Fetterman is raising money for Andy Kim’s U.S. Senate bid

John Fetterman is boosting Andy Kim’s bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in New Jersey, sending out an email asking his donors to contribute to Kim but making it clear that he has not yet made a personal endorsement.

Kim, a three-term congressman who held a national security staff post in the Obama White House, announced last Saturday that he would challenge indicted incumbent Bob Menendez in the primary.

“I am committed to ensuring that Senator Menendez has a rigorous primary opponent in case he makes the ill-advised decision to continue running for re-election, for the sake of the people he represents,” Fetterman said.

The freshman senator from Pennsylvania is asking donors to split a contribution between him and Kim.

“We have to root out corruption from our political system, no matter what party these allegations are against,” said Fetterman.  “Our neighbors in New Jersey deserve a Senator they can trust and believe has the best interests of their constituents as their priority on Capitol Hill.”

Fetterman’s fundraising email could help increase Kim’s third-quarter fundraising, which ends at midnight.

Last week, Fetterman became the first U.S. Senator to publicly call for Menendez’s resignation and said he would consider calling for expulsion.   He told the New Jersey Globe that he would support a primary challenger against Menendez.

“Senator Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence under our system, but he is not entitled to continue to wield influence over national policy, especially given the serious and specific nature of the allegations,” Fetterman told potential donors. “He should choose an honorable exit and resign.”

Tammy Murphy, the wife of Gov. Phil Murphy, is also considering a U.S. Senate bid.  Two other members of the New Jersey congressional delegation, Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch) and Donald Norcross (D-Camden), have not ruled out running.

Kyle Jasey, a political unknown whose mother is stepping down in January after sixteen years in the New Jersey State Assembly, is also in the race.