Joanne Kuniansky is running for U.S. Senate in New Jersey as the Socialist Workers Party nominee in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Other candidates in the race are Cory Booker (Democratic), Justin Murphy (Republican) and Veronica Fernandez (End The Corruption).

Asked about her top priority in our candidate questionnaire, Kuniansky said, "I stand with fellow workers resisting the bosses' attacks on our jobs, wages and working conditions; building unions; opposing the US rulers' blockade and threats against Cuba; defending Jews from growing attack; and calling for an amnesty for workers in the US without papers."

Candidate information

Residence: West New York, New Jersey

Party: Socialist Workers Party

Background: Asked about her occupation and work history in our questionnaire, Kuniansky said, "Joanne Kuniansky is a 49-year veteran of the Socialist Workers Party. She met party members during her involvement in the fight to decriminalize abortion and for women's rights, became convinced a socialist revolution is possible and joined the SWP. In the late 1960s, she was part of the struggle to desegregate her high school in Atlanta, Georgia."

She added, "She worked in basic industry and built solidarity with the fight against apartheid in South Africa at her Oil Chemical and Atomic Workers union plant."

Experience and public service

Kuniansky has worked as a deli worker at Walmart and in oil refinery and meatpacking jobs, according to Patch. She has run multiple campaigns on the Socialist Workers Party ticket. Those include races for governor of New Jersey in 2021 and 2025, U.S. House District 8 in 2022, state Senate District 33 in 2023 and U.S. Senate in 2024, according to Patch and InsiderNJ.

On the issues

Economy and cost of living: Asked what Congress should do about everyday expenses, Kuniansky said in our questionnaire, "The Socialist Workers Party joins workers building solidarity with strikes and union struggles where working people are resisting attacks on wages and conditions … A union-led fight for a public works program is needed to provide jobs at union-scale wages to build hospitals, childcare centers and other infrastructure — as is a fight for a shorter workweek with no cut in pay."

She added, "In the face of skyrocketing prices for food, gas, rent we demand automatic cost-of-living increases in union contracts, pensions, social security."

Immigration: Asked about immigration and border policy, Kuniansky said in our questionnaire, "Democrats and Republicans seek to divide workers by blaming immigrants for the problems caused by the workings of capitalism and forcing workers without papers to live in fear of deportation. A union-led fight for amnesty for all undocumented workers is needed to unify the working class and strengthen our unions."

She added, "The SWP opposes raids and deportations of immigrant workers. Winning an amnesty would end their second-class status. This is a life- and-death question for the labor movement."

Health care: Asked what Congress should do about health care affordability, Kuniansky said in our questionnaire, "Under capitalism health care is a business to maximize the bosses' profits—not meet human need. Thousands of nurses are using unions to fight workloads that put patients' lives at risk and to demand more jobs."

She also said, "Through our labor, working people create enough wealth to provide government- guaranteed healthcare and pensions as universal social rights of the entire working class."

National security and Iran: Asked about U.S. policy toward the war with Iran, Kuniansky said in our questionnaire, "There are two sharply different wars against Iran. An imperialist war by the U.S. rulers to plunder the oil, gas, and labor of the region, extend their domination and deal blows to their competitors. And a defensive war by Israel to prevent the Jew-hating regime in Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and the missiles to launch them to advance the goal they share with Hamas and Hezbollah of destroying Israel and carrying out another Holocaust."

She listed among her positions: "U.S. troops out of the Middle East!" and "Defend Israel's right to exist as a refuge for Jews!"