While Bob Menendez, Sr. is dealing with his own legal troubles and potential vanity bid for the Senate that will grift New Jersians for funds in exchange for money to finance his legal defense fund, I mean, his Senate campaign, his son Robert Menendez is facing a spirited primary of his own from Ravi Bhalla (D-NJ) which is well-funded and encouraged by some who are already frustrated by the former’s nepotic rise to Congress. The two men should be characterized as different entities until otherwise proven connected in any meaningful way as the sins of the father don’t implicate the son in any lasting punishment, but new Democratic polling suggests that he may be facing defeat as his father faces defeat. If the polling that is being predicted pans out as it is being predicted, what does that suggest about the next Congress with so many retirements and primary challenges?
According to Global Strategy Group, Ravi Bhalla leads Menendez with 33% of the vote compared to 28%, not a majority but not an insignificant lead either given the number of resources and name recognition negativity coming down from the father’s primary challengers and political rivals. If Menendez loses the primary, that will make him one of few centrist Democrats that would be expected to be at risk of losing renomination to their deep blue seats. The main Democrats that are being at risk of being primaried are primarily in The Squad and are being targeted by AIPAC for their anti-Semitic voting records. That would also make him one of possibly over fifty current Representatives that won’t be returning in the next Congress, reflecting a massive turnover rate in a chamber where candidate recruitment challenges have been especially profound this cycle.
On the subject of dynasties, it reflects how the name Menendez no longer carries the same connotation of worry of crossing the less-than-respected politician in criticizing him in state politics. This is as other dynasties in Congress are failing such as the Kennedy family in the Northeastern United States, the old Southeastern Democratic familial dynasties, and even just the ability for the preferred candidates for parties to prevail in primaries despite receiving massive fundraising and praise from inside the party and aligned forces. Nevertheless, as the focus moves away from party establishments and the individuals’ running elections, the ability for normal candidates to remain untouched by controversy, even if they aren’t related to the damage caused by their family members, will be diminished as time goes on.
On a final polling note, there was also polling done regarding the New Jersey gubernatorial race where Congresswoman Mikie Sherill holds a narrow lead for the gubernatorial nomination on the Democratic side with 23% of the prospective vote compared to 20% for Newark mayor Ras Baraka, 12% for former Senate President Stephen Sweeney, 9% for Jersey City mayor Steven Fulop, and 5% for Congressman Josh Gottheimer. While she is ahead, she doesn’t command the field like Abigail Spanberger commands her field in Virginia whom she will inevitably be compared to if she runs for Governor of New Jersey. Additionally, these numbers are rough for Josh Gottheimer who was considered another likely candidate for the governorship. Between being potentially beaten out for the governorship by Sherrill and the Senate by Andy Kim (D-NJ), Gottheimer appears marooned in the House until another opportunity opens up with the main concession being that he hasn’t gone the way of his former colleague Tom Malinowski (D-NJ).
Sen. Bob Menendez faces new obstruction of justice charges in bribery case | AP News
The Conservatarian Millennial 