If Menendez runs as an independent, he has until the day of the primary election, June 4, to submit 800 signatures.
Sen. Bob Menendez announced Thursday that he will not run for re-election as a Democrat but is keeping his options open to run as an independent for his current seat.If he runs as an independent, he has until the day of the primary election, June 4, to submit 800 signatures.
Menendez's corruption trial starts May 6. If he is acquitted, he could then run as an independent in the general election and continue to raise money as a candidate. Prosecutors have accused Menendez of conspiring with his wife, Nadine Menendez, and businessman Wael Hana to have the senator act as an agent of Egypt. In exchange for bribe payments, Menendez was meant to help lift a block on U.S. military aid to Egypt, the indictment says. The senator has also been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for doing favors for the government of Qatar."I will not file for the Democratic primary this June.
Menendez said that his political opponents are taking advantage of his legal troubles in a way that is preventing him from running in the Democratic primary. "The present accusations I am facing of which I am innocent and will prove so will not allow me to have that type of dialogue and debate with political opponents that have already made it the cornerstone of their campaign. New Jerseyans deserve better than that," Menendez said.Democrats already have a spirited primary between Governor Phil Murphy's wife Tammy Murphy, and Andy Kim for his seat, and Menendez would have to face one of them as an independent in the general election.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sen. Bob Menendez not running for another term as Democrat, suggests he could go independentHe faces corruption and other charges, which he denies.
Read more »
Indicted Menendez will not seek Senate reelection as Democrat but teases independent bidSen. Bob Menendez announced he will not run for reelection in the Democratic primary for his Senate seat but didn't rule out an independent run.
Read more »
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez says he won't run in Democratic primaryU.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey says he will not run in the Democratic primary as he faces federal corruption charges, but he is leaving open the possibility that he would reenter the race as an independent later this year if he is exonerated at a trial.
Read more »
Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez teases independent re-election run if exoneratedBridget Bowman is a deputy editor for NBC's Political Unit.
Read more »
Sen. Bob Menendez and wife plead not guilty to newest obstruction, bribery chargesA federal grand jury in New York hit the Democrat and his wife with two new counts tied to obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to obstruct justice, bringing…
Read more »
Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez is considering running for re-election as an independent, sources sayMenendez faces 18 federal counts and is alleged to have accepted bribes. He has not said publicly if he would run again this year.
Read more »