In the 8th District congressional race, challenger Mussab Ali is calling on incumbent Rob Menendez to follow U.S. Senator Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) lead and reject AIPAC donations between now and the June 2nd Democratic primary.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I wish this action had been taken far sooner. But it represents an important shift on Senator Booker’s part and an understanding that our communities here in New Jersey want peace and prosperity, not war and instability,” Ali said in a statement
In addition to lobbying in favor of genocidal policies, according to the former Jersey City Board of Education president, AIPAC has endorsed and fundraised for over 100 Republicans who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
To that end, Ali has made it a tentpole of his campaign to repeatedly remind voters that Menendez, who is seeking a third term in a year with no Republican opposition, has accepted six figures from AIPAC and their affiliated donors.
Ali also pointed out that former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, the congressman’s father, received millions from AIPAC while serving in the upper chamber, which included donations for his legal defense fund before he was convicted on corruption charges in January 2025.
Following Booker’s announcement that he would no longer accept AIPAC money, Ali reiterated that his primary opponent should do the same.
“Rob Menendez refuses to admit that he was wrong to accept AIPAC money. Our district deserves a representative who rejects authoritarian corruption. He must return AIPAC’s money and pledge never to take it again,” Ali concluded.
Menendez’s campaign did not return an email seeking comment on Wednesday afternoon.
