By John Burton
Gov. Chris Christie has announced a special primary and a special election will be held fill the U.S. Senate seat of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who died earlier this week.
The primary will be conducted on Tuesday, Aug. 13, with the special election slated for Wednesday Oct. 16, as per the writ signed by the governor and permitted under state statute, Christie made the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday.
“This is about guaranteeing people of New Jersey both a choice and a voice in the process and the representation that they deserve in Washington,” Christie said.
State government will cover the cost of the elections, he said.
Christie said he has not made a determination as to who would fill the seat between now and the special election. “But when I determine who that person is I will make that announcement promptly,” he said.
Lautenberg, the last World War II veteran serving in the U.S, Senate, died Monday. His funeral will be Wednesday morning at the Park Avenue Synagogue on Madison Avenue in Manhattan.
According to reports, the late senator’s body then will be transported by train to Washington, D.C., where he will lie in repose in the U.S. Senate Chamber on Thursday. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday.
