AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the New Jersey presidential and state primaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — Voters in New Jersey on Tuesday will choose candidates vying to replace Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who is on trial in federal court in New York on corruption charges and has opted not to run in the state’s Democratic primary.

Menendez, who has held the seat for more than 18 years, has said he would consider running in the general election as an independent if he is acquitted.

Presidential primaries will also be on the ballot, along with primary elections for U.S. House.

The prospect of an open Senate seat has already had cascading effects in the state. The early jockeying between first lady Tammy Murphy, who has since suspended her campaign, and front-runner Rep. Andy Kim led to a ruling that eliminated the party line for at least the primary. The party line is a ballot design specific to New Jersey that displays candidates endorsed by county parties in one column, which opponents argue creates an advantage for party-backed candidates.

With the party line gone, Kim has appeared to consolidate support statewide. He faces labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina and activist Lawrence Hamm in the primary.

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