Former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan is withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race, according to the New Jersey Globe. Despite some impressive victories, Zdan has determined that his path to winning the Republican nomination is not solid enough, according to the Globe report.
Zdan’s six-week campaign saw him win conventions in Monmouth, a top vote-producing GOP primary county, and a screening committee win in Passaic. However, these two counties, which make up 14.6% of registered Republicans statewide, were not enough to secure his position.
With Zdan out, Curtis Bashaw and Christine Serrano Glassner will battle for the Republican nomination in the June 4 primary. Bashaw, a real estate developer and hotelier, has secured organization endorsements in 13 counties, representing about 51.5% of Republican primary voters statewide. Serrano Glassner, the mayor of Mendham, has county party endorsements in six counties.
The Republican nominee will likely face Rep. Andy Kim in the general election, as Tammy Murphy dropped out of the Senate race on Sunday. Incumbent Bob Menendez, under indictment on federal corruption charges, may also run as an independent.
The last Republican to win a Senate seat in New Jersey was Clifford P. Case in 1972 – but if Menenedez runs as an independent, it could give Republicans at winning a Senate seat.