A Hudson County mayor is stepping up his political agenda by challenging a sitting United States congressman for his seat.

“I’m running for Congress for New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District,” Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a YouTube announcement. This is the district currently represented by Democratic Rep. Robert Menendez Jr.

Bhalla says that he will place environmental issues, reproductive rights and health care at the front of his campaign.

"We've done innovative things in climate change, in pedestrian safety - things that can be replicated in other cities in the district - in North Hudson, South Hudson, Essex, Union counties,” Bhalla told News 12. “So, there's a lot of things that we have been able to do and accomplish and this is a great opportunity for the district and for the country as a whole to learn about the success story of Hoboken.”

Bhalla faces staunch competition from Menendez as Democratic county leaders recently endorsed his reelection.

Menendez questioned Bhalla’s decision, saying in part, "... it seems the only reason Ravi has entered the race after endorsing me in 2022 and publicly applauding our work this year is because a week after losing control of the City Council, he sees no political future for himself in Hoboken."