The candidate meets with the NRCC head in Washington.
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers, who was once skeptical about the chances of Republicans winning the 2nd Congressional District of New Jersey, on Wednesday met with Indian American Hirsh Singh and said he’s confident the GOP will keep the seat.
According to the Observer, the NRCC chairman met Singh in his DC office on Wednesday and discussed a previous comment by Stivers’ calling the 2nd Congressional District a “a recruiting hole” for the GOP.
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The paper also reported that soon after the meeting was over Stivers walked back on his early statement and said Singh is “an impressive candidate.”
The Cook Political Report rates the district as “Lean Democratic.”
Speaking to the Observer, Stivers said “We don’t endorse in open seat primaries, but my comments were made before I had the chance to meet with any of the candidates.”
“I just met Hirsh Singh, who is an impressive candidate with a compelling personal story. If the other candidates are as strong as Hirsh, I am confident we are going to win the seat,” he added.
Four Republican candidates are running in the June 5 Republican primary.
Incumbent Rep. Frank LoBiondo, who has been representing the district since 1995, announced on November 7, 2017, that he would not seek re-election.
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The district includes counties of Salem, Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic, and portions of Gloucester, Camden, Burlington and Ocean counties.
Singh, an Indian American businessman who ran for the New Jersey governor last year, announced his candidacy in April.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Singh reported raising $101,248 in the last quarter, the second most among all candidates.
Singh, who has the support of the district’s county GOP chairmen, will face former Atlantic County Freeholder Seth Grossman, former FBI agent Robert Turkavage, defense and aerospace contractor Brian Fitzerhert and activist Mark McGovern in the primary.
“South Jersey deserves a conservative champion in Congress – someone who will defend the President’s agenda, fight to bring our fair share of tax dollars back to South Jersey, and stand up to Nancy Pelosi and the radical left,” he said while announcing his candidacy. “The president’s agenda of slashing regulations, cutting taxes, and returning decision-making to state and local governments is working to grow the economy and must be supported.”
Singh holds a degree in engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He has worked with several top government organizations such as NASA, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Pentagon, and the United States military.