Peter Jacob, a Democrat running in the 7th District, found the symbols spray-painted at his house twice this weekend
UNION -- A New Jersey congressional candidate who found painted swastikas at his home this weekend blamed the incident on national political rhetoric.
Democrat Peter Jacob, who is running in the 7th District against Republican incumbent Leonard Lance, said at a press conference outside his house that the climate created by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was encouraging racism.
"The rhetoric that we are hearing nationally is trickling down," said Jacob, who is Indian-American.
One of Jacob's neighbors first found two swastikas painted on the sidewalk outside Jacob's Colonial Avenue home Friday and called police.
Jacob then woke up Monday morning to see two more swastikas spray-painted next to a basement door on the back of the house. There was also neon orange-colored paint on the doorknob, which Jacob's campaign manager said could signal someone was trying to break in.
Campaign manager Josh Levin said the Jacob family has installed surveillance cameras around the house since the incidents, and the police department has increased its presence in the neighborhood.
Law enforcement is considering the swastika-painting an isolated incident and Union residents are not in any danger, Police Director Daniel Zieser said at the press conference with local politicians and faith leaders.
Mayor Manuel Figueiredo told reporters the township would take these incidents seriously even if they had happened to a private citizen, instead of to congressional candidate.
"This is not reflective of what happens here in the Township of Union," he said.
Union is one of Union County's most racially diverse communities. About 54 percent of its population is white, 29 percent is black and 11 percent is Asian, according to the most recently available census data. Hispanics of any race were 15 percent of the population.
In a statement Monday, Lance called the swastikas "abhorrent" and said he had asked to attend Jacob's press conference but had not been invited.
Michael Kane, Jacob's communications manager, told MyCentralJersey.com on Monday that Lance would not be invited to the press conference "due to his support of Donald Trump."
Jacob on Tuesday denied this was the reason and said he had not invited Lance because he did not want to make the press conference a political event.
"We as a community, we're standing together right now, and I am comfortable with this," Jacob said.
Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.