As the race to succeed indicted incumbent Senator Robert Menendez officially begins, eight candidates have filed petitions to seek the Democratic or Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in New Jersey.
The primary election is scheduled for June 4, 2024, and the official list of candidates for the US Senate primary election includes three Democrats and five Republicans.
The Democrats are labor advocate Patricia Campos-Medina, civil right champion Lawrence Hamm, and warmongering Congressman Andy Kim.
Kim, 41, has been distancing himself from his progressive backers that are calling for a unilateral cease-fire, most notably including the advocacy group Indivisible, which endorsed his campaign.
“We joined the global community in condemning the Hamas attacks of October 7th. Now, we are deeply concerned that the path the Israeli government is embarking on is one of collective punishment, leading to devastating suffering for the people of Gaza, the majority of whom are children,” said an Oct 20, 2023, statement from Indivisible. “The risks of the crisis expanding regionally grow by the hour. An immediate ceasefire is needed to save lives in Gaza, so hostages can be safely released, to establish a humanitarian corridor so that aid can get into Gaza, and to avert regional escalation.”
Kim starkly said that he is willing to entertain the possibility of a bilateral cease-fire if it is part of a negotiated diplomatic agreement where the remaining hostages are safely returned, which he called a “critical component” of any potential resolution. In otehr words, Kim is fine with a continued Israeli assault on the civilian population in Gaza, where more than 15,000 children have been killed since October 7.
Campos-Medina, who lives in Califon, garnered 1,894 petition signatures. Hamm, hailing from Newark, gathered 4,948 petition signatures. They both support a ceasefire.
The multimillion dollar campaign of Kim collected 6,345 signatures, and the candidate finds himself in the odd position of hoping to lose a lawsuit in order to secure unfair preferential ballot placement in 19 of New Jersey’s 21 counties.
On the Republican side, five candidates also submitted petitions, showcasing a competitive field within the party that includes Justin Murphy, Albert Harshaw, Curtis Bashaw, Christine Serrano Glassner, and Peter Vallorosi.
The Republicans are Justin Murphy, who filed his petition with 1,053 signatures, while Albert Harshaw garnered 1,178 signatures. Curtis Bashaw submitted 1,557 signatures, Christine Serrano Glassner collected 1,353 signatures, and Peter Vallorosi filed with 1,122 signatures.
The diverse pool of candidates reflects the competitive nature of the race, with Democrats and Republicans vying for the opportunity to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.
The primary election on June 4 will determine which candidates will advance to the general election in November, where the two nominees will face off against one another.
Menendez recently said that he hopes to be exonerated and opened the door to running as an independent candidate in November, but few residents would consider voting for him according to several surveys.
For more information on the candidates and their campaigns, voters are encouraged to stay updated with official announcements from the New Jersey Board of Elections.
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