NJ-12 Republican reports just $3,083 in cash, $19,128 in debt
Perennial candidate Gregg Mele has loaned himself over $53,000 for race against Adam Hamawy
By David Wildstein, July 14 2026 9:30 am
The Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 12th district has $3,083 cash on hand after raising $3,479 in the second quarter for his bid to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), and is already in debt.
Gregg Mele has raised $79,424 so far this cycle, more than two-thirds of it after loaning $53,746 to his campaign. On top of his $3,479 haul, Mele put $11,931 into his own campaign in April, May, and June.
He faces Democrat Adam Hamawy, a retired U.S. Army surgeon, who won a hotly contested primary to succeed Watson Colman.
In addition to his loan, Mele has already accumulated a campaign debt of $19,128.
Mele was unopposed in the Republican primary.
The 12th district is a steep, uphill climb for Republicans: Kamala Harris won it by 24 points in 2024, and Mikie Sherrill carried it by 35 points last year. In her final re-…