Nelida Avila Pou was born May 20, 1956, in Paterson, New Jersey. She attended Kean College of New Jersey (now Kean University) and Rutgers University. Pou earned an MBA from the University of Virginia.

Pou served on the staff of the City of Paterson (1975-1997) including as Director of Human Services (1986-1997). She was appointed to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1997 succeeding Bill Pascrell who had been elected to Congress. Pou was the first woman and first Latina to represent the 35th Legislative District. She served as Assistant Minority Leader (2000-2001) and Deputy Speaker (2002-2005).

Pou was elected to the New Jersey State Senate in 2011 representing the 35th district. She was re-elected in 2013, 2017 and 2021. She served as Senate Majority Caucus Chair (2022-2025) and chaired the Senate Commerce Committee. She also served as president of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (2022-2023).

Following the death of Representative Bill Pascrell Jr. in 2024 Pou was selected as the Democratic nominee for New Jersey's 9th congressional district. She was elected in 2024 and assumed office in 2025 becoming the first Latina from New Jersey to serve in Congress.

Political Career

• Staff, City of Paterson (1975-1997)
• Director of Human Services, City of Paterson (1986-1997)
• New Jersey General Assembly, 35th district (1997-2011)
• Assistant Minority Leader, New Jersey General Assembly (2000-2001)
• Deputy Speaker, New Jersey General Assembly (2002-2005)
• New Jersey State Senate, 35th district (2012-2025)
• Majority Caucus Chair, New Jersey Senate (2022-2025)
• President, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (2022-2023)
• U.S. Representative, NJ-09 (2025-present)

Key Policy Areas

• Environmental protection and climate change (Global Warming Response Act)
• Transportation and infrastructure (aviation, highways, transit)
• Homeland security and counterterrorism
• Housing and urban development
• Criminal justice reform and juvenile justice
• Immigration and human trafficking prevention

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Co-sponsored the Global Warming Response Act (2007) establishing greenhouse gas reduction targets for New Jersey
• Served as president of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (2022-2023), the first New Jersey legislator to hold this position
• Primary sponsor of legislation reforming the juvenile justice system in New Jersey, including restrictions on solitary confinement and limitations on waiving minors to adult court
• As Senate Majority Caucus Chair led legislative efforts on economic recovery and property tax relief during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Received an honorary doctorate from William Paterson University in 2024 for legislative service

Education

• Kean College of New Jersey (attended)
• Rutgers University (attended)
• MBA, University of Virginia

Personal

• Birth date: May 20, 1956
• Residence: North Haledon, New Jersey
• Family: Married to Judge Richard Freid