New Jersey 9th District
Nellie Pou (D) holds this seat and is running again. 3 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
Nellie Pou
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 13 of 44 votes and bills.
Raised $3,131,322 since January 2025: 54% from people, 40% from PACs and other committees, 6% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Rosie Pino
Republican · Clifton city councilwoman
B-Liberty Score B-80 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Pino has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Pino.
Higher on Liberty Score: Rosie Pino. Rosie Pino: B-, 80 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Nellie Pou: F, 28 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.
Rosie Pino, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Pino, so the grade above comes from this list: what Pino has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Wrote that the cost of living will only fall when the war in Iran ends, with no policy named.
“Cost of living will only decrease when the war in Iran ends”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
'The war should end' with no policy named is unclear for anyone, under the site's standing call.
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Said Congress should not have been skipped over when the war on the Islamic Republic began, with no vote or bill of hers named.
“I think that Congress should have definitely not been skipped over”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
'Congress must vote before war' with no policy or vote named is unclear under the site's standing call.
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Told Jewish Insider that Israel is a strong ally and that the alliance must be kept, not cut.
“Israel is a strong ally of the United States, and I believe we must maintain that alliance, not cut it.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally and opposing cutting the alliance is with liberty on free nations.
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Wrote in her iVoterGuide questionnaire that Israel is a stable ally that shares American values and provides key intelligence.
“Israel is a stable ally that shares our values and provides key intelligence.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Calling Israel an ally and backing the Abraham Accords is with liberty on free nations.
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Chose the foreign policy view that the United States has become too involved in others' policies and should focus on its own sovereignty unless in imminent danger.
“The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
It leans toward restraint but names no country, Ukraine, Taiwan or NATO, so it does not settle the measure.
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Said she will cut red tape for job creators.
“That means cutting red tape for job creators, expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs, standing up for workers, and restoring American energy independence”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Less regulation follows the with rule on free markets.
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Said she supports Trump’s efforts to cut taxes for working families without naming a tax.
“I support President Trump’s efforts to cut taxes for working families, eliminate burdensome taxes, and unleash American energy”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No tax is named, so by the site rule it is unclear.
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Marked Strongly Disagree on whether people who can afford to pay more taxes should do so to give relief to working families.
“People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting higher taxes on the better off is with liberty on free markets.
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Wrote that healthcare should be made affordable through competition and transparency without moving toward a government-run system.
“making healthcare low-cost enough to be accessible to all families without moving toward a government-run system”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing government-run health care is with liberty on free markets.
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Wrote that she supports caps on what hospitals and doctors can charge.
“One area of regulation I do support is creating caps on what hospitals can charge and what doctors can charge our most vulnerable citizens.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A price cap is against liberty on free markets.
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Marked Strongly Agree that attempts to transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
“Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
It concerns child transition and does not name schools, sport, the military or DEI, so it does not settle the measure.
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Wrote that defence spending should focus on making sure troops are properly armed and cared for.
“the focus should be on ensuring our troops are properly armed and cared for”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Equipping and caring for the armed forces is with liberty on defense.
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Voted on the Clifton council for a bill expressing support for New Jersey's Immigrant Trust Act, which limits local police cooperation with immigration authorities.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Backing a law that limits local cooperation with immigration enforcement is against liberty on borders.
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Spoke at a rally outside the Delaney Hall detention centre in support of ICE and law enforcement.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Publicly backing ICE and its officers is with liberty on borders.
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Said Border Patrol and ICE should be equipped to arrest and deport violent criminals.
“I believe that Border Patrol and ICE should be equipped with the tools they need to arrest and deport violent criminals.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing ICE and deporting those who commit crimes follows the with rule.
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Said she supports President Trump’s border security policies.
“I support President Trump’s border security policies that put safety first.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border and enforcing the law follows the with rule.
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Marked Strongly Disagree on supporting sanctuary cities for undocumented persons.
“I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing sanctuary policies is with liberty on borders.
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Wrote that the country must continue securing the border to end illegal entry.
“We must continue securing the border to end illegal entry”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border is with liberty on borders.
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Wrote that she will advocate for new laws that allow proper paths to citizenship, without saying for whom.
“I pledge to advocate for new laws and guidelines to allow for proper paths to citizenship.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
It does not say whether the path is for people here illegally, so it does not settle the measure.
Also on the ballot
Terrisa Bukovinac (Independent).
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.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
New Jersey 9th District
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