Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) “will enter the race for the United States Senate today, filing nominating petitions with over 2,000 signatures in Trenton to seek re-election to a fourth term as an independent,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has collected the necessary signatures to run for re-election to the Senate as an independent, NBC News reports.

“Sen. Bob Menendez, who is currently standing trial on federal corruption charges, is personally collecting signatures on a nominating petition to get on the ballot as an independent,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

“Menendez needs 800 registered voters to sign his petition before the June 4 filing deadline.”

“With a relatively clear path ahead of him in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) has raised a humungous $7 million so far this cycle after an immense $3 million first quarter,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

“Kim reported a massive $4.2 million cash-on-hand as of the end of March.”

“He raised the money without taking any corporate PAC contributions.”

A new Emerson/PIX11/The Hill poll finds indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (R-NJ) pulling 9% in November and reducing a generic Democrat’s lead over a generic Republican to just 7 points.

“A few months ago, Phil and Tammy Murphy appeared poised to become a powerful New Jersey political dynasty — the popular two-term Democratic governor with political connections on the national stage married to the front-runner to become the state’s first female senator,” Politico reports.

“The first lady’s spectacular flameout in her Senate candidacy Sunday ended that prospect. It also may hasten Gov. Phil Murphy’s status as a lame duck governor with almost two years left to go in his term.”

Tammy Murphy (D) is dropping out of the U.S. Senate race in New Jersey, the New Jersey Globe reports.

“That clears the way for insurgent Rep. Andy Kim (D) to likely win the Democratic nomination and become the strong favorite to replace indicted Senator Bob Menendez.”

“Murphy made the decision on Saturday evening after a discussion with her family – including her husband, Gov. Phil Murphy – and political advisors. The conclusion was that she had a limited path to winning the June 4 primary, even if she wrote a large personal check to partly self-fund her race.”

Rep. Andy Kim’s (D-NJ) U.S. Senate campaign is upsetting what most thought would be the coronation of Tammy Murphy (D), the spouse of the Gov. Phil Murphy (D), the Washington Post reports.

“Kim has taken on the mantle of the unlikely insurgent candidate trying to take down the vaunted machine of the New Jersey Democratic Party, where for decades political bosses in the 21 counties have wielded outsize power to determine who gets elected.”

“Sen. Bob Menendez — the New Jersey Democrat who got his start 50 years ago as an anti-corruption mayor but is now charged with 16 federal counts and accusations of being a foreign agent — will not run for reelection as a Democrat this year,” Politico reports.

“But the state’s senior senator is still keeping the door open for an independent run.”

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said he’s planning to announce his decision on whether or not to seek reelection this week, Politico reports.

Said Menendez: “When you hear the announcement, you’ll understand it.”

Saying he made a mistake, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has rescinded his endorsement of Tammy Murphy, urging her to drop out of the race, and will instead back Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) for U.S. Senate, the New Jersey Globe reports.

Said Fulop: “After watching the county conventions, I believe that Andy Kim has proven that he’s the better candidate, with a clearer message, and he brings a better chance of success in November. At this point, I don’t think it’s in the state’s best interest for Tammy to continue her campaign.”

“Plagued by legal trouble and abandoned by his allies, Senator Robert Menendez has made clear what he will not do: quit before his term is over in January,” the New York Times reports.

“He has taken to the Senate floor to profess that he is innocent of what he insists are trumped-up bribery charges pursued by overzealous federal prosecutors. And he has ignored widespread, sometimes mocking calls for his resignation.”

“But when it comes to whether Mr. Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, intends to seek re-election, he has been uncharacteristically coy.”

Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is now mulling running for re-election as an independent, NBC News reports.

This would allow him to continue to raise money which he could use to pay his legal bills.

Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) “will not run for re-election in November, although he still refuses to hand in his resignation,” the New York Post reports.

“Rep. Andy Kim on Saturday won by a wide margin in New Jersey’s first Democratic convention in the Senate primary to replace indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, handing first lady Tammy Murphy a stinging defeat in her home county,” Politico reports.

“The victory has both practical and symbolic purposes. It shows that Kim’s candidacy has momentum and that he can foster support from rank-and-file Democrats, which will be critical to counter Murphy’s institutional support from Democratic party leaders across the state. While on the stump before the convention vote, Kim received raucous applause compared to tepid cheers for Murphy. It also means that Kim will get the so-called county line in Monmouth — a unique feature of New Jersey’s primary ballot.”

A new Fairleigh Dickinson poll in New Jersey finds Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) leads Tammy Murphy (D) in the Democratic primary to replace Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), 32% to 20%.

Menendez, who was indicted last year, is at just 9%.