NJ-08: Robert Menendez, Jr. (D)

REPLACING:

Albio Sires (D)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

Lowenstein Sandler LLP (Associate / Counsel)[ii]

EDUCATION:

BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; JD, Rutgers Law School[iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Affordability; Childcare & Education; Climate Change & Environmental Justice; Gun Control; Healthcare; Organized Labor; Transportation; Voting Rights[iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

As a pro-choice candidate, Menendez advocated for codifying Roe v. Wade, repealing the Hyde Amendment, and expanding access to “abortion pills.”[v] [vi] [vii] He also called for the Food and Drug Administration to “lift restrictions and make it easier for women to obtain [abortion-related] medications through the mail so their reproductive choices are not limited by where they live or work.”

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Menendez has advocated for restoring the full SALT deduction, working “toward federal solutions for the ongoing supply chain crisis,” and raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.[viii] To lower costs for families, Menendez has said he would support bolstering the Child Tax Credit and “Democratic proposals to cap child care costs at 7% of income for many families.”[ix] He also supports unions, the right to organize, apprenticeships and other workforce training programs, and passing the PRO Act and Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.[x]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

A supporter of the Affordable Care Act, Menendez has said he will fight to protect the law, “lower the cost of quality health insurance coverage for all families in our district,” and ensure that “every American has access to the best medical care available regardless of ability to pay.”[xi] He has opposed efforts to cut Medicare and Social Security.[xii]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Menendez has expressed support for protecting DACA recipients and enacting “comprehensive immigration reform NOW.”[xiii] During the campaign, he frequently advocated for fixing the United States’ “broken immigration system.”[xiv] [xv]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Menendez recently supported legislation to increase funding for local police departments, applauding the bill for including Democratic Rep. Katie Porter’s (CA-45) Mental Health Justice Act, which he said, “provides funds for mental health professionals to respond to mental health crises, allowing police to focus on stopping crime.”[xvi]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

Menendez has argued that “Republican elected officials have pushed to roll back critical voting rights laws and voter protections, often targeting minority and low-income voting populations,” and has thus called for legislation to “defend the right to vote” and enact the Freedom to Vote Act and For the People Act. He has also said that he will “Stand up and fight against every Republican attempt to attack minority and low-income people’s right to vote.”[xvii]

EDUCATION:

According to his campaign website, Menendez supports “guarantee[ing] universal preschool for all families” and  “address[ing] the student debt crisis.”[xviii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

During the campaign, Menendez said he would advocate for several initiatives to combat climate change, including supporting “Democratic efforts to provide half a trillion dollars for our clean energy economy,” reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and providing “cost savings and rebates to district residents as they transition their homes to clean energy.” He also advocated for manufacturing clean energy technology in the United States, “electrify[ing] our public transit infrastructure,” and passing the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act.[xix]

BIG TECH & DATA PRIVACY:

In an April 2022 tweet, Menendez criticized Amazon, Apple, and Starbucks for its labor practices, arguing the companies were “pursuing aggressive union-busting efforts instead of respecting their workers’ right to organize.[xx]

GUN SAFETY:

A supporter of gun control measures, Menendez has called for reenacting the federal assault weapons ban, bolstering the background check system “so that Americans are no longer able to buy guns from private sellers without any safety measures in place,” and passing red flag laws. He has also advocated for making sure that guns “are not put in schools near our children,” passing safe storage legislation, and teaching the public more about suicides committed by using a firearm.[xxi]

FOREIGN POLICY:

In a February 2022 tweet regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Menendez stated, “I stand with President Biden and our allies in holding Vladimir Putin accountable and trust that they are prepared to support Ukraine and the entire region in the hours and days ahead.”[xxii]