New Jersey hasn’t elected a Republican to the Senate in 46 years. But this fall, Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez is facing an unexpectedly strong and well-funded challenge from a Republican nominee named Bob Hugin, who is spending millions on negative ads reminding voters of Menendez’s past ethics troubles.
Menendez went on trial in federal court last year, accused of illegally accepting gifts from a wealthy donor. A mistrial was declared after the jury failed to reach a verdict, but later, the Senate Ethics Committee “severely admonished” Menendez.
“This guy is an amazing textbook picture of corruption,” Hugin said in a phone interview with Fox News this week, arguing Menendez has “embarrassed the state in so many different ways.”
To an extent, New Jersey’s race represents the inverse of what is happening in Texas, where Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke is mounting a longshot but highly visible challenge to Republican incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz. Democrats are dazzled by the possibility of claiming a seat in deep-red Texas, however unlikely.
Deep-blue New Jersey hosts a similarly uphill climb for Republicans. No polls have shown Hugin in the lead. Fox News Power Rankings ranks the race “likely Democrat.”
Still, while the Cruz-O’Rourke race has grabbed headlines for months, the threat to Democrats posed by Hugin has captured less attention. A GOP upset in New Jersey – where a Republican was last elected in 1972 – would not only shock observers but likely cripple Democratic hopes of retaking the Senate. The RealClearPolitics polling average has Menendez with a 7-point lead – substantial, but not necessarily comfortable. Menendez defeated his Republican opponent by 20 points in 2012.
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4 Responses
It just may be time for Senator Menendez step aside in favor of a qualified Republican.
The POTUS, must be able to run the Country oversight but without hinderance, The Dems are a Hinderance or AKA a pain in the butt, nothing more.
The Dems have no Redlines that they will not cross for their Liberal lifestyle.
Rav Avigdor Miller, OB”M said “Though shall not vote for a Democrat candidate”.
The Dems have no shame, look what they did to Judge Kavanaugh,
Texas is not “Deep-Red” as the article claims. It is light red because some of the biggest cities in America are in Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin, etc.) and urban centers typically lean left. Also it’s a poor comparison because Cruz doesn’t have ethics violations and corruption like Menendez does. Cruz’s competitor O’Rourke on the other hand has a DUI hit-and-run on his record.
Maybe trump should come to jersey for a maga rally
New Jersey elected a Republican to state wide office only five years ago – so much for the idea of it being “deep blue” – and Menendez avoided being convicted of corruption on a technicality.