Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who has faced corruption charges, announced Thursday that he will not run for re-election under his party’s colors in November, but left open the possibility of running for the seat as an independent. .

Prosecutors accuse Bob Menendez of bribing New Jersey businessmen to obstruct justice investigations, bribery, influence peddling on behalf of Qatar and Egypt, acting as an “agent,” a defender interests of the Egyptian government, and for obstruction of justice. Mr. Menendez pleads not guilty.

Although members of his faction have repeatedly urged him to resign, he categorically rejects the possibility.

Bob Menendez’s seat in the Senate will be up for election on November 5th, and more than ten candidates have already announced that they will be running for it, including Rep. Andy Kim and Tammy Murphy, the governor’s wife.

Democrats and independents in their caucus have a narrow majority in the Senate (51-49), which they hope to hold onto in this year’s elections. Hard battles are expected for at least 6 seats.

The state of New Jersey has elected a Republican to the Senate since 1972.

“I will not participate in the Democratic caucus in June. I hope that I will be acquitted by the summer, which will allow me to run as an independent Democrat in the election,” Mr. Menendez said in a video uploaded to social networking sites.