A day after announcing he would not seek re-election next year, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) on Friday said his decision should not be construed as a retirement.
“I’m not announcing a retirement,” Lautenberg said at an event in his hometown of Paterson, N.J., according to the Associated Press. “I’m announcing today that I will be continuing on my mission to do the right thing wherever I can.”
In December, Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker (D) made public his intention to pursue Lautenberg’s seat before the senator had formally revealed his plans — a move that left the five-term incumbent irritated.
