[NJ Pubbie Congressman] Ferguson won't seek re-election [NJ-07]

NJ Politicker ^ | 19 November 2007 | Editor

[Alter Kaker]

Rep. Mike Ferguson will announce today that he will not seek re-election to a fifth term in 2008. The 37-year-old Republican, who won re-election last year by just 1% against Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender, wants to spend more time with his four young children.

Senate Minority Leader-designate Thomas Kean, Jr. becomes one of the most likely GOP candidates for the seat. Kean, the Republican U.S. Senate in 2006, was among the candidates who ran against Ferguson in the 7th district Republican primary in 2000, when Bob Franks gave up the seat to run for the Senate.

Stender has been raising money for a rematch and will now compete for an open seat -- the second in New Jersey next year. Earlier this month, Rep. Jim Saxton said he would not seek re-election to a 12th term.

Other possible GOP candidates include: Assembly Minority Whip Jon Bramnick, outgoing Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, State Sen.-elect Christopher Bateman, Bridgewater Mayor Patricia Flannery, and Franks, now the President of the Health Care Institute of New Jersey.

Ferguson won 49%-48% in 2006 -- a margin of 3,239 votes.

[chimera]

We're retiring ourselves right out of any chance of retaking either the House or Senate, or perhaps even just holding our present numbers. If Hillary! (or any other 'Rat) wins big, we could drop down close to 40 seats in the Senate. The national Party has to really try to convince our members stick with us when times are tough, like they are now.

I understand this guy has young kids at home, but, geez, it's not like Jersey is across the continent from DC. They can live at home and the Congressman can grab a train back to Jersey from Union Station for most weekends. It's not like flying every weekend back to Washington state or California. Of course, it's easy for me to say, I don't have to do it.

[JohnnyZ]

I understand this guy has young kids at home, but, geez, it's not like Jersey is across the continent from DC.

I'm pretty sure Ferguson is the guy who got caught hitting on college girls in a D.C. bar.

I don't think his time away from his family is terribly agonizing.

[Alter Kaker]

The Washington Post ran a rather nasty story about Ferguson a few years ago. Don't know any details.

[jmaroneps37]

Kean can/will win and hold the seat. He is getting better at politics, can raise big money and Northern New Jersey has just shown that it is finally willing to listen to the Republican line “Vote for me because the Democrat is a crook” with the Beck victory. Yes, she used the same old GOP line, but this time it worked. This time at least the brain dead voters listened. I think this bodes will for Kean’s chances next year.

[chimera]

I did not know that. Why do these people get themselves into these kinds of scrapes? I mean, I’m no angel, but even I know enough not to go hitting on girls young enough to be my daughter. IOW, an ordinary schmuck like me can keep it zipped, why can’t these people?

[Alter Kaker]

The following folks have endorsed Fred Thompson. I struck out the names of those who spoke on the record. Who do y'all think spoke to Congressional Quarterly off the record, stabbing Thompson in the back?

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)
Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.)
Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.)
Rep. David Davis (R-Tenn.)
Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)
Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.)
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.)
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.)
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.)
Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.)
Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.)
Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.)
Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.)
Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

[Alter Kaker]

whoops, wrong thread.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Although I’m no fan of the Kean family, if he’s the nominee, we’ll hold it. This district apparently has a lot of Republican candidates that are viable. If the Dems couldn’t get it in ‘06, they’re not going to get it in ‘08. I’m wondering if Ferguson is retiring for another reason, if you catch my drift...

[fieldmarshaldj]

You just answered my question.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

This district was gerrymandered to keep Republican areas out of Frank Pallone and Rush Holt’s districts, so we ought to have a good chance to hold it provided we have a good candidate. Of course, the state is a whole isn’t as Republican as it used to be...

[Clintonfatigued]

This is a loss, and a sign that Republicans don’t expect to retake either branch of Congress next year.

State Senator Thomas Kean, Jr. is the front-runner, and would be the toughest for the DemocRAT to defeat. However, Kean is less conservative than Ferguson, which is unfortunate. There is a similar situation going on in the race to succeed Jim Saxton.

[Clintonfatigued]

I spoke too soon:

http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6230

[fieldmarshaldj]

Looks like Leonard Lance.

[Clintonfatigued]

I think you’re right. Jon Bramnick has announced that he would not run.

http://campaignsandelections.com/NJ/articles/?ID=974