New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is planning to file a petition by the end of Monday to run as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming election.
The deadline to file signatures is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, which coincides with New Jersey’s partisan primaries. Independent candidates in New Jersey need 800 signatures to be included on the U.S. Senate general election ballot.
Flashback: Menendez opted not to participate in New Jersey’s Democratic Senate primary due to facing an indictment.
- Earlier in March, he announced that he would not seek another term as a Democrat but hinted at the possibility of running as an independent in November.
- Menendez’s corruption trial is ongoing, with allegations that he accepted bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, and luxury items from New Jersey businessmen in exchange for political favors benefiting them and governments of other countries.
- Despite the accusations, Menendez maintains his innocence, labeling the prosecution as “overzealous” and denying any wrongdoing in the corruption trial.
The big picture: The New Jersey Globe was the first to report on Menendez’s intentions to file as an independent Senate candidate, signaling a potentially significant turn in his political career.
- Menendez’s decision to run as an independent may have implications for the Democratic Party’s efforts to secure the Senate seat in New Jersey, setting the stage for a closely watched and contentious electoral battle in the state.
