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Holt Bolts

Rush HoltCongressman Rush Holt announced this afternoon that h.e will not seek a 9th term in the House of Representatives.   In a statement posted on facebook, the rocket scientist/Jeopardy champion said it was a honor to serve and that there are no hidden motives in his decision to retire. “For a variety of reasons, personal and professional, all of them positive and optimistic, the end of this year seems to me to be the right time to step aside and ask the voters to select the next representative.”

Holt couldn’t debate healthcare with Rhoda Chodosh.  He certainly doesn’t want to debate Dr. Alieta Eck this fall.

Holt was a candidate for U.S. Senate for the Democratic nomination in the Special Election to replace the late Senator Frank Lautenberg last summer, losing then Newark Mayor Cory Booker, the winner of the nomination and the seat, and Congressman Frank Pallone.

Democrats are lining up to compete for the nomination to replace Holt in the 12 district which includes parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties and is considered a safe Democratic district by most political experts.

NJ.com reports  that Assemblymen Reed Gusciora of Mercer County County and Upendra Chivukula of Somerset are both interested in running. Chivukula was the Democratic nominee against Congressman Leonard Lance in the 7th district in 2012.  Gusciora is famous for being called “numbnuts” by Governor Chris Chrisite after Gusciora compared Christie to George Wallace and Lester Maddix, two 1960’s Democratic segregationist southern governors.

Two Mercer County State Senators, Linda Greenstein and Shirley Turner told NJ.com they are running, as did Mercer County Executive Brian Hughs, the son of former Governor/former State Supreme Court Justice Richard Hughs. PolitickerNJ  is reporting that Greenstein is considered the favorite to get the Democratic nod and that 14th Legislative district Democrats are lining up to compete for her State Senate seat.

Among Republicans, Dr. Alieta Eck of Somerset County had been campaigning for the nomination unopposed since December.  Now that their is a vacancy, Eck should expect some competition.

Venture capitalist Scott Sipprelle of Princeton ran a spirited race against Holt, in 2010 and has been mentioned by many as a favored candidate. However, the very competitive Sipprelle did not enjoy the process in 2010 and liked losing even less. With the district considered less competitive after the 2011 gerrymandering, don’t bet on Sipprelle entering the race.

Bill Spadea, also of Princeton, was the GOP nominee against Holt in 2004 and challenged Donna Simon for the Assembly nomination to replace the late Peter Biondi in 2012.  If the political bug gets the best of Spadea, he would have to leave his gig as the ring master of Chasing NJ, the Fox affiliate New Jersey news show broadcast at 10PM five nights per week.  Don’t count on that happening.

Franklin Township Mayor Brian Levine has long held ambitions for higher office.  He was a candidate for Governor in the 2009 GOP primary before endorsing Chris Christie over Steve Lonegan and he ran for State Senate from the 15th legislative district last November, losing to incumbent Senator Bob Smith.  Levine supported Eck in her race against Steve Lonegan for the Special GOP Senate nomination last summer. Yet it would not be shocking to see him compete with Eck for the CD-12 nomination.

Another possibility for the Republicans in CD-12 is for one of the carpetbaggers in CD-3 competing to replace retiring Congressman Jon Ruyan to move to CD-12 instead. Lonegan of Bergen County and Randolph, Morris County, Mayor Tom MacArthur are both vying for the GOP nomination to fill the Republican seat.

 

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Posted: February 18th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: 2014 Congressional Races | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

4 Comments on “Holt Bolts”

  1. Whatever You Do Dr. Eck said at 6:36 pm on February 18th, 2014:

    Please don’t ask for the support of the BSTPG. It would be a death knell.

  2. @ Art said at 10:14 pm on February 18th, 2014:

    Boy you are off your game today. A little spam for dinner, eh? 🙂

  3. trouble in marlboro said at 9:00 am on February 19th, 2014:

    he used to be in marlboro’s district, but we got rid of that commie, and only have the other america hating commie pollane left. did you know holt’s voting record in congress is worst then nancy pelosi ‘s? i’m glad he’s gone, and glad that marlboro was redistricted, the voters dodged a bullet, just think we could have johnny hornick running. one incompetent for another. maybe this will give johnny a chance to go on a i’m not running for holt’s seat campaign, like he did for governor. he cann’t run marlboro how can he run the state, or god forbid the u.s.

  4. Wow, surprising.. said at 9:12 pm on February 19th, 2014:

    must have used up some of the last primary dollars to run a poll, showing his totally left-wing wacko ideas and votes to socialize us at every turn may finally be knocking off some of his incumbency protection.. this is unusual, it’s nearly always a bigger reason: either a shift in public sentiment, personal or family illness, or financial woes, or that the Dems think another one will drag in other Dems,down-ballot,better than this guy,who never should have slid in there on one mistake of his predecessor.. Good luck to Dr. Eck, it is high time we got SOME GAIN in the NJ delegation, it is more than embarrassing- and Chris Smith can’t do it all- needs help!