A revealing report published Monday in The Star-Ledger detailed the origins of the tension that surfaced late last year between late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker (D).
There was well-publicized frostiness between the two Garden State Democrats following Booker’s announcement in December that he intended to run for U.S. Senate in 2014 – a move that was made before Lautenberg had publicly disclosed his own plans.
According to The Star-Ledger, Booker’s camp had been informed that the incumbent would likely not seek another term next year. But Lautenberg’s Chief of Staff Dan Katz requested that Booker make clear that he would not challenger Lautenberg and allow the senator to step down on his own terms. Booker’s camp, according to two Lautenberg aides cited in The Star-Ledger’s report, declined and days later the mayor made his announcement.
“It was a simple request, and Cory Booker didn’t want to abide by that,” Josh Lautenberg, the son of the late senator, told The Star-Ledger. “You look at Frank Pallone, Rush Holt, Sheila Oliver or anyone else, and these folks all waited. They gave him the respect he deserved after many years of service.”
Booker’s announcement prompted Lautenberg to take some shots at the popular mayor. The incumbent suggested that Booker deserved a “spanking” for launching a bid before he had made up his own mind and bragged that the mayor’s announcement won him “a lot of friends.” But despite the pushback, polls overwhelmingly found that New Jersey Democrats preferred Booker over Lautenberg. Lautenberg ultimately announced in February that he would not seek another term and his death in June set the stage for a special election this year to fill the seat.
Polls have shown Booker to be the clear favorite in the special election, but Lautenberg’s family announced earlier this month that they’re backing Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in the race.
