Menendez pulls his name off the ballot in NJ Senate race

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez on Friday ended his independent reelection bid, removing his name from the ballot in a letter to the state's division of elections," Politico reported.

“Please be advised that as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in this November’s election I am advising you that I wish to have my name withdrawn from the ballot,” he wrote.

Menendez was convicted on corruption charges in July and announced his intent to resign on Aug. 20.

He had previously hoped to run as an independent Democrat had the court exonerated him.