By Trinity Falayi

As the MAGA movement becomes dominant in the Republican party, the status quo is to champion Donald Trump’s policies. In one New Jersey district, there’s a moderate Republican candidate willing to stand against his own party. But how far will he go? Can Joe Hathaway maintain his moderate stance? Or is it just a matter of time before he falls in line? 

Hathaway, a Yale graduate and Mayor of Randolph, New Jersey, is running for office in the state’s 11th Congressional district, with just three months left before voters cast their ballots in November. In his race against Democrat Analilia Mejia, Hathaway’s main campaign promise is to increase affordability for New Jersey residents. 

“You can’t afford to buy a house anymore in New Jersey,” said Hathaway in a press conference with the Princeton Summer Journal. “I believe the government needs to make things work smarter and more practical… I think we have an opportunity to do that in this race.” 

When pressed on his willingness to go against the Republican party, Hathaway pointed out that he’s done it before.

“I have a track record of voting against my all-Republican council at the local level when I believe it’s the wrong thing for our constituents,” he said.

Hathaway also opposed President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Gateway Program, which would increase rail capacity between New Jersey and New York. 

“There’ve been plenty of times where I’ve said, ‘This isn’t right for my district,’ and I oppose it,” Hathaway said. “I think one of the biggest examples was the Gateway Tunnel funding… I was one of the first Republicans in Jersey that really pushed back strongly on that.” 

Addressing concerns about data centers, which CBS News reports could increase electricity bills by up to 20 percent, Hathaway emphasized the affordability of alternative energy sources.

“We have to increase our capability when it comes to nuclear [energy]… That’s going to bring down costs immediately,” he said.

Hathaway says his focus on affordability outweighs his total loyalty to the Republican Party, a position that may appeal to voters in his majority-Democratic district. 

“If I come back to NJ-11 and talk about how I was willing to buck my party and buck the president because it wasn’t good for voters here in NJ-11… [The] district is one that has enough voters on all sides of the aisle, where that message will be rewarded,” he said.