[CAPTURE PORTAL] 119TH CONGRESS
Legislative Integrity Monitor
Goblin House Intelligence
Congress → Officials → Robert Menendez

Robert Menendez

Democratic · Representative, NJ ·8

Robert Menendez is the Democratic U.S. Representative (NJ's 8th congressional district). The platform has 8 voting records on file (2024-2026) and 68 verified facts on file covering this member's voting positions, financial disclosures, and stated platform commitments.

Score Components
65 ELEVATED
Connection Density 20%
63 → 13
Donor Influence 15%
59 → 9
Silence Risk 25%
48 → 12
Contradiction Risk 25%
70 → 18
Intelligence Volume 15%
82 → 12
Constituency Deviation 0%
32 → 0
Voting Misalignment 0%
0 → 0
% = weight in composite score · Raw component 0–100 × weight = weighted contribution (→) · Sum of contributions = overall score. Hover a row for details.
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Previous representatives: Albio Sires (D, 2013-2023); Bob Menendez (D, 1993-2006, as NJ-13)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Non-English language at home: ~50% of households (Spanish dominant, plus Arabic, Hindi, Tagalog)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Average commute time: 33.3 minutes
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median age: 35.7
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Unemployment rate: 6.5%
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Public transit commuting share: 27.0% (among highest nationally)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Foreign-born population: ~41% (313k)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Asian population share: 11.5% (88k)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: White (Non-Hispanic) population share: 31% (237k)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Hispanic population share: 51.2% (391k)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Population: 763,596 (2024)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median rent: $1,808
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median property value: $519,200
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Bachelor's degree or higher: 41.5%
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Homeownership rate: 28.1%
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Poverty rate: 11.9% (2024)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median household income: $84,356 (2024)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: New Jersey — Congressional Redistricting (2022, redrew NJ-08 boundaries slightly) (2022) — enacted, margin NJ-08 shifted modestly but remained safely Democratic
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: New Jersey Public Question 1 — Right to Reproductive Freedom (state constitutional amendment, 2024) (2024) — passed, margin approved by voters
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (share 0.08)
secondary ✓ Verified
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) affiliation Menendez voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act requiring mandatory ICE detention, has called for the abolition of ICE, and has been personally confronted by ICE…
Palantir Technologies affiliation Menendez urged New Jersey to divest $130 million from Palantir Technologies due to its ICE contracts, aligning with his broader calls to abolish ICE.
US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) affiliation Menendez's opposition to ICE enforcement and calls to abolish the agency directly relate to DHS operations. His stance is informed by the agency's impact on…
Donald Norcross campaign donation George Norcross III, Donald Norcross's brother, donated $19,800 to Sen. Bob Menendez, illustrating the Norcross family's extensive political donor network.
JPMorgan Chase employment JPMorgan Chase is a top employer in Menendez's district (Jersey City regional operations, 3000 employees), making it a major constituent interest.
Chuck Schumer colleague Both served in the U.S. Senate, Schumer from New York and Menendez from New Jersey; Menendez was chair of Senate Foreign Relations.
Democrats Win Fund donor $7,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (5 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00894881/
Popular Hope & Renewal PAC donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00893982/
Juntos PAC donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00892752/
American Israel Public Affairs Committee PAC donor $10,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00797670/
Organon & Co. Employee Political Action Committee donor $10,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (4 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00780171/
Defend The Vote donor $7,500 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00764233/
Baps Public Affairs, Inc. PAC (Baps PAC) donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00753475/
1-800 Contacts Inc. PAC donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00621912/
Jobs, Education, & Families First Jeff PAC donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00617803/
Blue Power PAC donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00575894/
Fair Shot PAC donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (3 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00574970/
Ca Luv PAC (California Leadership United For Victory PAC) donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00573709/
Vibe PAC (Victory By Investing Building Empowering) donor $10,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (4 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00570101/
Doing Right - Results Action Unity Leadership PAC donor $5,000 to Robert Menendez's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00569871/
BillVoteDateAlignment
PROOF Act Nay 2026-09-16 unknown
An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood… Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Ratepayer Protection Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United… Nay 2026-09-16 unknown
National Fraud Enforcement Division Act Nay 2026-09-16 unknown
Water Resources Development Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Retire through Ownership Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
GUARD Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 9576 and H.R. 10326, providing… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 9576 and H.R. 10326, providing… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
Whistleblower Protection Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act Yea 2026-09-14 unknown
Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act Yea 2026-09-14 unknown
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act Nay 2026-09-03 unknown
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require… Nay 2026-09-02 unknown
Protecting Domestic Mining Act Nay 2026-09-02 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period… Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
Providing for the condemnation and denouncement of socialism in all its forms… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
AGOA Extension Act Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
In the matter of allegations relating to Representative Chuck Edwards Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
Local Access to Courts Act Yea 2026-08-31 unknown
Last contradiction analysis: Never
platform_vs_vote 60/100
Platform: "Menendez co-sponsored the SALT Deductibility Act (April 2023) to fully restore the SALT deduction, calling the $10,000 cap 'unfairly penalizing New Jersey families.' He joined a bipartisan coalition pushing for full…
[ Show full platform position ]
Menendez co-sponsored the SALT Deductibility Act (April 2023) to fully restore the SALT deduction, calling the $10,000 cap 'unfairly penalizing New Jersey families.' He joined a bipartisan coalition pushing for full SALT cap repeal in January 2025.
"
Vote: on "The OBBB raised the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 for tax years 2025-2029. NJ-08 has…"
Menendez co-sponsored legislation to fully repeal the SALT deduction cap, calling it 'unfair' to New Jersey families, and joined a January 2025 bipartisan push for full SALT restoration. When the OBBB raised the SALT cap to $40,000 — a partial but significant concession — Menendez voted Nay, prioritizing the bill's…
[ Show full analysis ]
Menendez co-sponsored legislation to fully repeal the SALT deduction cap, calling it 'unfair' to New Jersey families, and joined a January 2025 bipartisan push for full SALT restoration. When the OBBB raised the SALT cap to $40,000 — a partial but significant concession — Menendez voted Nay, prioritizing the bill's $930 billion in Medicaid cuts over the SALT relief his high-property-tax district (median home value $519,200) would have received. His district's 28.1% homeownership rate tempers the contradiction, as the majority of his constituents are renters, but the homeowners in NJ-08 would have been among the top SALT beneficiaries nationally.
statement_vs_disclosure 60/100
Platform: "Menendez's father, former Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted on 16 federal corruption counts in July 2024 for accepting gold bars, $480,000 in cash, and a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for acting as an agent of the…
[ Show full platform position ]
Menendez's father, former Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted on 16 federal corruption counts in July 2024 for accepting gold bars, $480,000 in cash, and a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for acting as an agent of the Egyptian government while chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Rob Menendez has not been implicated in his father's crimes and refers to the matter as his father's 'legal troubles.'
"
Vote: on "Menendez secured over $19.8 million in Community Project Funding for his district in FY2024…"
Menendez secured nearly $20 million in Community Project Funding for his district while his father faced a corruption trial for trading official acts for bribes. A constituent tweeted: 'What is your opinion about your gold-bar Daddy threatening Hoboken Mayor Bhalla into endorsing a nepo baby like you?' While Rob…
[ Show full analysis ]
Menendez secured nearly $20 million in Community Project Funding for his district while his father faced a corruption trial for trading official acts for bribes. A constituent tweeted: 'What is your opinion about your gold-bar Daddy threatening Hoboken Mayor Bhalla into endorsing a nepo baby like you?' While Rob Menendez has never been implicated in his father's crimes, his own identity as a 'nepo baby' — he inherited the seat held by his father (1993-2006) and was effectively coronated by the Hudson County Democratic machine — makes every act of federal resource allocation vulnerable to the perception that political access in NJ-08 is dynastic. Menendez has said he is out to prove he can 'stand on his own.'
position_evolution 30/100
Platform: "Menendez voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5, Roll Call 23) on January 22, 2025, joining 156 Democrats opposing mandatory ICE detention for undocumented immigrants charged with theft. New Jersey's entire Democratic…
[ Show full platform position ]
Menendez voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5, Roll Call 23) on January 22, 2025, joining 156 Democrats opposing mandatory ICE detention for undocumented immigrants charged with theft. New Jersey's entire Democratic delegation voted against the bill.
"
Vote: on "Menendez has called for the abolition of ICE, stating at a February 2026 virtual town hall: 'We…"
Menendez voted against expanding ICE detention authority (Laken Riley Act) and subsequently called for abolishing ICE entirely. These positions are ideologically consistent — opposing ICE's existence and its expansion — rather than contradictory. However, his membership on the Homeland Security Committee, which…
[ Show full analysis ]
Menendez voted against expanding ICE detention authority (Laken Riley Act) and subsequently called for abolishing ICE entirely. These positions are ideologically consistent — opposing ICE's existence and its expansion — rather than contradictory. However, his membership on the Homeland Security Committee, which oversees ICE, creates an institutional tension between abolitionist rhetoric and oversight responsibility.
platform_vs_vote 30/100
Platform: "On April 20, 2024, Menendez voted Yea on the $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, stating: 'I was proud to vote for a bipartisan package of bills that provides long-overdue assistance for…
[ Show full platform position ]
On April 20, 2024, Menendez voted Yea on the $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, stating: 'I was proud to vote for a bipartisan package of bills that provides long-overdue assistance for our allies...it's both a moral imperative and essential to our national security.'
"
Vote: on "Menendez voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5, Roll Call 23) on January 22, 2025, joining 156…"
Menendez voted to send unconditional military aid abroad (Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan) while opposing domestic immigration enforcement tools. This contrast between robust support for foreign military assistance and opposition to domestic law enforcement spending reflects a progressive internationalist foreign policy that…
[ Show full analysis ]
Menendez voted to send unconditional military aid abroad (Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan) while opposing domestic immigration enforcement tools. This contrast between robust support for foreign military assistance and opposition to domestic law enforcement spending reflects a progressive internationalist foreign policy that is internally consistent but invites scrutiny from critics who note the discrepancy between funding foreign wars while refusing to fund domestic enforcement agencies.
Last silence detection: Sun, 11 Oct 2026 01:06:34 GMT (via scheduled run)
colleagues' leadership pacs
Shore PAC, PAC To The Future, New Millennium PAC, Purpose PAC, Doing Right - Results Action Unity Leadership PAC, Vibe PAC (Victory By Investing Building Empowering), Ca Luv PAC (California Leadership United For Victory PAC), Fair Shot PAC, Jobs, Education…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
Shore PAC, PAC To The Future, New Millennium PAC, Purpose PAC, Doing Right - Results Action Unity Leadership PAC, Vibe PAC (Victory By Investing Building Empowering), Ca Luv PAC (California Leadership United For Victory PAC), Fair Shot PAC, Jobs, Education, & Families First Jeff PAC, Juntos PAC, Popular Hope & Renewal PAC, Blue Power PAC, AmeriPAC: The Fund for a Greater America (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $10,000 (2024), $10,000 (2024), $10,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $10,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $10,000 (2024)) — interest area: colleagues' leadership pacs
party committees
Chc Bold PAC (amounts: $7,506 (2026)) — interest area: party committees
ideological & single-issue
Defend The Vote (amounts: $5,000 (2026)) — interest area: ideological & single-issue
other / unclassified
Ambulatory Surgery Center Association PAC (Ascapac), Maryland Association For Concerned Citizens Political Action Committee, Connell Foley PAC A New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation, Democrats Win Fund (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026)…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
Ambulatory Surgery Center Association PAC (Ascapac), Maryland Association For Concerned Citizens Political Action Committee, Connell Foley PAC A New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation, Democrats Win Fund (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $7,000 (2026)) — interest area: other / unclassified
corporate pacs, industry unlisted
United States Cellular Corporation PAC, Astellas Us LLC PAC (Astellas PAC), S&P Global Inc. Political Action Committee, 1-800 Contacts Inc. PAC, Organon & Co. Employee Political Action Committee (amounts: $10,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
United States Cellular Corporation PAC, Astellas Us LLC PAC (Astellas PAC), S&P Global Inc. Political Action Committee, 1-800 Contacts Inc. PAC, Organon & Co. Employee Political Action Committee (amounts: $10,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $10,000 (2024)) — interest area: corporate pacs, industry unlisted
Democrats Win Fund Other / unclassified $7,000 (2026)
Popular Hope & Renewal PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
Juntos PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
American Israel Public Affairs Committee PAC Law & lobbying firms $10,000 (2026)
Organon & Co. Employee Political Action Committee Corporate PACs, industry unlisted $10,000 (2024)
Defend The Vote Ideological & single-issue $5,000 (2026)
Baps Public Affairs, Inc. PAC (Baps PAC) Law & lobbying firms $5,000 (2026)
1-800 Contacts Inc. PAC Corporate PACs, industry unlisted $5,000 (2026)
Jobs, Education, & Families First Jeff PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
Blue Power PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)
Fair Shot PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
Ca Luv PAC (California Leadership United For Victory PAC) Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
Vibe PAC (Victory By Investing Building Empowering) Colleagues' leadership PACs $10,000 (2024)
Doing Right - Results Action Unity Leadership PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
TopicPriorityAlignmentDeviation
Israel/Palestine Foreign Policy 78 30 55
Foreign Aid and National Security 65 45 40
Housing Affordability and Tenant Protections 82 55 30
Economy, Jobs, and Cost of Living 85 60 25
Healthcare Access and Affordability 90 70 20
Agricultural Policy and Food Security 55 65 20
Climate and Environmental Justice 70 65 18
Transportation and Infrastructure 75 70 15
Immigration and Immigrant Rights 88 75 15
Judicial Independence and Court Reform 68 85 10
Government Shutdown and Budget Stability 72 85 10
Voting Rights and Election Integrity 80 88 8
No platform commitments archived
No committee memberships recorded
Scoring Methodology

The Capture Risk Score is a composite 0–100 index measuring potential regulatory capture of elected officials. It is computed from seven weighted components:

ComponentWeightSignal
Contradiction Risk30%Stated positions contradicted by the record (recent findings boosted)
Donor Influence20%Distinct documented donors (FEC Schedule A PACs); inferred donors do not count
Connection Density20%Mapped relationships to lobbyists, contractors, interest groups; donor links excluded
Silence Risk15%Topics where donors have interests but the official is silent
Intelligence Volume15%Documented facts from verified sources
Constituency Deviation0%Shown, not weighted — a model estimate, not a record
Voting Misalignment0%Shown, not weighted — needs platform commitments almost nobody has; the roll-call record on /votes is the vote signal

Each component is the member's standing among all scored members of Congress, and the weighted sum is the overall score. Tiers are ranks: Critical is the top 5%, High the next 10%, Elevated the next 20%, Moderate the next 30%, and Low the rest.

Officials without at least 2 documented facts, 1 contradiction analysis, 1 voting record, or 1 constituency baseline are marked Insufficient Evidence and excluded from numeric ranking.

Contradiction findings from the last 180 days receive a recency boost. High-severity contradictions (score ≥ 70) receive additional weight.

Full methodology: /congress/methodology

[PUBLIC COST ESTIMATE]
Documented financial relationships span 0 money flow chains, while 10 elected officials hold documented connections.
$6.3BDonor Contributions
0Money Chains
0Traced Hops
Connected Officials
Calculation Methodology

Contract values are summed from documented money flow chains where this entity appears as a source or destination node. Amounts are drawn from USASpending.gov, FEC filings, SEC EDGAR, or LD-2 lobbying registrations.

Donor contributions aggregate documented amounts from the donor_interests table, sourced from FEC individual and PAC contribution filings.

Connected officials are elected officials in our database with a mapped relationship (lobbying, board membership, campaign contribution, etc.) to this entity.

Annualised flow represents the total documented dollar amount traced through money flow hops involving this entity. Where hop-level amounts are unavailable, the chain-level documented total is used as a conservative upper bound.

All figures are drawn from public filings. Estimates are conservative — undisclosed transactions, dark money, and vanish-point hops are excluded from totals. This is a minimum documented floor, not a ceiling.

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