Menendez drops Senate bid after resignation

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is bowing out of his run for reelection in New Jersey after tremendous backlash following his corruption case conviction, which forced him out of Congress early.

The deadline for Menendez to drop out was Friday, and it was an expected move given Menendez was unlikely to win as an independent. He lost the support of many in his party after his conviction and recently resigned his seat, effective Aug. 20.

Menendez sent a letter to New Jersey’s acting director of the state’s Division of Elections, Donna Barber, announcing his intentions.

“By means of this email please be advised that as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in this November’s election I am advising you that I wish to have my name withdrawn from the ballot,” he wrote.

Menendez’s withdrawal from the race will mean his 31-year stint in Congress will end with his resignation.

He had been paying lawyers using his campaign funds in a bid to appeal his conviction on 16 criminal counts. He can also continue to use $3.3 million in campaign funds to pay his legal fees, though he cannot accept any further campaign donations.

Menendez and his co-defendants are scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 29, and he faces decades in prison.

Menendez had been on track to face Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Republican Curtis Bashaw in the general election. Some speculated he could draw some votes away from Kim, allowing Bashaw to run a more competitive race in New Jersey.

The senator’s withdrawal from the race will assist Kim in consolidating party support in the state.