Middletown Father Of 3 Will Challenge Congressman Chris Smith In 2026

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The election isn't until next year, but a Middletown man already announced he will challenge longtime Republican Congressman Chris Smith to represent NJ's 4th Congressional district.

Keith Doll is a Democrat. He is running on a platform critical of President Trump: Doll is critical of Trump's trade-war tariffs, which he says are hurting small businesses, and the increasing restrictions on abortion in America, among other issues, including economic disparity between the rich and poor.

“It is with all my conviction, compassion, righteous anger and humility that I announce my candidacy to represent New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District,” said Doll. “This campaign will highlight the continued struggles of working people to make a living in the world’s richest nation."

Doll currently lives in Middletown with his wife and three young children. He was raised in a working-class family in central New Jersey.

He is a licensed registered nurse, and a nearly 20-year employee of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. For the past eight years, he has worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering's cancer outpost on the Middletown/Holmdel border, where he provides critical post-anesthesia bedside nursing care for cancer patients.

"He votes in lockstep of a Presidential economic scheme that is bankrupting the Jersey Shore’s working class," Doll said of Smith. "It is time we finally hold him accountable for over 40 years of votes, most recently the near-full implementation of Project 2025 and the incredibly damaging Big Beautiful Bill."

Doll said the issues he will address include:

Rising costs: "The American people are finding the cost of living is soaring. Inflation concerns continue to rise as polls indicate individuals and families are having trouble keeping up with grocery prices, electric bills and expenses related to healthcare, childcare and education."

Ending Trump's trade war and tariffs: "Small businesses are struggling under the President’s economic tariff plan, with consumers reducing spending to keep up with increasing costs. Americans’ rights are also under attack by a series of Presidential executive orders, currently being challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, that threaten the peace and security of communities of all ages, race and political affiliations."

Abortion access: Smith, a conservative Catholic, is very critical of abortion. Doll says women should have autonomy over their own bodies, and he also thinks there should be guaranteed childcare for children.

"He selectively speaks out against human rights abuses abroad, but denies the attacks to freedom here on his own home soil," said Doll of Smith. "His 'pro-life' record refuses to acknowledge the autonomy of women to make healthcare decisions with their doctors about their own bodies, and is void of a policy agenda that actually supports a child’s life after birth, including guaranteeing access to medical care, childcare and educational resources."

Dolls supports more regulations to protect the environment: "(Smith) feigns concern over environmental protections, but sides with reductions to regulations that protect our clean food, water and air."

Doll said he will not accept any corporate PAC donations.

“This election will be won by amplifying the voices and concerns heard at civic events and by knocking on doors all across the district," he said.

The fourth congressional district covers nearly all of Monmouth County, including towns such as Holmdel, the southern section 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.

You can follow Doll on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/keithdollnjh) and Instagram (@keithdollnj) and his campaign fundraising platform: Keith Doll ActBlue