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| Bob Menendez Wins Senate Race in N.J., Beating Back a Challenge From Hugin | Bob Menendez Wins Senate Race in N.J., Beating Back a Challenge From Hugin |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Get live election analysis and real-time results. | Get live election analysis and real-time results. |
| Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, was elected to a third term on Tuesday, withstanding a public backlash over his federal corruption trial and the official Senate criticism he received for misusing his office for personal gain. | Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, was elected to a third term on Tuesday, withstanding a public backlash over his federal corruption trial and the official Senate criticism he received for misusing his office for personal gain. |
| Mr. Menendez turned back a spirited challenge by his Republican opponent, Bob Hugin, a pharmaceutical executive who poured more than $35 million of his own wealth into his campaign. Mr. Hugin’s funds largely went toward incessant negative advertising, a blanket reminder of the ethical cloud surrounding Mr. Menendez that saturated the airwaves for months. | Mr. Menendez turned back a spirited challenge by his Republican opponent, Bob Hugin, a pharmaceutical executive who poured more than $35 million of his own wealth into his campaign. Mr. Hugin’s funds largely went toward incessant negative advertising, a blanket reminder of the ethical cloud surrounding Mr. Menendez that saturated the airwaves for months. |
| Mr. Menendez was leading by 9 percentage points with 93 percent of the votes counted, according to The Associated Press. | Mr. Menendez was leading by 9 percentage points with 93 percent of the votes counted, according to The Associated Press. |
| Democrats also made two key down-ballot pickups. Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy pilot, defeated her Republican opponent, Jay Webber, in the race to replace Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican incumbent who retired. And Tom Malinowski, a Democratic former assistant secretary of state, defeated Representative Leonard Lance, the Republican. Both districts are nestled in the state’s wealthy northern suburbs and have long been controlled by Republicans. | |
| The victory by Ms. Sherrill in this well-educated suburban district was emblematic of Democratic efforts across the country to flip these once-reliably Republican districts that soured on the party in the wake of President Trump’s election. | The victory by Ms. Sherrill in this well-educated suburban district was emblematic of Democratic efforts across the country to flip these once-reliably Republican districts that soured on the party in the wake of President Trump’s election. |
| That Mr. Menendez, 64, even found himself in a tight race in New Jersey, a state with nearly one million more registered Democrats than Republicans, was a testament to the frustrations of many voters over the ethical transgressions that led to the senator’s formal admonishment in Congress. | That Mr. Menendez, 64, even found himself in a tight race in New Jersey, a state with nearly one million more registered Democrats than Republicans, was a testament to the frustrations of many voters over the ethical transgressions that led to the senator’s formal admonishment in Congress. |
| But in the end, they seemed willing to set aside their feelings and helped propel Mr. Menendez to another term. For many, a vote for Mr. Menendez was a way to express their rejection of Mr. Trump’s policies and behavior. | But in the end, they seemed willing to set aside their feelings and helped propel Mr. Menendez to another term. For many, a vote for Mr. Menendez was a way to express their rejection of Mr. Trump’s policies and behavior. |
| “Today is a victory of hope over hate, for facts over fiction, for inclusion over division, for hard work over ripping people off,” Mr. Menendez said in his victory speech, at a raucous rally in Hoboken. | “Today is a victory of hope over hate, for facts over fiction, for inclusion over division, for hard work over ripping people off,” Mr. Menendez said in his victory speech, at a raucous rally in Hoboken. |
| [Here are 10 of our best reads from our New York region campaign coverage.] | [Here are 10 of our best reads from our New York region campaign coverage.] |
| Still, the Democrats struggled for months to excite voters, even in districts where competitive House races had electrified the base. National and state party leaders, sensing that Mr. Menendez’s seat could no longer be taken for granted, mounted a last-minute, all-out rescue effort. | Still, the Democrats struggled for months to excite voters, even in districts where competitive House races had electrified the base. National and state party leaders, sensing that Mr. Menendez’s seat could no longer be taken for granted, mounted a last-minute, all-out rescue effort. |
| With weeks to go and internal party polls showing the race narrowing, national Democratic groups poured more than $7 million into the state. Popular Democrats, like Senator Cory Booker, who also represents New Jersey, spent the days before the election campaigning relentlessly for Mr. Menendez. | With weeks to go and internal party polls showing the race narrowing, national Democratic groups poured more than $7 million into the state. Popular Democrats, like Senator Cory Booker, who also represents New Jersey, spent the days before the election campaigning relentlessly for Mr. Menendez. |
| But in a race defined by nastiness, with Mr. Hugin, 64, lobbing corruption allegations and Mr. Menendez highlighting the cost of cancer drugs at Mr. Hugin’s former company, the final week swung on a single issue: Mr. Trump. | But in a race defined by nastiness, with Mr. Hugin, 64, lobbing corruption allegations and Mr. Menendez highlighting the cost of cancer drugs at Mr. Hugin’s former company, the final week swung on a single issue: Mr. Trump. |
| Both candidates released ads late in the campaign that focused exclusively on the president, whose incendiary and nationalistic rhetoric on immigration as a play to his base undoubtedly backfired in New Jersey, which is among the most diverse states in the country. A poll last month from Monmouth University found that 55 percent of voters disapproved of the job the president was doing, compared with 42 percent who approved of Mr. Trump’s performance. | Both candidates released ads late in the campaign that focused exclusively on the president, whose incendiary and nationalistic rhetoric on immigration as a play to his base undoubtedly backfired in New Jersey, which is among the most diverse states in the country. A poll last month from Monmouth University found that 55 percent of voters disapproved of the job the president was doing, compared with 42 percent who approved of Mr. Trump’s performance. |
| Mr. Hugin, who made it clear during the race’s only debate that he was “not a Trump Republican,” seemed to sense that the dislike of Mr. Trump in New Jersey had grown in recent weeks. His campaign released an ad just before Election Day that opened with a proclamation to “stand up to President Trump,” and Mr. Hugin denounced the president’s effort to end birthright citizenship. | Mr. Hugin, who made it clear during the race’s only debate that he was “not a Trump Republican,” seemed to sense that the dislike of Mr. Trump in New Jersey had grown in recent weeks. His campaign released an ad just before Election Day that opened with a proclamation to “stand up to President Trump,” and Mr. Hugin denounced the president’s effort to end birthright citizenship. |
| In his concession speech, Mr. Hugin said he had “no regrets” about running as a moderate Republican and said that his approach was the way Republicans should run in New Jersey. | In his concession speech, Mr. Hugin said he had “no regrets” about running as a moderate Republican and said that his approach was the way Republicans should run in New Jersey. |
| “We have to recognize, to win in the future, that’s the template, that’s the blueprint,” he told supporters in Mountainside. “We need to make sure people feel that if we win, we’re going to represent all New Jerseyans.” | “We have to recognize, to win in the future, that’s the template, that’s the blueprint,” he told supporters in Mountainside. “We need to make sure people feel that if we win, we’re going to represent all New Jerseyans.” |
| The president loomed over every contest in New Jersey, though the dynamic shifted slightly in the House races. The Democratic candidates were quick to seize on two main agenda items of Mr. Trump — the newly passed federal tax law that capped the state and local tax deduction at $10,000, and the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act — as indicative of the president’s effort to target blue states. | |
| In the Seventh District, in the northwestern part of the state, the mere party association with Mr. Trump was too much for Mr. Lance, a moderate Republican who voted against the tax bill, in his effort against Mr. Malinowski. | |
| In the 11th District, where Mr. Frelinghuysen retired after 24 years, Ms. Sherrill focused heavily on the tax bill and standing up to Mr. Trump while running against Mr. Webber, a state legislator who was among the most conservative Republican candidates in New Jersey. | |
| Mr. Menendez’s victory was a referendum on Mr. Trump as much as it was a recognition of the senator’s extensive legislative record — the senior senator was one of the authors of the Affordable Care Act and helped steer $60 billion in federal relief funds to the state after Hurricane Sandy. Still, he was never quite able to overcome the tarnish of his corruption trial. | Mr. Menendez’s victory was a referendum on Mr. Trump as much as it was a recognition of the senator’s extensive legislative record — the senior senator was one of the authors of the Affordable Care Act and helped steer $60 billion in federal relief funds to the state after Hurricane Sandy. Still, he was never quite able to overcome the tarnish of his corruption trial. |
| After the trial ended in a hung jury last November, Democratic leaders in the state quickly coalesced around him, dampening any enthusiasm for a serious primary challenge. But voters made their displeasure with Mr. Menendez evident in the primary; a largely unknown candidate, Lisa McCormick, won nearly 38 percent of the vote. | After the trial ended in a hung jury last November, Democratic leaders in the state quickly coalesced around him, dampening any enthusiasm for a serious primary challenge. But voters made their displeasure with Mr. Menendez evident in the primary; a largely unknown candidate, Lisa McCormick, won nearly 38 percent of the vote. |
| The begrudging embrace of Mr. Menendez stood in stark contrast to the energy that poured into down-ballot races. Many voters expressed an ambivalence — “hold your nose and vote” — about their support of Mr. Menendez. | The begrudging embrace of Mr. Menendez stood in stark contrast to the energy that poured into down-ballot races. Many voters expressed an ambivalence — “hold your nose and vote” — about their support of Mr. Menendez. |
| Mr. Menendez, in thanking the voters who showed faith in him, also pledged to win back those he had disappointed. | Mr. Menendez, in thanking the voters who showed faith in him, also pledged to win back those he had disappointed. |
| “I pledge to spend every day fighting for you and your families and to earn back your respect,” Mr. Menendez said. | “I pledge to spend every day fighting for you and your families and to earn back your respect,” Mr. Menendez said. |
| But Mr. Menendez will enter a third term with a powerful position as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. | But Mr. Menendez will enter a third term with a powerful position as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. |
| As the campaign entered its final days and public polling showed Mr. Menendez building a wider lead, the normally buttoned-up senator, who campaigned in a full suit and tie, showed signs of confidence and relaxation. | As the campaign entered its final days and public polling showed Mr. Menendez building a wider lead, the normally buttoned-up senator, who campaigned in a full suit and tie, showed signs of confidence and relaxation. |
| He salsa danced with a state legislator, spoke at length about his mother at a lunch rally and ribbed Mr. Booker, the state’s junior senator and his companion for the final two days on the campaign trail. | He salsa danced with a state legislator, spoke at length about his mother at a lunch rally and ribbed Mr. Booker, the state’s junior senator and his companion for the final two days on the campaign trail. |
| On Monday morning, after Mr. Booker opted for a “succinct and supportive” introductory speech that lasted barely three minutes, Mr. Menendez feigned surprise. | On Monday morning, after Mr. Booker opted for a “succinct and supportive” introductory speech that lasted barely three minutes, Mr. Menendez feigned surprise. |
| “You just heard the shortest speech Cory Booker’s ever given,” he said. | “You just heard the shortest speech Cory Booker’s ever given,” he said. |
| But even at his election night party, memories of Mr. Menendez’s corruption trial resurfaced in an odd scene. | But even at his election night party, memories of Mr. Menendez’s corruption trial resurfaced in an odd scene. |
| Mingling with other supporters was Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby, a juror in Mr. Menendez’s trial who said she showed up to the watch party uninvited after seeing where it was on television. | Mingling with other supporters was Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby, a juror in Mr. Menendez’s trial who said she showed up to the watch party uninvited after seeing where it was on television. |
| “I wasn’t sure they would let me in,” said a beaming Ms. Arroyo-Maultsby, 62, who sported a white Menendez campaign T-shirt and a Spanish-language “Nuestro Senador” poster. | “I wasn’t sure they would let me in,” said a beaming Ms. Arroyo-Maultsby, 62, who sported a white Menendez campaign T-shirt and a Spanish-language “Nuestro Senador” poster. |
| Ms. Arroyo-Maultsby, who was excused in the middle of the corruption trial so she could go on a preplanned vacation, said she could not remember whether she voted for Mr. Menendez in 2012. But she voted for him on Tuesday, she said, and cited the trial as her political education about Mr. Menendez and “all the things that he does for this country.” | Ms. Arroyo-Maultsby, who was excused in the middle of the corruption trial so she could go on a preplanned vacation, said she could not remember whether she voted for Mr. Menendez in 2012. But she voted for him on Tuesday, she said, and cited the trial as her political education about Mr. Menendez and “all the things that he does for this country.” |
| “I learned a lot in the courtroom,” she said. “It drew me to him.” | “I learned a lot in the courtroom,” she said. “It drew me to him.” |