--- title: "Pou vs. Pino: 2026 New Jersey’s 9th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-nj-09" updated: "2026-10-07" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 New Jersey’s 9th District race: Nellie Pou (D) vs. Rosemary Pino (R) Rating: Lean D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: October 7, 2026 The 2026 election for New Jersey's 9th Congressional District features incumbent Democratic Representative Nellie Pou against Republican nominee Rosemary Pino, a Clifton City Councilwoman. The district, historically held by Democrats, became a national battleground after Donald Trump narrowly won it in 2024 and Pou won her initial House term by fewer than five percentage points. ## Candidates - **Nellie Pou** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.nelliepoufornewjersey.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Nellie_Pou) - **Rosemary Pino** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://rosiepinofornj.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rosemary_Pino) ## Issues ### Cost of living and economy Salience: high Pou advocates for federal intervention against price-gouging and extending subsidies, whereas Pino advocates cutting federal spending, lowering taxes, and expanding domestic energy production. **Nellie Pou:** Supports targeting high prices and price gouging Pou identifies lowering costs for groceries, energy, housing, and healthcare as her top priority. She advocates for terminating destructive tariffs, lowering energy bills, and giving law enforcement more tools to crack down on corporate price gouging and monopolies. - Opposes destructive tariffs driving consumer prices - Supports legislation to lower energy and housing expenses - Calls for increased federal resources to crack down on price gouging and predatory monopolies > “I know families in New Jersey are struggling at the gas pump, grocery stores, and to pay their energy bills. My number one priority is lowering the high prices that are crushing families across our district.” > — Nellie Pou, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Nellie_Pou) **Rosemary Pino:** Supports tax cuts and spending reductions Pino argues that federal spending packages fuel inflation and drive up everyday living costs. She supports Donald Trump's tax-cutting agenda, unleashing domestic energy production, and cutting red tape for small businesses. - Pledges to oppose large spending packages and bureaucratic expansions - Supports tax cuts for working families and eliminating burdensome taxes - Advocates restoring American energy independence to reduce utility and transportation costs > “In Congress, I will oppose massive spending packages and bureaucratic expansions that fuel inflation and drive up the cost of living.” > — Rosemary Pino, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rosemary_Pino) ### Healthcare Salience: high Pou seeks to expand ACA subsidies and protect Medicaid outlays, while Pino advocates for market competition, Health Savings Accounts, and selling insurance across state lines. **Nellie Pou:** Supports expanding ACA subsidies and Medicaid Pou focuses on lowering healthcare costs by defending the Affordable Care Act, capping prescription drug prices, and expanding Medicaid. She sponsored amendments to protect Medicaid coverage for working families and mothers. - Demands extension of ACA premium tax credits to lower healthcare insurance costs - Fights to cap prescription drug prices and fund community health centers - Offered congressional amendments to protect Medicaid from budget cuts > “In the greatest country on earth, you shouldn’t fear going bankrupt over a medical emergency.” > — Nellie Pou, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Nellie_Pou) **Rosemary Pino:** Supports market-based healthcare and HSAs Pino advocates for a patient-centered healthcare system that lowers costs through increased competition and price transparency. She supports expanding Health Savings Accounts and cross-state insurance sales while protecting pre-existing conditions and Medicare. - Supports price transparency and allowing health insurance to be sold across state lines - Advocates strengthening Health Savings Accounts and reducing regulatory burdens - Pledges to protect pre-existing condition protections and Medicare for seniors > “Healthcare should be affordable, accessible, and patient-centered — not controlled by Washington bureaucrats.” > — Rosemary Pino, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rosemary_Pino) ### Immigration and border security Salience: high Pou emphasizes due process and voted against mandatory detention bills, whereas Pino strongly endorses Donald Trump's border enforcement policies and strict deportations. **Nellie Pou:** Supports due-process immigration reform Pou advocates for comprehensive immigration reform grounded in dignity, respect, and due process. In Congress, she voted against Republican-led enforcement legislation, including the Laken Riley Act and DUI deportation measures. - Supports immigration reform that protects due process and human dignity - Voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act requiring federal detention for certain undocumented immigrants - Voted Nay on legislation making DUI convictions grounds for mandatory deportation > “I also believe we need immigration reform that is grounded in dignity, respect, and upholding due process.” > — Nellie Pou, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Nellie_Pou) **Rosemary Pino:** Supports strict border enforcement and deportations Pino endorses Donald Trump's border security policies and emphasizes strict adherence to the rule of law. She supports giving ICE and Border Patrol full resources to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants who commit serious crimes. - Supports President Trump's border security policies - Advocates equipping Border Patrol and ICE to arrest and deport violent offenders - Emphasizes protecting the legal immigration system for those who follow the rules > “I support President Trump’s border security policies that put safety first.” > — Rosemary Pino, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rosemary_Pino) ### Abortion and reproductive rights Salience: medium Pou is endorsed by pro-choice organizations like Planned Parenthood, whereas Pino favors restricting abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. **Nellie Pou:** Supports abortion rights and access Pou supports protecting abortion rights and access to reproductive healthcare. Her campaign is officially endorsed by major advocacy organizations including EMILY's List and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. - Endorsed by EMILY's List and Planned Parenthood Action Fund - Supports protecting federal reproductive healthcare access **Rosemary Pino:** Opposes abortion with limited exceptions Pino identifies as proudly pro-life, stating abortion should be rare and limited with exceptions for rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother. She criticizes Democratic abortion positions and supports policies that help women raise families. - Supports restricting abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother - Opposes Democratic Party abortion policies - Promotes social and financial support policies to assist mothers and families > “I am proudly pro-life and believe abortion should be rare and limited, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk.” > — Rosemary Pino, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rosemary_Pino) ### Education Salience: medium Pou focuses on strengthening public education funding and mandatory attendance, while Pino champions school choice policies and Education Savings Accounts. **Nellie Pou:** Supports public school funding and mandatory attendance Pou has historically focused on expanding public education opportunities, raising compulsory school attendance ages, and defending programs like the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) for disadvantaged students. - Advocated raising compulsory school attendance to age 18 in New Jersey - Consistently supported the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) for under-resourced students **Rosemary Pino:** Supports school choice and career training Drawing on her former experience on the Clifton Board of Education, Pino supports federal school choice policies including charter schools and Education Savings Accounts. She also advocates limiting federal interference in local classrooms and expanding vocational training. - Supports charter schools, Education Savings Accounts, and letting funding follow the student - Advocates limiting the federal government's role in local classroom curricula - Supports expanding career and technical education, apprenticeships, and skills training > “At the federal level, I support school choice, including charter schools, education savings accounts, and policies that let funding follow the student — not the bureaucracy.” > — Rosemary Pino, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rosemary_Pino) ### Public safety and law enforcement Salience: medium Both candidates support funding law enforcement, but Pou emphasizes community security programs and Homeland Security initiatives, while Pino centers her message on opposing defund-the-police efforts. **Nellie Pou:** Supports funding police and community security Pou supports increasing federal funding for local police departments and community safety programs. As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, she helps oversee security preparation for major regional events like the FIFA World Cup. - Supports increased funding for police departments and community safety initiatives - Serves on the House Homeland Security Committee task force overseeing FIFA World Cup security > “Nobody should feel unsafe in their neighborhoods and streets, and as a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Nellie is fighting to increase funding for police departments and programs that bolster community safety and trust.” > — Nellie Pou, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Nellie_Pou) **Rosemary Pino:** Supports fully funding police and opposing defund movements Pino emphasizes her close working relationship with police officers as a city councilwoman. She strongly opposes any efforts to defund law enforcement and advocates for giving officers full funding, training, and resources. - Supports fully funding police and explicitly opposes defunding efforts - Advocates providing officers with necessary training, tools, and backing - Highlights her local record on the Clifton City Council supporting public safety > “At the federal level, I support fully funding law enforcement, and I strongly oppose any effort to defund or weaken the police.” > — Rosemary Pino, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rosemary_Pino) ### Infrastructure and local investment Salience: low **Nellie Pou:** Supports securing federal infrastructure dollars Pou leverages her position on the House Transportation Committee to bring federal infrastructure funding to District 9 for roads, sewage systems, and flood mitigation, while attempting to streamline construction timelines. - Secured millions in federal dollars for district roads, sewage systems, and flood prevention - Authored legislation to speed up construction backlogs while maintaining environmental protections > “As our state’s only Democratic member of the Transportation Committee, I have consistently brought millions in federal dollars back into our district for roads, sewage systems, and flood prevention.” > — Nellie Pou, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Nellie_Pou) **Rosemary Pino:** No documented position in our sources ### Government ethics and anti-corruption Salience: low **Nellie Pou:** Supports banning stock trading for public officials Pou highlights anti-corruption as a core campaign message, advocating for stock trading bans for public officials and heightened ethics disclosures. She highlights her role on the Homeland Security Committee investigating administrative spending. - Supports banning members of Congress and public officials from trading stocks in office - Advocates for heightened federal ethics requirements and financial disclosures - Helped lead committee investigation into Department of Homeland Security spending > “Corruption is a rot that erodes public trust. To restore that trust, we must root it out and I am strong voice to do that.” > — Nellie Pou, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Nellie_Pou) **Rosemary Pino:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/nj-09-house-election-winner) — NJ-09 House Election Winner: Democrats 96.5%, Republicans 2.4% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/HOUSENJ9-26) — NJ-09 House winner?: Nellie Pou 96.1%, Rosemary Pino 3.3% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-nj-09)