Robert Menendez in 2018 NJ Senate race

On War & Peace: Is Trump acting for Russia and Turkey or willfully blind?

On War & Peace: Oppose bombs to Saudi Arabia; no national security emergency

Murphy, an outspoken critic of Saudi Arabia's human rights record and its military campaign in Yemen, expressed concern over the possible action in a series of tweets. "Trump may use an obscure loophole in the Arms Control Act and notice a major new sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia (the ones they drop in Yemen) in a way that will prevent Congress from objecting." Murphy wrote. "Arms control law allows Congress to reject a sale to a foreign country. But Trump would claim the sale constitutes an 'emergency' which means Congress can't take a vote of disapproval. It would go through automatically," Murphy tweeted.

Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen against Houthi rebels, marked by a heavy civilian death toll from air strikes, and the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has fueled growing hostility in Congress

On Abortion: Yes affordable contraceptives; no unneeded restrictions

Robert Hugin (R): Legal. "Pro-choice." Opposes late-term abortions unless life of mother is at risk.

Robert Menendez (D): Legal. "Strongly support a woman's right to choose." Cosponsored bill preventing medica

On Civil Rights: Supports gay marriage

Robert Hugin (R): Yes.

Robert Menendez (D): Yes.

On Corporations: Keep CFPB Financial Protection; keep Consumer Advisory Board

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.

Robert Menendez (D): No. Criticizes disbanding of CFPB's Consumer Advisory Board.

On Drugs: Give marijuana businesses access to banking services

Robert Hugin (R): Decriminalize small amounts but opposes recreational legalization.

Robert Menendez (D): Urged administration to respect state laws & submitted bill to study states that have legalized. Supports giving pot businesses access to banking services.

On Education: Vouchers drain money from public schools

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found, but supports expanded charter schools.

Robert Menendez (D): No. They drain money from public schools.

On Education: Supports making 2 years of community college free

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.

Robert Menendez (D): Yes. Supports Warren proposal. Backed America's College Promise Act making 2 years of community college free.

On Energy & Oil: World must cut greenhouse gas emissions, or reject science

Robert Hugin (R): Mixed. "Climate change is real. Humans play a role." Also gave $500,000 to Heritage Foundation, which rejects the significance of human-caused climate change & opposes regulations to address it. Says Paris Accord "unfairly balanced." Didn't support it as written.

Robert Menendez (D): Yes. "[W]e, as a global community, have to cut our greenhouse gas emissions & the US must be at the forefront of that effort." Called withdrawal from Paris Accord a rejection of science.

Q: Support government subsidies or support for renewables?

Hugin: Mixed. Supports research in areas like battery technology, but not direct subsidies that pick winners & losers.

Menendez: Yes. Has supported expanding renewable energy credits by cutting oil company tax breaks.

On Environment: Don't let the EPA get undermined

Robert Hugin (R): Unclear. "Will encourage the President to enter into agreements that protect our environment" but are fair for American taxpayers & businesses.

Robert Menendez (D): No. "Will not sit idly by while this President & his administration undermine the integrity of our agencies."

On Free Trade: Tariffs on China drive allies into arms of our adversaries

Robert Hugin (R): Yes. "In the end, we're going to get a better deal with China."

Robert Menendez (D): No. They drive allies "into the arms of our adversaries" instead of addressing China's economic policies.

On Government Reform: Citizens United rolled back decades of progress

Robert Hugin (R): No position on disclosure laws or Citizens United.

Robert Menendez (D): Yes. Cosponsored DISCLOSE Act requiring disclosure. Says Citizens United "rolled back decades of progress."

On Government Reform: Do everything to protect all Americans' right to vote

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.

Robert Menendez (D): No. "Must do everything in our power to protect all Americans' right to vote."

On Gun Control: Universal background checks & assault weapons ban

Robert Hugin (R): Supports some measures, including expanded background checks & barring people with mental illnesses.

Robert Menendez (D): Yes. Supports universal background checks & closing gun show loopholes. Voted for assault weapons ban.

On Health Care: Repealing ObamaCare would hike premiums & hurt the disabled

Robert Hugin (R): Said Republican repeal effort would be "great for the country." Keep good aspects of ObamaCare.

Robert Menendez (D): Supports. Repeal would have "hiked premiums. gutted the guarantee of essential benefits, disproportionately hurt women & the disabled.to pay for a massive tax cut for the richest."

Q: Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

Menendez: No. "Some Medicaid recipients physically cannot work."

On Immigration: DREAMer kids have grown up as Americans

Robert Hugin (R): Yes. "I support a path to citizenship for people who are here building a constructive, productive life."

Robert Menendez (D): Yes. "These kids have grown up as Americans." Also helped craft broader bipartisan immigration bill.

On Jobs: Raise minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10/hour

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.

Robert Menendez (D): Yes. Supported 2014 bill to raise to $10.10/hr within 2 years.

On Principles & Values: Severely admonished by Senate for political favors

Robert Hugin (R): Hugin's company spent $2.8 million lobbying to block cheaper generic alternatives.

Robert Menendez (D): Menendez was charged for allegedly doing political favors for a friend while accepting six-figure campaign contributions & undisclosed gifts like luxury hotel stays. Prosecutor dropped charges after jury hung 10-2 for acquittal & judge said the case didn't hold up. Senate committee then "severely admonished" him.

On Social Security: Opposes privatization of Social Security

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.

Robert Menendez (D): No. Opposes.

On Tax Reform: Trump tax cuts was giant hit job on middle class

Robert Hugin (R): Yes. Delivers "real relief" & will spur economic growth & job creation. But would reverse state tax deduction cap.

Robert Menendez (D): No. "Cannot & will not support a tax bill that reads like one giant hit job on New Jersey's middle class."

On Technology: Net Neutrality avoids higher prices

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.

Robert Menendez (D): Yes. Otherwise higher prices & higher barriers to small business.

On War & Peace: Selling arms to Saudi Arabia makes crisis in Yemen

Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.

Robert Menendez (D): Hesitant. Concerned that Saudi war in Yemen furthers human rights crisis.

On War & Peace: Grave mistake to walk away from Iran nuke deal without plan

Robert Hugin (R): Yes. "Iran has used the resources they received from the United States [as part of the deal] to export terrorism."

Robert Menendez (D): No. "Grave mistake to walk away without a plan" to ensure Iran doesn't restart nuclear weapon program.

On Principles & Values: Admonished by Senate Ethics Committee for accepting gifts

Menendez was indicted in April 2015 on federal corruption charges. After his first trial ended in a mistrial, a judge acquitted him of several charges and prosecutors declined to retry him on the rest.

The Senate Ethics Committee then "severely admonished" him in April for accepting gifts from a friend and campaign donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen, while intervening with federal agencies on his behalf.

A pollster says, "New Jersey voters are troubled by the ethics cloud hanging over Menendez."

"The more New Jerseyans hear about disgraced Senator Bob Menendez's corruption, the less they believe he should remain in the United States Senate," said a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.