When Robert Menendez Jr. ran for Congress in 2022, the mayor of Hoboken, Ravi Bhalla, was in his corner.

“Not only did he endorse me, he campaigned for me,” Menendez said in a phone conversation Wednesday morning.

But now?

This year, Bhalla is challenging Menendez’ renomination in the June 4 Democratic primary.

What changed?

The question is facetious.

Last fall’s indictment of the congressman’s father has turned Hudson County’s political landscape upside down. A most obvious result of that is Bhalla’s challenge to the younger Menendez in CD-8, which includes most of Hudson,  Elizabeth and parts of Newark.

In a social media post in March, Bhalla noted a recent arraignment of Sen. Menendez, adding:

“His son also happens to be my primary opponent in NJ-08 and was handpicked by his father for his seat. This culture of corruption and cronyism is bad for New Jersey and bad for America. The Senator should resign so we can all turn the page on this embarrassing affair.”

This is one of Bhalla’s central points – not only the senator’s legal woes, but the “corrupt” system that made Menendez Jr. a congressman.

To Menendez Jr., Bhalla is simply an opportunist, a man seeking to cynically capitalize on the senator’s troubles.

“Ravi knows that we’ve been productive,” he said. “He wants to talk about my father to try and muddy the waters.”

Primary voters by definition tend to pay more attention to politics than others, so it can be debatable just how confused voters may be between Sen. Menendez and Rep. Menendez.

Then again, the name “Menendez” at the moment in New Jersey politics has a clear negative connotation.

The congressman notes – quite correctly – that none of his father’s legal issues have anything to do with him. He says Bhalla knows that and is just trying to conflate the two for political gain.

What Menendez Jr. would much rather talk about is his record in Washington, where he has emerged as the freshman representative on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which is a leadership position.

Speaking of Washington, last weekend was quite a productive one as the House – at long last – backed financial aid for Ukraine and Israel.

Menendez Jr., who like most Democrats voted “yes” on both bills, said this demonstrates that even in polarized times, things can get done.

And then, there’s bringing money to the district.

All representatives have the opportunity to secure funds for community projects, and most of them do. This, naturally, is an avenue only open to incumbents.

As for CD-8, Menendez Jr. talked about getting money for a music institute in Elizabeth, sewer improvements in North Bergen, public safety equipment in Bayonne, more pedestrian access in Weehawken and more broadly, the long-delayed Gateway rail project under the Hudson.

As for what happens between now and June 4, a number of campaign forums are on tap, which is good for voters.

Menendez Jr. also sounds ready to combat Bhalla’s general line of attack about corruption and cronyism.

“We’re not going to let him create this narrative that he’s a knight in shining armor,” the congressman said.