November 11, 2025 – Union City, New Jersey

A 27-year-old Union City native and military reservist, Kevin Hernandez, has announced his intention to challenge U.S. Representative Rob Menendez Jr. in the 2026 Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District. The announcement marks the first publicly reported Democratic challenge to the incumbent, according to Hudson TV.

Hernandez, a graduate of Union City High School and Rutgers–Newark, previously ran for Hudson County Freeholder (now Commissioner) in 2020. He currently serves as a military truck driver and reservist and plans to attend the Dallas Police Academy later this month. Hernandez stated that if elected to Congress, he would forgo a law enforcement career in Texas and return home to serve the people of northern New Jersey.

“I’m focused on policies that help working families, veterans, and small business owners,” Hernandez told Hudson TV. “My campaign will be about ideas and accountability, not personal attacks.”

Policy Positions and Platform

In his announcement, Hernandez emphasized an approach that blends pragmatic progressivism with traditional values. His stated priorities include:

Restoring the Gateway Tunnel project to strengthen New Jersey’s transit infrastructure. Confronting pharmaceutical interests to lower prescription drug prices. Enforcing immigration laws and securing the border, which Hernandez acknowledged may draw criticism within his own party. Maintaining focus on public service and integrity, rather than exploiting the federal corruption case involving Senator Bob Menendez, the incumbent’s father.

Hudson County’s Political Machine and a Changing Era

For decades, Hudson County politics has been dominated by an entrenched political machine known for consolidating power among a small circle of insiders. Critics argue that this long-standing control has fostered a culture of favoritism, greed, and corruption, most recently underscored by the criminal conviction of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez on federal bribery and corruption charges.

While Representative Rob Menendez Jr., the senator’s son, has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the shadow of his father’s scandal looms over Hudson County politics. Hernandez’s candidacy reflects growing frustration among many residents who say they are tired of seeing the same names and the same politics repeated generation after generation.

“Politics should never be treated as a family heirloom,” one Union City resident told Hudson TV. “Public service is an opportunity for ordinary Americans to step up and represent their communities—not something that should be passed down like property or title.”

Hernandez’s emergence signals that new candidates are stepping forward—people seeking to break from the political machine and re-center the conversation around integrity, service, and reform.

Context and Verification

At present, Hernandez’s candidacy has only been reported by Hudson TV, a local outlet based in Hudson County. As of publication, no FEC (Federal Election Commission) filings or state election disclosures have yet been made public under Hernandez’s name.

Major political outlets such as The New Jersey Globe, New Jersey Monitor, and Politico NJ have not yet covered the announcement.

Political observers note that Rep. Rob Menendez Jr., first elected in 2022, faces mounting pressure from within his own party following his father’s conviction and the broader public demand for change in Hudson County politics.

If Hernandez formally files with the FEC, he would become the first official challenger to enter the 2026 Democratic primary for NJ-08.

About the 8th Congressional District

New Jersey’s 8th District covers much of Hudson County, including Union City, Hoboken, West New York, and parts of Newark and Elizabeth. The district remains heavily Democratic, making the primary election effectively decisive in determining its next representative.

Sources:

Hudson TV — “First Democratic Challenger to Rep. Rob Menendez Announces Candidacy” (November 2025)

Hudson County View archives (2020 candidate records)

Federal Election Commission (FEC.gov – candidate filings database)

New Jersey Globe and New Jersey Monitor (background on NJ-08 and Rep. Rob Menendez Jr.)

HUDSON COUNTY, N.J. — A constellation of high-profile, politically charged court cases spanning Bayonne, Union City, and Hudson County’s municipal power structure have thrust Superior Court Judge Kimberly Espinales-Maloney into the center of an escalating judicial-integrity probe.

According to Leroy Truth Investigations, an independent investigative firm now reviewing the judge’s docket, the clustering of unusual, controversial, and sometimes appellate-reversed decisions “is not a coincidence,” and, if corroborated, could represent a breach of public trust that reaches all the way to the bench.

The team has emphasized that while verified public records establish the factual judicial actions under review, many of the broader claims remain allegations under examination.

All individuals named are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in court.

✅ EXPANDED CASE ANALYSIS — PUBLIC RECORD

Below is a detailed breakdown of the cases prompting the investigation — each verified through public filings, appellate opinions, or docket records.

I. The Ross Verdict: A Jury Speaks — Then Gets Silenced

✅ Fact:

On May 1, 2025, a Hudson County jury awarded $500,000 to former Bayonne City Hall employee Sincerrae Ross, who alleged a hostile work environment.

✅ Fact:

Just four days later, on May 5, 2025, Judge Espinales-Maloney vacated the entire jury award, issuing a Memorandum of Decision granting Bayonne’s motion for a directed verdict.

The memo — publicly posted via Hudson County View — shows the judge concluding the jury “could not reasonably find” for Ross.

This ruling effectively erased the unanimous jury verdict.

Public Reaction:

Several New Jersey attorneys, quoted in regional reporting, called the ruling “highly unusual,” “procedurally aggressive,” and “deeply troubling.”

Case Status:

Ross has filed an appeal, now pending.

Why it matters:

Vacating a jury’s decision is a rare and drastic judicial action. Doing so in a politically sensitive municipal case — one involving internal workplace conduct in Bayonne — has raised red flags for judicial-watchdog groups.

This case has been previously reported by other local media outlets like Hudson County View.

II. The Percella Case: A Trial-Level Dismissal Struck Down on Appeal

✅ Fact:

In February 2020, Judge Espinales-Maloney dismissed a lawsuit brought by Stacie Percella against Bayonne Mayor James M. Davis involving claims of harassment, retaliation, and inappropriate conduct.

✅ Fact:

On May 28, 2021, the New Jersey Appellate Division overturned the dismissal in a published opinion, ruling that:

The dismissal should not have been with prejudice The trial court erred in its evaluation of the pleadings The case must be reinstated and proceed

The appellate court’s language is clear and emphatic — casting doubt on the validity of the trial-level handling.

Why it matters:

Appellate reversals do occur—but reversals involving sensitive political defendants, where the trial judge’s decision was described as procedurally improper, fuel concerns that judicial discretion may not have been exercised impartially.

III. The Estrella Case: A Union City Lawsuit Assigned to Espinales-Maloney

✅ Fact:

The case jacket for HUD-L-000064-23 (Juan Estrella v. City of Union City) —publicly available — clearly lists:

“ESPINALES-MALONEY, J.S.C.”

as the presiding judge.

✅ Fact:

The lawsuit alleges:

Discrimination Appointments of officers with “checkered pasts” over the plaintiff Retaliatory discipline Interference with promotion Involvement of top Union City officials

✅ Fact:

Officer Estrella’s related Civil Service Commission appeal shows disciplinary penalties being modified — confirming longstanding internal disputes within the department.

Why it matters:

This case directly involves the municipality controlled by State Senator and Union City Mayor Brian P. Stack, whose political influence is well-documented and whose position as Chair of the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee gives him a uniquely powerful role in judicial matters statewide.

Patterns Emerging — and Why Investigators Are Alarmed

Leroy Truth Investigations argues that the overlapping characteristics in these cases form a pattern deserving intense scrutiny:

Common Elements Across Cases

Politically influential Hudson County municipalities (Union City, Bayonne) Defendants with significant local power Plaintiffs alleging retaliation, discrimination, or workplace injustice Controversial or reversed judicial decisions by the same judge High stakes for municipal leadership Public interest in transparency and fairness

Investigators’ central question:

Are these rulings purely legal decisions, or do they reflect political influence reaching into the judiciary?

At this stage, no conclusive evidence of improper influence has been verified.

However, the unusual procedural outcomes, combined with centralized judicial control over politically sensitive cases, make the concerns legitimate and newsworthy.

Senator Brian Stack’s Role: A Necessary Focal Point

✅ Fact:

Brian P. Stack is:

The Mayor of Union City (since 2000) A New Jersey State Senator The Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee

✅ Fact:

The Judiciary Committee has influence over judicial appointments and confirmations.

These facts alone can prove political interference.

They do create a circumstance ripe for scrutiny when cases involving Union City or its police department consistently end up before the same judge whose rulings then become contested or overturned.

A Sharp Warning to the Judiciary

This review carries a clear message: if judges allow political alliances, campaign concerns, or municipal power structures to sway their rulings, the consequences are profound.

Judges must remain independent, not extensions of municipal or legislative power. Any hint of favoritism, assignment manipulation, or quashed verdicts undermines public confidence in the justice system. If a judge systematically rules in favor of politically-connected defendants or vacates jury awards without clear legal basis, that judge — and any who collaborate — risk exposure, scrutiny, and reputational damage.

In unusually strong language, Leroy Truth Investigations issued an aggressive warning:

“If any judge in Hudson County allows political relationships, municipal pressure, or legislative influence to guide their rulings, they violate the public trust and erode the very foundation of justice.”

The group further stated:

“No judge — and no politician — is untouchable. Any official who compromises judicial integrity for political favors or protection will eventually be exposed.”

Potential Systemic Implications

If any of the allegations submitted to investigators are substantiated, they could point to:

Political influence contaminating judicial neutrality A pattern of adverse decisions against plaintiffs challenging municipal hierarchies Judges prioritizing political favor instead of legal fairness A two-tier justice system protecting the powerful and dismissing the vulnerable

Judicial integrity requires that no bench be beholden to political machines, municipal leaders, or legislative authorities — especially in Hudson County, where such networks are historically entrenched.

✅ Legal Disclaimer

All persons mentioned — including Judge Kimberly Espinales-Maloney, Senator Brian Stack, Mayor Jimmy Davis, municipal officials, and litigants — are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Beyond the publicly verifiable facts cited above, all additional concerns referenced in this report constitute unverified allegations under active review by investigators.

Conclusion: A Judiciary at a Crossroads

Hudson County’s courts carry the profound responsibility to uphold justice without fear or favor. The cases involving Judge Espinales-Maloney — now under renewed scrutiny — may determine whether that responsibility has been honored or compromised.

As investigators continue digging into:

court transcripts, judicial orders, municipal ties, and potential political influence channels,

one truth remains unavoidable:

If a judge allows political power to overshadow the law, they not only betray litigants — they betray the entire community.

Hudson County now watches with the same question on its lips:

Is this a coincidence, or the sign of a judiciary increasingly shaped by political force rather than legal principle?

The answer may reshape the future of justice in New Jersey.