2018 NJ US Senate Race-Menendez-D goes on trial for bribery after Labor Day this year.

[nkpolitics1212]

If the trial ends with an acquittal, Menendez-D will have to first go through a tough Democratic Primary Challenge. If Menendez-D wins the Democratic nomination, he is favored to win in the general.
If the trial ends with a conviction after the June 2018 Primary in which Menendez-D has won. NJ State Democratic Party will replace Menendez-D on the ballot with whoever incoming Governor Murphy-D appoints to the US Senate.
If the trial ends with a conviction after Christie-R leaves the Governorship and Murphy-D is sworn in. Murphy-D appoints successor. That person is likely to be favored to win in the primary and general.
If the trial ends with a conviction before Christie-R leaves the Governorship and Christie-R appoints successor. The successor will have to run in a special election which is likely to take place between January 2018(primary) and March 2018 (general)(The Special election to replace Lautenberg-D took place 4 months after Lautenberg's death)
We have to hope that Menendez-D does not resign or get expelled from the US Senate until after Murphy-D becomes Governor.

[crazycatlady]

1. How familiar with NJ politics are you?

In the NJ primary system, the 'party line' (running with X county Democrats or X county Republicans under your name on the primary ballot) means everything. It is very rare that a sitting politician is successfully primaried.

If Menendez is acquitted, he will most likely run with at least half of the 21 party lines.

[nkpolitics1212]

2. I am very familiar with NJ politics.

I have plenty of relatives-aunts,uncles,and cousins the live in New Jersey for over 3 decades. I have paid attention to NJ politics since the late 1980s.
I am not disputing with you that Menendez will win the Democratic primary if he gets acquitted.