Former NJ Senator Sweeney Launches Policy Think Tank: Report

NEW JERSEY — Former state Senate President Stephen Sweeney this week launched a think tank to address public policy issues, a move that comes as he eyes a possible run for New Jersey governor in 2025.

The Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy launched Wednesday, according to an NJ.com report. The think tank will be based at Rowan University in Glassboro, located in the South Jersey Democrat's home county of Gloucester.

One goal of the think tank, Sweeney said in a statement provided to NJ.com, is making New Jersey more affordable.

"New Jersey needs an independent, bipartisan public policy center that brings together the best experts and rigorous researchers to develop pragmatic, short- and long-term solutions that improve our state’s competitiveness, grow our economy, develop our workforce, enhance our quality of life and make the state more affordable for everyone who wants to study, work, live and retire here," Sweeney said in the statement.

In December, Sweeney told a group of union members at the New Jersey State Association of Pipe Trades convention in Atlantic City that he intends to run for governor in 2025. His comments followed his November loss to Republican Ed Durr.

The longtime Senate Democrat has toyed with the idea of running for governor for years.

He considered runs in 2013 and 2017 before bowing out each time. Sweeney previously said he would run in 2025, even before he lost this year's Third Legislative District, which he had represented since 2002.

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