Born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, Nellie Pou’s parents came to the Garden State from Puerto Rico in 1953 to start their lives and raise a family.

Nellie’s father, Teodosio, was a blue collar worker for the City of Paterson, and her mother Dominga, was a homemaker and the rock of the family. Dominga always had something simmering on the stove and an extra seat at the table to warmly welcome family and friends any day of the week. While her parents worked hard to make ends meet, they instilled in Nellie and her four siblings a strong work ethic and commitment to their community and public service that guides her to this day.

Nellie attended Paterson public schools and later attended Kean University, before returning to Paterson where she began her career in public service. Nellie served in various roles for the City of Paterson, ranging from Director of Human Resources to Business Administrator. During her tenure in the City of Paterson, she made history in 1997 as the first Latina elected to represent the 35th Legislative District in the State Assembly, succeeding the late Congressman Bill Pascrell after he was elected to Congress. In 2012, she was elected to the State Senate, where she currently serves as the New Jersey Senate Majority Caucus Chair.

Throughout her career in public service, Nellie has been committed to improving the lives of New Jerseyans. From fighting for better schools for our kids to more affordable healthcare, to criminal justice reform– Nellie has been at the forefront of some of New Jersey’s toughest fights.

Now she is running for Congress to humbly and proudly succeed the late Congressman Pascrell, and continue fighting for New Jersey families. As a mother and grandmother, Nellie knows what New Jersey families are facing and will continue to work to create good paying jobs and bring down costs. From housing to groceries, Nellie understands that families are being squeezed by corporate greed driving up costs and she is ready to take that fight head on in Congress. Nellie will also continue to stand up to defend a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions, not just here in New Jersey, but across the country.

Nellie has dedicated her entire life to the community that raised her, and in Congress she will do the same.

Nellie is married to Richard Freid, a retired State Superior Court Judge from the Passaic County Vicinage. She is a proud mother of two children, Edwin II and Taina Pou and has four beautiful grandchildren.