U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) is on his way to a third term in a decisive win over former Jersey City Board of Education President Mussab Ali today, The Associated Press first called.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
While Ali proved to be a game opponent who wasn’t afraid to stand in the pocket and trade with the incumbent, he was out fundraised by a roughly 8-1 margin, not including an onslaught of super PACs who aided Menendez in the final leg of the race.
As he did in 2022 and 2024, the congressman had the backing of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO), with key endorsements from Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D), U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack.
That’s not to mention the labor support he compiled, including 32BJ SEIU, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), and the Hudson County Building Trades Council.
Throughout the cycle, Ali hammered Menendez for accepting corporate PAC support, in particular AIPAC, as well as the federal corruption conviction of his father, former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, but it wasn’t enough to tighten the race
While the 8th District also includes a portion of Newark and all of Elizabeth, Ali did not fare any better there, with early totals form the Essex County and Union County Clerk’s Offices showing him losing those two cities by an over 2-1 margin.
Menendez has been a leading voice in the congressional delegation calling for the shutter of Delaney Hall, a federal detention center in Newark that has became a national news story as violent protests have led to a curfew and additional police presence in recent days.
Ali had also been there in recent days, stating last week that he had been hit by tear gas deployed by police regulating the scene.
With no Republican nominee, Menendez takes on Jersey City teacher Aristotle Eliopoulos in the November 3rd general election, where the challenger is running as an independent, meaning it would take a truly Herculean effort to even have a pulse in the race.
Menendez’s colleague in the House, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-10), who represents Jersey City’s Wards A and F, as well as parts of Ward B, was also re-elected in a blowout win against political newcomer Lawrence Post.
