Bob Menendez
| Bob Menendez | ||
 | ||
| U.S. Senate, New Jersey | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| January 18, 2006-Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 3, 2019 | ||
| Years in position | 7 | |
| Party | Democratic | |
| Predecessor | Jon S. Corzine (D) | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $174,000/year | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 6, 2012 | |
| First elected | November 7, 2006 | |
| Next election | November 2018 | |
| Campaign $ | $37,570,454 | |
| Appointed | January 18, 2006 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Prior offices | ||
| U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 13th district | ||
| 1993-2006 | ||
| New Jersey Senate | ||
| 1991-1993 | ||
| New Jersey General Assembly | ||
| 1987-1991 | ||
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Saint Peter's College | |
| J.D. | Rutger's School of Law in Newark | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | January 1, 1954 | |
| Place of birth | New York City, New York | |
| Profession | Lawyer | |
| Net worth | $498,502 | |
| Religion | Roman Catholic | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Campaign website | ||
Contents |
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Menendez is a "far-left Democratic leader".[2]
Biography
Menendez was born New York City to Cuban immigrants, but his family moved to New Jersey where he graduated from Union Hill High School in Union City. He earned B.A. from Saint Peter's College in Jersey City and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers School of Law in Newark.
Career
Menendez was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1980 and became a lawyer in private practice.[3]
Committee assignments
U.S. Senate
2013-2014
Menedez serves on the following Senate committees[4]:
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Members
- Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development
- Committee on Finance
- The Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
- The Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
- The Subcommittee on Healthcare
- Committee on Foreign Relations
2011-2012
Menendez served on the following committees:[5]
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development (Chairman)
- Committee on Finance
- Subcommittee on Health Care
- Subcommittee on Taxation, IRS Oversight, and Long-Term Growth
- Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
- Committee on Foreign Relations
- Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Women's Issues
- Subcommittee on European Affairs
- Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection
Issues
Campaign themes
For 2012, Menendez's campaign themes included[6]:
- Job creation
- Tax relief
- Maintaining Social Security
Fiscal Cliff
Menendez voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the Senate by a 89/8 vote on January 1, 2013.[7]
Elections
2012
Menendez won re-election in 2012.[1] He was unopposed in the June 5 Democratic primary and defeated Joe Kyrillos (R) and Jeff Boss (I) in the November general election.
| U.S. Senate, New Jersey, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Robert Menendez Incumbent |
58.9% | 1,987,680 | |
| Republican | Joe Kyrillos | 39.4% | 1,329,534 | |
| Libertarian | Kenneth R. Kaplan | 0.5% | 16,803 | |
| Green | Ken Wolski | 0.5% | 15,801 | |
| Jersey Strong Independents | Gwen Diakos | 0.3% | 9,359 | |
| Totally Independent Candidate | J. David Dranikoff | 0.1% | 3,834 | |
| America First | Inder "Andy" Soni | 0.1% | 3,593 | |
| Responsibility Fairness Integrity | Robert "Turk" Turkavage | 0.1% | 3,532 | |
| Socialist Party USA | Gregory Pason | 0.1% | 2,249 | |
| No Slogan | Eugene Martin Lavergne | 0.1% | 2,198 | |
| Reform Nation | Daryl Mikell Brooks | 0.1% | 2,066 | |
| Total Votes | 3,376,649 | |||
| Source: New Jersey Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
Polls
| Robert Menendez vs. Joe Kyrillos | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response | Quinnipiac University Poll of Likely Voters (August 27 - September 2, 2012) | Stockton College (October 12-18, 2012) | Survey USA (October 17,18 2012) | Inquirer New jersey (October 23-25, 2012) | Average | |||||||||
| Robert Menendez | 50% | 52% | 53% | 50% | 51.25% | |||||||||
| Joe Kyrillos | 40% | 30% | 33% | 32% | 33.75% | |||||||||
| Someone Else | 0% | 0% | 5% | 0% | 1.25% | |||||||||
| Don't know/NA | 10% | 0% | 9% | 0% | 4.75% | |||||||||
| Number polled | 1,471 | 811 | 577 | 601 | 865 | |||||||||
| Margin of error | +/-2.6 | +/-3.5% | +/-4.2% | +/-4% | 3.58% | |||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | ||||||||||||||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Menendez was elected to the United States Senate to continue holding the office he acquired through his appointment earlier that year. He defeated Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R), J. M. Carter (God We Trust), Len Flynn (Libertarian), Edward Forchion (Legalize Marijuana (G.R.I.P.), Daryl Mikell Brooks (Poor People’s Campaign), N. Leonard Smith (Solidarity, Defend Life), Angela L. Lariscy (Socialist Workers), and Gregory Pason (Socialist Party USA).[8]
| United States Senate, New Jersey General Election, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Bob Menendez Incumbent |
57.2% | 58,333 | |
| Republican | Thomas H. Kean, Jr. | 41.2% | 41,998 | |
| God We Trust | J. M. Carter | 0.4% | 395 | |
| Libertarian | Len Flynn | 0.3% | 345 | |
| Legalize Marijuana (G.R.I.P.) | Edward Forchion | 0.3% | 336 | |
| Poor People’s Campaign | Daryl Mikell Brooks | 0.3% | 263 | |
| Solidarity, Defend Life | N. Leonard Smith | 0.2% | 166 | |
| Socialist Workers | Angela L. Lariscy | 0.1% | 90 | |
| Socialist Party USA | Gregory Pason | 0% | 47 | |
| Total Votes | 101,973 | |||
Campaign donors
Comprehensive donor information for Menendez is available dating back to 2004. Based on available campaign finance records, Menendez raised a total of $37,570,454 during that time period. This information was last updated on April 25, 2013.[9]
| Bob Menendez's Campaign Contribution History | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| 2012 | U.S. Senate (New Jersey) |  |
$17,344,783 | |
| 2006 | U.S. Senate (New Jersey) | |
$11,950,586 | |
| 2004 | US House (New Jersey, District 13) | |
$3,624,587 | |
| 2002 | US House (New Jersey, District 13) | |
$2,461,956 | |
| 2000 | US House (New Jersey, District 13) | |
$2,188,542 | |
| Grand Total Raised | $37,570,454 | |||
2012
Menendez won election to the U.S. Senate in 2012. During that election cycle, Menendez's campaign committee raised a total of $17,344,783 and spent $16,226,545.[10]
| U.S. Senate, New Jersey, 2012 - Bob Menendez Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Total Raised | $17,344,783 |
| Total Spent | $16,226,545 |
| Total Raised by Election Runner-up | $4,635,494 |
| Total Spent by Election Runner-up | $4,559,919 |
| Top contributors to Bob Menendez's campaign committee | |
| Lowenstein, Sandler et al | $117,160 |
| NorPAC | $90,550 |
| Greenberg Traurig LLP | $78,250 |
| Prudential Financial | $66,800 |
| Verizon Communications | $49,050 |
| Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $1,784,519 |
| Real Estate | $1,156,990 |
| Health Professionals | $638,760 |
| Securities & Investment | $615,437 |
| Lobbyists | $608,506 |
Out-of-state donations
According to an Open Secrets report, Menendez ranked among the top ten senate candidates receiving out-of-state donations during the 2012 election cycle. He received $7,366,999, or 54.6%, of his donations from outside of New Jersey. [11]
2006
Menendez was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 and kept the seat he acquired in his appointment earlier that year. His campaign committee raised a total of $11,950,586 and spent $13,328,665.[12]
| U.S. Senate, New Jersey, 2006 - Bob Menendez Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Total Raised | $11,950,586 |
| Total Spent | $13,328,665 |
| Total Raised by General Election Opponent | $7,635,186 |
| Total Spent by General Election Opponent | $7,518,445 |
| Top contributors to Bob Menendez's campaign committee | |
| Goldman Sachs | $93,150 |
| Lowenstein, Sandler et al | $65,400 |
| Langan Engineering & Environmental Svcs | $56,675 |
| Greenberg Traurig LLP | $50,397 |
| UBS AG | $43,150 |
| Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $1,416,380 |
| Real Estate | $793,013 |
| Securities & Investment | $566,749 |
| Construction Services | $471,250 |
| General Contractors | $372,350 |
Analysis
Lifetime voting record
According to the website GovTrack, Menendez missed 47 of 2,212 roll call votes from January 2006 to April 2013. This amounts to 2.1%, which is worse than the median of 1.7% among current senators as of April 2013.[13]
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Menendez paid his congressional staff a total of $3,116,650 in 2011. He ranks 8th on the list of the lowest paid Democratic Senatorial Staff Salaries and he ranks 10th overall of the lowest paid Senatorial Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, New Jersey ranks 7th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.[14]
Net worth
2011
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Menendez's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $317,005 to $680,000. That averages to $498,502, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic Senators in 2011 of $20,795,450. His average net worth increased by 17.71% from 2010.[15]
2010
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Menendez's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $217,005 and $629,999. That averages to $423,502, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic Senators in 2010 of $19,383,524.[16]
National Journal vote ratings
- See also: National Journal vote ratings
2012
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Menendez tied with one other Senator, ranking 15th in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. Senate.[17]
2011
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Menendez ranked 31st in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. Senate.[18]
Political positions
Percentage voting with party
November 2011
The website Open Congress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus. According to the website, Bob Menendez voted with the Democratic Party 95.9% of the time, which ranked 13th among the 51 Senate Democratic members in November 2011.[19]
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term Bob + Menendez + New Jersey + Senate
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
Bob Menendez News Feed
- Robert Menendez introduces bill to provide weapons to Syrian opposition - NJ.com
- Democrat Menendez introduces bill in Senate to arm Syria opposition - Fox News
- Congress passes $253 million bill to reduce flight delays - Hunterdon County Democrat - NJ.com
- You Can't Keep Bob Menendez Down - Slate Magazine (blog)
- Immigration reform: A Q&A with Sen. Robert Menendez - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com (blog)
- Menendez ranks No. 2 among US senators receiving most out-of-state campaign ... - PolitickerNJ
- Sources: Menendez holding up vote on resolution honoring Margaret Thatcher - Daily Caller
- Sen. Bob Menendez Is Holding the Thatcher Resolution - American Spectator (blog)
- Senators seek to delay higher flood insurance costs - Vineland Daily Journal
- Lautenberg returns to U.S. Senate to vote on gun legislation - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
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Personal
Menendez and his wife Jane Jacobsen have two children, Alicia and Robert.
External links
- Social media:
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Fact-checking:
- Financial:
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Legislation:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Works by or about:
- Media appearances:
- Media coverage:
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 CNN "New Jersey Senate Race - 2012 Election Center"
- ↑ Gov Track "Bob Menendez," Accessed March 3, 2012
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress "MENENDEZ, Robert, (1954 - )"
- ↑ Congressional Quarterly "Senate Committee List" Accessed January 22, 2013
- ↑ Robert Menendez, United States Senator for New Jersey "Committee Assignments for the 112th Congress"
- ↑ Bob Menendez campaign site "Issues," Accessed March 9, 2012
- ↑ U.S. Senate "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff" Accessed January 4, 2013.
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006"
- ↑ Open Secrets "Donor history for Bob Menendez" Accessed April 25, 2013
- ↑ Open Secrets "Bob Menendez 2012 Election Cycle," Accessed February 26, 2013
- ↑ http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/05/more-than-60-lawmakers-relied-mostly-on-out-of-state-money.html?utm_source=feedly Open Secrets, "More than 60 Lawmakers Relied Mostly on Out-of-State Money", May 7, 2013]
- ↑ Open Secrets "Bob Menendez 2006 Election Data," Accessed October 29, 2011
- ↑ GovTrack, "Menendez," Accessed April 11, 2013
- ↑ LegiStorm "Bob Menendez"
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org "Robert Menendez (D-NJ), 2011," accessed February 14, 2013
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Menendez, (D-NJ), 2010"
- ↑ National Journal, "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," March 6, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," February 23, 2012
- ↑ Open Congress "Voting With Party"
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jon Corzine |
United States Senate - New Jersey 2006–present |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by Frank Guarini |
United States House of Representatives - District 13 1993–2006 |
Succeeded by Albio Sires |
| Preceded by ' |
New Jersey Senate 1991–1993 |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by ' |
New Jersey General Assembly 1987–1991 |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by ' |
Mayor of Union City, New Jersey 1986–1992 |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by ' |
Union City Board of Education (Chief Financial Officer) 1978–1982 |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by ' |
Union City Board of Education 1974–1978 |
Succeeded by ' |
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