The (Bergen) Record has endorsed Rep. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) for re-election in New Jersey’s 9th congressional district, praising Republican challenger Rosie Pino’s compelling personal story but concluding that the freshman Democrat is better equipped to represent the district in Congress.
In an editorial published Tuesday, The Record and NorthJersey.com credited Pino, a Clifton councilwoman, with overcoming significant personal challenges that have given her firsthand knowledge of the struggles facing working families.
“She was a teenage mother who relied on Medicaid to cover her health care during pregnancy, a foster mom who has raised 11 children, a Red Lobster server and, by the age of 30, a cancer survivor,” the editorial stated. “That background gives Pino an authentic understanding of the pressures facing ordinary Americans, a perspective Congress could use.”
But the editorial board found Pou, a former state senator serving her first term in Congress, more knowledgeable about federal policy and local issues.
“At this stage of their careers, however, we believe Pou is better prepared for the job,” the newspaper said. “She demonstrated a stronger grasp of federal policy and district concerns, including flooding and aging water systems.”
The editorial noted that the candidates were closer on some issues than their party affiliations suggested, but questioned Pino’s argument that she could persuade President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to compromise on Medicaid and immigration enforcement.
“The 9th District needs an advocate who understands both the pressures on its residents and the nuances of working on Capitol Hill,” the editorial concluded. “Nellie Pou offers the more developed agenda, deeper legislative experience and a stronger command of local concerns.”
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