Kean Pulls Himself Out Of Running For Ferguson Seat

GOP state senator Tom Kean, Jr. said that he will not be running for the seat of Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.), who announced Monday that he was retiring at the end of his term.

Kean was considered one of the top possible Republican candidates to run in the newly-open New Jersey House seat. The son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, he ran unsuccessfully last year for the Senate against Robert Menendez and against Ferguson in the 2000 GOP primary.

"I would like to thank the various party leaders, activists and supporters who have reached out to me and urged me to run for Congress However, I will not be a candidate for Congressman Ferguson's seat,” Kean said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the Republican nominee for Congressman Ferguson's seat with the confidence that our nominee will be victorious in November.”

Former Republican Rep. Bob Franks, who previously held the seat, is another possible GOP contender. Others include: Assembly Minority Whip Jon Bramnick and state Sen.-elect Christopher Bateman.