of public safety. He has also aligned with local efforts and organizations that advocate limits on illegal or unsafe firearms access.
News
Dean Dafis is in the news as a candidate in the context of April 2026 elections that could influence control of the U.S. House. The coverage focuses on several closely watched contests and a Virginia redistricting referendum that could add more Democratic-leaning House districts. The summaries do not provide any more specific updates about Dafis himself.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements