“After months of publicly considering a campaign for U.S. Senate, former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) withdrew his name from contention today and announced that he is instead endorsing Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), his former House colleague and fellow Obama administration alum,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) “is endorsing Representative Andy Kim of New Jersey in the primary to unseat Senator Bob Menendez, the embattled veteran Democrat who is under indictment in a federal corruption case, taking the rare step of wading into a high-stakes intraparty fight to oust a colleague,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Fetterman, the harshest Democratic critic of Mr. Menendez in Congress, who has repeatedly called on him to resign, is the first sitting senator to endorse any candidate in the race.”

“Continuing to demonstrate fundraising prowess, Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) has raised a mammoth $2.75 million since announcing his bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in New Jersey after raising $1.75 million in the fourth quarter of 2023,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

Rep. Andy Kim’s (D-NJ) campaign claims an internal poll gives him a 23-point lead over First Lady Tammy Murphy (D) in the race for New Jersey’s United States Senate seat, the New Jersey Globe reports.

“The race to unseat Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) next year is pitting a third-term congressman against the governor’s wife, who has secured the backing of much of New Jersey’s unusually powerful Democratic machine since she announced last week,” the Washington Post reports.

Why it matters: “In New Jersey, the endorsements of county chairs — such as Paul Juliano of Bergen County, LeRoy Jones Jr. of Essex County and Kevin McCabe of Middlesex County — as well as power brokers like George E. Norcross III of South Jersey hold considerable weight. That’s because a candidate with county endorsements typically receives preferential ballot placement under the state’s county line system.” 

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) today endorsed Tammy Murphy (D) for the U.S. Senate, becoming the first member of the state’s congressional delegation to take sides in next year’s Democratic primary, the New Jersey Globe reports.

New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy (D) on Wednesday announced her run for U.S. Senate in 2024, the New Jersey Globe reports.

A new Public Policy Polling survey finds Rep. Andy Kim (D) leads Murphy, 40% to 21%, with indicted incumbent Bob Menendez running third with just 5% of the Democratic vote. 

“In a closed-door lunch with current and future Democratic legislators, county chairs, and party insiders from South Jersey on Wednesday, Democratic powerbroker George E. Norcross II indicated that he is likely to support First Lady Tammy Murphy for U.S. Senate,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

“Norcross implied that he expects Murphy to have organization lines in South Jersey in her bid for Bob Menendez’s seat, but that she will need to go through the process in some counties with open conventions, including Atlantic and Cape May.”

“In the next few days, New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy will take steps to seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate by filing with the Federal Election Commission to raise funds to test the waters and gauge the feasibility of becoming a candidate,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

“A formal announcement for the seat currently held by indicted Democratic incumbent Bob Menendez could come sometime in the next few weeks.”

“Andy Kim is trying to do something rare in New Jersey politics: win by casting himself as a soft-spoken outsider,” Politico reports.

“In a state known for its brass-knuckle campaign tactics, its machine-dominated politics and no shortage of characters tainted by dubious ethics or outright corruption, he’s betting voters will see his run for Senate as something entirely new.”

Said Kim: “I get it, I’m not central casting of what someone imagines a New Jersey Democrat or politician looking like. That’s what I thought would be my biggest weakness, but it’s actually turned out to be my biggest strength.”

A new Public Policy Polling survey in New Jersey finds Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) crushing Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in a Democratic primary, 63% to 10%.

“The indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez has unleashed a season of wild maneuvering in New Jersey politics with ambitious Democrats angling for his seat and former President Donald Trump discussing a run for it with one of his congressional allies,” Politico reports.

Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) “is closing in on a massive $1 million haul in just one week, a gargantuan fundraising performance in his first week as a candidate for the U.S. Senate,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

“Kim announced last Saturday that he would challenge incumbent Bob Menendez in the Democratic Senate primary next year. His entrance into the race came one day after federal prosecutors unsealed a staggering indictment against Menendez.”

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) told Punchbowl News that she won’t be running for Senate in New Jersey, ending speculation that the well-regarded Democrat will seek to unseat Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

A new Public Policy Polling survey finds Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is very unpopular among New Jersey voters, putting his favorability ratings at a dismal 8% to 74%. 

“Even among Democrats, Menendez’s position is looking dire, with an approval rating of 12% to 67% among respondents who said they voted for Joe Biden in 2020.”

New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy (D) is “seriously considering a run” for the seat held by embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Axios reports.

“Murphy and her husband, Gov. Phil Murphy (D), are receiving a wave of entreaties from throughout the Garden State and from Washington… She’s warming to the idea and is already setting up coffees to explore a run.”