Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) acknowledged Thursday that he’s “very interested” in launching a bid for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) at the end of next year.
“I’m pursuing that and working on it on a daily basis,” Pallone told the Asbury Park Press. “It’s a very important part about what I want to do in the future.”
He added that most of his efforts for the rest of the year will be devoted to state Sen. Barbara Buono’s long-shot challenge against Gov. Chris Christie (R) in the state’s gubernatorial race, but admitted he’s “very interested in a Senate seat.”
Reports in January suggested that Pallone was interested in running for Senate, but that was before Lautenberg announced that he will not seek re-election. The 2014 U.S. Senate race in New Jersey is already one of the more intriguing midterm contests. Popular Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker (D) has already made it clear that he intends to run, while Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera has said that he’s “truly contemplating” a run as a socially moderate Republican in the race.