Tomorrow, New Jerseyans will determine who will lead the state for the next four years. 

One issue that should be top of mind for millions of people in the state: what happens to the independent workforce?

In its waning days, the current administration proposed restricting independent contracting in the state through new regulations. Independent Women submitted organizational comments to New Jersey’s Department of Labor and drove a commenting campaign, activating dozens of women to the harm of this proposal. We explained that the “workers, especially women, who depend on this model of work will lose flexibility and be forced out of the workforce” and that they would “have a detrimental impact on the self-employed workforce and the state’s economy overall.”

Over 9,500 comments were submitted, and they were nearly entirely (99%) in opposition to the new regulations, as independent contractors, small businesses, and various industries fear these proposed rules would make it impossible to continue to work independently in New Jersey.

Kim Kavin, a leading New Jersey advocate for independent contractors, offered to interview both gubernatorial candidates about this issue. As the co-founder of the nonpartisan, grassroots group Fight For Freelancers and a freelance writer, Kavin truly wanted both candidates to express their views on the freelance workforce and, most importantly, what they would do if elected.

Only Jack Ciattarelli agreed to the interview. Here are three key takeaways from that interview:

Americans should have a choice over how they work:

“There has to be a balance that allows a person to be a W-2 employee or a 1099 independent contractor, whatever they want.

…

“I’m for letting people follow their American dream, and if they choose the path of being independent contractors, we’re going to make sure that path is there for them.”

If elected, how quickly would he take action on this issue?

“My best answer is, as soon as possible.”

Unions, which are often behind efforts to crack down on independent work, must coexist with freelancers:

“Look, this whole issue has been tied to misclassification, as you know. And misclassification is wrong, and there are laws on the books saying so and saying how the government should go about fighting it. I just don’t see a need for conflict here. We can fight misclassification and let people work as independent contractors at the same time.”

I encourage people to read the full interview at the Freelance Busting Substack to get a better sense of how he approaches this issue. It’s disappointing that his opponent, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, did not take up the offer to explain her viewpoint.

Regardless of who the next governor of New Jersey is, it’s incumbent that this policymaker prioritizes stopping these harmful regulations from taking effect.