Candidate Profile: Rob Menendez Jr. For 8th Distict Congress

NORTH JERSEY — Rep. Rob Menendez is facing a primary challenge from Mussab Ali in his bid to keep representing New Jersey's 8th District in Congress. The district includes much of Hudson County and parts of Newark and Elizabeth.

Menendez hopes to serve a third two-year term.

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Former Jersey City school board president Ali is challenging him for the Democratic nomination. Both candidates live in Jersey City.

The primary election will be held next Tuesday. Patch is publishing candidate profiles in major contested races, including this one.

Below is the candidate profile for Menendez. Come back to Patch to read more coverage and other profiles.

Name: Rob Menendez

Age: 40

Current and past government positions: Current: Member of Congress - New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District. Previous: Commissioner - Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Current job: Member of Congress - New Jersey’s Eighth Congressional District

Educational background: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA), Rutgers University Newark (JD)

Volunteer work: Former Trustee at the Hudson School

Family information: I live in Jersey City with my wife Alex and our two young children, Olivia (6) and Robert (3). We love spending time in our community and going to Liberty State Park.

Questions (answers are verbatim)

1. What do you think are the biggest problems facing your electorate right now, and how do you hope to help solve them?

Unfortunately our communities are facing a significant amount of challenges which are being exacerbated by the Trump Administration. From rising prices to ICE terrorizing our communities to Republicans restricting access to healthcare, the threats facing us have grown larger and larger. And at every moment, we have taken these challenges head on.

I have been on the frontline of the battle for the soul of our nation, protecting our communities.

Jersey City and Hoboken have especially seen the direct impact of President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda with community members being taken off the streets and held in private detention centers.

Last year, I was with Congressmembers LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman at Delaney Hall when we were met by over 20 armed ICE and HSI agents who attempted to intimidate us out of fighting for our neighbors in what became a national incident. In that moment, and every day since, I have put it all on the line to fight Trump.

From Delaney Hall to the halls of Congress, I have been in this fight for all of our communities - taking on the powerful corporations increasing our utility bills, opposing Trump’s war in Iran, and taking on the challenges facing Jersey City and Hoboken.

2. Why do you believe you're the most qualified person for the spot, among current and future political opponents?

I come from this district, I am raising my family here, and our record shows what we have delivered for Jersey City and Hoboken.

We have brought home tens of millions in federal funding for critical projects in Jersey City: The 12th Street Improvement Project, the MLK Drive Green Corridor Outreach Project, funding for pedestrian and cyclist safety, and more. In Hoboken we delivered funding to make the 800 Monroe Resiliency Park a reality, to fund water system improvements, and to support urban forestry projects.

I have also led several bills to address the quality of life issues posed by helicopters, taking on air tour operators and helicopter safety, while holding heliports accountable for their negative impact on our communities.

We have also improved our transportation infrastructure by protecting the Gateway Program and bringing federal dollars back. In working with community leaders and Hudson County Complete Streets to bring back direct weekend Hoboken to WTC, and Journal Square to 33rd Street PATH service for the first time in decades, we delivered for our residents.

We are running on a track record of service, which is why we are grateful to have the support of Governor Sherrill, Senators Kim and Booker, Congressmembers McIver and Watson Coleman, and Mayor Jabbour, several members of the Hoboken Council, and the Hoboken Democratic Organization.

Serving Jersey City and Hoboken in Congress is an honor, and I hope to earn the support of our residents to continue our work as we fight to take back the House this year and meet the moment before us.

More Information

The 8th Congressional District includes Bayonne, East Newark, Elizabeth, Guttenberg, Harrison, Hoboken, part of Jersey City, part of Kearny, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken, and West New York.

See the map of the district here.

See the election calendar and voter information for New Jersey here.