NJ Representative Robert Menendez Talks Gubernatorial Race

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks

Episode: NJ Representative Robert Menendez Talks Gubernatorial Race
Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-8)
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

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Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Congressman Rob Menendez as New Jersey faces a pivotal gubernatorial election. With the state's political climate under the microscope, Menendez discusses the central issues influencing voters’ decisions, evaluates outgoing Governor Phil Murphy’s legacy, and weighs in on the ongoing government shutdown and its impact on New Jerseyans. The tone is candid and policy-focused, with Menendez emphasizing affordability, leadership, and pragmatic problem-solving.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Significance of the 2025 Gubernatorial Election

• New Jersey and Virginia as Political Epicenters:
  • “New Jersey and Virginia are the epicenter of the political universe right now here, here in America.”
    — Congressman Rob Menendez (00:53)
• Candidate Focus:
  • Menendez praises Mikie Sherrill’s discipline and commitment post-primary, arguing her message resonates strongly with voters around New Jersey’s core concerns.

2. The Central Issues: Affordability & Leadership

• Affordability as the Top Concern:
  • “There’s two main issues in this election. One is the affordability challenge… Two is they want a governor that’s going to stand up for New Jersey.”
    — Menendez (01:40)
• Balancing National and Local Focus:
  • Responding to critiques that Mikie Sherrill’s campaign focuses too much on national issues, Menendez highlights her attention to affordability and her readiness to work with and, when necessary, stand up to the federal government (specifically mentioning Trump).
• Energy Price Crisis:
  • Sherrill’s first day priority will be to declare a state of emergency on energy price hikes, citing data centers’ energy consumption and the importance of a collective government response.
    — “She’s made it clear that on day one of her administration she’s going to declare a state of emergency on the energy price hikes.” (02:41)

3. Taxes, Revenue, and Innovative Solutions

• Taxation Strategy:
  • On possible increases to sales and corporate taxes:
    • Menendez argues for innovative, non-traditional revenue streams, such as better leveraging underutilized NJ Transit assets, suggesting a solution-focused rather than tax-heavy approach.
      — “I think she’s going to look about how the state has underutilized assets, how to make better use of them to reduce the tax burden on New Jerseyans…” (03:45)

4. Economic Growth in Jersey City and Statewide

• Business Environment and Growth:
  • Menendez emphasizes the need for a competitive landscape that welcomes both large and small businesses, highlighting successes in the film industry and the potential for tech and AI-centered growth.
    — “Government needs to work with private sector… We want to drive business here. We want to grow homegrown businesses…” (04:46)

5. The Federal Government Shutdown

• Status of Negotiations:
  • The shutdown is now the longest in history at 35 days. Menendez voices cautious optimism for resolution, emphasizing the central role of affordability, particularly in health care, in ongoing Democratic negotiations.
    — “We see it every day when we’re out with our constituents. That’s what Democrats have been fighting for. The center of it has been health care.” (05:38)
• Medicaid, ACA, and SNAP:
  • Menendez critiques Republican plans to cut Medicaid and SNAP, warning of rising healthcare costs if the ACA tax credits expire.

6. Party Leadership & Public Sentiment

• Democratic Stance:
  • Menendez points to strong public support for the Democratic health care position.
    — “When I’m out, people say hold the line, keep fighting for us, because if we do nothing, we will not be able to afford our health care, our housing, our prescription drugs.” (06:30)

7. Governor Murphy’s Legacy

• Achievements:
  • Murphy’s administration is credited for progress in reproductive rights, economic growth, developments in tech/AI/film sectors.
• Areas for Improvement:
  • “On the energy front, I think we could have diversified our approach a little bit more…to really maximize solar, to look at nuclear, to look at fusion.”
    — Menendez (07:07)

8. Closing Thoughts: Election Prediction

• Tight Race, Final Push:
  • Despite tightening polls, Menendez expresses confidence in Mikie Sherrill’s campaign.
    — “Last night, you can say two days ago in West New York, it’s palpable and people know it’s on the line…they’re going to go with Mikey because she’s a true leader for New Jersey.” (07:59)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Affordability & Protection:
  • “They want a governor that’s going to stand up for New Jersey. Yeah. So at times work with the president, but when needed, stand up to this administration.” — Rob Menendez (01:40)
• Energy Emergency Commitment:
  • “She’s made it clear that on day one of her administration she’s going to declare a state of emergency on the energy price hikes.” — Rob Menendez (02:41)
• Alternative Funding:
  • “I think she’s going to look about how the state has underutilized assets, how to make better use of them to reduce the tax burden on New Jerseyans because it goes into the affordability crisis, whether it’s energy, whether it’s taxes.” — Rob Menendez (03:45)
• On Murphy’s Legacy:
  • “He’s done a lot to grow New Jersey, grow New Jersey’s profile. You know, I think on the energy front, I think we could have diversified our approach a little bit more…” — Rob Menendez (07:07)
• Electoral Optimism:
  • “I’ve seen the momentum on the ground the last several days…people know it’s on the line. I think...they’re going to go with Mikey because she’s a true leader for New Jersey.” — Rob Menendez (07:59)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:53 — Menendez outlines why NJ is the “epicenter” of politics and frames Sherrill’s campaign.
• 01:40 — Discussing affordability and leadership as central election issues.
• 02:41 — Detailed plan for addressing electricity price hikes.
• 03:45 — Discussion of taxation, innovative revenue streams, and tax burden.
• 04:46 — Approaches to boosting business growth in Jersey City and New Jersey.
• 05:38 — Analysis of the ongoing government shutdown and party negotiation priorities.
• 07:07 — Menendez’s assessment of Governor Murphy’s successes and missed opportunities.
• 07:59 — Final prediction on Sherrill’s prospects in the tight gubernatorial race.

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Summary

This episode offers a concise yet comprehensive look at the issues dominating New Jersey’s gubernatorial race with Congressman Rob Menendez providing actionable insights and candid analysis. The conversation is anchored in concerns about affordability, practical state governance, economic development, and health care—while keeping an eye on both state and national political dynamics. Menendez’s optimism for Mikie Sherrill’s electoral chances and pragmatic suggestions on taxation and economic growth provide an illuminating snapshot of Democratic strategy at this pivotal political juncture.

Transcript

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[Interviewer / Host]

Radio news I'm in Jersey City, New Jersey, with the Congressman for the 8th district of New Jersey, which represents most of Hudson county and a good chunk of Jersey City, where I'm standing right now. Congressman Rob Menendez. Great to have you here, sir, on a day where I think a lot of people are really looking right now to the state House and wondering whether this is that year where we end up with a Republican governor for the first time in a while.

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

Yeah, listen, New Jersey and Virginia are the epicenter of the political universe right now here, here in America. So Mikey's made the case every single day of this campaign. She came out of a contested primary, ran away with it, and every day she's been disciplined about the issues that New Jerseyans are facing. So she knows there's an immense amount of work to do. She's raised her hand and dedicated herself to New Jersey, to the American people. And this moment she wants to deliver for New Jersey. And I believe that that has resonated with a lot of our voters.

[Interviewer / Host]

There's been some criticism of the campaign that Mikey Sherrill has been running. The idea that that campaign is a little bit more high level. It's about national issues. While Jack Ciarelli seems to be focus more on the kitchen table and pocketbook book issues, if you will. What are you hearing from voters as to what they actually want? What are they going to the polls to vote for today?

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

So I think there's two main issues in this election. One is the affordability challenge that a lot of Americans and New Jerseyans are facing. Two is they want a governor that's going to stand up for New Jersey. Yeah. So at times work with the president, but when needed, stand up to this administration. We've seen this administration overreach in L. A, Portland, Chicago. If they come to New Jersey, we want a governor who's going to protect us. And so those are the two issues I hear the most. And Mikey's been laser focus focused on both of those issues. She's talked about affordability and what her administration would do to address that here in New Jersey. She's also made it clear that she will stand up to Trump. So I think those two issues are the center of this election. And I think she's done a really good job of articulating a clear message.

[Interviewer / Host]

To New Jersey voters and talking to voters. You hear a lot about housing affordability, but as of late you're also hearing a lot about the issue of affordability of electricity. Power prices have jumped more than 20% on a year over year basis. Part of that's good. I guess that's a sign that you're getting these data centers and other things moving to the state. But when it raises the bills for homeowners and businesses, you need something to address that. What's the plan?

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

So she's made it clear that on day one of her administration she's going to declare a state of emergency on the energy price hikes. There's an immense amount of work that we have to do with our regional operator pjm, the production that we have in New Jersey. And we also have to look at how demand has changed. You mentioned data centers. It's good for New Jersey to be a leader on AI. You need those data centers to do so. But they require an immense amount of energy. There are ways and we're looking at it in Congress. It's one of the things that I'm doing on energy and commerce to think about how that increased energy demand, which could be 13% of all energy demand in the next several years, how that doesn't get pushed to our consumers, our residents. So it's going to take all hands, whole of government approach. But she's made that a clear priority of hers and that's a day one priority. So I know it's something that she's looking forward to tackling as governor.

[Interviewer / Host]

Another big issue of course is taxation. The idea of addressing some of the budget issues, potentially raising the sales tax once again as well as corporate taxation. Do you think that's something a, that the governor, no matter who it is, would actually follow through on and would there be enough support at the State House to see that through?

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

Well, I think you can take innovative ways, right. Like I think, yes, traditionally, money in, money out. Right. So if we need to spend to grow and build New Jersey, then we need to raise the revenue to do so. But on something like mass transit and infrastructure, there are ways to do it where you look at the assets that NJ Transit has that are underutilized and if you can make better use of them, you can actually create revenue for the state without having to raise taxes, raise the, the levy. So I think Mike is going to have an innovative approach. I don't Think she's just going to go and say we have to raise taxes because we have to pay for A, B and C. I think she's going to look about how the state has underutilized assets, how to make better use of them to reduce the tax burden on New Jerseyans because it goes into the affordability crisis, whether it's energy, whether it's taxes. These are what people are thinking about.

[Interviewer / Host]

You represent Jersey City, the second most populous city in the state and really third most populous, really in the entire New York metro area. It's seen phenomenal growth over the past few years in terms of new residents and new businesses. How do you get more businesses and not just the big companies, but more small and medium sized businesses to actually set up shop here?

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

Yeah, I mean, you have to have a competitive landscape. So I think New Jersey has done that well on the film industry. Right. We've seen an announcement in Bayonne where they're opening up a new studio. We have one here in Jersey City. We have one in Newark. Government needs to work with private sector, and that's things like giant studios to small and medium sized businesses. You have to have a competitive landscape. It's something that we think about at the federal level. I know municipalities think about it. And that's something the state needs to continue to lead on. We want to drive business here. We want to grow homegrown businesses that are at the center of places like Jersey City and make sure that we create an environment for them to do so.

[Interviewer / Host]

I. We were missing. Not asking you about the government shutdown. We're now basically at officially at 35, the longest government shutdown, longest full government shutdown in history. Where is the discussion right now between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, particularly in the Senate? Are we any closer to actually getting this resolved?

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

Yeah, I think we are inching closer, but, you know, for us, it's been a clear mission that goes back to the affordability challenge. And specifically for Democrats, health care. You know, Republicans voted to take $1 trillion out of Medicaid. That's going to make health care more expensive for everyone. We know at the end of the year, the ACA premium tax credits expire. So if you allow those to expire, premiums are going to increase for everyone on the exchange. At some point, point it has to stop. Right. We're talking about SNAP and the, the, the administration not funding it. Well, before that, they had the largest cut to SNAP in the program's history. So the pain has to stop because we see it every day when we're out with our constituents. That's what Democrats have been fighting for. The center of it has been health care. We can continue to fight for that. And Republicans look like they're interested in having a conversation specifically on the aca, and I hope we get to that conversation, get the government back open.

[Interviewer / Host]

Are you comfortable, though, with the leadership by the Democrats in Congress in trying to navigate through this crisis?

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

Listen, we're in the triple minority, right? And so we've drawn a line in the sand that for the American people, we have to deliver more affordable health care. That message has resonated with people. When I'm out, people say hold the line, keep fighting for us, because if we do nothing, we will not be able to afford our health care, our housing, our prescription drugs. That's what Democrats are fighting for, and they're happy to see us do so, and they are in this fight with us.

[Interviewer / Host]

All right, circling back to the election here in New Jersey, I do have to ask you, we've had four years here of film Murphy, maybe potentially that legacy continues with Mikey. Sheryl, when you take a look at Murphy's legacy, what do you think he got right? And more importantly, what do you think he maybe did not take advantage of?

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

So, I mean, I think he got an immense amount right on moving the state forward on a lot of things that were responsive to what was happening in the first Trump administration, codifying, you know, reproductive health care here in New Jersey. He's done an immense amount to drive the economy here from being an AI, a leader on AI, to tech, to film studio. So he's done a lot to grow New Jersey, grow New Jersey's profile. You know, I think on the energy front, I think we could have diversified our approach a little bit more to not bake so much of into offshore wind, but to really maximize solar, to look at nuclear, to look at fusion. But he still did so much, and I'm really proud that he was our governor for, for these important, important years.

[Interviewer / Host]

Only about 30 seconds left, but looking ahead to the potential results that we get tonight, the polls have gotten a little bit tighter over the last few weeks. Trita rally has really closed the gap with Cheryl. You think she's still going to pull it out?

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

I do. I've seen the momentum on the ground the last several days. Last night, you can say two days ago in West New York, it's palpable and people know it's on the line. I think when they're in this final moment, they have to make a decision in the ballot box. They're going to go with Mikey because she's a true leader for New Jersey.

[Interviewer / Host]

All right. I really appreciate you taking time for us, Congressman.

[Congressman Rob Menendez]

Appreciate it.

[Interviewer / Host]

That's Congressman Rob Menendez of the 8th District here in the state of New Jersey as we keep a close eye here on the gubernatorial race.

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