Rob Menendez

Rob Menendez
Born	Robert Jacobsen Menendez Jr. 12 07, 1985
Birthplace	Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 8th congressional district
Education	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA) Rutgers University–Newark (JD)
Children	2
Website	[robmenendez.com Official site]

Robert Jacobsen Menendez Jr. (born July 12, 1985) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 8th congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Menendez succeeded retiring Representative Albio Sires and represents a district that encompasses parts of Hudson County, Essex County, and Union County, including portions of Jersey City, Newark, Elizabeth, and surrounding communities. Before entering Congress, Menendez worked as an attorney at the law firm Lowenstein Sandler and served as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 2021 to 2023. He is the son of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who represented New Jersey in the Senate from 2006 to 2024. Since taking office, the younger Menendez has focused on issues including immigration policy, cybersecurity, and community protection, while also navigating the political complexities that have accompanied his family name in New Jersey politics.

Early Life

Robert Jacobsen Menendez Jr. was born on July 12, 1985, in Englewood, New Jersey. He is the son of Bob Menendez, who served as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey from 2006 until his resignation in 2024, and who previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives. The younger Menendez grew up in a politically active household; his father had been involved in New Jersey politics since the 1970s, beginning with service on the Union City Board of Education and later as mayor of Union City before entering Congress.

Menendez's upbringing in the northern New Jersey area exposed him to the diverse, densely populated urban communities that would later form much of the congressional district he came to represent. His middle name, Jacobsen, reflects his mother's family heritage — his mother is Jane Jacobsen Menendez.

Growing up as the son of a prominent political figure in New Jersey, Menendez was familiar with public life and civic engagement from an early age. His father's long career in politics — spanning local, state, and federal government — provided a backdrop to his formative years. In interviews and profiles during his congressional campaign, Menendez acknowledged the influence of his father's career while also expressing a desire to establish his own identity and policy priorities as a public servant.

Education

Menendez attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently pursued legal education at Rutgers University–Newark, earning his Juris Doctor degree. The choice of Rutgers–Newark for law school kept Menendez connected to the New Jersey community where he would later build his legal and political career. Rutgers Law School in Newark has a long history of training attorneys who go on to serve in public life in the state of New Jersey.

Career

Legal Career

After completing his legal education, Menendez entered the practice of law. He joined Lowenstein Sandler, a prominent law firm headquartered in New Jersey with offices across the country. At Lowenstein Sandler, Menendez worked as an attorney, gaining experience in legal practice prior to his entry into public service. The firm is known for its work in areas including corporate law, litigation, and technology, and has been a training ground for a number of New Jersey legal and political figures.

In addition to his work at Lowenstein Sandler, Menendez was involved in community organizations. He served on the Board of Trustees of The Hudson School, a private school located in Hoboken, New Jersey. This board service reflected his engagement with educational institutions in the Hudson County area.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

In April 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy nominated Menendez to serve as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the bi-state agency that oversees major transportation infrastructure including the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, Newark Liberty International Airport, and the World Trade Center. The nomination was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate in June 2021, along with three other nominees to the board.

Menendez was subsequently sworn in as a commissioner, joining fellow new board members in beginning their service to the agency. He served as a Port Authority commissioner from 2021 until 2023, when he resigned the position upon taking his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure, the Port Authority was engaged in several major infrastructure projects, including ongoing redevelopment at the World Trade Center site and improvements to the region's airports and transit facilities.

2022 Congressional Campaign

On December 20, 2021, Representative Albio Sires, who had represented New Jersey's 8th congressional district since 2006, announced that he would not seek re-election and endorsed Menendez as his successor. Menendez quickly entered the race and began assembling a broad coalition of endorsements from New Jersey's Democratic establishment.

The announcement of Menendez's candidacy drew attention in part because of his family name and his father's long tenure in New Jersey politics. The New York Times reported on the entry of the younger Menendez into the race, noting both the opportunities and challenges that came with running as the son of a sitting U.S. Senator. A February 2022 profile in NJ.com explored how the candidate sought to navigate "stepping into and out of dad's shadow," detailing his efforts to present himself as his own political figure while acknowledging the advantages that came with his family connections.

An April 2022 profile in Jewish Insider explored Menendez's campaign under the headline "The Senator's Son, Striving to Be a Congress Man," examining his policy positions and his efforts to build relationships with various constituencies in the district independently of his father's political network.

Menendez received endorsements from a number of prominent New Jersey political figures and organizations during the primary campaign. Governor Phil Murphy endorsed his candidacy. U.S. Senator Cory Booker also endorsed Menendez for the seat. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop provided an endorsement, and Menendez secured the Hudson County Democratic organization's support. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka endorsed Menendez as well, giving the candidate support across the district's major urban centers. Menendez also secured endorsements from Union County Democratic leaders, including State Senator Nicholas Scutari and Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage.

In the June 2022 Democratic primary, Menendez faced several opponents. He won the primary decisively, securing the Democratic nomination for the heavily Democratic district. Given the strong Democratic lean of the 8th district, which includes some of New Jersey's most reliably Democratic communities, Menendez's primary victory effectively assured his election to Congress. He went on to win the November 2022 general election comfortably.

U.S. House of Representatives

Menendez took office on January 3, 2023, as a member of the 118th United States Congress. His campaign and early tenure were registered with the Federal Election Commission.

Legislative Priorities and Initiatives

Since entering Congress, Menendez has been active on several policy fronts. In February 2025, Menendez joined with Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX) to introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity of the United States' telecommunications network. The bill responded to concerns about vulnerabilities in the nation's communications infrastructure and represented a cross-party collaboration on national security matters.

Menendez has also been active on immigration-related issues, particularly those affecting his New Jersey district. In February 2025, he launched a statewide initiative to oppose a proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, leading the New Jersey Democratic congressional delegation in the effort. He issued public statements criticizing the purchase of the warehouse by ICE, characterizing it as harmful to the community.

Additionally, Menendez has participated in community-focused events, including hosting town halls with fellow New Jersey Democratic Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and LaMonica McIver on the topic of protecting communities.

2026 Primary Challenge

In early 2025, Menendez's re-election campaign drew a primary challenge. Mussab Ali launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey's 8th congressional district, promising to "choose courage" and presenting himself as an alternative to Menendez. Reporting by the New Jersey Globe noted that Menendez's early years in Congress had been "inevitably, defined by his father," referencing the legal troubles and resignation of Senator Bob Menendez.

In response, Menendez has continued to build support for his re-election. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka endorsed Menendez for re-election in February 2025, with reporting indicating that the congressman had worked closely with the mayor on issues of mutual concern. Menendez addressed the primary challenge in media appearances, including an interview with PIX11 in February 2025.

Personal Life

Rob Menendez is the son of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Jane Jacobsen Menendez. He has two children.

His father, Senator Bob Menendez, was a dominant figure in New Jersey Democratic politics for decades. The elder Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges in September 2023, convicted in July 2024, and subsequently resigned from the Senate. The New Jersey Globe reported that the younger Menendez's early congressional career was "inevitably, defined by his father" and the political fallout from the senator's legal troubles.

Menendez has maintained his connections to the Hudson County area, the political and geographic heart of the 8th congressional district. He has been involved with The Hudson School in Hoboken, serving on its Board of Trustees.