Aristotle Eliopoulos

Aristotle "Ari" Eliopoulos is an independent candidate for New Jersey's 8th Congressional District. He describes himself as an educator, union leader, and special needs advocate, the son of working-class immigrants.[1] According to his Ballotpedia survey, he is running on education reform, healthcare affordability, and independence from party establishments.[1]

Eliopoulos describes himself as the son of working-class immigrants who raised him to believe that hard work, education, community, and service are the foundations of a strong society.[1] He works as a teacher and union leader and says his classroom experience shaped his focus on students, families, and educators.[1] He names special needs advocacy as the policy issue he is most passionate about, citing his work as an educator with students with disabilities and their families.[1]

Eliopoulos is running as an independent and says his campaign principle is "Results, Not Rhetoric."[1] According to the New Jersey Globe in June 2026, he is a teachers union official and a registered Republican who filed to run as an independent. The Globe reported that local Republican leaders, whose party did not file its own candidate in the district, were supporting him; the incumbent is Democratic Rep. Rob Menendez.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.