former TV news reporter Alex Zdan is officially jumping into the race for US Senate joining two other Republicans and a large field of candidates looking to take the seat currently held by indicted Democratic senator Bob Mendez in a campaign video released online today zidan is seen at the US Mexico border in nalis Arizona calling for an end to Illegal border crossings the launch video also shows footage of the Conservative Republican during his dentt as a reporter for news2 Zdan now joined mendum burrow mayor Christine Serrano Glassner and South Jersey businessman Curtis bashall in the GOP Primary Republican of course though hasn't been elected to the US Senate in New Jersey since 1972 meanwhile first-term Republican Congressman Tom Kean is working to hold on to his seat he's facing a challenge from Progressive activist Sue Altman who this week became the presumptive Democratic nominee after the only other remaining candidate dropped out of the race and she joins me now Sue welcome to the show really good to see you so obviously you've had a long career of activism in New Jersey most recently as the state director for the working party family how do you carve a path for yourself in a moderate District like this oh I think it's very easy most of the work we did at New Jersey Working Families Alliance was um against the corruption in New Jersey which now unfortunately is pretty well documented um you're referencing the tax incentive breaks that you I'm referencing the tax incentive policies we fought against and I'm repes I'm referencing what we know happened with Senator Menendez and what he's under indictment for so unfortunately New Jersey corruption is having a moment in the sun right now um and that's a good thing for all of us as new jerseyans so my work at Working Families was predominately pro- democracy and anti-corruption work and I think that's a message that will resonate across party lines this November but you have to admit this is a district that now leans favorable toward Republican voters um and not all are in line line with some of the more left area views of your policies well I would challenge you to sort of name what those are like from my point of view what I did at New Jersey Working Families has worked very very hard for workers for the environment for women's rights for uh reproductive choice and these are all things that I think most people in this District believe in um people care about the environment in this District people care about workers and affordability I mean things are too expensive right now everybody knows it um and they're really afraid about extremism and the type of sort of trump Le Republican party that we're seeing Tom Kane enable constantly so from my standpoint the things I've worked for I'm proud of um and specifically the anti-corruption stuff really Rings Rings true in New Jersey people want someone who will go to Washington go to Trenton like I did but also go to Washington and fight for taxpayers um who were otherwise getting fleeced by the New Jersey corruption tax there's a convention coming up in hundon County I believe it's February 25th are you pursuing the organization line wait for the Hun County Convention hun count is where I'm from I have deep roots in this District I grew up in Clinton and went to vor's high school um so I am delighted the Hun County Democrats have been wonderful they are Fighters they are committed to the cause so you will pursue the organization oh yeah the the there is no primary now I'm the I'm the last candidate standing which is great um but the Hun County Democrats and the Warren County Democrats and all the county organizations in New Jersey 7th are part of the co Coalition we need to win we've gotten labor endorsements we've gotten Statewide advocacy groups endorsing us we've gotten I think 18 or 20 local leaders who endorsed us and of course the local County organizations including an especially hun which is first are part of the Coalition we need to win how do you reckon that with you're involved with a lawsuit that's in federal court to uh abolish the the county line how do you reckon then pursuing that support when it's something that you've called in the past you know truly indefensible yeah so at the Working Families party when I was the head of it um was the lead plaintiff on a lawsuit to end the party line and my position on that is well documented um it is a system that is Antiquated um It's A system that has deserved the scrutiny that I think this US Senate primary is giving it um but I'm the last candidate standing and in a purple District we need all Hands-On deck and so I'm happy to work with the county organizations to fight back and win the seat back from Tom Kean Jr so the lawsuits on its way it's happening um my candidacy won't affect that at all and so I I trust the courts I think the courts will rule in our favor eventually um but in the meantime we need to beat Tom Kean Jr and we have to live with the rules we have and not the world we wish we had but it's irrelevant anyway since I'm the last person in the primary and will go on to be the presumptive nominee where do you differ from him when it comes to something like and and I'll go with immigration um since that's uh something that's been in New Jersey's crosshairs as of late um given the migrant crisis where do you differ from uh the incumbent on that well Tom Kean and the Republican Party have just been listening to Donald Trump on this issue what Donald Trump wants nothing more is to continue the immigration crisis so that he can keep pumping videos and tv ads that have the Border crisis um on them to feature them to make people afraid and to uh blame President Biden and you know there was a Bill in Congress in the Senate that that went through and that Tom Kane Jr did not support because the Republicans didn't support it because they're not really looking to solve problems and that's the difference what when I get to Congress and what I've done my entire career is fight for Change and fight for things that will make people's lives better yes the border is a crisis yes it's a problem and a solution in will will need will require an entire uh Congress to fix it and we can't have people being cynically obstructionist because they have political Ambitions that's a problem and that's getting in the way of government being able to work properly there have been increasing calls uh for folks to join on with a ceasefire resolution in the house Bonnie Watson Coleman Donald Payne Jr they have uh signed on to that they have urged for a ceasefire where do you stand you're talking about the Middle East now is Middle East yeah it's it's an awful tragedy the situation in the Middle East just breaks my heart what happened on October 7th was a terrorist attack Hamas is a terrorist organization I is heartbreaking to think that they use sexual violence against Israeli women um as part of a mediated Premed premeditated attack on Israel and it was awful and heartbreaking and what's happening in Gaza is awful and heartbreaking and I think of the women there who have no political power and that just makes my heart break so so far I have not calls for called for a ceasefire I think the situation is very complex over there and I don't think it's so simple um that a ceasefire will stop the violence I think this is a deep-seated problem I believe we need to pursue peace I think President Biden and Secretary of State blinkin have done a good job navigating these Waters very tricky Waters so far and I'd like to see them continue to pressure Netanyahu who unfortunately may represent a kind of right-wing point of view so I am I'm hopeful and confident in the current Administration and tling of this crisis and I think underscores why we need to reelect Biden in the fall and you feel like they've done a good job so far in terms of humanitarian Aid that's gotten into Gaza um in terms of strategizing with us support um with the Israeli military yeah it's like very constantly changing situation so I see them doing a very good job I think American leadership in this particular moment is critical so I think they've done a pretty good job and I definitely keeping my eye on what is a very constantly changing situation Israel is an important Ally to the United States but having peace and stability in the Middle East has to be the ultimate goal and that includes in Gaza and the Palestinian people Sue Altman is the presumed Democratic nominee for the race in district 7 Sue thank you so much thank you so much thanks for having me