New Jersey's 8th Congressional District

New Jersey's 8th Congressional District is represented by Robert Menendez (Democrat), who has held the seat since 2023. Menendez has an overall VoteSee report card grade of C, voted in 100% of roll-call votes on bills this Congress, and votes with the Democratic majority 97% of the time. The district includes Jersey City, Elizabeth, and Newark. It takes in all or part of 3 counties, and 67% of residents live in Hudson County. About 764,000 people live in the district, and the median household income is $84,356.

Current Representative

Robert Menendez (Democrat) has represented New Jersey's 8th Congressional District since 2023.

• VoteSee report card grade: C
• Attendance in the 119th Congress: 100% of roll-call votes on bills
• Votes with the Democrat majority: 97%

See Robert Menendez's full voting record and issue positions →

2026 Election

U.S. House: New Jersey 8th District

Winner: Rob Menendez.

Incumbent Rob Menendez is running for re-election. 4 candidates were on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot.

• Rob Menendez (Democratic), incumbent: raised $2.2M, $722K cash on hand; VoteSee report card C; 100% attendance; votes with the Democratic majority 97% of the time
• Craig Honts (Socialist Workers)
• Aristotle Eliopoulos (Independent)
• Da'Shone Hughey (Independent)

Polls: No public polls

See the full 2026 race →

District Demographics

• Population: 763,596
• Median household income: $84,356
• Median age: 36
• Median home value: $519,200
• Bachelor's degree or higher: 41.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, 119th Congress boundaries.

How Menendez Voted Recently

• Yea on American Enrichment Deployment Act (Nov 9, 2026) — Passed
• Yea on Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act (Nov 9, 2026) — Passed
• Yea on Retire through Ownership Act (Sep 16, 2026) — Passed
• Yea on Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (Sep 16, 2026) — Passed
• Yea on Ratepayer Protection Act (Sep 16, 2026) — Passed

Breaks with the Democrat majority

• Yea on Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (Sep 16, 2026) — Passed
• Nay on National Fraud Enforcement Division Act of 2026 (Sep 16, 2026) — Passed
• No on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 (Jul 15, 2026) — Failed

Who Held This Seat Before

Members of Congress who previously represented New Jersey's 8th Congressional District. District lines are redrawn after each census, so earlier members may have represented a different area under this number.

• Albio Sires — Democrat (2013–2023)
• Bill Pascrell — Democrat (1997–2013)
• William Martini — Republican (1995–1997)
• Herbert Klein — Democrat (1993–1995)
• Robert Roe — Democrat (1969–1993)
• Charles Joelson — Democrat (1961–1971)
• Gordon Canfield — Republican (1941–1961)
• George Seger — Republican (1933–1941)
• Fred Hartley — Republican (1929–1933)
• Paul Moore — Democrat (1927–1929)
• Herbert Taylor — Republican (1925–1927)
• Frank McNulty — Democrat (1923–1925)

Where the District Is

New Jersey's 8th Congressional District covers 51 square miles of land. Boundaries are for the current (119th) Congress.

Counties

• Hudson County (part): 67% of residents
• Union County (part): 18% of residents
• Essex County (part): 15% of residents

Largest communities

• Jersey City (part)
• Elizabeth
• Newark (part)
• Bayonne
• Union City
• Hoboken
• West New York
• Harrison

Neighboring Districts

• New Jersey's 7th Congressional District — Thomas Kean (Republican)
• New Jersey's 9th Congressional District — Nellie Pou (Democrat)
• New Jersey's 10th Congressional District — LaMonica McIver (Democrat)
• New Jersey's 11th Congressional District — Analilia Mejia (Democrat)
• New York's 10th Congressional District — Dan Goldman (Democrat)
• New York's 12th Congressional District — Jerrold Nadler (Democrat)

New Jersey's U.S. Senators

• Cory Booker — Democrat, senior senator
• Andy Kim — Democrat, junior senator

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