Norcross won’t rule out Senate bid

Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) is not ruling out running for the U.S. Senate in 2024, leaving the door open to a potential Democratic primary challenge against indicted Senator Bob Menendez.

“The idea of representing the working men and women from New Jersey is something that I’m very passionate about,” Norcross said. “There are a number of things that are taking place right now in the state of New Jersey that are of great concern to everyone. We’ll take it one day at a time.”

Norcross is among the many, many Democrats who have called for Menendez’s resignation in the wake of federal bribery charges that were unsealed last Friday against the three-term senator. Earlier today, Senator Cory Booker, a longtime Menendez friend and ally, added his name to that list.

Menendez, who hasn’t formally said whether he intends to run for re-election, has already drawn one high-profile primary challenger, Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown). Norcross is one of several other names floated as potential candidates, alongside First Lady Tammy Murphy and Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), and Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), though Sherrill has been reportedly signaling more interest in the 2025 governor’s race instead.

Asked whether he generally supported the idea of someone challenging Menendez if the senator doesn’t step aside, Norcross hedged.

“I’ll take it one day at a time,” he said.

Norcross has been in Congress since 2014, representing the solidly Democratic Camden-based 1st congressional district. He’s also the brother of South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross, who will be a key figure in determining which candidate gets the county organizational lines they’ll probably need to win the 2024 Senate primary.