When Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) was in the fight for his political life during the 2024 Democratic primary elections, two of the state’s most prominent and progressive-leaning unions, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and 32BJ SEIU, chose to remain neutral in his race.
This year, with the threat of another primary challenge on the horizon, both unions have decided to get on board Team Menendez far earlier. 32BJ SEIU unveiled its endorsement of Menendez on Monday alongside several other Democratic incumbents, while HTC is endorsing Menendez today.
“Rob Menendez is a proven ally of working people, and we could not be prouder to endorse him for reelection,” HTC President Rich Maroko said in a statement. “At a time when working people are under attack, we need to send our best fighters to DC. For our members living in the 8th congressional district, Rob is that fighter.”
Menendez’s challenger in 2024 was then-Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who decided to challenge the freshman congressman after his father, Senator Bob Menendez, was indicted on corruption charges. Bhalla had his own longstanding connections in the state’s organized labor community, and many unions and politicians decided to refrain from making any endorsement in what became a rancorous and expensive contest.
After Menendez defeated Bhalla by a double-digit margin, though, 32BJ SEIU and HTC both rallied behind his general election campaign in the safely blue 8th congressional district; HTC endorsed Menendez less than a week after the primary had concluded.
Menendez does not yet have any declared primary opponents ahead of this June’s primary, but there’s plenty of chatter that Hudson County’s emerging progressive bloc could take him on once again. One notable Jersey City politician, former school board president and mayoral candidate Mussab Ali, is mulling a campaign.
