U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D.-6th, from Monmouth County,formally announced Monday afternoon during a press conference in Trenton that he was entering the race for U.S. Senate.
“Today, I am proud to stand here and declare my candidacy to be the next U.S. Senator from the great state of New Jersey,” Pallone said. “Although I wish this opportunity to run for the seat vacated as a result of the loss of my good friend and colleague, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, had never risen, I am committed to carrying on his legacy of fighting for New Jersey.”
“I’m in,” said Pallone, a 13-term Member of Congress from Long Branch. “I’m in this race because families in our state and throughout the nation are hurting, and I believe that we have a responsibility to roll up our sleeves, get to work and help.
“I’m running for the Senate because we need to focus on getting people back to work, rebuilding our economy, making sure our environment is clean and safe for future generations, and standing up for equality for all Americans,” he said.
Pallone hand-delivered his petition to run in the Aug. 13 special primary to the state Division of Elections. He is expected to be on the ballot for the primary with Newark Mayor Cory Booker and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-12th. The primary winner will then have the Democratic party line for the Oct. 16 special election for fill Lautenberg’s unexpired term which ends in 2014.
