Politics
Rep. Rob Menendez Jr. Defeats Mussab Ali in Democratic Primary
Congressman Rob Menendez won the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating challenger Mussab Ali, according to the Associated Press, which called the race at 8:17 p.m.
In Hudson County, Menendez received 21,564 votes, or 67.77%, compared to Ali’s 10,116 votes, or 31.79%, according to results from the Hudson County Clerk’s Office.
The 8th Congressional District includes parts of Hudson County, Newark, and Elizabeth.
Menendez, the incumbent, was first elected to Congress in 2022. He is the son of former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and held support from labor unions and prominent elected officials throughout the race.
Ali, a former president of the Jersey City Board of Education, ran a progressive challenge campaign focused on Medicare for All, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and banning military aid to Israel. He previously ran unsuccessfully for Jersey City mayor in 2025.
The race drew national attention in its final weeks after Ali filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Jersey City Board of Education on May 20, alleging that a board resolution banning him from district property would prevent him from entering his designated polling place to cast his ballot.
Menendez is unopposed in the November 3 general election.
