Bob Menendez was selected to represent the state of New Jersey in the United States Senate. Senator Menendez is a Democratic Senator and the first Latino individual selected to act as a New Jersey Senator. In most instances, U.S. Senators are elected by popular vote, in which residents of a particular state vote for the Senate candidate that they wish to acquire the available Senate seat.

However, Senator Menendez was not appointed as a result of a public election, and instead was selected by New Jersey’s Governor, Jon Corzine. Prior to appointing Senator Menendez, Jon Corzine occupied the Senate seat that Menendez acquired, and resigned from the Senate after winning the public election for Governor. Subsequently, Senator Mendez was reelected to serve a complete term in the U.S. Senate.

Prior to serving on the United States Senate, Senator Menendez was selected to be Union City’s Mayor. He also served on the New Jersey State Senate, and the NJ General Assembly. Senator Menendez has been involved in some controversy during his Senate career, including accusations of ethics violations. Nevertheless, Menendez continues to be a popular and influential Senator. He is a member of the Finance Committee, the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

In addition, Senator Menendez acts as the Chairman of the Housing, Transportation, and Community Development Subcommittee and the International Development and Environmental Subcommittee. Mendez supports stem cell research, emergency contraceptive, gay adoption, renewable energy sources, and immigration reform.

The residents of New Jersey have elected Frank Lautenberg to represent the state in the United States Senate. Senator Lautenberg is a Democratic Senator who has served in the Senate for an extended period of time. He is currently the oldest Senator serving in the U.S. Senate. Throughout his career, he has served a total of five terms in the U.S. Senate, though these terms were not consecutive. He made the decision to retire from the U.S. Senate, however, he returned to the Senate after a short period. Senator Lautenberg is known for being one of the most liberal Senators serving on the Senate.

Prior to his election to act as a U.S. Senator, Lautenberg served in the Army. He attained an economics degree, from the business school within Columbia University. He was the CEO of a company called Automatic Data Processing and acted as the Port Authority’s executive commissioner. He launched a Senate campaign in 1982, and was elected to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate. 

Senator Lautenberg is currently a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Appropriations Committee. He also serves as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure Subcommittee, and the Superfund, Toxics, and Environmental Health Subcommittee. Senator Lautenberg has very liberal views on many key issues. For example, he supports a woman’s right to attain an abortion, stem cell research, investment in renewable energy sources, and same sex marriage.