JERSEY CITY – Rob Menendez showed up to vote early Tuesday morning and many of those at the Regional Day School applauded.
It helps, one supposes, to be an incumbent congressman.
But things in this very-urban and mostly Hudson County Eight Congressional District are really not as simple as a congressman running again.
Talking to the assembled press after he and his wife cast ballots, Menendez said this race has been quite similar to the one he ran in 2022 when he was first elected.
He spoke of engaging in debates, forums and campaigning in every town of the district, which also includes Elizabeth and a sliver of Newark.
One difference, he sees, and it’s a critical one, is that now he has a track record.
In a previous interview, Menendez took credit for getting federal funds for an assortment of projects – a music institute in Elizabeth, sewer improvements in North Bergen, public safety equipment in Bayonne, more pedestrian access in Weehawken and more broadly, the long-delayed Gateway rail project under the Hudson.
All well and good, but the bottom line is not that a young congressman is running again. This is not, after all, any “young congressman.”
One cannot ignore the continuing spectacle unfolding just across the river in lower Manhattan where his father, Sen. Robert Menendez, is being tried on corruption charges.
The senator added to the drama when he filed nominating petitions this week to run for reelection as an independent.
If the senator is convicted, that is unlikely to happen, but there’s always a chance that it will. So much for the senator’s loyalty to the Democratic Party.
Ravi Bhalla, Menendez’ main opponent and the mayor of Hoboken, has talked at length about a so-called culture of corruption enveloping the senator and by extension, his son.
Bhalla also voted early Tuesday at Hoboken’s Joseph F. Brandt School. And like Menendez, Bhalla brought his family with him
Back in Jersey City, Menendez, naturally, was asked about his father.
“We have nothing to hide,” he said, acknowledging that his father’s legal mess has come up a lot during the campaign.
Menendez, the congressman, reiterated all he has done during the campaign and expressed confidence voters see that. He put it this way:
“We have a track record … Everything else is everything else.”
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In a recent interview with Insider NJ, Senator Bob Menendez discussed a variety of important topics that are currently shaping the political landscape in New Jersey and beyond. From healthcare to immigration, Menendez shared his thoughts and insights on a range of issues that are impacting the lives of his constituents.
One of the key topics that Menendez touched upon in the interview was healthcare. As a longtime advocate for affordable and accessible healthcare, Menendez spoke about the importance of protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He emphasized the need to ensure that all Americans have access to quality healthcare, regardless of their income or pre-existing conditions.
In addition to healthcare, Menendez also discussed immigration reform during the interview. He highlighted the need for comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are already living and working in the United States. Menendez stressed the importance of treating immigrants with compassion and respect, and he expressed his support for policies that uphold America’s values as a nation of immigrants.
Furthermore, Menendez addressed the issue of climate change in the interview. He underscored the urgent need for bold action to address the growing threat of climate change and its impact on our environment and communities. Menendez called for investments in renewable energy sources and sustainable infrastructure to combat climate change and create a more resilient future for generations to come.
Overall, Senator Bob Menendez’s interview with Insider NJ shed light on a range of important topics that are shaping the political discourse in New Jersey and across the country. His insights and perspectives on healthcare, immigration, and climate change provide valuable insights into his priorities as a lawmaker and advocate for his constituents. As these issues continue to evolve, it is clear that Menendez will remain a vocal and passionate voice for progressive change in Washington D.C. and beyond.
