Bob Menendez has until August 16 to decide if he will remain in the race as an independent candidate for U.S. Senate, or drop out.
As a convicted felon, the 50-year veteran of New Jersey politics may remain on the general election ballot if he wants.
He has $3.3 million in his campaign warchest after spending down considerably to pay for his legal defense team and consultants. He’ll likely need the remaining money if he seeks to appeal his conviction.
Menendez’s presence on the ballot has the potential to suddenly put the New Jersey Senate seat in play for the first time in 22 years.
Still, the three-term incumbent would likely need roughly eight percentage points – maybe more – to serve as a spoiler for Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), the likely Democratic nominee.
Kim entered the race on September 23, one day after the Justice Department unsealed its criminal indictment against Menendez.
Four days before the March 26 filing deadline, Menendez announced that he would not enter the Democratic primary but made it clear that he was considering a re-election campaign as an independent Democrat.
On the day of the indictment, the state’s political elite, including Gov. Phil Murphy, Democratic State Chairman LeRoy Jones, key county chairs, and legislative leaders called for Menendez’s resignation. Kim, the first to tell Menendez to step down, entered the Senate race the following day.
The last Republican to win a Senate seat was Clifford P. Case, who was re-elected in 1972. Since then, 48 other states have elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate; only Hawaii has gone longer.