| | | | |  | | By Dustin Racioppi | | Presented by |  | | | Good Wednesday morning! Bob Menendez’s 50-year reign in New Jersey politics is officially coming to an end. The senator who was just convicted on 16 corruption charges said in a letter Tuesday he’ll resign from the Senate next month. We’ve written plenty about his long career and his downfall, so let’s focus on what happens next. Gov. Phil Murphy has a little less than a month to name a replacement. Lots of Democrats, including Sen. Cory Booker, want Democratic nominee Andy Kim to fill the seat. But Murphy doesn’t appear inclined to name Kim, in part because of the heated primary between him and first lady Tammy Murphy, who took herself out of contention as a replacement Tuesday afternoon. The governor would also likely be accused of tipping the race in Kim’s favor by naming him to the seat and making him an incumbent before voters decide in November. Instead, a short list of caretakers has emerged that includes Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, federal judge Esther Salas and former secretary of state Nina Mitchell Wells. They make sense from a historical standpoint since no woman from New Jersey has served in the Senate, and Murphy has gone out of his way the last six years to diversify leadership. But let’s be real: It likely doesn’t matter who keeps the seat warm for a few months. The limited available public polling shows Kim leading Republican nominee Curtis Bashaw. Kim has four times as much money in his campaign account than Bashaw. New Jersey voters haven’t elected a Republican senator in more than 50 years. And even though Menendez hasn’t formally ended his independent run, his looming exit from the Senate strongly suggests he won’t try playing spoiler. That makes it a two-man race between Bashaw and Kim. Of course, anything can happen, but Kim has all the advantages right now. It’s been an absolutely insane year in New Jersey politics. Regardless of who Murphy names to the Senate seat, maybe — maybe — Menendez’s decision allows our political world to move toward something less chaotic. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at dracioppi@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I am proud of the many accomplishments I've had on behalf of New Jersey, such as leading the federal effort for Superstorm Sandy recovery, preserving and funding Gateway and leading the federal efforts to help save our hospitals, State and municipalities, as well as New Jersey families through a once in a century COVID pandemic. These successes led you, Governor, to call me the ‘Indispensable Senator.’” — Sen. Bob Menendez to Gov. Phil Murphy in his resignation letter. WHERE’S MURPHY? — Making a virtual announcement with U.S. Department of the Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo.
| | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: To make New Jersey a healthier, more equitable place to live, we must end structural racism. The most effective way to change unfair systems and harmful policies is for affected communities to build power through collective action. When communities act together to voice their needs and hopes, they can hold decisionmakers accountable and drive change. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has a plan to harness community power to increase access to health. Explore the roadmap. | | | |  | MENENDEZ CORRUPTION TRIAL | | MORTON’S BRACES FOR A CRASH — Sen. Bob Menendez to resign next month following corruption conviction, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han and Ry Rivard: Sen. Bob Menendez — who was found guilty earlier this month on all 16 counts in his corruption trial — said Tuesday he will resign from office effective Aug. 20, ending a 50-year career in politics that reached the heights of power on the world stage. “While I fully intend to appeal the jury’s verdict, all the way and including to the Supreme Court, I do not want the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from its important work,” Menendez said in a letter processed in the Senate and obtained by POLITICO. JON STEWART TECHNICALLY STILL AN OPTION — NJ governor promises to fill Menendez seat quickly as first lady bows out, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard, Daniel Han and Mia McCarthy: New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy does not want her husband to appoint her to fill Bob Menendez’s soon-to-be vacant Senate seat. Murphy, who ran in the Democratic primary for Menendez’s seat, said Tuesday she is not interested in serving in the Senate as her husband, Gov. Phil Murphy, decides who to appoint as a temporary replacement. Menendez said in a letter Tuesday he will resign from office next month following his conviction on 16 corruption counts. “While I’m grateful for the humbling support and outreach I've received since last year, I want to reiterate that I will not accept an appointment to the U.S. Senate,” Tammy Murphy said in a social media post Tuesday afternoon.
| | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:   | | | | | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | MAGA MEN — GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea is going after his primary opponent Jack Ciattarelli in a new ad focusing on his past criticisms of former President Donald Trump. Ciattarelli — the 2021 GOP nominee for governor — has long been criticized by Republicans to his right for calling Trump a “charlatan” in 2015 and saying in 2016 that he wouldn’t support Trump. Those two examples are included in the Spadea ad released Tuesday, which suggests that the far-right NJ 101.5 radio host is more Trump friendly. The ad features a recent clip of the former president praising Spadea and shows a picture of Spadea and Trump together. “Ciattarelli, he’s a fake Republican who turned his back on President Trump,” Spadea says in the ad. In a statement, Ciattarelli campaign consultant Chris Russell highlighted remarks from July 2021 , where Spadea said Trump “failed” and “I don’t want him to run again.” Ciattarelli also endorsed Trump in 2020 and 2024. “Spadea’s desperate attempt to confuse voters with lies and fake newscasts set in a fake news studio, is the perfect metaphor for someone who made a career out of being a self-absorbed radio phony who gets paid to tell people whatever he wants them to believe,” Russell said. The anti-Trump criticism previews a theme that will likely continue until the June 2025 primary. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary, said in an email that “President Trump has not made an endorsement in this race and any effort to construe otherwise would be misleading.” — Daniel Han
| | | | Live briefings, policy trackers, and procedural, industry, and people intelligence from POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy this election cycle. Secure your seat. | | | | | NJ TRANSIT CALLS IN AMTRAK JOE — “NJ Transit — almost on brink of a rail strike — asks Biden to intervene, union says,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “NJ Transit officials asked President Joe Biden to form a Presidential Emergency Board, a move heading off a potential rail strike by locomotive engineers and trainmen that could have crippled the daily commute. The request, confirmed by union officials, temporarily calms fears of a strike or lockout by the agency that could have happened now that a 30-day, federally-ordered cooling off period between NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union, ended Tuesday.” — “Pallone wants EPA to act following reports of hazardous lead material spreading from Superfund site” — “Trenton’s former first lady Betty Holland celebrates 90th birthday” — “NJ Gov. Gets Partial Win In Ex-Elections Chief's Suit”
| | | | A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: For New Jersey to be a place where everyone can achieve their healthiest life possible, we must acknowledge structural racism as a barrier to health equity and address it.
The most effective way to change unfair systems and harmful policies is for affected communities and people to build power through collective action. When communities act together to voice their needs and hopes for the future, they can hold decisionmakers accountable, drive change, and make health accessible for all.
A Policy Agenda for a Healthier, More Equitable New Jersey is a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that outlines how community power can become the engine that drives the changes needed to overcome inequity. Working together, communities can ensure equitable access to housing, support healthy births and maternal health, and improve public health infrastructure. See the plan. | | | | | BIDEN TIME | | SLAMMIN’ SALMON — “Judge to hear arguments over RFK Jr.’s ballot eligibility,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “The debate over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s eligibility to be on New Jersey’s ballot in November is set to come to a courtroom on Friday. A lawyer for Kennedy, an independent presidential candidate, is urging the judge overseeing the case to throw out the challenge to his candidacy. He argues in a July 18 motion to dismiss the case that the attorney seeking to boot Kennedy from the ballot failed to present proper evidence. Kennedy attorney Donald Burke said a finding that Kennedy is ineligible to run as a third-party choice for voters in November would “limit the ballot to major political party candidates and impose burdens on independent presidential candidates and associational rights of voters.” Salmon’s effort is “not only undemocratic, it is unconstitutional,” Burke said in a statement.” THE ELECTRIC IRON CORRIDOR — “Feds fire up electric infrastructure for trucks along I-95 corridor,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Ted Goldberg and Michael Sol Warren: “Federal and state leaders want to see more electric tractor trailers on New Jersey highways, and they’re getting ready to spend a hefty sum of money to help make it happen. The Biden administration on Monday announced a grant of $248.9 million to the Clean Corridor Coalition, a group of four states, led by New Jersey, to build out electric charging stations for heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks along the I-95 corridor. Maryland, Delaware and Connecticut are the other three states participating in the effort.” — “Essex County Democrats Say Kamala Harris Can Beat Donald Trump”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRI | | | | | | | LOCAL | | NORK — “Assured McIver Headed to Congress, Two Seek Newark Central Ward Council Seat,” by TAPInto Newark’s Matt Kadosh: “A bishop and a high school attendance counselor are both seeking the Central Ward Council seat likely to be left vacant by LaMonica McIver, who last week secured two significant wins in her bid for the District 10 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives left open by the death of Donald M. Payne Jr.” — “Sources: Jersey City Councilman Rivera will seek 4th term on O’Dea’s slate” — “Judge throws out disciplinary charges against Spotswood's police chief, acting captain”
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | | — The Courier-Post building is for sale in Cherry Hill
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