Congressional Hispanic Democrats are throwing some weight behind New Jersey State Sen. Nellie Pou, a Democrat who’s all however sure to win a vacant Home seat to develop into the state’s first Latina federal legislator.
Daring PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s (CHC) marketing campaign arm, on Thursday endorsed Pou, who jumped into the race following the Aug. 21 loss of life of incumbent Rep. Invoice Pascrell (D).
Pascrell had held the seat since 1997, when he gained his first Home race and was changed by Pou within the New Jersey Normal Meeting.
“Nellie has been a relentless champion for working households in New Jersey,” mentioned Daring PAC Chair Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.).
“With a lot at stake this election, getting extra Democrats who will battle towards Republican extremism is extra necessary than ever. If elected, Nellie will make historical past as the primary Latina to characterize New Jersey in Congress, and Daring PAC is proud to endorse her.”
Pou was chosen as Pascrell’s alternative for the November election at a particular occasion conference in August, after key Democratic committee chairs representing the constituent counties of the congressional district backed her.
Three different Democrats who had thrown their hats within the ring withdrew their candidacies after Pou secured these endorsements.
The race to switch Pascrell, who had gained the June major looking for reelection, was additionally a race towards time.
The occasion was dealing with an Aug. 29 deadline to register a brand new candidate, in any other case Pascrell’s identify would have remained on the final election poll.
“I had an excellent relationship with Invoice Pascrell, you realize, he was a good friend and a mentor to me, and his passing was arduous and I miss him, but additionally realized that the method for determining who would change him on the poll was going to maneuver shortly, as a result of it needed to transfer shortly,” mentioned Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), the primary elected official to endorse Pou for the seat.
“For me, she was the one Hispanic elected [official] to lift their hand for doubtlessly changing Invoice in a district that’s 42 p.c Hispanic. She has the credentials — she had one of the best credentials of anybody working. Essentially the most, the longest serving legislator of those that raised their hand, and she or he she’s going to make historical past as the primary Latina to characterize New Jersey in Congress, and she or he put all these issues collectively. And to me, you realize, it was an apparent selection,” mentioned Menendez.
If elected, Pou can be, together with Menendez, certainly one of two Hispanic members of Congress from New Jersey, a state the place greater than 20 p.c of the inhabitants identifies as Hispanic.
Menendez’s father, former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), resigned from his place a day earlier than Pascrell’s loss of life, following a conviction on federal bribery prices, chopping in half the state’s federal Hispanic illustration.
Pou would additionally develop into the state’s first federal consultant of Puerto Rican descent.
She was born in Paterson, N.J., to oldsters who migrated from the U.S. territory in 1953.
“Rising up, my household labored arduous to make ends meet, and I do know firsthand the challenges our working households face. I’ve spent my profession preventing for working households, to make sure entry to high quality well being care, and to create higher faculties for our youngsters,” mentioned Pou.
“With Daring PAC’s assist, I’m able to take this battle to Congress, to battle for working households and stand as much as Republican extremism. Collectively, we’ll construct a greater future for all of our communities.”
Pascrell was the second New Jersey consultant to die in workplace this time period. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.) died in April and posthumously gained his major in June.
Newark Municipal Council President LaMonica McIver (D) will serve the rest of Payne’s time period after profitable a particular election Wednesday towards Republican Carmen Bucco, whom she is going to face once more within the normal election in November.