Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez's re-election chances are looking worse than ever
Sen. Bob Menendez's (D-N.J.) worst nightmares are coming true in New Jersey's Senate race.
In such a reliably blue state, two-term incumbent Menendez was originally favored to win re-election over Republican challenger Bob Hugin this fall. But amid scandals and nasty political ads, the Cook Political Report has moved the race from "likely Democrat" to "toss-up," it announced Friday.
The shift comes as poll after poll has shown Menendez's lead slipping, with the latest Rutgers-Eagleton study putting him just five points ahead of Hugin. That's just outside the study's margin of error of 3.6 percentage points, and a huge shift from the 17-point lead Menendez had in March. Similarly risky Senate races for Democrats have so far come in states that voted for President Trump in 2016. But 55 percent of New Jersey went to Hillary Clinton, and the state hasn't elected a Republican senator since 1972.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In this case, it seems Menendez's ethics scandals are the problem. Menendez has been accused of using his Senate seat to benefit a wealthy friend in exchange for campaign donations and private jet rides, and was indicted in 2015 on federal corruption charges. Those charges were eventually dismissed, but an anonymous tipster accused Menendez of soliciting underage prostitutes as part of his corrupt spending. That uncorroborated account is now the subject of a harsh and misleading ad from Hugin, who's wildly outspent Menendez on TV ads, says the Cook Political Report. Couple that with the fact that 54 percent of New Jersey voters say Menendez's trial factors into their vote, per the Rutgers-Eagleton poll, and Menendez seems to have two very rough weeks ahead.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published