Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
42%
27%
Democrat
Incumbent
IncumbentRobert Menendez Jr.
DemocratIncumbent
IncumbentRobert Menendez Jr.
NJ-08 Democratic nominee?
$33.1K
JUN 3, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
LocationNew Jersey
SourcesShowHide
menendez.house.govrobmenendez.comen.wikipedia.orgmeetthefreshmen.marathonstrategies.comobserver.comwhyy.orghudsontoday.comhudsoncountyview.comwrnjradio.comngwa.orgbradypac.orgnewjerseyglobe.comcampaignsdaily.comcbsnews.comirs.govbooker.senate.govfacebook.comnjea.orginstagram.cominsidernj.comaxios.comballotpedia.orgshorenewsnetwork.comnewjerseymonitor.combluevoterguide.orghistory.house.govclerk.house.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orggovinfo.govziplook.house.govwikidata.orgballotready.orgfrontpage.ballotpedia.orgdocquery.fec.govhouse.govfr.wikipedia.orgfec.govcongress.govcdn.ballotpedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports policies that provide tax relief and credits for working- and middle-class families (including expanding the Child Tax Credit and other credits), backs wage growth and pro-worker measures, and participates in efforts to restore state and local tax (SALT) relief for New Jersey taxpayers. Positions emphasize targeted tax credits and investments to help working families rather than broad tax cuts for corporations or wealthy individuals.
Healthcare
Supports lowering the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs, protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions, expanding access to affordable care through community health centers, and improving equity and access to medical care. Advocates using and strengthening Affordable Care Act mechanisms and government programs to expand coverage and affordability.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Robert (Rob) Menendez Jr. has criticized aggressive ICE actions, participated in oversight of an ICE immigration detention center, and supported legal services for immigrants in his district. Local reporting documents he has expressed support for abolishing ICE and has positioned himself against hard-line enforcement tactics while advocating for increased legal supports for immigrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports protecting the right to choose and codifying reproductive rights into federal law, has cosponsored bills to protect contraception access and the right to abortion care, and supports access to medication abortion. He has received endorsements from reproductive-rights organizations.
Climate & Energy
Supports climate action and clean energy investment, emphasizing environmental justice, upgrades to clean-energy infrastructure (electric buses, EV charging), and policies toward a zero-emissions future while using legislative and oversight tools to defend EPA climate protections.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports re-enacting and expanding a federal assault weapons ban, widening the scope of background checks (including private sales), endorsing federal extreme risk protection orders, addressing ghost guns, and promoting safe-storage laws and school protections.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Robert Menendez Jr. won the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District, keeping him in the race for the House seat. He also backed the proposed Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act, which would require clearer caffeine labeling on energy drinks. More broadly, his primary win comes as Democrats are seeing stronger progressive momentum in other contests ahead of the 2026 midterms.
menendez.house.gov+38
Articles
NNJ.com2 months ago
2026 New Jersey primary election results: U.S. Senate, House, county and local elections
Positive
NYNew York Post4 months ago
Parents take on energy drinks after daughter's caffeine death
Positive
PPOLITICO1 month ago
Centrist Democrats are freaking out about progressives’ winning streak
Neutral
NNorthjersey.Com2 months ago
See NJ Congressional District 2026 primary election results
Neutral
Polls
NJ-08 Democratic nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
NJ-08 Democratic nominee?
Endorsers of Robert Menendez Jr. for NJ-08 Democratic nominee?
SEIU NJ State Council
Labor organization
SEIU NJ State Council endorsed Robert Menendez Jr. as part of its congressional endorsement slate.
32BJ SEIU
Labor organization
32BJ SEIU endorsed Robert Menendez Jr. for re-election in Congress.
NEA Fund for Children and Public Education
Public endorsement
The NEA Fund for Children and Public Education endorsed Robert Menendez Jr. for Congress.
Committee to Protect Health Care
Political organization
The Committee to Protect Health Care endorsed Robert Menendez Jr. and designated him as a Care candidate.
NJAFSCME Local 63
Labor organization
NJAFSCME Local 63 endorsed Robert Menendez Jr. for Congress.
LiUNA
Public endorsement
LiUNA endorsed Robert Menendez Jr. for re-election to Congress in 2026.
Ras Baraka
Elected official
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka endorsed Robert Menendez Jr. in the NJ-8 Democratic primary.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$2.4M
$1.8M
$1.2M
$596.2K
$0
2022
2024
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2022
$1.8M
$355.2K
$1.4M
$58.2K
Cycle 2024
$2.4M
$276.7K
$2.5M
$102.6K
Cycle 2026
$2.0M
$679.7K
$1.6M
$86.4K
Source: FEC