NJ Puerto Rican Congress president backs Hugin

Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón, a Republican who is Puerto Rico’s delegate to Congress, and Lydia Valencia, President of the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey, endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin on Tuesday.

“I’m proud to endorse Bob Hugin for U.S. Senate because we need leaders in Washington who are willing to elevate themselves above the partisanship and dysfunction to do what’s right,” said Valencia. “Bob Hugin is a person of integrity and strong moral character, and he will serve New Jersey well as Senator.”

Valencia served as Statewide Co-Chairwoman of the Hispanics for Christie Coalition during Gov. Chris Christie’s re-election campaign in 2013.

The endorsements could serve to blunt an advantage U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is expected to have among Latino and other minority voters in November, although a recent Telemundo poll shows the incumbent with a significant edge among Latinos.

At a press conference last week, Menendez said he was willing to bet he would win 80% of those votes come election day.

“I’m committed to standing up for the Puerto Rican community here in New Jersey and fighting for equal rights for all Puerto Ricans,” said Hugin. “My whole life I’ve been independent and I’m not afraid to stand up for what’s right. That’s why I called out the President for politicizing Hurricane Maria and the tragic deaths of 3,000 people. We should mourn those souls, not politicize them.”