Congressional Hispanic Democrats are throwing some weight behind New Jersey State Sen. Nellie Pou, a Democrat who’s all but certain to win a vacant House seat to become the state’s first Latina federal legislator.
Bold PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s (CHC) campaign arm, on Thursday endorsed Pou, who jumped into the race following the Aug. 21 death of incumbent Rep. Bill Pascrell (D).
Pascrell had held the seat since 1997, when he won his first House race and was replaced by Pou in the New Jersey General Assembly.
“Nellie has been a relentless champion for working families in New Jersey,” said Bold PAC Chair Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.).
“With so much at stake this election, getting more Democrats who will fight against Republican extremism is more important than ever. If elected, Nellie will make history as the first Latina to represent New Jersey in Congress, and Bold PAC is proud to endorse her.”
Pou was selected as Pascrell’s replacement for the November election at a special party convention in August, after key Democratic committee chairs representing the constituent counties of the congressional district backed her.
Three other Democrats who had thrown their hats in the ring withdrew their candidacies after Pou secured those endorsements.
The race to replace Pascrell, who had won the June primary seeking reelection, was also a race against time.
The party was facing an Aug. 29 deadline to register a new candidate, otherwise Pascrell’s name would have remained on the general election ballot.
“I had a great relationship with Bill Pascrell, you know, he was a friend and a mentor to me, and his passing was hard and I miss him, but also realized that the process for figuring out who would replace him on the ballot was going to move quickly, because it had to move quickly,” said Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), the first elected official to endorse Pou for the seat.
“For me, she was the only Hispanic elected [official] to raise their hand for potentially replacing Bill in a district that is 42 percent Hispanic. She has the credentials — she had the best credentials of anyone running. The most, the longest serving legislator of those who raised their hand, and she she’s going to make history as the first Latina to represent New Jersey in Congress, and she put all those things together. And to me, you know, it was an obvious choice,” said Menendez.
If elected, Pou will be, along with Menendez, one of two Hispanic members of Congress from New Jersey, a state where more than 20 percent of the population identifies as Hispanic.
Menendez’s father, former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), resigned from his position a day before Pascrell’s death, following a conviction on federal bribery charges, cutting in half the state’s federal Hispanic representation.
Pou would also become the state’s first federal representative of Puerto Rican descent.
She was born in Paterson, N.J., to parents who migrated from the U.S. territory in 1953.
“Growing up, my family worked hard to make ends meet, and I know firsthand the challenges our working families face. I’ve spent my career fighting for working families, to ensure access to quality health care, and to create better schools for our kids,” said Pou.
“With Bold PAC’s support, I’m ready to take this fight to Congress, to fight for working families and stand up to Republican extremism. Together, we will build a better future for all of our communities.”
Pascrell was the second New Jersey representative to die in office this term. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.) died in April and posthumously won his primary in June.
Newark Municipal Council President LaMonica McIver (D) will serve the remainder of Payne’s term after winning a special election Wednesday against Republican Carmen Bucco, whom she will face again in the general election in November.