NJ-SEN 2018: Menendez trial to go forward

[henster]

The SCOTUS declined to dismiss the corruption charges against Menendez and the trial will move forward likely stretching into the fall 2018 campaign. Strong chance there will either be a primary or Menendez will resign.

[Suburbia]

Tom Kean, Jr., Jon Bramnick, or Kathleen Donovan should run as the Republican candidates. Tilt D. If Steve Lonegan runs, it could be Safe D. I see Pallone running. He could get more national exposure in the Senate.

[BuckeyeNut]

Would love to see Rush Holt, Jr. make a comeback, not that I expect it.

[Suburbia]

Would love to see Rush Holt, Jr. make a comeback, not that I expect it.

Rush Holt would be okay. Lou Greenwald, the Assembly Majority Leader would be good. You need a South Jersey-based senator too. State Senate President Steven(Steve) M. Sweeney would be great.

[Free Bird]

My God, if Torch does a comeback

[Suburbia]

My God, if Torch does a comeback

I think Torricelli will. Torricelli could win. The voters in N.J. may like these guys. However, I have to admit: Torricelli is a gifted orator.

[kyc0705]

Thank goodness. Menendez is terrible.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Safe D until proven otherwise.

I still think the timing of the original charges was rather convenient, though.

[JMT]

I don't think Menendez should have to resign at this point, but I do think he should announce his retirement and allow a different democrat to run for this seat. While Menendez would likely still win reelection if he ran, I think democrats would have to spend resources here to help him out, something Dems can't afford to be doing this cycle. Allow someone else to run and let the seat be safe D.

[MT Treasurer]

NJ voters don't care about corruption. Safe D.

[Fusionmunster]

There are only two sides to this coin. The first is that if Menendez resigns then that means this seat is most definitely vulnerable to the GOP. If he does stay in the seat then it will be one hell of a challenge for Menendez to win. Either way I see this seat being competitive but the GOP HAS to nominate Tom Kean Jr.

No. If Menendez resigns, its safe D. If Menendez runs with corruption charges over his head, likely D. NJ hasnt elected a Republican to the senate in 45 years, and with Trump in the white house, no Republican has a chance in 2018 regardless of the candidates.

[windjammer]

NJ voters don't care about corruption. Safe D.

[Suburbia]

NJ voters don't care about corruption. Safe D.

Sadly, this. Yet, they complain on the Star-Ledger.com website comment board, but they still elect and reelect them to office despite being tired of New Jersey political corruption.

[Suburbia]

There are only two sides to this coin. The first is that if Menendez resigns then that means this seat is most definitely vulnerable to the GOP. If he does stay in the seat then it will be one hell of a challenge for Menendez to win. Either way I see this seat being competitive but the GOP HAS to nominate Tom Kean Jr.

No. If Menendez resigns, its safe D. If Menendez runs with corruption charges over his head, likely D. NJ hasnt elected a Republican to the senate in 45 years, and with Trump in the white house, no Republican has a chance in 2018 regardless of the candidates.

It may not matter. Tom Kean Jr., Kathleen Donovan or Jay Webber can make it competitive.

[kyc0705]

NJ voters don't care about corruption. Safe D.

Sadly true. The last two congressmen in my district have been outwardly, openly corrupt (the first one vacating the seat only because he would have been investigated if he stayed), and no one seems to care.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

NJ voters don't care about corruption. Safe D.

Sadly true. The last two congressmen in my district have been outwardly, openly corrupt (the first one vacating the seat only because he would have been investigated if he stayed), and no one seems to care.

It seems like between Menendez and Chris Christie, maybe NJ voters actually prefer corruption.

[Gass3268]

There are only two sides to this coin. The first is that if Menendez resigns then that means this seat is most definitely vulnerable to the GOP. If he does stay in the seat then it will be one hell of a challenge for Menendez to win. Either way I see this seat being competitive but the GOP HAS to nominate Tom Kean Jr.

No Republican is going to win in New Jersey in a Trumpterm.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

NJ voters don't care about corruption. Safe D.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_New_Jersey,_2002

[Anna Komnene]

Menendez has a 51% approval rating, so he's certainly not safe but definitely not hanging by a thread either.  I think the best chance to oust him would be in a primary, but the way NJ seems to work, his primary challenger would somehow need to get some serious establishment support.  And that won't be easy at all.

[LabourJersey]

The NJ Democrats will stand by Menendez until the minute he is actually convicted of the charges against him (which I think will happen), and swiftly drop him and get someone like Pallone to run.

Also I think some progressive person--maybe Rush Holt, or some state legislator or someone new--is going to give him a primary challenge. Depending on timing (i.e. if Menendez gets convicted in late May when the primary is early June), the progressive could easily win, but I think a Pallone-type would be inoffensive enough to roll to the primary.

Underestimate the power of the Jersey Democratic establishment at your own peril.