Bergen Record Editorial Board Endorses Nellie Pou for Reelection While Republicans Cut Off Funding to NJ-09

The Editorial Board makes the case for Pou clear: “Pou’s command of policy, knowledge of the district and decades of legislative experience make her better prepared to represent its constituents in Washington.”

The endorsement comes as Republicans have officially triaged the race – cutting off funding from Republican candidate Rosemary Pino. It’s an acknowledgment that they failed miserably to recruit a serious candidate in the race.

Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement for yourself:

• U.S. Rep. Nellie Pou’s command of policy, knowledge of the district and decades of legislative experience make her better prepared to represent its constituents in Washington.

• If reelected, Pou says her priorities would include ending President Trump’s tariffs and restoring funding for Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies, Medicaid and SNAP food assistance. Republicans cut a combined $1.2 trillion in expected spending on those programs in last year’s massive tax and spending law, helping explain why Pou calls Trump’s second term “a catastrophic failure.”
• …We believe Pou is better prepared for the job. In interviews with the editorial board of The Record and NorthJersey.com, she demonstrated a stronger grasp of federal policy and district concerns, including flooding and aging water systems. Pino… relied more heavily on broad themes than on specific policy proposals.
• Immigration is especially important in this diverse district, and both candidates described the fear and disruption caused by the Trump administration’s mass-deportation policy. Pou said immigration laws should be enforced but that ICE’s heavy-handed tactics have “gone far beyond reasonable.”
• … Pino’s central argument — that she could persuade Trump and congressional Republicans to compromise on Medicaid, immigration enforcement and other priorities — is unconvincing without a clearer account of what concessions she would seek or how she would win them.
• The 9th District needs an advocate who understands both the pressures on its residents and the nuances of working on Capitol Hill. Nellie Pou offers the more developed agenda, deeper legislative experience and a stronger command of local concerns. We recommend voters send her back to Washington.