Change can come from unexpected places. Even though the United States is a nation dominated by two political parties, does not mean that only those parties have all the answers. As a large nation with a broad range of views and experiences, it stands to reason that America’s political representation should reflect that broad range.

This week we are profiling Christina Khalil (she/her), the Green Party candidate for this fall’s U.S. Senate race in New Jersey. With the current embattled incumbent, Bob Menendez, indicted for bribery for accepting cash gifts from the Egyptian government in exchange for influence, the field is wide open to a wide range of party candidates, including Menendez himself, running as an independent. However, this millennial Green Party candidate, a first-generation Egyptian-American, has no such ties to foreign governments. As a formerly homeless teenager, Christina grew up in the foster care system and was emancipated at age 16. Today she is forced to work two jobs to make ends meet, both as a therapist and a drug and alcohol addiction counselor. Christina put herself through college twice, with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Her lived experience makes Christina passionate about giving voice to the unheard, providing the tools for the poorest and least privileged Americans to work for a better life, and creating safety, freedom and prosperity for all New Jerseyans regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, or immigration status.

Where are you based?
I'm in New Jersey, around the North Jersey Area.

What position are you running for?
I'm running for a US Senate seat in NJ. Currently, I'm a social worker, therapist, and activist, specialising in substance abuse recovery and extreme trauma cases. It is a job which requires grace under pressure and an advanced skill set in diplomacy and conflict resolution.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
I would summarize it as solution focused. We are interested in implementing programs like universal healthcare, a green new deal and ending homelessness. The right has so often categorized these ideas as a 'nanny state', as if the idea of providing for your constituents like you would your own family is somehow morally reprehensible. But I completely disagree. Providing programs/policies that ensure Americans can receive livable wages, affordable housing and health care as their human right won't discourage people from working hard, it will enable them to work even harder. As I mentioned before, ensuring someone a safe and stable environment allows them to flourish instead of just treading water as so many of us are stuck doing right now.

When you look at countries with leaders instead of elected failures the US has, you see how investing in their citizens benefits these countries.

What inspired you to run?
The failures and corruption of our current elected officials. Take Bob Menendez, he is a perfect example. These people are born into or network their way into these positions and they just don't care about the voters that put them there. They believe these seats are entitlements that they've earned by a combination of pleasing corporations and pleasing the already powerful. It's more than time to change that. I was once told to wait my turn to run. That there were others who have 'played the game' longer than I and that their corporate approval meant I would be forced to play this same game if I wanted even a chance of running for office. But I didn't start this race in the hopes to be anointed by the already powerful. I'm here to challenge the establishment and hold the corrupt accountable.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
We desperately need to rebuild US infrastructure, our bridges and tunnels are literally collapsing in tandem with our economy. The answer was never to throw money at supposedly 'job creating' corporations, but to empower Americans to support themselves. We need a green new deal, not only to invest in alternative energy sources and provide the labor to restore our roads and bridges, but even more importantly we have to invest in our own people. We do that by offering real workers real jobs. We do that by making sure those newly created government jobs have a decent livable wage, pressuring the private sector to raise their wages in order to attract workers. We have the means to end homelessness in this country, provide universal healthcare, invest in public education, and make the path to citizenship accessible. It's time to stop launching exploratory committees and start putting these practical and extremely popular policies into action. A healthy economy is marked by the well being of its working class, not by the bank accounts of the uber rich.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
One of the most important issues right now is universal healthcare. As someone who worked on the frontlines in hospitals during the height of the pandemic, I saw how the gaps in our healthcare system cost people their lives. We were massively unprepared for a crisis of that magnitude and the only way we can adequately prepare ourselves for another such crisis is a universal healthcare system. We need to invest the resources to ensure that sufficient care is provided to everyone. This pandemic showed us that even one person’s illness can quickly affect an entire country. We need to stop asking why we should spend our own money to care for our fellow Americans and acknowledge that we are all are only as immune to disease as our most vulnerable.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
I don't believe we're as divided as we are told we are. Over 40% of the electorate now identify as either 3rd party or independent, leaving less than 30% each on either side of the blue/red divide. According to this WashPo poll from January, only 18% of Dems are 100% enthusiastic about Biden and only 44% of Republicans are that excited for the return of Trump. Both of those statistics are a minority of each party. If you combine the percentages of dissatisfied Dems and Republicans with the independent population, that's about 80% of Americans. The vast majority of us are sick of the status quo no matter whether it's tinted red or blue. Both parties accept mega donations from the same corporations. Are we really sure they aren't telling us that we are so divided, only to convince us that there is any real difference between the two parties whatsoever? Running as a Green Party Candidate I am only allowed to receive donations under a certain dollar amount, ensuring that these corporations and super PACs can never have a hold over me. I will actually be fighting for the people of this country. When they see me holding corrupt individuals accountable, we will start healing the division that this political duopoly has created.

I have actually gotten a lot of positive responses from both Democrat and Republican voters because of my choice to run as a Green. We are starving for better options. It's time we bring a third choice to the ballot. It's time we make a difference.

How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
I've had a tough background, I was exposed to a lot growing up and in my professional life. When I write a law I know intimately how it will impact the the majority of us who live paycheck to paycheck since I do too. That's the biggest problem, those in office are completely out of touch with the struggles of everyday Americans and they don't care to correct their myopia.

What is your motto in life?
It doesn't have to be this way.

Where can we find out more about you?
Khalilforsenate.com all my socials are on the website. I'm on Twitter, Tiktok, Facebook and Instagram.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Christina Khalil, U.S. Senate, New Jersey