Kyle Jasey drops down to run for 8th congressional district, challenging Rob Menendez

Real estate lender Kyle Jasey announced this evening that he is dropping his Democratic primary campaign for the U.S. Senate and will instead run for the 8th congressional district, a Hudson County-based seat currently held by Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City).

“As a father raising my family in this community, and as an entrepreneur who started my business here, I understand the challenges that families in NJ-08 face every day,” Jasey, a 41-year-old resident of Jersey City, said in a statement. “I’m eager to share my vision for a new kind of representation – one that truly reflects the will of the people.”

In his Senate campaign – which lasted for months but attracted little attention – Jasey had focused heavily on the ethics issues surrounding Senator Bob Menendez, who was indicted in September on federal corruption charges. Now, Jasey will instead train his fire on the younger Menendez, the senator’s son, who is not involved in his father’s legal troubles but who may be politically vulnerable because of them.

Congressman Menendez first won the 8th congressional district last year in a rout, after Hudson Democrats cleared the path for him and made sure he didn’t face any substantial opposition; Jasey said that he wants to make sure Menendez faces a real contest this time.

“I believe that Bob Menendez disenfranchised the people of the 8th congressional district by anointing his son to the open congressional seat he once held,” Jasey said. “The voters were never given a real choice in this matter. For this reason, I am seeking the Democratic nomination for the 8th congressional district, and I look forward to making my case to the community.”

Jasey is the son of Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-South Orange); he had never run for office before launching his Senate campaign in the spring.

It’s very possible that, given Senator Menendez’s severe legal problems, Congressman Menendez will face a competitive primary next year. But Jasey, who has reported raising just $17,405 for his Senate campaign, is unlikely to be the most prominent challenger to take up the anti-Menendez mantle.

Instead, that title may belong to Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who hasn’t yet confirmed he’s running against Menendez but who announced today that he’s raised $509,000 for a potential campaign. Other challengers in the majority-Hispanic district, which includes parts of Jersey City and Newark and all of Elizabeth, may emerge as well.