New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez was indicted last year on corruption charges, but he’s given no indication that he’s planning to resign or quietly retire in 2018. Indeed, Politico reports that Menendez recently held a fundraiser attended by powerful Garden State Democrats like Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop (a likely 2017 gubernatorial candidate), the state party chair, and the chairs for several important counties. Menendez ended March with a little more than $1 million on-hand, and his fundraiser hauled in more than $600,000. Menendez’s trial has not been scheduled yet.
According to a new Quinnipiac poll, Menendez is unpopular at home, but not toxic. Quinnipiac gives him a 34-40 job approval rating, and Democrats side with him by a 44-27 margin. Even with Menendez’s legal problems, anyone who wants to unseat him in the primary won’t have an easy time beating an incumbent with powerful Democratic leaders behind him. Ex-Sen. Robert Torricelli has made the most noise about challenging Menendez in a primary, but The Torch has had his own ethics issues in the past. Of course, if Menendez is found guilty before its time to run for re-election, this contest will look a lot different. But right now, Menendez seems to be charging full speed ahead towards 2018.