Bayly Winder is a Democratic candidate for New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District with a background in federal government service and national security. A fourth-generation New Jersey resident and the grandson of Middle East-focused academic R. Bayly Winder, Winder grew up primarily in Princeton and spent his summers on the Jersey Shore in places like Barnegat Light and Cape May. He has worked at the U.S. State Department as a foreign affairs officer with a particular focus on Iran under both Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations, advised the FBI on technology and national security issues, and most recently served at USAID as an Advisor to Administrator Samantha Power.

Winder, 33 years old, left USAID at the beginning of 2026, shortly before the Trump administration's dismantling of the agency. He settled in Mays Landing in Atlantic County and launched his congressional campaign in June 2025. His campaign emphasizes themes of affordability, government accountability, and ethics reform, with Winder positioning himself as a problem-solver focused on "restoring trust, bringing integrity back to government, and fighting for affordability, accountability, and opportunity across South Jersey."

Political Career

• Candidate for U.S. House, NJ-02 (2026–present; Democratic primary election June 2, 2026)
• Advisor to Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) (prior to 2026)
• FBI Advisor, technology and national security (prior to 2026)

Key Policy Areas

• Ethics reform and anti-corruption
• Affordability and economic justice
• Healthcare access and Medicare expansion
• Clean energy and environmental protection
• Congressional term limits (5 terms House/2 terms Senate)
• Government accountability and oversight

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Authored campaign platform emphasizing ban on congressional stock trading, term limits, and public campaign financing
• Supports expansion of Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing care; advocates for Medicare for All funded by corporate tax reform

Education

• B.A., Not publicly available
• M.A., Not publicly available

Personal

• Birth date: Not publicly available (age 33 as of 2025)
• Residence: Mays Landing, Atlantic County, New Jersey