Incumbent Rob Menendez

Born and raised in Hudson County, Robert Menendez was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. His platform is strengthening families and serving the community. On his website, Menendez said he’s working to address the pressures families face because of the increasing costs of housing, energy and food. He introduced the Working Families Task Force Act and is co-sponsoring the Raise the Wage Act of 2023, which would raise the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour by 2027.

Menendez said he also supports the investment in capital improvement projects to build affordable housing with mass transit access.

Additionally, he wants to expand access to affordable health care by lowering prescription drug prices, supporting community health centers and strengthening protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Democrat Ravi Bhalla

Opposing Menendez is Ravi Bhalla, the mayor of Hoboken, born and raised in New Jersey after his parents moved from India.

His website states Bhalla has dedicated his life to advocating for justice, battling discrimination and ensuring every New Jersey resident can pursue the American dream. As mayor of Hoboken, Bhalla said he’s worked to ensure that all who live or work in the community are treated fairly and that the most vulnerable residents are protected. He signed an ordinance establishing living wages for all building service workers and protections against displacement at any building that receives city subsidies.

He noted he has been a strong champion of organized labor and that, if elected to Congress, he will fight to pass the Protect the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act,  to protect the right to form or join a union and ensure workers enjoy decent jobs, wages, benefits and working conditions. He said he would fight to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, create millions of living-wage union jobs, make the expanded child tax credit permanent, expand Social Security benefits for all and close the carried interest loophole so that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share of taxes.

As a father of two, Bhalla said he’s experienced the child care crisis first-hand and will make addressing it one of his top priorities. Bhalla said he will fight to pass universal background checks when purchasing firearms, banning assault weapons and support the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to keep guns out of the hands of those who may harm themselves or others.

Democrat Kyle Jasey

Also in the race is Kyle Jasey, the CEO of Jasey Capital Group.

He was born and raised in New Jersey after his maternal grandfather’s family immigrated from Jamaica.

As a child, Jasey said he loved animals and “probably had more pets than anyone you’ve ever met.” He enjoyed fishing, exploring in the woods and playing sports.

Jasey was hospitalized with long COVID and now believes low-cost or free health care for all Americans should be a top priority. He supports access to safe and legal abortions; he said on his website that every individual deserves the autonomy to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

Another top priority for Jasey is revitalizing education, and he stressed the importance of investing in public schools. He also supports efforts to ensure prisons equip inmates with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful reintegration into society. Jasey said effective rehabilitation and education in prisons are key to reducing high recidivism rates, which ultimately lead to inflated prison populations and escalating crime rates.

His mother, Mila Jasey, is a New Jersey assemblywoman.

The lone Republican, Anthony Valdes

In the Republican primary, Anthony Valdes is running unopposed.

A longtime resident of West New York, New Jersey, Valdes has described himself as a “public servant.” In a letter to the editor of the Hudson County View, Valdes said inflation is a major issue and noted the U.S. is now embroiled in international conflicts. He also expressed concern that the southern U.S. border “remains wide open and completely unsecured.”

A profession for Valdes was not immediately available, and he does not appear to have a campaign website. WHYY News reached out for more information.

The New Jersey Devils did not see their pick in the NHL Draft move during the NHL Draft Lottery, so the will pick 10th if they don’t decide to move the pick in a trade. This is one of the strangest drafts in a long time. While many analysts have said this isn’t the best draft in terms of talent, it seems like there are 14 players these analysts are talking themselves into.

The Devils might get a great player at 10. There is no consensus player available with the second-overall pick. That is why the top 10 is going to be so much fun to watch. Anyone could be available at any time, and anyone could be gone at any time. The Devils could get a huge star or they could be stuck with their favorite players off the board. So, let’s take a look at the predictions for who the Devils are going to take at 10th overall.

The Athletic put its two best prospect writers, Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler, on the task of drafting the first two rounds. They made an interesting choice. Cole Eiserman and Konsta Helenius were both available, but Wheeler chose Beckett Sennecke. The right winger has the size and strength the Devils will want, and as we profiled in our profile of Sennecke, he has rocketed up draft boards. We’ve seen those players succeed in the past. Sennecke is a risk because of his late-bloomer status, but it’s hard to find someone who is 6’2 with that much skill.

The New Jersey Devils have gone after the Spokane Chiefs in the first round before, but it didn’t exactly work. Ty Smith had a really good start to his career, but a switch flipped and he wasn’t very good after that rookie year in the NHL. Anyway, we can’t cry over that spilled milk. Friend of this blog Alex Chauvancy chose Chiefs’ center Berlky Catton. He also had a chance to take Eiserman, but he went with the center. Catton had 54 goals this season. He’s a smaller forward and might have to move to wing in the NHL, but his skill is undeniable.

Ah, we finally found someone who took the incredibly skilled Cole Eiserman out of the United States National Development Team Program. He’s here breaking or coming close to breaking records for the USNDTP. He is an incredibly talented player, but some question his motor and his motivation. Still, Steven Ellis can’t get past how great Eiserman would look next to Jack Hughes. He thinks this would have the same impact that Cole Caufield had on Hughes back when they were both with the USNDTP. If Hughes can finally find his winger that makes his one of the greats, the Devils have to take that at 10th overall.

We finally found someone bold enough to give the Devils a defenseman. This is a very interesting defensive draft. There is zero consensus about who goes where. Maybe Zeev Buium falls to 10 like Sam Cosentino is predicting, and maybe the Devils can’t deny his talent. The Devils already have young defensemen in Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Kevin Bahl, Seamus Casey, and a long list of others. Will the Devils really use another pick on a defenseman? If the talent dictates it, then they will.

The New Jersey Devils could take a completely different defenseman who could fall in the draft. Sam Dickinson is huge, showcasing the size and impact the Devils have been prioritizing as of late. His skating is immaculate, which is another thing the Devils have and will continue to prioritize. Lyle Richardson also points out that Dickinson is left-handed, which means he would fill a need amongst the Devils prospect pool.

Last but not least, we go back to Pucks and Pitchforks to see who Todd Matthews believes the Devils will take. Cayden Lindstrom is as dynamic a player with his kind of size. Will Lindstrom fall to 10? We can’t stress enough how anything outside Macklin Celebrini falling past one can happen in this draft. Lindstrom could absolutely fall to 10, and we think Fitzgerald would run to the podium to make this pick. He can play center or wing, so the Devils could either use him as their glue guy or as a dynamic option on the top line. It would be a time for celebration if the Devils can take Lindstrom.

As one of the few bands to meaningfully push the envelope of just how “brutal” death metal can be, Stabbing make up for a complete absence of any melodic elements in their music with utterly extreme blasts, filthy vocals, and chromatic slam riffs. 2023’s debut full-length Extirpated Mortal Process saw the band fully realize their brand of pure brutal death metal depravity and solidified their reputation in the underground metal scene as a band to watch.

It’s no surprise that only 24 hours before this show, the band announced that they’ve been signed to Century Media, joining the ranks of the scene’s biggest contemporary death metal acts including Sanguisugabogg, Frozen Soul, and Vomit Forth. Rolling through New Jersey in a string of dates between Milwaukee Metalfest and Maryland Deathfest, Stabbing stops at Clifton, NJ for a night of chaos, playing to a crowd with absolutely zero regard for their own self-preservation in the pit. This short run feels special (and somewhat dangerous as the venue lacks any sort of security to keep the pit contained), watching a band on the precipice of blowing up. With support from local favorites Final Girls and fellow Jersey bands Ways to the Grave and World Eater, this was one of the best shows I’ve seen in 2024.

World Eater, a metal band seemingly born from the ashes of a Magic: The Gathering deck, kicks off the night strong. Frontman Ed Pacella is an absolute force – his death growl and endless parade around the stage draw you in, but the riffs keep you hooked. I struggle to grasp that they’re still relative newcomers to the scene – though some members have played in other groups in the past, this combination of members seems like the winning formula. World Eater blurs the line between familiar and modern with a sound that’s equal parts Bolt Thrower and a thousand screams into an endless void of cosmic horror. Ripping solos and more melodic riffing separate them sonically from the rest of the bands tonight, yet they fit right in with this lineup.

World Eater

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Moving into more progressive territory is Ways to the Grave, the second band of the night. If you close your eyes, it’s easy to forget that some of these kids aren’t quite old enough to order a drink at the venue, playing at a level way beyond their years. Despite the longer songs, there’s meaningful commercial appeal in the way they infuse elements of popular death metal with prog-leaning tendencies. Watching this band refine bits of their performance and presentation over the past few months, their relentless gigging will smooth out any inconsistencies in time, and make them a band to watch. 

Ways to the Grave

If you need to fill a room in New Jersey, you book Final Girls – it’s a Wednesday night but the Final Girls fans still come out in full force and dress to the nines, Their brand of horror-infused death metal puts them on top of the local scene, and probably the next band in the area to start making serious moves. Unveiling a new setlist tonight and largely moving beyond the songs first introduced on their EP, Final Girls were in top form. Watching Sofia DeMasi behind the kit is always a highlight, and Casey Cruz continues to escalate their stage show to new extremes. Despite some gear hiccups, Ashleigh Hernandez and Sofia Albanese kept the show moving with grace.

Final Girls

And finally, Stabbing took the stage. It’s a lot like watching a bomb go off in front of you. Their 40-minute set was completely unrelenting – no reprieve from the brutal riffs and endless gutturals; there are no slow (or even mid-paced) songs in their catalog to give your body a break from the pit that never closes. At the center of everything is vocalist Bridget Lynch and guitarist Marvin Ruiz. Lynch is simply one of the most consistent brutal death metal vocalists I’ve ever witnessed, never missing a beat, never faltering or wavering in her delivery. Despite being a one-guitar band, Ruiz absolutely flooded the roof with his precise riffing and grooves. The rhythm section was no less impressive, perfectly in time and locked in like a well-oiled machine. Stabbing is easily one of the best live bands on the circuit right now and for a good reason. The venue flooded their set with red light – very appropriate – but every member of the band was mesmerizing to watch. We might not be ready for whatever Stabbing decides to do next – and there’s nowhere for them to go but up. 

Stabbing