To help you understand what is going on in politics and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…
The legal woes of Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) could hurt Democrats in both the Senate and the House. Menendez has stepped down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but has otherwise refused to budge and insists he is running for reelection in 2024.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine, were indicted on charges that they conspired to act as foreign agents for Egypt. They are accused of accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” in exchange for the senator’s influence. Menendez was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time of the alleged actions.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
As long as Menendez sticks to his plan to run for reelection, he will likely struggle on the campaign trail, as was the case in 2018, when he notably underperformed despite the failure of an earlier corruption case. He will also force other Democratic candidates to answer for his conduct, which is not an ideal situation, as the party defends its razor-thin majority in the chamber.
Plus, resistance to Menendez could open up a competitive House seat. Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ) has filed to challenge Menendez in the primary, which would help Democrats skirt the problems of Menendez’s reelection campaign. Kim’s district — the 3rd district of New Jersey — got significantly bluer during the last round of redistricting. But this district has historically leaned Republican and might be within reach if the GOP is poised to do as well as current polling suggests. The GOP hopes to shore up its nine-seat majority in the chamber in next year’s elections.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
Related Content
-
Can I Stop Social Security and Restart it Later?This articles explains what is required to stop and restart Social Security and details how to do it.
-
Six Estate Planning Tips for Younger Generations
Millennials and Gen Zers are taking their estate planning seriously. These tips can help make the process seem less daunting.
-
Tax Plans of the 2024 Presidential Candidates
Tax Letter Joy Taylor reviews the tax plans of the 2024 election candidates. With a raft of tax provisions due to expire in 2025, the tax stakes couldn't be higher.
-
Biden’s Reelection May Be at Risk: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Biden's weakness in polls and potential impeachment may mean darker days ahead for the Dems.
-
Increasingly, Red States Embrace Marijuana: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Ohio becomes the 24th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use via a voter referendum.
-
After Weeks Without a Speaker, Congress Finally Returns to Legislating: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Major disagreements between and within Congress make it hard to reach compromises as Congress gets back to business
-
Biden Cracks Down on Child Labor: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter The White House has announced steps to combat exploitative child labor in the U.S., which reached a two-decade high in 2023.
-
Democrats and Republicans Sidestep Tensions In Their Parties: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter The country may be stuck with a closely divided House and a closely divided Senate for the foreseeable future.
-
Biden Plans Slate of Regulations from Clean Power to Fuel Efficiency: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter The White House is poised to roll out an expansive slate of regulations — getting things shipshape, before the next election.
-
President Biden Builds the Wall: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Democrats are divided on how to handle illegal border crossings, but roughly 65% of voters, on average, disapprove of Biden's handling of the issue.
