ABC News has learned that New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez plans to file a petition by the end of the day Monday to get on the U.S. Senate ballot in the Garden State as an independent candidate.
The deadline to file signatures is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, which is also the date of New Jersey’s partisan primaries. Independent candidates need 800 signatures to get on the U.S. Senate general election ballot in New Jersey.
Senator Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, departs Manhattan Federal Court in New York City on May 14, 2024.
Alex Kent/AFP via Getty Images
Menendez decided not to run in New Jersey’s Democratic Senate primary while under indictment. He said in March he wouldn’t seek another term as a Democrat but left open the possibility of running in November as an independent.
“I will not file for the Democratic primary this June,” he said in a video statement at the time. “I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer and allow me to pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election.”
ABC News reached out to Menendez’s campaign and office for comment.
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In a statement to ABC News, Rep. Andy Kim, who is running in the Democratic Senate primary and entered the race last fall in response to Menendez’s indictment, wrote: “Americans are fed up with politicians putting their own personal benefit ahead of what’s right for the country. Everyone knows Bob Menendez isn’t running for the people of New Jersey, he’s doing it for himself. It’s beyond time for change and I’m stepping up to restore integrity back into the U.S. Senate.”
The New Jersey Globe was the first to report on Menendez’s plans.
Menendez’s corruption trial is currently underway. The New Jersey politician is accused of accepting cash, gold bars, luxury wristwatches and other perks from New Jersey businessmen in exchange for official favors to benefit the businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Menendez, 70, has denied all wrongdoing and called the prosecution “overzealous.”
Senator Bob Menendez, a long-standing Democrat from New Jersey, has recently announced his intention to run as an independent candidate for Senate in the upcoming election. This decision has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, as Menendez has been a prominent figure within the Democratic Party for many years.
Menendez, who has served as a senator since 2006, cited a desire to break away from the partisan gridlock that has plagued Washington in recent years as his primary motivation for running as an independent. In a statement released to the press, he expressed frustration with the current state of politics and a belief that he could better serve his constituents by distancing himself from party politics.
This move by Menendez is sure to have significant implications for both the Democratic and Republican parties in New Jersey. As a well-known and respected figure in the state, Menendez’s decision to run as an independent could potentially siphon votes away from both parties, making the race for Senate even more competitive.
Many political analysts have speculated on the potential impact of Menendez’s decision on the outcome of the election. Some believe that his independent candidacy could split the Democratic vote, ultimately benefiting the Republican candidate. Others argue that Menendez’s decision to run as an independent could attract voters who are disillusioned with the two-party system, ultimately leading to a more diverse and representative government.
Regardless of the outcome, Menendez’s decision to run as an independent is sure to shake up the political landscape in New Jersey. As one of the most high-profile politicians in the state, his candidacy is likely to draw significant attention and could potentially change the course of the election.
As the race for Senate in New Jersey heats up, all eyes will be on Senator Bob Menendez and his independent campaign. Only time will tell what impact his candidacy will have on the outcome of the election and the future of politics in the state.
