“[P]eople don’t realize that Senator Menendez is like a rock star in Hudson County,” Vainieri said in September, just after Menendez’s initial indictment.

It’s the first endorsement of Murphy by any county organization, packing both a symbolic and practical punch. Not only does it show Democats in Menendez’s home base are ready to move on, but it means Murphy will get the coveted “county line” in the densely populated and heavily Democratic county just across the Hudson River from New York City.

Hudson Democrats in a statement praised Murphy for “her strong record of advocating for progressive policy initiatives” and did not mention Menendez.

Background: Menendez grew up in Union City, in northern Hudson County, and has lived there for much of his life, though he’s most recently resided nearby in Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County. Menendez built his political career in Hudson, first being elected to Union City’s school board in the 1970s before representing the county in the state Legislature, U.S. House and Senate.

Menendez was a Hudson County power broker until his indictment. His son, Rob Menendez, took over his old House seat in 2022 following the retirement of Albio Sires with the acquiescence of local Democrats.

Menendez has not said whether he’s running for reelection, but has in recent weeks made defiant statements, including one Wednesday morning to greet Tammy Murphy’s campaign launch.

Mayors from all but one of Hudson County’s municipalities joined in the statement backing Tammy Murphy.

What’s next? Should Menendez choose to run for reelection, his son may have to choose between running for reelection on a ticket aligned with his father or one opposed to it. The only Hudson County mayor absent from the endorsement statement was Hoboken’s Ravi Bhalla, who has been considering a primary challenger to the younger Menendez.

A Stockton poll late last month found that 71 percent of New Jersey residents have an unfavorable view of the senator.