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Arati Kreibich speaks to volunteers before a Hackensack canvass launch Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020. Wochit

Its a chilly Sunday in Hackensack, and Pat Henrys 100-year-old house is packed with volunteers.Henrys living room has an eclectic mix of colorfulchairs. One is lime green, nearly as bright as the green stripe on the campaign signs taped to the walls.

The signs promoteArati Kreibich, the Glen Rock councilwoman, immigrant, neuroscientist and mother challengingRep. Josh Gottheimer for New Jerseys Fifth District Democratic nomination.

Volunteers gather ahead of a canvass launch Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020.(Photo: Alexis Shanes)

AJune 2019 vote by Gottheimer turned Kreibich, who immigrated to the U.S. from India when she was 11, from activist to congressional candidate. Gottheimer led a faction that pressedHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic caucus to pass an emergency border funding bill that did not include somekey aid for detained migrant families.

The minute I realized he did that, to me, he made me morally complicit, Kreibich told NorthJersey.com. I dont know how you can do that as a human being. Most people know and understand the humanitarian crisis.

By the time Kreibich steppedup on the ottoman at the back of Henry's livingroom to rally the volunteers, thecolorful chairs werefull, and some people sat on a gray shag rug. It wasthe Kreibich campaigns third canvass launch and the largest yet, with 40 volunteers ready to knock doors.

Afterward, Kreibich steppedout onto Henrys porch, where a roll of campaign stickers sat on a folding table. Kreibich checkedher phone for updates from her husband and two sons, ages 11 and 14, who were ata debate tournament.

Arati Kreibich.(Photo: Arati Kreibich for Congress)

Reena Chojar followedher. Chojar, 27, began volunteering for Kreibichs campaign a month ago. She grew up in Saddle River and calls Kreibich a really cool candidate.Kreibich and Chojar climbed into the volunteers car, drovea few blocks,parked, and ventured to the first address on Chojars clipboard.

Kreibich pickedup a newspaper inthe driveway and brought it to the front door. Nobody answered. She left a campaign palm card. At another house, she pushed a Ring video doorbell and waveda palm card for the camera. Nobody answered. Well keep going, she said, cheerfully. Its still fun.

Nobody knew Kreibich when she ran for Glen Rock council. She realized Sunday afternoon canvasses worked best, with bonus points for rainy days that left residents cooped up at home. Glen Rock, she said, is a microcosm. Im surprised at how much the stories are the same.

Kreibichs volunteer team plans to knock on 1,000 doors aweek. By the end of the campaign, they hope tohave knocked on 100,000. Cup of coffee says theyre home, Kreibich toldChojar as they approached another house. Ice cream. I dont know. They laughed and rangthe doorbell. Nobody answered.

Campaign signs are displayed on a house Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020.(Photo: Alexis Shanes)

The first person who actually openeda door on thisdaywasstaunchly anti-Trump. Are you going to fight his agenda? the man asked. Kreibich said yes.Let me see that, he said, taking a pen to sign the petition that will put Kreibich on the June 2, 2020, primary ballot.Kreibich broughtup her opponent's vote for border wall funding, and the man wassurprised. We deserve a lot of changes, he said.

Kreibich deftly engagesreluctant voters in conversation. People, she said, simply want to be heard, given a chance to share their stories.

The environment we live in doesnt allow us to be nice to each other, one man said. Were just too stressed to do better. They talked for a few minutes and he agreedto vote for Kreibich. You guys made a good case, he said.

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A woman who openedthe door at ahouse with two small American flags was worried about the way things are going and about immigration. She agreedwith Trump about one thing: immigrants should use legal means to enter the country.

But he thinks everyones a criminal, she added. You cant put everybody in the same category. Is she going to vote for Kreibich in the primary? You know what? I am, she said. Do you have more cards?

Another woman recognizedKreibich. Youre running against Gottheimer, she said. I know a few volunteers who might be interested.

Kreibichs campaign ended 2019 with roughly $170,000 raised. Her largest donor invested $2,800,the federal limit for an individual. Meanwhile, Gottheimers campaign receipts totaled $3.5 million at the end of the year, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The congressman ranks13th in money raised among his House colleagues. He is a top funding recipient fromsecurities firms, hedge funds and private equity firms.

Reena Chojar helps a volunteer gather candidate information ahead of a canvass Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020.(Photo: Alexis Shanes)

Gottheimers war chest helped him topple seven-term Republican incumbent Scott Garrett in 2016. He was the glimmer of hope we had in the 2016 election, Kreibich said. The Fifth District, which covers a diversely liberal and conservativeswath of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex and Warren Counties, went 48.8 percent for Trump that year.

The first Democrat in 84years to win his seat, Josh has proudly built a strong record as a pro-choice, pro-equality, tax-cutting Democrat who defied the odds to defeat a seven-term Tea Party extremist in a district that President Trump won," saidAndrew Edelson, spokesperson for Gottheimer for Congress, adding that the incumbent's views are consistent with the people in his district.

But Kreibich says the region is ready for a progressive.

The neuroscientist made the environment a hallmark of her Glen Rock council run and now, it's front and center in her congressional campaign. People said not do that, she said. But as she talked to folks, environmental issues wereon their minds.

As a freshman councilwoman, she steered Glen Rock onto the list of New Jersey towns that banned single-use plastic bags. She was also involved in an effort to transition Glen Rock to 100 percent renewable energy via a community choice aggregation program.

She has attracted support frompeople like Henry, who spent most of her life noninvolved in politics until 2016. I was just a good girl Democrat, she said. The day Hillary Clinton lost, I lost my mind.

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Henry is part of Indivisible Five, a grassroots non-profit with about 600 membersunaffiliated with any party or donor but positioned squarely againstTrump and the Republican congressional caucus. She campaigned heartily for Gottheimer.

After its members became disenchanted with him, the grassroots group threw its support behind Kreibich. Shes everything we need, Henry said. Intelligent. Kind.

Kreibichhas also gathered support from Food and Water Action, part of a non-profit focused on climate, food and water issues; and Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a political action committee that spent $7.3 million during the last election cycle and endorses high-profile progressives such as Democratic presidential contenderElizabeth Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rep. Katie Porter of California.

The endorsements, Kreibich said, are key, andher campaign hopes they will spur donors.

Arati Kreibich and Reena Chojar talk to a prospective voter Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020.(Photo: Alexis Shanes)

Kreibichs path to candidacy is strewnwith barriers that extend well beyond funding. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in a bid to protect the Democrats House majority, said it would blacklist private political firms that work for Democratic primary challengers. When Kreibich started recruiting staffers, many people wouldnt talk to her. Thats an undue burden to say you have to choose between possible future jobs and your values, she said.

Kreibich said its indicative of not allowing conversations about where the party is headed and of policiesthat suppress women and people of color for the sake of party unity.

The people it affects the worst are women who havent been allowed to be part of the political process for a long time, she said.

Had she known the barriers she would face, Kreibich might have been more daunted about entering the race, but she probably wouldnt have been deterred from running, she said.

People are going to come out for me because theyre sick of the establishment, sick of politics as usual,, Kreibich said. Its clear that Im not politics as usual. Its clear Im not doing this as a career politician.

"Its clear why Im doing it and what my values are," she added. And I think that resonates."

AlexisShanesis a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community,please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email:shanesa@northjersey.comTwitter:@alexisjshanes

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Lots of doors to knock: Meet Arati Kreibich, the progressive challenger to Josh Gottheimer - NorthJersey.com