Senator Bob Menendez’s ongoing trial on federal corruption charges has taken a major toll on his political future – and on his campaign bank account.
In the second quarter of 2024, Menendez spent a total of $2.4 million, most of it on his legal defense; $2 million went directly to the law firm Paul Hastings LLP. But Menendez, whose fundraising dried up the moment the charges against him were unsealed last September, only raised $6,524 in the same time period, and earned another $40,000 in interest on existing money.
That rate of spending has massively reduced the size of Menendez’s campaign warchest, which now sits at $3.3 million – far down from the $8.6 million he had on-hand before his indictment.
Most of Menendez’s remaining donations are coming from recurring donors, who may not realize that they’re still automatically giving money to the embattled senator; there was also a $5,000 donation from the Maryland Association for Concerned Citizens PAC, a group that donates to a mix of Democrats and Republicans.
Menendez, a Democrat, has filed to run as an independent in the November election, saying that he “look[s] forward to putting these accusations behind me and getting back to work for my constituents.” (The jury in his corruption trial is currently deliberating.)
But the more money he spends on his legal bills, the less he’ll have to spend on a potential general election campaign. The Democratic nominee for his seat, Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), has $4.1 million on-hand, and Republican Curtis Bashaw has $1.1 million.
This story was updated at 8:33 p.m. with more information about the Maryland Association for Concerned Citizens PAC.