Democrats Face Another Electoral Headache As Indicted Senator Floats Independent Bid

Democrats may soon be facing another hurdle while attempting to hold the Senate in an already difficult year for the party, as Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is gathering signatures for an independent bid. The embattled senator is facing federal charges of fraud, extortion, bribery and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt between 2018 and 2022.

After dropping out of the Democratic primary, Menendez has continued to collect signatures in the Garden State in an attempt to gain ballot access anyway, according to a report from the New Jersey Globe. Menendez — who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 — will need 800 valid signatures before the June 4 deadline in order to appear on the ballot in November.

If Menendez succeeds, his campaign could create a nightmare for Democrats by putting New Jersey in play for Republicans.

“We’re keeping a close eye on New Jersey,” Mike Berg, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement to the New York Post.

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Democrats have sought to replace Menendez with U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. While Kim is the clear favorite to become New Jersey’s next senator, Menendez is still sitting on a campaign war chest of $3.5 million despite dwindling funds from battling his legal issues. Menendez has pleaded not guilty and has vowed to clear his name.

A tight race in New Jersey could prove disastrous as Democrats try to cope with an already difficult field in their quest to hold the U.S. Senate in November. Republicans are practically guaranteed a pick-up in West Virginia after Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced that he would not be seeking re-election last year. Montana’s Senate race between incumbent John Tester and former Navy Seal Tim Sheehy is also viewed as a lean Republican race, while America First candidate Bernie Moreno stands a good chance of defeating Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

Both Brown and Tester have had the benefit of running in excellent years for Democrats — 2006, 2012 and 2018 — though many political analysts believe their luck will soon run out.

In addition to the three lean Republican races, Democrats will also be defending in several battleground states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Nevada. In addition, both parties will be vying for control of a tightly contested open seat in Arizona.

The need to divert funds to holding to New Jersey could prove costly in a cycle that already has Democrat funds spread thin.

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