Josh Welle: Brett Kavanaugh Has Questionable Integrity

RUMSON, NJ — Josh Welle, the Democrat running for Congress in Monmouth and Ocean counties, released a statement Monday morning with his thoughts on the confirmation this past weekend of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Welle called Kavanaugh a "Supreme Court justice with questionable integrity and judicial temperament," but also lamented the hyper-partisanship of Washington, D.C., with nearly all Republican senators voting yes to confirm Kavanaugh, with the exception Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, who did not vote for him. Also, all Democrat senators voted against, with the exception of Sen. Joe Manchin, Demorat of West Virginia, who voted to confirm him.

Despite credible accusations of sexual assault by two women, Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford, who said Kavanaugh assaulted her as a teen, and Deborah Ramirez, who said he put his penis in her face during a drinking game at Yale, Kavanaugh was confirmed into a lifetime appointment on the highest court.

"My loyalty is to the Constitution: defending it against all enemies, foreign and domestic," said Welle. "Yet I believe the confirmation process reflects the rising threat within our borders of a hyper-partisan way of life. We deserve better than a process that ushers through a Supreme Court justice who has questionable integrity and judicial temperament. The Senate performed in a way that we have come to accept — career politicians putting party loyalty over the people. That behavior is unacceptable, and I’m calling on voters to elect a new generation of leaders who put American values of due process and unity over partisan rancor of hate and fear."

Welle, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan and four deployments to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, bought a home in Rumson before he decided to run for Congress in New Jersey's 4th district.

The fourth congressional district covers nearly all of Monmouth County, including towns such as Holmdel, part of Middletown, Colts Neck, Rumson, Manalapan, Freehold, Red Bank and Wall Township. The fourth district also reaches into Jackson and Lakewood in Ocean County and Hamilton and Robbinsville in Mercer County.

Democrats have long been eager to unseat Republican Congressman Chris Smith, who has represented the 4th District since 1981. Some speculate the 2018 midterms could be a year of change, as Democrats hope to ride a wave of anti-Trump backlash.

Welle has challenged Smith to multiple debates throughout the district, which Smith has ignored.

The midterm election will be Nov. 6.

Ongoing Patch reporting on the 4th District Congress race:

5 Questions For Congress Candidates Rep. Chris Smith & Josh Welle

Josh Welle Under Fire For Owing Back Taxes

Josh Welle, Chris Smith Spar On Topic Of Abortion

Josh Welle Bashes Trump's Zero-Tolerance Policy On Immigration

Campaign photo of Josh Welle