Menendez has $7.8 million on-hand as U.S. Senate campaign begins to take shape

Senator Bob Menendez raised $1,574,228 during the second quarter of 2023, giving the three-term incumbent a $7.8 million warchest ahead of the 2024 Senate elections. Menendez previously raised an also-formidable $1.1 million during the year’s first quarter.

“The Senator has strong support across New Jersey – and these numbers prove that,” Menendez advisor Michael Soliman said. “Impressive totals for two consecutive quarters heading into his re-election year is a clear sign that people know the Senator is an effective leader who is getting things done on their behalf.”

Menendez told the New Jersey Globe in September 2020 that he intended to run for re-election to a fourth term, though the revelation earlier this year that the senator is under scrutiny from the FBI once again may complicate matters. Regardless, Menendez is fundraising like he’s running again; 16 months out from Election Day, he already has enoguh money to fund a re-election campaign.

Menendez’s main Democratic primary challenger, Roselle Park Mayor Joe Signorello III, recently dropped out of the race in favor of a congressional campaign in the Republican-held 7th district. That leaves Menendez opposed only by newcomers Christina Khalil and Kyle Jasey, though another more prominent Democrat could still step up in the coming months.

On the Republican side, immigration consultant Shirley Maia-Cusick appears to be the main contender so far, formally launching her campaign earlier this week with the apparent support of several prominent GOP leaders. Maia-Cusick has raised $203,000 since the start of her campaign, though a substantial portion of that came from her own pockets.

Two other Republicans, Daniel Cruz and Gregg Mele, have also announced Senate campaigns, but have yet to file any campaign finance reports.

Some state Republicans are still holding out hope that a top-tier challenger could get in the race to burnish their statewide credentials, but without a serious shot at victory, many potential candidates will likely steer clear. Republicans haven’t won a U.S. Senate election in New Jersey since 1972, and in a high-turnout presidential year like 2024, that almost certainly won’t change.

Menendez’s counterpart, Senator Cory Booker, also had a strong fundraising quarter – even though he’s not up for re-election for another three years.

Booker raised $1.4 million during the second quarter of 2023, putting his warchest at $10.2 million. That makes him the second-best funded member of Congress from New Jersey, behind only Human Fundraising Machine Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), who is currently sitting on $15.1 million.