New Jersey 8th District
Rob Menendez (D) holds this seat and is running again. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Rob Menendez
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 39 of 103 votes and bills.
Raised $2,236,502 since January 2025: 56% from people, 40% from PACs and other committees, 4% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Aristotle Eliopoulos
Independent · Jersey City teacher, union representative
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Eliopoulos has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Eliopoulos.
Craig Honts
Socialist Workers · factory worker, Socialist Workers candidate
FLiberty Score F56 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Honts has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Honts.
Da'Shone Hughey
Independent · entrepreneur, educator and author, independent
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Hughey, and what Hughey has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 30. A grade needs 4.
Higher on Liberty Score: Aristotle Eliopoulos. Aristotle Eliopoulos: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Rob Menendez: F, 34 out of 100 from recorded votes.
Voting in New Jersey: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Aristotle Eliopoulos, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Eliopoulos, so the grade above comes from this list: what Eliopoulos has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
His campaign site lists supporting America's allies and strategic partnerships under America abroad.
“Support America's allies and strategic partnerships”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing allies and partners is with liberty on free nations, though he names no country.
-
His campaign site lists expanding the Child Tax Credit as a priority.
“Expand the Child Tax Credit”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut follows the free markets test's with side.
-
His campaign site lists cutting unnecessary regulations on small businesses.
“Cut unnecessary regulations on small businesses”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Less regulation is with liberty on free markets.
-
His campaign site lists maintaining a strong national defense among his priorities.
“Maintain a strong national defense”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a strong defence follows the defense test's with side (fund and equip the armed forces).
-
His campaign site heads its immigration priorities 'Secure borders and fair immigration'.
“Secure borders and fair immigration”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Putting secure borders first follows the borders test's with side (secures the border).
Craig Honts, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Honts, so the grade above comes from this list: what Honts has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
On VOTE411 he calls for U.S. troops out of the Middle East, without naming a policy toward the Islamic Republic.
“US troops out of the Middle East!”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Troops out of a whole region, with no policy on sanctions, a deal or strikes named, does not settle the measure.
-
On VOTE411 he says Israel's war aims to prevent the Islamic Republic from carrying out another Holocaust and calls for defending Israel's right to exist.
“Israel’s war is to prevent Tehran from carrying out another Holocaust.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Israel's right to defend itself is with liberty on free nations.
-
On VOTE411 he says the working class should replace capitalist rule with a government of its own.
“replace capitalist rule with a government of our own”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Replacing capitalism with socialism is against liberty on free markets.
-
On VOTE411 he supports sex education, not gender indoctrination.
“sex education (not gender indoctrination)”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing gender ideology in teaching is with liberty on equal rights.
-
On VOTE411 he says his party opposes raids, deportations and ICE treatment of immigrant workers and calls for amnesty for workers without papers.
“The SWP opposes raids, deportations and brutal treatment of immigrant workers at the hands of ICE agents.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Amnesty and opposing deportations and ICE is against liberty on borders.
Da'Shone Hughey, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Hughey, so the grade above comes from this list: what Hughey has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Says the war involving Iran has shown how foreign conflicts affect service members, energy markets, trade and the budget.
“the ongoing war involving Iran has demonstrated how foreign conflicts can affect American service members, energy markets, global trade, and the federal budget”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He names the war but no policy toward the regime, so the words do not settle a side.
-
His foreign policy page says America should keep strong relationships with allies and rejects isolationism while seeking less strategic dependence.
“America should maintain strong relationships with allies and partners around the world.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping strong alliances and rejecting isolation is with liberty on free nations, though he names no country or treaty.
-
Says his foreign policy is not isolationism and that America should stay engaged with the world.
“This is not isolationism. It is strategic independence.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting isolationism is with liberty on free nations.
-
He proposes expanding federal apprenticeship tax credits for small businesses.
“Expand federal apprenticeship tax credits for small businesses.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax credit for businesses is a tax cut, which is with liberty on free markets.
-
Lists maintaining a strong national defense among the strengths America must have.
“maintain a strong national defense”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a strong national defence is with liberty on defense.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Discussion
New Jersey 8th District
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