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By David Wildstein
Likely winner of NJ-08 seat is contributing to Democrats in tough races in N.J. and across U.S. in bid to hold the House
Robert J. Menendez, who is nearly certain to win the open congressional seat in New Jersey’s 8th district next month, has raised $100,000 to help House Democrats retain their majority, a move that puts him on the radar of party leaders in Washington.
Menendez has raised $70,000 directly for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and another $30,000 in direct campaign contributions to Democratic frontliners in New Jersey and eleven other competitive House races across the U.S.
“Rob Menendez’s grassroots fundraising efforts, as part of the True Blue program, have been a great help to the DCCC,” said DCCC Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney (D-New York). “If we are going to maintain the House majority and stop MAGA Republicans from taking power, it is going to take all of us. I look forward to welcoming him to Congress when we win in November.”
Contributions of $2,000 each went from Menendez to Reps. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes), Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) and Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair). Incumbents also receiving $2,000 checks from Menendez: Chrissy Houlahan, Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright in Pennsylvania; Elaine Luria, Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton in Virginia; Angie Craig in Minnesota; Sharice Davids in Kansas; and Annie Kuster in New Hampshire.
Spanberger, who is seeking her third term, is a Red Bank native and Sherrill’s Washington roommate.
Also receiving $2,000 checks from Menendez were Gabe Vasquez, who is challenging Rep. Yvette Herrell in New Mexico, and Assemblyman Rudy Salas, who is taking on Rep. David Valadao in California. The Cook Political Report has both races listed as tossups.
“To meet this moment and achieve the goals of our campaign, we need a strong Democratic majority in the House of Representatives,” Menendez said. “Only by maintaining and growing a Democratic majority can we keep moving forward on this vitally important work and prevent an extremist GOP party from taking the helm at this critical juncture in our nation’s history.”
The 37-year-old attorney and commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey quickly secured party support last December to succeed Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York), who is giving up the seat he’s held since 2006. Menendez won the Democratic primary with 83% of the vote and is a safe bet to defeat Republican Marcos Arroyo in the general election. Sires was re-elected by a margin of 50 percentage points in 2020.
Menendez has become a prodigious fundraiser since entering the race early this year. He reported raising $1,350,418 through the end of June.