Bob Menendez | |
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Incumbent | |
Assumed office January 18, 2006 Serving with Frank Lautenberg |
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Preceded by | Jon Corzine |
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In office January 5, 1993 – January 18, 2006 |
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Preceded by | Frank Guarini |
Succeeded by | Albio Sires |
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Born | January 1, 1954 New York City, New York |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Jane Menendez (Divorced) |
Children | Alicia Menendez Robert Menendez |
Residence | Hoboken, New Jersey |
Alma mater | Saint Peter's College Rutgers School of Law |
Occupation | attorney |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Signature | ![]() |
Robert "Bob/Ricardo" Menendez (born January 1, 1954) is the junior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. In December 2005, he was appointed by Jon Corzine to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Corzine, who resigned upon being elected Governor of New Jersey, and was sworn into office in January 2006. Menendez was elected to his own full six-year term in the 2006 U.S. Senate election, defeating Republican Thomas Kean, Jr. He is the first person of Latino ethnicity to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.
Prior to his appointment to the U.S. Senate, Menendez was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's 13th congressional district from 1993 to 2006. A resident of Hoboken, he previously served as Mayor of Union City (1986–1992) and a member of the New Jersey General Assembly (1987–1991) and the New Jersey Senate (1991–1993).
Following the 2008 elections, Menendez was appointed to head the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.[1]
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Bob Menendez was born on New Year's Day in New York City to Cuban immigrants[2] who left their homeland a few months earlier, in 1953, seeking economic and political freedom from the repressive government headed by Fulgencio Batista.[3] His father, Mario, was a mechanic and his mother, Evangelina, a seamstress.[4] The family subsequently moved to neighboring New Jersey where, growing up in Union City, he graduated from Union Hill High School.
After a B.A. from Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers School of Law in Newark. He is a brother of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.[5] He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1980 and became a lawyer in private practice.
He married Jane Jacobsen, a teacher for the Union City Board of Education, and the couple has two children: Alicia, a graduate of Harvard University, and Robert, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In 1973, at age 19, while attending Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, he launched a successful petition drive against his mentor, then-Union City Mayor William Musto, to reform the local school board. He was elected to the Union City Board of Education in 1974. He would stay close to Musto throughout the 1970s, however, and supported Musto in his re-election to the New Jersey Senate in 1978. Menendez would later testify against Musto in a court case that resulted in a prison sentence for Musto. The trial was very controversial, and Musto declared his innocence for the rest of his life.
Menendez was elected mayor of Union City in 1986 after an unsuccessful run against the popular Musto in 1982. Menendez served as mayor until 1992. While mayor, he simultaneously served in the New Jersey Legislature, a common practice for New Jersey politicians. He was in the General Assembly from 1987 until 1991 and in the New Jersey Senate from 1991 to 1993, following the death of Christopher Jackman.[6]
In 1992, 14th District Congressman Frank Guarini retired after seven terms. Menendez won the Democratic nomination for the Jersey City-based district, which was renumbered the 13th after New Jersey lost a district in the 1990 Census, and was easily elected that November. The district was already heavily Democratic, but had been redrawn with a Hispanic majority after the 1990 census. He was reelected six times with no significant Republican opposition.
In 1996, Menendez was briefly a candidate in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Bill Bradley, but he backed out and the seat was won by Democrat Robert Torricelli. In 2002 Menendez voted against the Iraq Resolution to authorize the invasion of Iraq.[7]
In 2003, Menendez was elected chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, ranking him third in the Democratic hierarchy in the house, behind House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland. He was elected to chair the Credentials Committee of the 2004 Democratic National Convention and was a speaker on the first day of the convention. During the 107th Congress, he was chair of the Democratic Task Force on Education and the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security.
Although he had sometimes been portrayed as the political boss of Hudson County, he strongly dislikes this appellation, particularly because, according to an anonymous close source quoted in the December 11, 2005 Union City Reporter, "there is no boss of Hudson County".[8]
In December 2005, Menendez was appointed by Jon Corzine to fill the remaining year in the Senate seat from which Corzine resigned upon being elected the previous month as Governor of New Jersey. While several other names had been mentioned, Menendez was the early favorite among pundits for Governor-elect Corzine's replacement to fill the vacancy that would be created when Corzine resigned from the Senate. Corzine's decision to appoint Menendez got the support of several Latino groups, including the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Menendez was the sixth Latino to serve in the United States Senate.
In the midterm elections held November 7, 2006, near the end of his one-year appointment, Menendez successfully ran to retain his seat in the Senate. He defeated Republican Thomas Kean, Jr., current minority whip in the New Jersey Senate and son of former state governor Thomas Kean, with 53% of the vote to Kean's 45%.
Menendez was endorsed by several newspapers including The New York Times,[9] The Philadelphia Inquirer,[10] The Star-Ledger,[11] and The Record.[12]
On August 27, 2006, two Republican state lawmakers filed an ethics complaint against Menendez, alleging he broke conflict-of-interest rules when he rented property out to a nonprofit agency that receives federal funds. Menendez helped the organization win designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center in 1998. That designation allowed the agency to receive additional federal grants.[13] Menendez allies note that the organization in question, the North Hudson Community Action Corp., which provides social services and health care to the poor and was founded in 1960, had received federal funding for years before Menendez was in Congress, and receives its funding based on mathematical formulas.[14] Menendez maintains that he rented the property out below market-value because "he was supportive of its work".[15] The total rent collected over nine years was over $300,000.
In September, 2006, just a few weeks before the 2006 senate elections, the US District Attorney began investigating the rental deal with NHCAC, subpoenaing records from them. Democrats criticized the investigation, particularly the timing of the investigation and news leaks as being politically motivated. To date, no charges have been brought and the accusations remain unsubstantiated.[16]
In 2009, Menendez succeeded Senator Chuck Schumer of New York as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Menendez's tenure, which has followed two straight election cycles of dramatic Democratic gains, has been marked by more troubled Democratic outlook. Critics of Menendez have pointed out the surprising Democratic loss in the 2010 Massachusetts Senate special election that followed the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy; Menendez's lower-key, more cautious management style; and Democratic problems caused by retirements in Indiana and elsewhere. Others, such as Schumer, have defended Menendez's performance, citing the political climate.[17]
In February 2006, Menendez cosponsored legislation with New York Senator Hillary Clinton to make it illegal for foreign governments to buy U.S. port operations. The legislation was a direct response to Dubai Ports World's efforts to purchase Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) of the United Kingdom, which operates six major U. S. ports. Menendez said, "Our ports are the front lines of the war on terrorism. They are both vulnerable targets for attack and venues for smuggling and human trafficking. We wouldn't turn the Border Patrol or the Customs Service over to a foreign government, and we can't afford to turn our ports over to one either."[18]
On September 28, 2006 Menendez voted for the Military Commissions Act.[19]
On June 12, 2007, Menendez endorsed Hillary Clinton's presidential bid and was given the position of National Campaign Co-Chair. Subsequently he made numerous media appearances voicing his support for her campaign.[20]
On April 25, 2008, a former undercover F.B.I. agent revealed in the book Ruse: Undercover with FBI Counterintelligence that Cuban diplomats approached Robert Eringer to investigate Menendez. It was suggested that the Cuban government was determined to generate scandalous information about the senator, along with Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, because of their anti-Castro lobbying efforts.[21]
In October 2009, Menendez sent a strongly-worded letter of protest to Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias, castigating him for his praise of Cuba's totalitarian system. Christofias, the leader of AKEL, Cyprus' Communist Party, since 1988 and president since 2008, had paid a state visit to Cuba in September 2009 for the opening of Cyprus' new embassy and, in his speech, made a number of anti-American embargo references, and spoke of the "common struggle of Cyprus and Cuba". In his letter to Christofias, Menendez said "you cannot claim human rights violations by Turkey in your country and then ignore such violations in Cuba. Second, you cannot call for property rights for Greek Cypriots and then deny them on Cuba. Finally, you cannot take issue with the militarization of northern Cyprus and then ignore the state security apparatus that oppresses the Cuban people."[22][23]
An effort, by a group with reported ties to the Tea Party movement, to recall Senator Menendez was launched in early 2010.[24] Although Article 1, Paragraph 2(b) of the New Jersey Constitution expressly authorizes such a recall,[25] state officials are fighting the effort in court.[26] On March 16, 2010, a State Appeals court ruled that the recall petition could go forward.[27] Menendez says he’s surprised that a group claiming to be true to the Constitution is trying now, in his words, ”to undermine it.”[28] Menendez is appealing the ruling.[29] Legal experts have debated the constitutionality of a state recall of a federal officeholder.[30][31]
Menendez is on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Budget and Energy and Natural Resources committees.
New Jersey's 13th congressional district: 1992[32] | |||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic | Bob Menendez | 93,670 | 64% | ||
Republican | Fred J. Theemling, Jr. | 44,529 | 31% | ||
Stop Tax Increases | Joseph D. Bonacci | 2,363 | 2% | ||
Libertarian | Len Flynn | 1,539 | 1% | ||
Communist | John E. Rummel | 1,525 | 1% | ||
Socialist Workers | Jane Harris | 1,406 | 1% | ||
Majority | 49,141 | 33% |
New Jersey's 13th congressional district: 1994[32] | |||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic | Bob Menendez | 67,688 | 71% | +7 | |
Republican | Fernando A. Alonso | 24,071 | 25% | -6 | |
We the People | Frank J. Rubino, Jr. | 1,494 | 2% | N/A | |
Politicians Are Crooks | Herbert H. Shaw | 1,319 | 1% | N/A | |
Socialist Workers | Steven Marshall | 895 | 1% | N/A | |
Majority | 43,617 | 46% | +13 |
New Jersey's 13th congressional district: 1996[32] | |||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic | Bob Menendez | 115,459 | 79% | +8 | |
Republican | Carlos E. Munoz | 24,427 | 17% | -8 | |
Independent | Herbert H. Shaw | 2,136 | 1% | 0 | |
Independent | Mike Buoncristiano | 2,094 | 1% | N/A | |
Independent | William P. Estrada | 720 | <1% | N/A | |
Independent | Rupert Ravens | 637 | <1% | N/A | |
Majority | 91,032 | 62% | +16 |
New Jersey's 13th congressional district: 1998[32] | |||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic | Bob Menendez | 70,308 | 80% | +1 | |
Republican | Theresa de Leon | 14,615 | 17% | 0 | |
Independent | Richard S. Hester, Sr. | 1,276 | 1% | N/A | |
Independent | Richard G. Rivera | 872 | 1% | N/A | |
Independent | Susan Anmuth | 752 | 1% | N/A | |
Majority | 55,693 | 63% | +1 |
New Jersey's 13th congressional district: 2000[32] | |||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic | Bob Menendez | 117,856 | 79% | -1 | |
Republican | Theresa de Leon | 27,849 | 19% | +2 | |
Independent | Claudette C. Meliere | 2,741 | 2% | N/A | |
Independent | Dick Hester | 562 | <1% | N/A | |
Independent | Herbert H. Shaw | 357 | <1% | N/A | |
Majority | 90,007 | 60% | -3 |
New Jersey's 13th congressional district: 2002[32] | |||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic | Bob Menendez | 72,605 | 78% | -1 | |
Republican | James Geron | 16,852 | 18% | -1 | |
Green | Pat Henry Faulkner | 1,195 | 1% | N/A | |
Anti-Corruption Doctor | Esmat Zaklama | 740 | 1% | N/A | |
Pro Life Conservative | Dick Hester | 732 | 1% | N/A | |
Politicians are Crooks | Herbert H. Shaw | 573 | 1% | N/A | |
Majority | 55,753 | 60% | 0 |
New Jersey's 13th congressional district: 2004[32] | |||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic | Bob Menendez | 121,018 | 76% | -2 | |
Republican | Richard W. Piatkowski | 35,288 | 22% | +4 | |
Pro Life Conservative | Dick Hester | 1,282 | 1% | N/A | |
Politicos son Corruptos | Herbert H. Shaw | 1,066 | 1% | 0 | |
Socialist Workers | Angela L. Lariscy | 887 | 1% | 0 | |
Majority | 85,730 | 54% | -6 |
Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1992, Donald K. Stoveken as an America First Populist received 682 votes. In 2000, Alina Lydia Fonteboa received 233 votes and Kari Sachs received 168 votes. In 2002, a candidate listed only as Independent (The American Party) received 34 votes; also, Herbert Shaw's full party name was "Politicians are Crooks - Politicos son Corruptos" (shortened for display purposes above).
2006 United States Senate election, Senate Class 1, New Jersey[33] | |||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Democratic | Bob Menendez (inc.) | 1,200,843 | 53.3 | +3.1 | |
Republican | Thomas Kean, Jr. | 997,775 | 44.3 | -2.8 | |
Libertarian | Len Flynn | 14,637 | 0.7 | +0.4 | |
Marijuana | Edward Forchion | 11,593 | 0.5 | n/a | |
Independent | J.M. Carter | 7,918 | 0.4 | +0.2 | |
Independent | N. Leonard Smith | 6,243 | 0.3 | n/a | |
Independent | Daryl Brooks | 5,138 | 0.2 | n/a | |
Socialist Workers | Angela Lariscy | 3,433 | 0.2 | +0.1 | |
Socialist | Gregory Pason | 2,490 | 0.1 | +0.0 | |
Majority | 203,068 | 9.0 | |||
Turnout | 2,250,070 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing | 3.26 |
United States House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by Jim Saxton |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 13th congressional district 1993–2006 |
Succeeded by Albio Sires |
United States Senate | ||
Preceded by Jon Corzine |
United States Senator (Class 1) from New Jersey 2006 – present Served alongside: Frank Lautenberg |
Incumbent |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Martin Frost Texas |
Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus 2003–2006 |
Succeeded by Jim Clyburn South Carolina |
Preceded by Charles Schumer New York |
Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee 2009 - Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
United States order of precedence | ||
Preceded by David Vitter (R-Louisiana) |
United States Senators by seniority 71st |
Succeeded by Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) |
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