New Jersey Representative Rob Menendez survived a tough Democratic primary on Tuesday after defeating Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.
Menendez, the son of embattled Senator Bob Menendez, faced unexpected challenges during the campaign including bribery charges against his father and an opponent who outraised him in the period.
Bhalla, a former civil rights lawyer, said he wanted to give voters a "choice." He launched his campaign last December, months after the charges against Bob Menendez were unsealed.
However, despite his father's challenges, Rob Menendez continued to enjoy the support of establishment Democrats, who heavily supported him in his 2022 bid and held a fundraiser for him last month, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries included.
"As the only Latino currently representing New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Rob Menendez has fought tirelessly for the Latino community," said Rep. Linda Sanchez, who chairs Bold PAC, the CHC's campaign arm, during the event.
"He is a proven leader on the issues that matter most to our community, like making life more affordable, lowering prescription drug prices and ensuring that health care remains affordable and accessible, protecting reproductive freedom and more," she continued.
The younger Menendez is a former commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He was elected to the House in 2022 after the retirement of former Rep. Albio Sires (D), as part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus's largest freshman class ever. Now, after beating Bhalla, he is set to cruise to reelection as his seat is in a strongly blue district.
His father's situation, however, is quite different. He filed to run for re-election as an independent on Monday amid the ongoing bribery trial against him.
Menendez is set to face New Jersey Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and a Republican. However, a poll from April showed that his decades-long standing in local and national politics might not help him retain his seat, garnering little support from the state's electorate.
The survey, conducted by Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill, showed Menendez with a meager 9 percent support in the general election, compared to 49 percent for the Democratic candidate and 42 percent for the Republican one. Republicans haven't won a senatorial race in the state since 1972 but could see their chances increase if Menendez's candidacy helps split the Democratic vote.
Many Democrats have called on him to resign following the accusations, but the senator has refused to do so. However, a person close to the senator told NBC News last week that he's "not going down without a fight" and doesn't want his last image in Washington D.C. to be that of his criminal trial.
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