Rob MenendezServing

Rob Menendez

U.S. HouseDemocrat

NJ-CD-8 U.S. House

Age 40·Cuban-American·DCCC Northeast Vice Chair

Why This Race Matters

Rob Menendez is running against Mussab Ali (D, primary challenger); Richard Barilla (I, general).

Menendez faces his second consecutive primary challenge in this D+15 safe Democratic district. His father's corruption conviction and 11-year prison sentence continue to cast a shadow, making the primary more competitive than the district's partisan lean would suggest.

Primary challenger Mussab Ali is a former Jersey City school board president who would be NJ's first Muslim congressman. Despite the challenge, Menendez has retained HCDO organizational support from Hudson County Democratic chairman and local mayors. He won the 2024 primary with 54.1% against Ravinder Bhalla and general with 59.2%.

Key dates to watch: Primary on June 2, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Rob Menendez represents New Jersey's 8th Congressional District, the only majority-Hispanic district in the state. Born and raised in Hudson County as the grandson of Cuban immigrants and strong union members, he grew up in Union City in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. Before Congress, he made history as the first Latino from New Jersey and first millennial to serve as Commissioner of the Port Authority of NY/NJ, where he chaired the Governance and Ethics Committee and helped oversee Newark Airport's Terminal A renovation and PATH expansion. Now in his second term, he serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and leads as DCCC Northeast Vice Chair while fighting to take back the House majority in 2026.

Family & Heritage

Cuban-American, grandson of Cuban immigrants who came to the United States in 1953 fleeing the regime of Fulgencio Batista. His grandfather Mario Menendez worked for a tie company before becoming an itinerant carpenter, while his grandmother Evangelina became a seamstress. His father is former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, and his mother Jane Jacobsen was a public school teacher, school nurse, and guidance counselor. Rob was raised in Union City and now lives in Jersey City's Lafayette neighborhood with his wife, daughter, and son.

Political Career

Before Politics

Attorney at Lowenstein Sandler LLP; Commissioner, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (first Latino from NJ and first millennial in this role), chaired Governance and Ethics Committee

Education

B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2008); J.D., Rutgers Law School (2011)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Infrastructure development (Gateway Program/Hudson Tunnel)
*Supporting working families and organized labor
*Immigration reform (Vice Chair of Policy for CHC)
*Climate action and resilience
*Reproductive rights
*Healthcare accessibility
*Affordable housing