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.