New Jersey Democrats and Republicans are choosing their candidates for the Senate amidst the backdrop of the federal corruption trial involving Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Menendez in New York. Menendez, who filed to run as an independent, is not part of the primary ballot. Democratic voters are deciding among Rep. Andy Kim, labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina, and grassroots organizer Lawrence Hamm.

On the Republican side, it’s a four-way race, with hotel developer Curtis Bashaw gaining substantial county party support, while Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner secured an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

Despite New Jersey’s history of favoring Democratic senators, the divided Senate landscape has raised the stakes. The GOP sees Menendez’s independent candidacy as a potential opportunity to strengthen their position in the upcoming elections.

Menendez, along with his wife and two business associates, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to allegedly exchanging official acts for various benefits. One of the associates has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

President Joe Biden and former President Trump are both on the ballot as their respective parties’ presumptive nominees in New Jersey. Alongside them, the Democratic Socialists of America are supporting a protest vote against Biden over his handling of the violence in Gaza. Democrats in delegate districts across the state will have the option to vote for “uncommitted” on the delegate ballot.

Jessica Dunlap, a spokesperson for the effort in New Jersey, stated that the aim is to send a message to Biden regarding his policies towards Gaza residents. The “uncommitted” option on the ballot will be accompanied by the slogan: “Justice for Palestine, Permanent Ceasefire Now.”

A similar initiative in Michigan this year resulted in the group securing two delegates, compared to Biden’s 115 in that state.

In a new development for Democrats this year, the traditional “county line” ballot system, where candidates with party backing were grouped together, will no longer be in use. This change means that candidates without party support will no longer be relegated to what was colloquially termed “ballot Siberia.”

The discontinuation of the practice stems from a lawsuit filed by Representative Andy Kim and other Democratic candidates in federal court. They alleged that the system unfairly favored candidates with party connections. As a result, a federal judge suspended the system for this year’s Democratic primary only, as no Republicans were involved in the lawsuit.

This change means that candidates for office will now be grouped together, similar to the process in every other state. However, Republicans, whose county parties still endorse candidates, have retained the previous system. While state legislative leaders have indicated they would address the ballot issue, no legislation has been passed to change how the state conducts primaries.

In addition to selecting Senate candidates, voters will also be choosing House candidates. Some of the most closely watched districts are those with connections to Senator Menendez’s current situation. In the 3rd District, which Representative Kim represents and is vacating to pursue the Senate seat, Democratic Assembly colleagues Herb Conaway and Carol Murphy are competing for the congressional seat. In northern New Jersey’s 8th District, incumbent Democratic Representative Rob Menendez, the senator’s son, is seeking reelection against Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who has sought to link Rob Menendez to his father.