Can Republicans be in play in New Jersey Senate election?

[Cubus]

Incumbant Senator Bob Menendez filed papers to run as an independent candidate in New Jersey senate race. Do you think he can split the left wing vote enough to let Republican candidate win?

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/03/sen-bob-menendez-files-for-independent-run-in-nj-amid-corruption-trial-00161339

[BCRanger10]

Possibly? Apparently a Republican candidate for governor nearly missed winning a few years ago (New Jersey, from what I've gathered, has seen some surprising Republican wins or tendencies).

But Menendez filing as an Independent wouldn't change his voting tendencies or ideology. At least I highly doubt it. Joe Manchin just went Independent and Bernie Sanders was an Independent for quite a while.

[normalice]

I doubt it. The left generally doesn't vote for criminals, unlike the right.

[normalice]

Oh, but he might split the republican vote. Republicans are happy to vote for criminals as long as they aren't democrats. His voting record doesn't matter any more than any other Republican's voting ever record does - just look at Liz Cheney. Or look at all the Republicans who helped kill the border bill despite the republican base insisting the things it addressed were a top priority. The overwhelming majority of them will win reelection because it is 100% culture war nonsense and loyalty to Trump for the republican base. That's how you get republican votes - not competence or consistency.