Meet Rob - Rob Menendez

Rob Menendez was born and raised in Hudson County and proudly serves New Jersey’s Eighth Congressional District in the House of Representatives. He is running for re-election to represent this diverse district and the common values that our communities share: respect and tolerance, hard work, New Jersey common sense, and the unshakeable idea that everyone should have the opportunity and tools to succeed.

Strengthening families is at the core of Rob’s purpose for representing our community because he understands the pressures and challenges families face in these difficult times. Rob is working in Congress to create solutions to those challenges to make today better and tomorrow a place where we can all thrive and reach our full potential.

Rob grew up valuing service that drives positive change in our communities. He was raised to believe in the importance of giving back and taking care of our neighbors. Today, Rob is raising his family in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty and continues to take to heart all she represents – the welcoming place where the American journey begins and the promise of America that works for everyone. These ideals guide Rob and they guide this campaign.

Rob was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 and since taking office has focused his legislative priorities on uplifting working families, supporting organized labor, prioritizing infrastructure, facing climate change, and focusing on high quality of life for all.

Upon his arrival in Congress, Rob was elected by his peers to serve as Freshman Representative on the House Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee, which works with House Democratic leadership to set policy priorities. In addition, Rob was appointed to serve as Regional Whip for the House Democratic Caucus, a post in which he assists in advancing Democrats’ legislative priorities.

Rob serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he has advocated for greater access to mass transit for all 8th District residents via the development of The Gateway Program, the most important infrastructure project in the country, which recently received $6.9 billion from the U.S. Department of Transportation – the largest-ever mass transit grant in American history.

Rob is also a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, where he has focused on the cybersecurity challenges facing our country and has advocated for a humane and comprehensive approach to our immigration system and the challenges at our southern border. He has consistently fought Republicans’ hard-right narrative and advocated for the most vulnerable among us.

Rob is a member of several caucuses – ranging from the House Pro-Choice Caucus to the Dads’ Caucus – and is part of the largest Congressional Hispanic Caucus freshman class.

Before Congress, Rob served as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where he chaired the Governance and Ethics Committee and served as a member of the Finance Committee, which manages the Port Authority’s multi-billion-dollar annual budget.

Rob earned an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School. He and his wife, young daughter, and son live in the Lafayette neighborhood of Jersey City.