Andy Kim overtakes Menendez in fundraising for New Jersey Senate

Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was outraised by a Democratic challenger who did the bulk of his fundraising in the final days of the quarter after the incumbent was indicted on federal corruption charges.

That challenger, Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), raised $1.2 million between July 1 and Sept. 30. Menendez raised $919,000 in the same period but he has far more stockpiled. The incumbent has nearly $8.6 million banked compared to Kim's $1.2 million.

Menendez was indicted on Sept. 22 and accused of accepting bribes from New Jersey businessmen. He was later charged with conspiring to act as a foreign agent for the government of Egypt. The incumbent senator denies the charges and vowed to fight them but he has not said whether or not he will seek reelection.

Kim launched his bid a day after the indictment dropped and his campaign said he raised nearly $1 million in the week following.

But Kim likely won't have the field to himself. Tammy Murphy, the wife of Gov. Phil Murphy, is considering a run and has great personal wealth. Several other members of the congressional delegation have not ruled out a bid.

Kim raised $858,000, or 77 percent of his total fundraising, from donors giving $200 or more, whose contributions are required to be itemized. More than 80 percent of those funds came in after he announced his Senate bid on Sep. 23, including more than $250,000 raised on the final day of the quarter.