Top Democratic Recruit Passes On Run Against LoBiondo

One New Jersey Republican can breathe easier today after a leading Democratic recruit decided not to run against him.

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), who has coasted to re-election since he was first elected in 1994, faced the possibility of a competitive campaign against Democratic state senator Jeff Van Drew.

New Jersey Democrats viewed Van Drew as one of their top recruits since he defeated a Republican legislator last year in a solidly Republican part of the state. But Van Drew announced today that he is passing up a Congressional bid in order to run again for the state Senate.

“I will run for Congress one day but this is not the right time to announce. I owe it to my constituents to focus on this current budget,” Van Drew said in a statement

Several other Democrats are considering running against LoBiondo, including Cape May City Councilman David Kurkowski, Bridgeton Councilwoman Celeste Riley and his 2006 opponent Viola Thomas-Hughes.

Democrats are already hoping to pick up two open House seats in the Garden State, contesting the seats of retiring Republican congressmen Jim Saxton and Mike Ferguson.