One could argue that Rob Menendez Jr. got where he is largely because of his dad's influence, which was elevated by corruption. It's also hard to trust that none of his father's baser instincts were passed on.
To be fair, all of this is just about his circumstances, not anything he has done. He's been a reliable vote, to my knowledge. And I certainly wouldn't want to be associated with the choices of most of my own family members.
Its that his political career was absolutely orchestrated by his dad. Menendez Jr was appointed by Gov Murphy as Port Authority commissioner with no political and then 6 months later the congressional seat his Dad used to represent opened up, and was immediately endorsed by the entire NJ political machine. Also that not only his Dad but also his Mom were found guilty.
He may have had limited involvement and I'm sure he is a reliable vote but if were looking for political leaders that can take on corporations, corruption, effectively sell the vision of a progressive future, absolutely not the guy.
I say it's sad because Kim took on the political machine, was involved in ending the party line, appeared with Ravi Bhalla in 2024, and then endorsed Menendez Jr before a challenger could even announce in 2026. Its just unnecessary. Especially as we go through this moment of politics changing shape.
Wrong on at least one point. It was Rob’s stepmom who was found guilty, not his mom. His dad remarried a gold-digger five years ago – and I presume that was long after Junior had moved out of the house.
I think we as Democrats need to start caring about the end result more than the “why did it happen”. That’s hard for us because we have strong morals and are educated, but it’s something we need to get used to.
Obviously Rob Menendez got into office from his father’s name/connections, that’s undeniable and yes that’s obviously not the most ideal way for a Democrat to get elected. However, he hasn’t done anything while there to make him worthy of being tossed as a congressman as far as I’m aware.
It’s like Trump on Iran. It doesn’t matter that the reason why is his obsession with proving Obama’s Iran deal wrong. It doesn’t matter that we despise everything about him. It doesn’t matter that he’s being hypocritical by propping up far right autocratic regimes elsewhere. What matters is he’s supporting the protesters.
Over American history, we’ve seldom seen progress on anything with all votes from lawmakers coming from exactly the same place for exactly the same reason. Many aren’t for the right reasons, political pressure, party pressure, bribes, but the end result IS the right reason.
Who cares how we got there? What matters is we did. Rob Menendez doesn’t deserve to be tarred with his father’s actions. He’s a reliable Democrat and the second he shows that he is his father’s son in some way, is when we should end his career, not before. Until that point though, he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven guilty.
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — In a counterproposal designed to ease tensions with the United States, on Thursday Greenland suggested that Donald J. Trump acquire Jeffrey Epstein’s island instead.
“President Trump has no roots on our island,” Greenlandic government spokesman Hartvig Dorkelson said. “Epstein’s island, on the other hand, must stir many happy memories for him.”
Acknowledging that Epstein’s island “could benefit from rebranding,” Dorkelson said, “More than the Kennedy Center, this is a place that should have Trump’s name on it.”
Meanwhile, Trump ramped up his imperialist rhetoric, declaring that the US needed to own Lapland in order to corner the world market in laptops.
In a matchup between Talarico and Cornyn, 47% support Cornyn, 44% Talarico, and 9% are undecided. Between Paxton and Talarico, 46% support each candidate, and 9% are undecided. Between Hunt and Talarico, 47% support Hunt, 44% Talarico, and 9% are undecided. CQ
In a matchup between Cornyn and Crockett, 48% support Cornyn, 43% Crockett, and 9% are undecided. Between Paxton and Crockett, 46% support both candidates, and 9% are undecided. Between Hunt and Crockett, 48% support Hunt, 43% Crockett, and 9% are undecided.
Looking at the 2026 Governor election, incumbent Governor Greg Abbott holds an eight-point lead over Democrat Gina Hinojosa, 50% to 42%, while 8% are undecided.
It would be funny and awesome if Shawn Harris and one of the other Democrats each got like 17% of the vote and then the 17 Republicans split the rest of it into tiny little pieces so that the two Democrats advanced out of the jungle primary.
Cornyn is the most shocking here. I thought he'd perform better in a general as a longtime incumbent and after being bashed as a RINO but the "RINO" bashing as well as the "100 percent voting record with Trump" counter-ads seem to have weakened his appeal a lot.
Talarico can perhaps gain votes both from centrist Republicans as well as far right populists against him.
For context this is weighted to a Trump +14 electorate (for those who voted in 2024) and of those who say they are very or somewhat likely to vote in 2026 it works out as a Trump +12 recall
I’ve long felt even if Cornyn does win his primary that he’ll be very beatable by the time he’s nominated. He’s in a no win scenario losing support on the left and right with a brutal, bloody and bruising primary that even if he wins, will leave him fairly broke.
In the primary campaign he’s had to move far right in order to even the playing field with Paxton for the GOP primary. This alienates moderate voters who previously voted/supported him because he didn’t 100% vote GOP party line.
Meanwhile, he’ll never ever appease the MAGA far right because he dared vote with Democrats on a few issues. They already distrust him for not being MAGA enough and they’re pissed he’s attacking Paxton, trying to prevent him from becoming a MAGA Senator. Losing him votes on the right.
Regardless of who wins, either is damaged and beatable. Paxton from the left and Cornyn from the left and right. Talarico (hopefully) just has to remind moderate/swing voters of Cornyn’s primary positions “you can’t trust him”. Then run a ton of ads on far right media websites accusing him of betraying MAGA. Paxton is easier to just say “Republicans impeached him, he’s too extreme”, but both are beatable.
The podcast transcript needs to be tweaked. It says "Mary Peltola" as the person when Rakich is speaking and then "Nathaniel Rakich" when Sharice Davis is talking.
I appreciate the optimism of the Digest, but I've had Pennsylvania's 36th Senate district as Likely R for this fall's election ever since we unexpectedly won it in the special election last year. Malone only barely won it, even with the large Democratic turnout advantage in the special election, which won't be quite so large in the elections this fall (especially since Mastriano isn't running for Governor again). Despite landslide victories for the Democratic judicial candidates last fall, the Republican candidates still won this district by about 5 percent. I'd be very surprised if Malone won re-election.
This means that Democrats will most likely need to pick up four state Senate seats in order to win a majority. And as luck would have it, there are four Republican-held seats up for re-election this fall that actually did vote for the Democratic judicial candidates last year. Those seats are Districts 6 (53-47 Dem), 16 (53-47 Dem), 24 (56-44 Dem), and 40 (56-44 Dem). Those are the seats that Democrats should focus on to win a majority in the state Senate. And besides the 36th, every other seat that Democrats are defending should be pretty safe.
California Democratic Party's list of candidates who are seeking party endorsement is up now. Note that the filing deadline for legislative (Cong and statehouse) candidates was yesterday; deadline for statewide offices (Gov, etc) is next Tuesday Jan 20. https://cadem.org/endorsements/2026-list-of-candidates-who-have-filed/
Locally in CA-26, the candidates who have filed are Jacqui Irwin; Chris Espinosa; and Kyle ROHRBACH, not to be confused with neo Nazi party switcher rage bait Kyle LANGFORD. Good Kyle's gonna have to get used to that.
Thanks for this information. It is good that the CADEMs are running candidates in all 52 congressional districts and the 20 state senate that are up for election this year. Looking over the list reminds me of the great diversity of people that we have in California.
The first poll showing some signs of the inevitable front runner Byron Donalds campaign taking on water? He’s been in the 40’s for every other poll. Could be an outlier. Could be Fishback’s racist attacks are working. We’ll see if other polls start to show him in the 30’s.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicates that Trump's endorsement for John Cornyn is not coming. — Punchbowl News
“We’ve tried. And the president obviously is not, at this point at least, willing to make an endorsement there. So maybe at some point that changes. But as of right now, they’re gonna, I think, duke it out in the primary”
Some food for thought: if Paxton does win, Crockett becomes the Dem, and Crockett blows it, wouldn’t Paxton still be vulnerable next time he’s up? Or would incumbency protect him? I can imagine he would still be scandal-plagued by that point.
Shadow Home Secretary Robert Jenrick who was seen as maneuvering to replace Kemi Badenoch as Tory leader was thrown out of the Tory party by Badenoch on the grounds that he was planning on defecting to Reform UK.
Less than 5 hours later, Jenrick was on stage with Nigel Farage announcing he's joining Reform UK. I'm guessing Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin won't be Home Secretary if Reform wins government in 2029 now....
We don't do election denial here. Sorry.
Sad that Kim endorsed Menendez Jr :/
What’s wrong with Rob Menendez Jr? There is no indication he is corrupt like his dad.
He's a machine politician.
One could argue that Rob Menendez Jr. got where he is largely because of his dad's influence, which was elevated by corruption. It's also hard to trust that none of his father's baser instincts were passed on.
To be fair, all of this is just about his circumstances, not anything he has done. He's been a reliable vote, to my knowledge. And I certainly wouldn't want to be associated with the choices of most of my own family members.
I was about to comment on your post – but then you yourself gave it the best possible rebuttal! Thank you.
Its that his political career was absolutely orchestrated by his dad. Menendez Jr was appointed by Gov Murphy as Port Authority commissioner with no political and then 6 months later the congressional seat his Dad used to represent opened up, and was immediately endorsed by the entire NJ political machine. Also that not only his Dad but also his Mom were found guilty.
He may have had limited involvement and I'm sure he is a reliable vote but if were looking for political leaders that can take on corporations, corruption, effectively sell the vision of a progressive future, absolutely not the guy.
I say it's sad because Kim took on the political machine, was involved in ending the party line, appeared with Ravi Bhalla in 2024, and then endorsed Menendez Jr before a challenger could even announce in 2026. Its just unnecessary. Especially as we go through this moment of politics changing shape.
Wrong on at least one point. It was Rob’s stepmom who was found guilty, not his mom. His dad remarried a gold-digger five years ago – and I presume that was long after Junior had moved out of the house.
Tbh good to know ty
I think we as Democrats need to start caring about the end result more than the “why did it happen”. That’s hard for us because we have strong morals and are educated, but it’s something we need to get used to.
Obviously Rob Menendez got into office from his father’s name/connections, that’s undeniable and yes that’s obviously not the most ideal way for a Democrat to get elected. However, he hasn’t done anything while there to make him worthy of being tossed as a congressman as far as I’m aware.
It’s like Trump on Iran. It doesn’t matter that the reason why is his obsession with proving Obama’s Iran deal wrong. It doesn’t matter that we despise everything about him. It doesn’t matter that he’s being hypocritical by propping up far right autocratic regimes elsewhere. What matters is he’s supporting the protesters.
Over American history, we’ve seldom seen progress on anything with all votes from lawmakers coming from exactly the same place for exactly the same reason. Many aren’t for the right reasons, political pressure, party pressure, bribes, but the end result IS the right reason.
Who cares how we got there? What matters is we did. Rob Menendez doesn’t deserve to be tarred with his father’s actions. He’s a reliable Democrat and the second he shows that he is his father’s son in some way, is when we should end his career, not before. Until that point though, he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven guilty.
Read my other comment
This is an incredibly placid take on the democratic party, as if you haven't been around for the last 10 years.
If it aint broke, dont fix it!
Why even pay attention to these primaries
On a lighter note, Borowitz nails it once again!
"Greenland Suggests Trump Acquire Epstein’s Island Instead"
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/greenland-suggests-trump-acquire
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — In a counterproposal designed to ease tensions with the United States, on Thursday Greenland suggested that Donald J. Trump acquire Jeffrey Epstein’s island instead.
“President Trump has no roots on our island,” Greenlandic government spokesman Hartvig Dorkelson said. “Epstein’s island, on the other hand, must stir many happy memories for him.”
Acknowledging that Epstein’s island “could benefit from rebranding,” Dorkelson said, “More than the Kennedy Center, this is a place that should have Trump’s name on it.”
Meanwhile, Trump ramped up his imperialist rhetoric, declaring that the US needed to own Lapland in order to corner the world market in laptops.
TX poll Emerson:
Talarico 47
Crockett 38
Paxton 27
Cornyn 26
Hunt 16
In a matchup between Talarico and Cornyn, 47% support Cornyn, 44% Talarico, and 9% are undecided. Between Paxton and Talarico, 46% support each candidate, and 9% are undecided. Between Hunt and Talarico, 47% support Hunt, 44% Talarico, and 9% are undecided. CQ
In a matchup between Cornyn and Crockett, 48% support Cornyn, 43% Crockett, and 9% are undecided. Between Paxton and Crockett, 46% support both candidates, and 9% are undecided. Between Hunt and Crockett, 48% support Hunt, 43% Crockett, and 9% are undecided.
Looking at the 2026 Governor election, incumbent Governor Greg Abbott holds an eight-point lead over Democrat Gina Hinojosa, 50% to 42%, while 8% are undecided.
https://emersoncollegepolling.com/texas-2026-poll/
I want to believe!
It would be funny and awesome if Shawn Harris and one of the other Democrats each got like 17% of the vote and then the 17 Republicans split the rest of it into tiny little pieces so that the two Democrats advanced out of the jungle primary.
Ga 14
Reverse of what California polls are showing...
Though GA-14 is redder than California is blue (R+19 vs D+12) so it's pretty unlikely.
https://emersoncollegepolling.com/texas-2026-poll/
Emerson poll | 1/10-1/12 RV
Texas Governor
🟥Greg Abbott 50.2%
🟦Gina Hinojosa 42.3%
Undecided 7.5%
US Senate Texas matchups
🟥John Cornyn 46.9%
🟦James Talarico 44.1%
Undecided 9.0%
🟦James Talarico 45.6%
🟥Ken Paxton 45.6%
Undecided 8.8%
🟥Wesley Hunt 47.1%
🟦James Talarico 43.6%
Undecided 9.3%
🟥John Cornyn 48.2%
🟦Jasmine Crockett 42.5%
Undecided 9.3%
🟦Jasmine Crockett 45.8%
🟥Ken Paxton 45.5%
Undecided 8.7%
🟥Wesley Hunt 48.0%
🟦Jasmine Crockett 42.6%
Undecided 9.3%
TEXAS SENATE PRIMARIES
🔵 James Talarico - 47%
🔵 Jasmine Crockett - 38%
⚪ Not sure - 15%
🔴 Ken Paxton - 27%
🔴 John Cornyn - 26%
🔴 Wesley Hunt - 16%
⚪ Not Sure - 29%
Emerson (A) | 1/10-12 | RV
"Talarico has built momentum among Hispanic (59%) and white (57%) voters, while a majority of Black Democratic primary voters (80%) support Crockett."
"Men also break for Talarico 52% to 30%, while women are about evenly split between the two Democrats, 44% for Talarico and 43% for Crockett."
https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2011769350173466711
Cornyn is the most shocking here. I thought he'd perform better in a general as a longtime incumbent and after being bashed as a RINO but the "RINO" bashing as well as the "100 percent voting record with Trump" counter-ads seem to have weakened his appeal a lot.
Talarico can perhaps gain votes both from centrist Republicans as well as far right populists against him.
For context this is weighted to a Trump +14 electorate (for those who voted in 2024) and of those who say they are very or somewhat likely to vote in 2026 it works out as a Trump +12 recall
I’ve long felt even if Cornyn does win his primary that he’ll be very beatable by the time he’s nominated. He’s in a no win scenario losing support on the left and right with a brutal, bloody and bruising primary that even if he wins, will leave him fairly broke.
In the primary campaign he’s had to move far right in order to even the playing field with Paxton for the GOP primary. This alienates moderate voters who previously voted/supported him because he didn’t 100% vote GOP party line.
Meanwhile, he’ll never ever appease the MAGA far right because he dared vote with Democrats on a few issues. They already distrust him for not being MAGA enough and they’re pissed he’s attacking Paxton, trying to prevent him from becoming a MAGA Senator. Losing him votes on the right.
Regardless of who wins, either is damaged and beatable. Paxton from the left and Cornyn from the left and right. Talarico (hopefully) just has to remind moderate/swing voters of Cornyn’s primary positions “you can’t trust him”. Then run a ton of ads on far right media websites accusing him of betraying MAGA. Paxton is easier to just say “Republicans impeached him, he’s too extreme”, but both are beatable.
The podcast transcript needs to be tweaked. It says "Mary Peltola" as the person when Rakich is speaking and then "Nathaniel Rakich" when Sharice Davis is talking.
I appreciate the optimism of the Digest, but I've had Pennsylvania's 36th Senate district as Likely R for this fall's election ever since we unexpectedly won it in the special election last year. Malone only barely won it, even with the large Democratic turnout advantage in the special election, which won't be quite so large in the elections this fall (especially since Mastriano isn't running for Governor again). Despite landslide victories for the Democratic judicial candidates last fall, the Republican candidates still won this district by about 5 percent. I'd be very surprised if Malone won re-election.
This means that Democrats will most likely need to pick up four state Senate seats in order to win a majority. And as luck would have it, there are four Republican-held seats up for re-election this fall that actually did vote for the Democratic judicial candidates last year. Those seats are Districts 6 (53-47 Dem), 16 (53-47 Dem), 24 (56-44 Dem), and 40 (56-44 Dem). Those are the seats that Democrats should focus on to win a majority in the state Senate. And besides the 36th, every other seat that Democrats are defending should be pretty safe.
California Democratic Party's list of candidates who are seeking party endorsement is up now. Note that the filing deadline for legislative (Cong and statehouse) candidates was yesterday; deadline for statewide offices (Gov, etc) is next Tuesday Jan 20. https://cadem.org/endorsements/2026-list-of-candidates-who-have-filed/
Locally in CA-26, the candidates who have filed are Jacqui Irwin; Chris Espinosa; and Kyle ROHRBACH, not to be confused with neo Nazi party switcher rage bait Kyle LANGFORD. Good Kyle's gonna have to get used to that.
Thanks for this information. It is good that the CADEMs are running candidates in all 52 congressional districts and the 20 state senate that are up for election this year. Looking over the list reminds me of the great diversity of people that we have in California.
FLORIDA GOVERNOR PRIMARIES
🔴 Byron Donalds - 37%
🔴 Jay Collins - 7%
🔴 Paul Renner - 4%
🔴 James Fishback - 3%
⚪ Not sure - 49%
——
🔵 David Jolly - 23%
🔵 Jerry Demings - 19%
⚪ Not sure - 58%
Mason Dixon (A-) | 1/8-13 | RV
https://politico.com/f/?id=0000019b
The first poll showing some signs of the inevitable front runner Byron Donalds campaign taking on water? He’s been in the 40’s for every other poll. Could be an outlier. Could be Fishback’s racist attacks are working. We’ll see if other polls start to show him in the 30’s.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicates that Trump's endorsement for John Cornyn is not coming. — Punchbowl News
“We’ve tried. And the president obviously is not, at this point at least, willing to make an endorsement there. So maybe at some point that changes. But as of right now, they’re gonna, I think, duke it out in the primary”
https://x.com/IAPolls2022/status/2011830494397088248
NRSC is spending 100 million for Cornyn.
Hah! Burning money when they need to triage it.
Why would Republicans triage Texas?
Some food for thought: if Paxton does win, Crockett becomes the Dem, and Crockett blows it, wouldn’t Paxton still be vulnerable next time he’s up? Or would incumbency protect him? I can imagine he would still be scandal-plagued by that point.
6 years is a long time and if we're lucky, it may be a 6 year itch midterm like 2014 and 2006.
I’m aware that the environment may look different. It’s the scandals that have me thinking.
Maybe he’ll get primaried if it gets bad enough? Or is this just Texas and we’re fucked?
Second option. It's 2026 or bust in Texas.
He's in his mid 60s already. He can probably only serve 3 terms as it is.
Fast moving news out of the UK:
Shadow Home Secretary Robert Jenrick who was seen as maneuvering to replace Kemi Badenoch as Tory leader was thrown out of the Tory party by Badenoch on the grounds that he was planning on defecting to Reform UK.
Less than 5 hours later, Jenrick was on stage with Nigel Farage announcing he's joining Reform UK. I'm guessing Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin won't be Home Secretary if Reform wins government in 2029 now....
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/crmdmkg8gymt