Not sure this is your district? Enter your ZIP to confirm it and see your full ballot
2026 candidates we're tracking in NJ-8
Rob Menendez
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Affordability for working families
- Transportation and infrastructure, including Gateway
- Healthcare access and environmental justice
About Rob Menendez
Rob Menendez is the sitting U.S. Representative for this district, elected in 2022, and serves on Energy and Commerce after earlier service on Transportation and Infrastructure, where he advocated for the Gateway Program, per his campaign site. Before Congress he was a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioner chairing its Governance and Ethics Committee. He lives in Jersey City, per the Hudson Reporter.
Aristotle Eliopoulos
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Federal support for public schools and expanded career and technical education
- Services for special-needs families, including strengthening IDEA
- Cost of living and Hudson County housing affordability
About Aristotle Eliopoulos
Aristotle 'Ari' Eliopoulos is a Jersey City public school teacher and union representative, born and raised in Jersey City as the son of Greek immigrant small-business owners, per his campaign site and the New Jersey Globe. A registered Republican running on an independent line.
Craig Honts
Craig Honts is the Socialist Workers Party candidate for New Jersey's 8th Congressional District, covering most of Hudson County, part of Newark and Elizabeth. Honts is a factory worker and member of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union, according to The Militant. Honts joined the Socialist Workers Party in 1971 after taking part in protests over the killing of Kent State University students who were demonstrating against the Vietnam War, per Patch. Craig Honts appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for U.S. House, NJ-8, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Da'Shone Hughey
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Expanding technology, robotics and AI education so students can compete in the future job market
- Creating training-to-employment pathways in robotics, advanced manufacturing and technology services
- Supporting small business entrepreneurship and community-based economic development
About Da'Shone Hughey
Hughey is an entrepreneur, educator, author, and technology innovator focused on artificial intelligence, robotics, workforce training, and education reform, per the campaign site. Hughey is running as an independent candidate for New Jersey's 8th District to build a future ready workforce and expand economic opportunity, per the campaign site.
About this race
New Jersey's 8th Congressional District elects one member of the U.S. House of Representatives to a two-year term. Every House seat in the country is on the ballot in 2026. The New Jersey primary is Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.