Rep. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) has almost $1.8 million in her campaign warchest after raising over $415,000 during the second quarter of this year, and a massive $2.6 million in her bid for re-election to a second term.
Pou won her first term two years ago by a closer-than-expected 50.7% to 45.6% margin against Republican Billy Prempeh. The incumbent, Rep. Bill Pascrfell, Jr. (D-Paterson), 87, died in August and Pou, then a state senator, secured the Democratic nomination to replace him.
The closeness of the race led to speculation that Pou would face a tough re-election bid in 2026.
New Jersey’s 9th district unexpectedly backed Donald Trump in 2024, transforming what had long been considered a safely Democratic seat into a Republican target. But the plurality-Hispanic district appears to have reverted to form since then, giving Mikie Sherrill a nearly 20-point victory in last year’s governor’s race.
She faces Republican Rosemary Pino, a Clifton councilwoman, in the general election. Pino won a narrow primary victory over attorney Tiffany Glen Burress.
Pino has not yet filed her second quarter report with the Federal Election Commission; it’ not due until Wednesday. In May, she reported raising $367,495 and had $33,611 cash-on-hand.
Pou wound up running unopposed in the Democratic primary after Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, who had mulled a congressional bid, instead opted to seek a third term as mayor.
“Congresswoman Pou has built one of the strongest grassroots campaigns in New Jersey because people know her, trust her, and see Nellie is delivering for them,” said Pou campaign manager Morghan Cyr. “Born and raised in Paterson, Nellie has spent her life serving the communities she now represents in Congress. She has earned support across one of America’s most diverse districts by showing up and listening. This fundraising milestone is another reflection of the broad coalition she has built and gives her the resources to keep sharing her strong record and to win in November.”