Rep. Rob Menendez, who currently faces a serious challenge in the Democratic primary for Congress in New Jersey's 8th district against Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, has received the support of the Hispanic Democratic group. Rob Menendez, elected to the House in 2022, is seen by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) as a valued political colleague and representative of New Jersey's 2 million Latinos.

Despite the corruption allegations against his father, Senator Bob Menendez, the younger Menendez is backed by the CHC for his tireless advocacy for issues affecting the Latino community, such as accessibility to life, health, and reproductive freedom. His political profile and his ability to articulate in Congress are highlighted as strengths, according to an article by The Hill.

“CHC members are eager to keep the group’s numbers up and growing — in 2022, Menendez joined the CHC along with eight other freshmen members from districts in nine different states. Two House CHC members, Democratic Reps. Grace Napolitano (Calif.) and Tony Cárdenas (Calif.), are retiring from Congress at the end of this term; a third, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a former Bold PAC chair, is leaving his seat to run for Senate”, according to The Hill.

The publication punctuates the fierce competition between Menendez and Bhalla, with both displaying significant fundraising numbers. Polls on the race are described as volatile, showing Bhalla leading in a recent poll while an earlier one favored Menendez.

“For the younger Menendez, his father’s scandals attracted stiff opposition in the form of Bhalla and businessman Kyle Jasey, who launched his political career in a long-shot Senate bid against the elder Menendez”.

Menendez's colleagues at the CHC express support for his re-election, praising his advocacy for working families, his leadership of the Immigration Task Force, and his commitment to issues such as reproductive health and transportation infrastructure.