Sen. Bob Menendez is once more the subject of a federal investigation, according to sources, which has shaken up the otherwise peaceful contest in New Jersey‘s 8th Congressional District.
With less than two weeks until election day, an overwhelmingly Democratic district, and a Republican opponent who is not running a serious campaign, Menendez’s son Rob is running for office in that district. Political observers predict that the younger Menendez will escape any immediate fallout from a scandal involving his father.
“New Jersey has had enough experience with political scandals that we need to see a little more on the table before, you know, we’re going to be impressed,” said Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University.
The 37-year-old Rob Menendez is seeking to fill the vacancy created when Rep. Albio Sires declared his intention to leave the office at the end of this term. Despite never having held elective office, he has been the front-runner in the race for about a year and received the support of several prominent Democrats before he even declared his candidacy.
When contacted for a response, Rob Menendez sent a statement in which he expressed his everlasting faith in my father, his lengthy career as a public servant, and his well-earned reputation for sticking up for families in Hudson County and around the state.
“In my life, I have seen countless detractors who refuse to believe a son of immigrants from Hudson County could rise to be one of one hundred and yet he’s constantly proven them wrong. And thankfully those who know him and what he has stood for his entire career outnumber the naysayers,” Menendez said.
The investigation was announced on Wednesday. Sen. Menendez told the New York Times that he does not know the extent of the inquiry but will assist prosecutors “when and if they ask” at a ceremony held on Friday in Port Monmouth to commemorate Hurricane Sandy‘s 10th anniversary.
The senator’s political career was not ended by the previous inquiry into him; federal prosecutors said he accepted gifts and campaign contributions from Dr Salomon Melgen in exchange for political favours; both men rejected the allegations. Menendez was reelected the following year with 54% of the vote, following the hung jury verdict from his trial in that case in 2017.
Voters will likely want more information on the most recent inquiry before holding it against the elder Menendez, much alone his son, Rasmussen said. The state is rife with political scandals, strong party bosses, and surprise comebacks.
“We’ve been down this road before, and we’ve been down this road with Senator Menendez before,” he added.
Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, remarked that probably only a small number of voters are even aware of the inquiry unless they’re reading or following the news regularly, and normally, individuals keeping close eyes on that type of news are strongly partisan.
“If you’re a Democrat, you dismiss it. If you’re a Republican, you might say that this is more proof,” Murray said. “But it doesn’t change anything.”
One of the most Democratic districts in the state is the 8th. In 2020 (when the district’s lines were slightly changed), Sires received nearly three times as many votes as his Republican opponent. Republican challenger Marcos Arroyo does not appear to be actively campaigning and has not disclosed any financial transactions. Rob Menendez has a war chest worth more than $400,000.
Rob Menendez is predicted to win by 50 to 60 points, according to Murray.
“As for our campaign, we will treat this story for what it is — a distraction. We continue to engage voters every single day as we have from day one and remain focused on the real issues that impact families across the 8th District,” Rob Menendez said.
