Warren County Freeholder Jason Sarnoski, a probable 2018 Republican candidate for Congress in NJ-05, is weighing in on the Menendez mistrial and demanding to know where freshman Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D, NJ-05) stands on Hudson Bob’s likely 2018 U.S. Senate reelection campaign.
“Senator Bob Menendez has embarrassed New Jersey and today’s mistrial – at the extraordinary expense of all involved – only reinforces the importance of honoring the public’s trust. A mistrial should cause a person to think about their actions, not celebrate,” said Sarnoski in a Thursday statement. “Senator Menendez now has the rare distinction of being one of just twelve US Senators ever indicted. Considering the seriousness of the charges brought against him, the Senate Ethics Committee should investigate.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell demanded a Senate ethics investigation after Thursday’s mistrial declaration while Governor-elect Phil Murphy, a Democrat, offered a full-throated endorsement.
“Congressman Josh Gottheimer owes it to his constituents to explain if he, like Governor-elect Phil Murphy, stands with Senator Menendez for re-election,” added Sarnoski.
Sarnoski’s opponents should he formally enter the contest include Steve Lonegan (who’s already announced) and John McCann (who announced November 18th).
The 5th Congressional District is an R+3 district but Gottheimer has accrued a formidable war chest.
A sprawling territory, it includes the Bergen County towns of Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Closter, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Lodi, Mahwah, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Saddle River, Teaneck (part, also 9th), Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake and Wyckoff, the Passaic County municipalities of Ringwood and West Milford, the Sussex County communities of Andover Borough, Andover Township, Branchville, Frankford Township, Franklin Borough, Fredon Township, Green Township, Hamburg, Hampton Township, Hardyston Township, Lafayette Township, Montague Township, Newton, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township, Sussex, Vernon Township, Walpack Township and Wantage Township, and the Warren County outposts of Allamuchy Township, Belvidere, Blairstown Township, Frelinghuysen Township, Hackettstown, Hardwick Township, Hope Township, Independence Township, Knowlton Township, Liberty Township, Mansfield Township, Oxford Township, Washington, Washington Township and White Township.
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