Nellie Pou added to DCCC’s frontline list

Rep. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) was added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)’s initial list of House Democratic frontliners this morning, meaning that the freshman congresswoman is one of the 26 Democrats nationwide who are seen to be in most danger of losing next year.

A longtime state legislator representing Paterson, Pou was chosen to run for Congress last year in a whirlwind process after Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) died just a few days before the deadline to replace his name on the ballot. Local Democrats thought they were putting Pou up for a safe seat, but they were wrong; Donald Trump shockingly carried the 9th congressional district as he surged with Hispanic voters, and Pou only defeated underfunded Republican foe Billy Prempeh by a 51% to 46% margin to win her first term in Congress.

That result has put Pou in the hot seat for the first time in her lengthy political career, and Republicans believe that the right nominee could make next year’s race competitive (no one has entered the race yet, though Prempeh is considering a fourth bid for the seat). The DCCC’s Frontline list is meant to assist Democratic House members confronting a potentially challenging 2026, particularly with fundraising – and Pou said she’s grateful for the help.

“In my almost 30-year career of running for office, this is my first time being in a situation like this,” Pou said today. “However, I know that I am working hard – not only to place my attention on what’s important for my district while I’m here in D.C., but at the same time making sure that we are able to put our message out there [in New Jersey].”

National GOP groups like the National Republican Campaign Committee and the Congressional Leadership Fund have already gone on the offense against Pou, hitting the congresswoman for her votes against bills targeting undocumented immigrants accused of crimes and transgender girls playing in women’s sports. (A member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Pou has thus far amassed a notably progressive voting record, opposing some bills that dozens of her fellow swing-district Democrats supported.)

Pou said she’s aware that, thanks to her district, every move she makes will be under scrutiny, but that ultimately her job is representing the voters who put her in Congress.

“I will always have my district in mind, every single time that I vote,” she said. “I know that the Republicans have absolutely targeted the district, so I want to make sure that we are prepared and have the resources needed. I will continue to work super hard to make sure that my district is well-represented.”

No other New Jersey Democrats are on the DCCC’s frontliner list, even those who represent districts that veered hard towards Trump last year; Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly)’s 5th congressional district only supported Kamala Harris by a 50% to 48% margin, but Democrats evidently don’t yet see the district as being especially vulnerable.

As for Republican districts in danger of flipping in 2026, the main – perhaps only – obvious target is Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield)’s 7th district, which voted for Trump 49% to 48%. The 7th district was among the 29 seats on the House Majority PAC’s initial list of targeted GOP-held districts, and two notable Democrats, former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett and former Summit Councilman Greg Vartan, are already in the race against Kean.