Nellie Pou

Fighting for a Better New Jersey

State Sen. Nellie Pou served in the New Jersey Assembly from 1997 to 2012. She was elected to the state Senate in 2011 and was reelected in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2023. She was the first woman and the first Latina elected to represent the 35th Legislative District. Throughout her state legislative tenure, she has worked to ensure all New Jerseyans are safe. Pou sponsored a law that broadened the definition of human trafficking and increased penalties. She is a strong advocate for social justice and human rights. In 2013, Pou spearheaded legislation that allowed undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities. She has fought to set new standards for background checks for individuals working in the home of seniors and people with disabilities. Pou invested in New Jersey’s youth and worked to reform the juvenile justice system by introducing legislation — now law — that would provide automatic representation to juveniles by the Office of the Public Defender if they are under 18 years old. She also set out to add new protections for sexual assault victims and created a central registry of protective orders accessible to police and child protection officers.

Groundbreaking Leader

While fighting for a better New Jersey, Pou is an active member of various organizations, including the National Council of State Legislators, Women in Government, the National Order of Women Legislators/National Foundation of Women Legislators, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, the Women’s Political Caucus, Emerge New Jersey, the Council of State Government, and the National Hispanic Council of State Legislators — where she is the immediate past president. In January 2022, Pou became part of the state Senate leadership as Senate majority caucus chair and currently serves as chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and chairwoman of the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus. She continues to fight for the people in New Jersey, ensuring that diversity exists on the New Jersey state Supreme Court. She played a vital role in the extension of telehealth and telemedicine, as well as moratoriums on evictions and foreclosure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pou is a champion for reproductive rights and sponsored legislation that required the New Jersey Department of Health to create a website with information on reproductive rights.

Protect this Democratic Seat and Take Back the U.S. House

Pou is running for New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District formerly held by the late Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell. Pou is committed to fighting for New Jerseyans just as she’s done in the New Jersey state Assembly and state Senate. She is ready to fight against anti-abortion extremists and stand up for reproductive freedoms. We are proud to stand with Pou in this election and watch her become New Jersey’s first Latina member of Congress.