Christie Calls Election in October to Fill Senate Seat

[onehandle]

Last edited Tue Jun 4, 2013, 02:26 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: New York Times

In a decision fraught with political implications, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey announced on Tuesday that he would schedule a special election in October for the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Frank R. Lautenberg on Monday.

The move was expected to draw criticism from Democrats in the state, arguing that such a move by Mr. Christie, a Republican, would amount to squandering taxpayer money to protect his own political ambitions. Scheduling a special election rather than adding the vote for the Senate seat to the November ballot would cost millions of dollars.

A special Oct. 16 ballot means the choice of a new senator will not overshadow the race for governor, which will now remain at the top of statewide ballots in November. Republicans in the state are counting on Mr. Christie, who has been hoping that a landslide re-election victory will help propel a possible run for president in 2016, to draw his supporters to the polls, helping Republican candidates for the state Legislature and for many local offices.

Conflicting New Jersey statues on how to fill Senate vacancies left Mr. Christie with at least two other options about when to schedule the election.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/nyregion/christie-sets-october-special-election-for-lautenberg-seat.html

---

Crooked Dick Tracy character chooses to drop a hot potato.

Hey Teabaggers! Christie is spending 12 MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY to fund this special election for self interest. That ok, with you?

'I got mine, jack.'

[michello]

1. So is this good for

Cory Booker?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. No, well it might be. This is very good for Chris Christie

Of all the gaggle of silly geese who make up most of today's GOP, he ends up looking the most rational, reasonable, and statesmanlike.

He could have been partisan, which would have fed the cage of Tea Baggers and neocons, but that would have turned off most of the rest of the country.

smart move.

[Kahuna]

6. I thought for sure he would throw some much needed red meat to the gop base...

Seems he is not your typical gop whore afterall.

[Mr.Bill]

7. He's not a whore, he's an asshole.

There is a difference.

[Kahuna]

9. Just took a look at freeperville...They are not happy.

Lawrence should be really good tonight.

[SunSeeker]

23. Dummies. They don't realize the slick move Christie pulled. They'll catch up...

eventually.

[alsame]

2. More here....

Christie sets October special election to fill vacant NJ Senate seat

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, R, called for a special election in 2013 to choose the successor to the late Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Christie announced at a press conference on Tuesday that he had opted against appointing a successor to Lautenberg to serve until the 2014 election, and had set a general election on Wed., Oct. 16. The primary will be held in August.

Christie also said he would appoint an interim senator to serve between now and November, though he explained that he had not decided on that temporary appointee yet.

The governor's announcement is expected to face a court challenge from Democrats.

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/04/18752076-christie-sets-october-special-election-to-fill-vacant-nj-senate-seat?lite

[frazzled]

3. Smart move

No matter what the political outcome in October. Smart for Christie and best for the voters of New Jersey. I hope he appoints a place holder, but it sounds like he won't.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. on this we agree.

While we might have knock down, drag out fights, on the issue of whether the FLying Spaghetti Monster deserves a Huge Granite Plate in front of the supreme court building, we clearly see the savvy move Christie pulled here.

[SunSeeker]

22. How is wasting $24M on a special election "best for the voters of New Jersey"?

He should have the election to fill the seat in Nov. 2013, when there will already be an election for governor and other seats, and save the state $24M. Christie doesn't want the senate seat to be voted on at the same time as governor. Booker is running for the senate seat, is popular and will bring out Dem voters, which will hurt Christie's chances (and other Republicans on the ballot). So he wants Booker nowhere near the November ballot. That is why Christie wants the senator election this October. Plus, special elections are always low turnout, which helps Republicans, not that anyone has a chance against Booker. Christie should just do the honorable thing and appoint Booker and set the senate seat election for November. But he obvisously won't. Honorable and Republican just don't go together. So much for Christie being a fiscal conservative. He's just a Republican hack.

[frazzled]

28. You want a Republican in there for a year and a half?

I sure don't. No way is he ever going to appoint Booker.

I don't live in New Jersey. I do, however, live in the nation, and that Republican vote for a year and a half is not a happy prospect.

In general, it's wrong to have an appointed senator than for longer than is necessary.

[SunSeeker]

29. The Gov. election is in November 2013, not 2014, sorry.

Sorry about the error in my post. It should read November 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_gubernatorial_election,_2013

So no, I don't want a Republican there a year and a half. I want the election for senator on November 5, as part of the regular election for governor. We're talking one month difference to save $24 million.

[Cha]

38. Exactly. WTF! Wasted MONEY for New Jersey! nm

[frazzled]

39. Christie claims the statutes don't permit both to be held then

Whether that's true or not, I don't know. But that's what he said in his press conference:

“The dates in the statute don’t permit it to happen in the general election,” said Christie. “There’s no political purpose to this. … The option to have it on the general election is not an option.”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/chris-christie-calls-special-election-replace-lautenberg.php?ref=fpa

[SunSeeker]

42. It is a matter of statutory interpretation that will probably get resolved in the courts. nt

[karynnj]

41. It lets them have primaries in both parties, select nominees and pick their Senator

The interim Senator will serve about 4 to 5 months - about the same length of time that the MA interim Senator served. It is possible that Christie might pick someone who wants to run in the Republican primary - something that MA pretty much ruled out. As the state law does not require picking someone of Lautenberg's party, Christie will not do so - and I challenge you to find any precedent in either party. (Hawaii has a provision that the nominee must come from that party - which I think honors the intent of the voter and would be a good provision in any state.)

However, that person would not really have much time as an incumbent before the election. I don't know which Republicans were thinking of running, but Booker is the favorite - no matter who runs, incumbent or not.

I do think that having the election in November would make more sense - so only extra primaries need be paid for, but it seems that one alternative was to have the incumbent in until the results of the Nov 2014 election were known.

[Ter]

46. Honorable?

When has a Democrat Governor done the "honorable" thing and appointed a Republican when a Republican Senator died? Sorry, but in modern times, they always appoint their own political party. I know I would appoint someone I agree with.

[SunSeeker]

51. "Democrat Governor"? I only know of Democratic Governors.

I hate it when Dems use the Republicans' incorrect grammar and incorrect name for our party. They love to say "Democrat Party," emphasizing the "rat" syllable. It is so childish. The name of our party is the Democratic Party, and we have Democratic office holders.

Anyway, our Democratic President has appointed plenty of Republicans. And I get the tradition. And I get that politics is not an honorable profession. But there ARE some honorable people in it. Chris Christie is not one of them.

Frank Lautenberg was a liberal Democratic senator. To appoint a right wing Republican is a slap in the face of his constituents. Christie might be stupid enough to do that. But if he thinks about it, he will just put in a placeholder guy no one considers partisan. That will mullify Lautenberg's constituents and make Christie look good, since it would be the honorable thing to do too. No one is going to win against Booker anyway. We'll see...

[hrmjustin]

26. The best for the voters would be to move the election to Nov.

Save several million dollars. Christie doesn't want dems to turn out in Nov. so the Gop can take the legislature.
The dems should take him to court.

[SunSeeker]

37. +1

[canonfodder]

49. NJ has the say

The laws of NJ has the final say on how this is handled.
If the porky-one follows that law, we have nothing.
Let the people of NJ choose.

[rurallib]

8. so strange it would be on a Wednesday

and not a Tuesday when almost every other election in America is held.
Being on a Wednesday in October seems to be a move to lighten the Democratic turnout - no surprise there

[asjr]

10. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

[SunSeeker]

20. Why?

Last edited Tue Jun 4, 2013, 04:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Why not have the senate seat election in November and save NJ taxpayers $24 million ($12 M for special primary + $12M for October special election)? I'll tell you why. Booker is popular and will bring out Dem voters, which will hurt Christie's chances (and other Republicans on the ballot). So Christie is having a special election this October, on a Wednesday, which will guarantee a tiny turnout, which always helps Republicans.

Not that anyone has a change against Booker for the Senate seat. Christie should just do the honorable thing and appoint Booker, and let him sit there until the election in November. But of course he won't. People say Christie is reasonable and bipartisan, but he is one of the slickest partisans out there. And he sure as hell is no fiscal conservative judging by this move.

[asjr]

43. I must have missed the October part. I thought it would be

very soon. I'm going to give up on predicting anything political anymore and reading something twice before making a decision.Thanks for pointing out October.

[former9thward]

50. Its not $24 million, it is $12 million.

The primary would have to be held whether the election was in Oct. or Nov. so that extra money must be spent no matter what.

[SunSeeker]

54. Whether it's $12 or $24 million, it is a huge waste of money and a transparently political ploy. nt

[No Vested Interest]

11. Hoping all you New Jerseyites will

speak out loud and clear (letters to editors, blogs, emails, tweets, talk radio, etc.)
to let the Governor and the public know just what you think of this decision.
Wednesday voting?
Sheeeesh.

[DainBramaged]

12. The move GUARANTEES Booker will not interfere with his re-election campaign

Booker runs for Senate in 2014, LOTS of us would go to the polls and undermine his 'landslide' and his attempts to flood NJ with Red PisPuglicans.


Now, Booker gets the Senate seat, Christie blows Buono out of the water, and he keeps his 'hero' aura intact.


He is a candidate for the easily distracted, not for the intelligent New Jerseyan, unfortunately we have a lot of dopes who support him.

[mountain grammy]

15. guess you gotta live in NJ to have seen this coming.

Christie is the ultimate politician, through and through. Best I've seen in years.

[Alamuti Lotus]

13. better than some Republican appointment

I'm not sure how to interpret Christie's actions sometimes--for a prominent Republican with ambitions of higher office, he's not a total asshole sometimes. And I stress in both sentences--'sometimes', which just makes it confusing.

[DainBramaged]

16. That's why he's popular in NJ, he's "not a total asshole someties"

And he made SURE to impress everyone how much he likes the President.


He is a scumbag. He has given away over ONE BILLION DOLLARS in future corporate tax revenues to his contributors to get them to 'stay' in NJ even though they were never going to leave.


And on and on.

[Alamuti Lotus]

47. ahhh -- so some 'decent' things are just posturing for the low attention span crowd?

I saw his Convention speech, so I know he's a firebrand Republican, some other "moderate" or pseudo-conciliatory moves just seemed odd. But, your posts here make sense, thanks.

[SunSeeker]

21. Oh I bet we'll get a Republican appointment. He hasn't announced the appointment yet.

Last edited Tue Jun 4, 2013, 04:38 PM - Edit history (1)

He should have the election to fill the seat in November 2013, when there will already be an election for governor and other seats, and save the state $24M (special primary plus October 2013 special election). But noooo. Christie doesn't want the senate seat to be voted on at the same time as governor. Booker is running for the senate seat, is popular and will bring out Dem voters, which will hurt Christie's chances (and other Republicans on the ballot). So he wants Booker nowhere near the November ballot. That is why Christie wants the senator election this October. Plus, special elections are always low turnout, which helps Republicans, not that anyone has a chance against Booker. Christie should just do the honorable thing and appoint Booker and set the senate seat election for November. But he obvisously won't. Honorable and Republican just don't go together. So much for Christie being a fiscal conservative. He's just a Republican hack.

[mountain grammy]

14. He's a sly one, that Christie. I think he wants whats best for NJ as long as it's good for him too.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

18. Duh Mare of Chicaguh, (the original Daley), was repeatedly quoted

as instructing his ward guys and top aides thusly, "First, ja gotta fix wats wrong, and den you can have sometin for yer pocket. Not da udder way around."

[mountain grammy]

45. Ha ha, love it.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

60. true story

He spoke badly, his grammar was pathetic, but when he died in office, he was not a rich man. Some of his aides became millionaires on $43,000, including overtime. Still, because, despite, - you choose, this is the greatest city in the world.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

55. I wish the current "mare" of chicago was that caring

... instead they got rahm.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

59. No kidding. I also wish that we had a Royko to

deal with rahm. That would be fucking awesome.

[DainBramaged]

17. When he killed the tunnel project, he lost the Unions forever

20000+ skilled jobs, gone in a blink of his McDonalds eye.


http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/10/independent-federal-report-confirms-christie-lied-to-kill-arc-tunnel/


It was never about cost overruns. It was never about New Jersey’s share of the price tag. Chris Christie’s decision to kill the ARC tunnel under the Hudson River was always about two, and only two, things: the governor’s unwillingness to raise the state’s rock-bottom gas tax and his desire to make a name for himself among national Republicans.

A new report from the Government Accountability Office, the independent and non-partisan investigation agency of the federal government, lays bare what transit advocates knew all along: Christie wanted to break into the piggy bank of transit dollars put aside by previous administrations and use the money to bail out the state’s highways. He was willing to say anything to get his way.

Christie’s untrue statements about New Jersey’s most important transit project were catalogued by the New York Times, which broke the news of the GAO report this morning. The governor claimed, for example, that New Jersey would be paying 70 percent of the cost of building the first new rail tunnels under the Hudson in a century, which he argued was too high. The GAO found that the state would only shoulder 14.4 percent of the cost.

Christie repeatedly cited cost overruns, which he said would put the total price tag at up to $14 billion, as a reason to pull the plug on the project. But, reported the Times, “the range of estimates had in fact remained unchanged in the two years before he announced in 2010 that he was shutting down the project. And state transportation officials, the report says, had said the cost would be no more than $10 billion.”

[Major Hogwash]

25. ^Post of the day^

That is one hell of an indictment against a guy who lived on pork for years and years before shutting down one of the most important projects that had been started in that area in years.

[SunSeeker]

19. The headline at HuffPo is "CHRISTIE: $12 MILLION TO DODGE BOOKER"

That is the most succinct explanation for what is happening.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

[Major Hogwash]

24. Christie put this off for 5 whole frickin' months!?! Say bye-bye, Chris, you're toast!!!

Last edited Tue Jun 4, 2013, 07:20 PM - Edit history (1)

I can't believe that Christie thinks this is going to save his bacon, or in his case, his ham.

[1KansasDem]

27. For those of you who don't like the special election,

Would you rather have a republican appointed to the seat for a year and a half?
He's said he will appoint a replacement (probably a republican) but that appointment will only last until Oct. of this year. Hopefully not enough time to do any real damage.

[SunSeeker]

30. The gubernatorial election is November 5, 2013.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_gubernatorial_election,_2013

[1KansasDem]

32. He could have appointed a republican now and

allowed the vote for a replacement in Nov. 2014.

[SunSeeker]

34. He probably will appoint a Republican now. But why not have the Senator vote Nov. 5?

Why have the special election just 2 weeks before the already scheduled gov. election and waste $24M? Why not have the senate seat on the Nov. 5 ballot?

[1KansasDem]

44. He managed to piss off about everybody.

Repugs mad they didn't get the seat for 1 1/2 years.
We're unhappy he's wasting money on a special.

[alp227]

31. Newark Star Ledger: "Liberal groups not happy about Christie special election plan"

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/liberal_groups_unhappy_about_c.html

iberal groups are not happy about Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to hold a special election to replace Sen. Frank Lautenberg in October rather than in November.

American Bridge 21st Century — which describes itself as a progressive research and communications organization — said in a press release that Christie threw “common sense and fiscal discipline aside.”

The group listed projects that could benefit from the estimated $12 million it will cost to hold the special general election in October, including rebuilding boardwalks and supplying food banks.

“Christie's willingness to needlessly throw away 12 million in taxpayer dollars for the sole reason of boosting his own reelection campaign tears down the myth of Christie as a bold and principled governor,” the group said in a press release. “Today's decision was not that of a leader, but one of a craven, self-interested politician.”

[graham4anything]

33. The sooner Cory Booker is seated, the less mischief can happen

Why do people want a republican to fill the seat for a month longer than needed?

And he is going to name an interim in the next 3 or 4 days, most likely Thomas Kean 78, former repub. Gov.

imho

[SunSeeker]

35. Because we need the Dem turnout on Nov. 5, and why waste $24M?

Christie should have the election to fill the seat on Nov. 5, 2013, when there will already be an election for governor and other seats, and save the state $24M. Christie doesn't want the senate seat to be voted on at the same time as governor. Booker is running for the senate seat, is popular and will bring out Dem voters, which will hurt Christie's chances (and other Republicans on the ballot). Christie wants a landslide (65%+) on Nov. 5 to propel him into 2016. He won't get that with Booker on the ballot attracting Dems to the polls. So he wants Booker nowhere near the November ballot. That is why Christie wants the senator election this October. Plus, special elections are always low turnout, which helps Republicans, not that anyone has a chance against Booker. It is all a huge waste of money--all for Christie trying to position himself for 2016. So much for Christie being a fiscal conservative. He's just a Republican hack.

[graham4anything]

36. Be happy he didn't attempt to hold off to Nov. 2014

and then a republican would be in the office for 16 months.

the other stuff you say is true, but more important is to get the seat filled by Cory Booker, the sooner the better.
If CC was a nice guy, he would just name Cory now, but that won't happen.

Cory could keep the seat for 40 years if he wants to.

[SunSeeker]

40. He's too smart to do that. He doesn't want Booker turning the legislature blue.

If Booker is on the Nov. 2014 ballot, he will bring out the Dem voters who will vote against all the Republican State legislators and Republican House seats in Congress. Plus people would be pissed off that Christie pushed off the senator election for a year and a half. Nope, his setting the special election for October is the worst of all possible scenarios for Dems looking at the big picture. And Christie knows it.

[graham4anything]

48. No, because Booker is ALSO going to have to run for a full term in Nov. 2014.

New Jersey is a blue state. The legislature won't turn red regardless of this.

It is far better to seat Booker in Oct.

As Senator in Oct., Booker can get out the vote for the legislature.

This is far better, besides there may be some major votes in Oct/Nov before the 2013, that will require a democratic vote.

Remember, CC is going to name an interim for the next 4 months who will be republican.

(and remember, two days ago, there wasn't a special election anyhow, so the key is to seat Booker now.

[SunSeeker]

53. I'd rather Booker be on the ballot 2 weeks later, on Nov. 5, to dampen Christie's numbers.

Dems seem to only flock to the polls if they like who is on the ballot. GOTV efforts just don't have the same impact. Ask Bill Clinton.

I just don't see how those 2 weeks will create any special mischief opportunity for the Republicans. What "major votes" are planned in the Senate for the last two weeks in October? Is the Senate even going to be in session?

[graham4anything]

58. It's an off year, why wouldn't they be?

it's not like the senate/house has to campaign in 2013. They are not running.
Therefore they should be working.

and yes, it would be nice, however, that is what happens when people UNLIKE MYSELF didn't vote for Jon Corzine
in the last race and CC won.

a vote for a 3rd party, republican or sit at home means a vote against the democratic party.

Maybe in 2014, there won't be those pesky protest votes and with Booker in the senate for 13 months by then,
maybe it will enable all of New Jersey democratic voters to come out and vote.

Only reason CC is in office to start is that people didn't like Corzine. People gotta vote no matter their personal
dislike of someone like Corzine.
(btw, Lautenberg brings to mind that Bill Bradley was asked to run and he disappeared basically after the 2000 presidential primary when Al Gore creamed him. We could have had Bradley instead of Corzine as Governor, but he disappeared from view).(and still hasn't been heard from since).

[RudynJack]

57. And do you think

he's about to give the Democrats the turnout they need? Of course not.

Seems to me like he split the baby - did right by the state (letting them choose sooner rather than later) while still protecting his own election. That's politics.

[fujiyama]

56. Smart move politically

Sounds like a waste of money for the state though. For those more familiar with NJ state election law, does his argument hold water that he can't have both on the same day? It seems like BS, but then again I don't have a clue.

This move basically reassures Christy (not that he was going to have trouble anyways) of winning another term - as well as keeping his "bipartisan" aura (almost a fucking halo at this point) around him. I would have figured he'd appoint a moderate republican (if one does exist) or conservative Democrat to the seat. But this is a clever move. Even on the national scale in the hyper partisan Senate, it helps the GOP more than hurting them - by basically not ensuring an otherwise likely reliable Democratic vote from the state at least until October.

Booker will still win the seat but this will depress Dem turnout in November, likely helping the GOP on down ticket races.

I still think he'd get his ass kicked by Hillary in '16, but a lesser skilled Democratic politician won't have as easy of a time. This is one very skilled politician. But then again, that's assuming he got through the crazy party's primaries.

[HeroInAHalfShell]

61. well I guess Christie can do this and he wont piss off his base, but I am LIVID!

[Harmony Blue]

62. I agree with the others

that this is political maneuvering and Christie is one of the few politicians left that thinks long term when it comes to political strategy.