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New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob “Gold Bar” Menendez said in a video statement Thursday that he will not run in his state’s Democratic primary but is keeping the door open to re-election as independent this fall.
Menendez and his wife Nadine face charges related to an alleged corruption scheme involving the Qatari and Egyptian governments.
Already, Democrats Tammy Murphy, the wife of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and Rep. Andy Kim are vying for Menendez’s Senate seat, with voters heading to the polls in November to decide the next occupant.
“Unfortunately, the current accusations that I am facing, of which I am innocent and I will prove it, will not allow me to have this type of dialogue and debate with political opponents who have already made it the cornerstone of their campaign” , Menendez said in a statement. video posted on his X account.
“Therefore, I will not be running in the Democratic primaries next June,” he said. “I hope my exoneration will occur this summer and allow me to continue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election.”
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob “Gold Bar” Menendez said in a video statement Thursday that he will not run in his state’s Democratic primary, but is keeping the door open to run for re-election in as an independent this fall.
Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine are seeking to be tried separately on corruption charges they both face in a New York court.
A poll taken in late January showed that the outgoing president would have a difficult road ahead if he decided to pursue the Democratic nomination for his seat, which he has held since 2006.
A Fairleigh Dickinson University investigation showed Kim with 32 percent of the likely Democratic vote and Murphy with 20 percent.
Menendez had only 9 percent support at the time.
In September, Menendez and his wife Nadine were separately indicted in connection with a scheme in which they helped three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for cash, gold bars and a luxury car .
Menendez, his wife and the three associates have all pleaded not guilty.
Amid the accusations, Menendez was forced to relinquish his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
It is unlikely, due to New Jersey’s heavily Democratic makeup, that Democrats will lose their seats in the fall, although it becomes more possible if Menendez launches an independent campaign, as he could act as a spoiler.