TRENTON —Steve Lonegan, the former mayor of Bogota and one of the state’s most well-known conservatives, today became the first person to declare his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Frank Lautenberg.

“We’’re going to file petitions and we’re going to win the primary and the general election,” Lonegan said. “We are going to galvanize tea party members, independents, Reagan Democrats and moderate Republicans.”

He added: “This is about fighting back against President Obama’s agenda. Let the Democrats defend that.”

State Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren), another conservative who had been considering entering the race, said he had decided not to run and instead put his support behind Lonegan.

Read more:http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/201...e_first_to.html

Thanks for posting.

Note the time frame to get enough signatures to be on primary ballot on August 13.

So is it shaping up to be Lonegan vs. Booker?

Quote: FP123 wrote in post #3

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So is it shaping up to be Lonegan vs. Booker?

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Lonegan is a perpetual GOP placeholder in NJ elections. I can't take him seriously anymore.

Quote: Cedric wrote in post #6

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We know 2 things about the upcoming NJ special Senate election:

1. A liberal Democrat will win.

2. The "reason" will be that the GOP candidate was not conservative enough.

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Quote: Frank Cannon wrote in post #5

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Lonegan is a perpetual GOP placeholder in NJ elections. I can't take him seriously anymore.

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Quote: algernonpj wrote in post #8

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And . . . that is exactly what the eGOP wants.

Lonegan defeated an incumbent dem to become mayor of traditionally democratic Bogota, winning his second term hands down. As director of the NJ chapter of Americans for Prosperity, and working with other groups, Lonegan has been a thorn in the side of NJ big government pols of both parties constantly opposing new debt and taxes.

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Quote: algernonpj wrote in post #4

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Quote: FP123 wrote in post #3

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So is it shaping up to be Lonegan vs. Booker?

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At this point. However even if Lonegan wins the GOP slot in the primary, the eGOP will either not support him or actively work against him.

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Quote: Frank Cannon wrote in post #9

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Quote: algernonpj wrote in post #8

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And . . . that is exactly what the eGOP wants.

Lonegan defeated an incumbent dem to become mayor of traditionally democratic Bogota, winning his second term hands down. As director of the NJ chapter of Americans for Prosperity, and working with other groups, Lonegan has been a thorn in the side of NJ big government pols of both parties constantly opposing new debt and taxes.

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I didn't say I didn't like him. I just wonder if a new comer would have a better shot. Lonegan has run for positions before and lost and he regularly runs his Lonegans Minute on the radio. He might be too old news now. I guess it is a moot point since Christie Creme is going to campaign for Booker anyway.

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Quote: Justme wrote in post #10

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Quote: Cedric wrote in post #6

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We know 2 things about the upcoming NJ special Senate election:

1. A liberal Democrat will win.

2. The "reason" will be that the GOP candidate was not conservative enough.

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If you're right about 1 the reason will be there are too few conservatives in NJ. Simple as that

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Quote: sneakypete wrote in post #11

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Quote: algernonpj wrote in post #4

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Quote: FP123 wrote in post #3

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So is it shaping up to be Lonegan vs. Booker?

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At this point. However even if Lonegan wins the GOP slot in the primary, the eGOP will either not support him or actively work against him.

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You can count on the RNC doing everything they can to prevent a candidate from getting elected that is the tiniest bit conservative.

As for Booker not doing anything to help Newark,that's a unfair charge. Some things are beyond help.

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