Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker (D) has begun the process of collecting signatures necessary to run in the special U.S. Senate election to fill the seat that was held by the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).
A spokesman for Booker told the Star-Ledger that volunteers for Booker began obtaining signatures Wednesday night. Candidates must collect 1,000 signatures by Monday in order to be eligible for the special election primary, scheduled for August 13. The special general election is slated to be held October 16.
Booker had already signaled his intention to succeed Lautenberg, announcing last year that he intended to pursue the seat.