Gregg Mele

Gregg Mele is the Republican nominee for New Jersey's open 12th Congressional District. An attorney who has worked in business and finance and taught graduate courses, he has run for office repeatedly since 2018 as an independent, a Libertarian and a Republican; WHYY reports he has run unsuccessfully seven times. He ran unopposed in the 2026 Republican primary, and his campaign website lists lower costs, border security and public safety, accountable government, and support for Israel among his priorities.[1][2][3][4]

Gregg Mele says on his campaign website that he was raised by blue-collar parents, and WHYY reports he is a lifelong New Jersey resident. He earned a bachelor's degree from Montclair State University and a law degree; Ballotpedia also lists graduate degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology, New York University and CUNY Baruch College.[4][2][1] His campaign website says he built a career in law, business, finance, technology and the classroom. WHYY reports he practices law (corporate law, contracts, securities, real estate and estate planning), previously worked on Wall Street, and has taught graduate-level courses, including at Stevens Institute of Technology.[4][2]

Mele ran for the U.S. House in New Jersey's 7th District in 2018 on the Freedom, Responsibility, Action Party line, receiving 0.8% of the vote, and in 2019 was the Libertarian candidate for mayor of Bridgewater. In 2021 he was the Libertarian nominee for governor, finishing fourth with 0.3% of the vote.[1][3] Running as a Republican, he did not make the 2022 primary ballot for the 6th District. In 2024 he first sought the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, then ran in the 6th District Republican primary, losing to Scott Fegler 81.6% to 18.4%.[1][3] He won the 2026 Republican primary in the 12th District unopposed, with 13,298 votes. According to WHYY, he lives in Plainfield with his wife and has two children.[1][2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.