‘Close the chapter, move on,’ Latinos say after Sen. Menendez’s bribery conviction

In the wake of Sen. Bob Menendez's conviction in his federal bribery trial, Latino activists say the community must move on from Menendez, seen here speaking at a pro-immigrant rally in Washington, D.C., in 2021 (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

New Jersey Latinos revered Sen. Bob Menendez, praising the Democrat for his outspoken support of the immigrant community and commending his office for helping people obtain citizenship.

But now that Menendez has been found guilty of all counts in his federal corruption trial, Latino leaders say it’s time to find new voices for the community in Congress.

“It was in the news every day — the gold bars, the stories in other countries, the favors. It just kept dirtying his position,” said Ana Maria Hill, state director for labor union SEIU 32BJ. “The news that he was found guilty means we can close the chapter, move on, and really have the right person in the position to continue to lead and fight for our families.”

Menendez, whose parents are from Cuba, has had the strong support of Latinos since his early days as Union City’s mayor through his rise to the U.S. Senate. When he held a press conference in September to address the allegations prosecutors included in their damning indictment, he was joined by Union City friends and residents.

Latino Action Network President Frank Argote-Freyre said that’s changed now. Menendez’s support had been slipping in the Latino community already, and the guilty verdict will exacerbate that, he said.

After Menendez’s indictment, an October 2023 poll found 71% of Hispanics believed he should resign, compared to 61% of Black voters and 58% of Asian voters. In an April 15 poll, Menendez garnered just 6% of support from voters for his planned run for reelection as an independent.

“It’s sad in the sense of the way it’s ended up — inevitable given what’s happened. Sixteen counts, 16 guilty verdicts. It’s crushing,” said Argote-Freyre, who served as Menendez’s press secretary in the 90s.

Patricia Campos-Medina, a progressive labor leader who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination to seek Menendez’s seat in November, said the Latino community feels sadness over the senator’s “fall from grace.”

During her campaign, she said, she heard from voters who said they were grateful for Menendez and didn’t want to talk badly about him — but believed it was time for New Jersey to move forward.

“He had a legacy of doing great work for working families, for unions, for workers, for women, for Latinos, for New Jersey voters,” she said. “And this is the end of his legacy.”

Some say this episode should motivate New Jersey Democrats to attract more Latino voters. Cristina Pinzon, a political strategist, noted Latinos are the largest minority group in New Jersey — making up more than a fifth of residents — and the fastest minority voting bloc across the nation.

“If Democrats want to preach diversity in their stump speeches, then they will do everything in their power and reach deep into their pockets to support Latino candidates to run and win their political races,” she said.

Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, noted other members of the state’s Congressional delegation can be forceful defenders of the Latino community. Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat, and the state’s House Democrats urged the Biden administration in June to shut down attempts to open a new immigration jail planned for Newark, and many condemned the recent immigration raids in Princeton that led to several arrests.

Rep. Andy Kim is the Democratic nominee to seek the Senate seat Menendez holds now. Argote-Freyre noted that, like Menendez, Kim is the son of immigrants. He said he’s confident Kim will be able to connect on the issue of immigration, adding that it will still feel different to those who turned to Menendez for so many years.

People feel a cultural comfort when they see themselves reflected in their leaders — the relationship Latinos felt with Menendez is “not easily duplicated,” he said.

Carlos Castañeda of the Cosecha Movement noted that activists still had to be a thorn in the side of Menendez, like they are with many politicians, but Menendez knew the priorities of the Latino community.

Castañeda said he plans to reach out to Kim’s office in hopes that he takes on some of the tasks Menendez left behind, like fighting for a path to citizenship for undocumented residents.

“With Menendez, Latinos saw their identity, they had a lot of access, they could speak to him on a lot of issues. Now we don’t know what the dynamic will be like with this person,” Castañeda said. “What we do know is that our community has to keep organizing and fighting.”

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