U.S. House · New Jersey's 8th District
Hudson and parts of Essex and Union counties, including Jersey City, Union City, and Elizabeth.
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED
Robert Menendez Jr., projected winner
| Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rob Menendez | 109,175 | 88.6% |
| Craig Honts | 5,222 | 4.2% |
| Aristotle Eliopoulos | 5,216 | 4.2% |
| Da'Shone Hughey | 3,637 | 3% |
About 95% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗
Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research
- Incumbent Robert Menendez Jr. won the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary with 68.8% of the vote against Mussab Ali. The Republican Party primary was canceled after no Republican candidates filed for this seat.[1][3]
- The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index rates the district D+15.[2]
On the November 3 ballot · 4 candidates
Issue evidence — side by side
Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.
Protect legal access to abortion
- Robert Menendez Jr.Supports[15][16]
Cosponsored H.R. 12, the Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 (119th Congress), which would establish a federal statutory right to provide and receive abortion services. Cosponsored H.R. 4099, the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act (119th Congress), which would protect the ability to travel across state lines to obtain abortion services.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Stricter gun laws
- Robert Menendez Jr.Supports[13]
Cosponsored H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (119th Congress), which would ban the sale and manufacture of many semiautomatic assault weapons.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
- Robert Menendez Jr.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
- Robert Menendez Jr.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Expand public health coverage
- Robert Menendez Jr.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle EliopoulosIn their own words[4]
“We should lower prescription drug costs, increase price transparency, encourage competition among providers and insurers, and reduce unnecessary administrative bureaucracy.”
In his 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey
Faster transition away from fossil fuels
- Robert Menendez Jr.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Raise the minimum wage
- Robert Menendez Jr.Supports[14]
Cosponsored H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (119th Congress), which would raise the federal minimum wage.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Broad tariffs on imported goods
- Robert Menendez Jr.Recorded votes[27]
Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote
- Robert Menendez Jr.Recorded votes[23]
Voted no on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad
- Robert Menendez Jr.Recorded votes[25][26]
Voted yes on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted yes on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.
- Craig Honts—
- Da'Shone Hughey—
- Aristotle Eliopoulos—
Research notes & limits
Federal key floor votes and FEC finance totals for Menendez are added separately by script. No Republican candidate filed for this seat. Craig Honts has a minimal public footprint beyond his Ballotpedia listing; Da'Shone Hughey's biographical details come from his Ballotpedia survey. Honts's Ballotpedia profile lists only his party line and ballot status, so no biography beyond that was found.
Sources · 38
Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2026 (Cook PVI table) · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Rob Menendez (New Jersey) · Ballotpedia Reference
- 4.Aristotle Eliopoulos — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey) Candidate's own words
- 5.Healthcare · Office of Rep. Rob Menendez Official record
- 6.Immigration · Office of Rep. Rob Menendez Official record
- 7.Climate Change and Environmental Justice · Office of Rep. Rob Menendez Official record
- 8.Da'Shone Hughey for Congress (campaign website) · Da'Shone Hughey for Congress Candidate's own words
- 9.The Hughey Plan for Hudson County · Da'Shone Hughey for Congress Candidate's own words
- 10.Rob Menendez (New Jersey) · Ballotpedia Reference
- 11.Biography | U.S. House Representative Rob Menendez · Office of Rep. Rob Menendez Official record
- 12.New Jersey's 8th District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 13.H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (Assault Weapons Ban of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 14.H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (Raise the Wage Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 15.H.R. 12, the Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 (Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 16.H.R. 4099, the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act (Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 17.H.Con.Res. 68 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 18.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 19.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 20.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
- 21.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 22.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
- 23.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 24.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 25.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 26.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 27.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 28.Craig Honts · Ballotpedia Reference
- 29.Husband-and-wife duo from Tennessee will run as pro-life independents for competitive N.J. seats · New Jersey Globe · 2026-06-03 News report
- 30.Is NJ Ready For A Socialist Governor? This Candidate Thinks So · Patch News report
- 31.U.S. House · New Jersey's 8th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 32.Da'Shone Hughey · Ballotpedia Reference
- 33.Husband-and-wife duo from Tennessee will run as pro-life independents for competitive N.J. seats · New Jersey Globe · 2026-06-03 News report
- 34.Da'Shone Hughey announces campaign for U.S. Congress in New Jersey's 8th District · 24-7 Press Release (issued by the campaign) · 2026-06-30 Candidate's own words
- 35.U.S. House · New Jersey's 8th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 36.Aristotle Eliopoulos — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey) Candidate's own words
- 37.Husband-and-wife duo from Tennessee will run as pro-life independents for competitive N.J. seats · New Jersey Globe · 2026-06-03 News report
- 38.U.S. House · New Jersey's 8th District results 2026 · NBC News News report