Reports: Rep. Rothman to Move, Challenge Fellow Democrat

Rep. Steve Rothman will move to Englewood and run against fellow Democrat Bill Pascrell Jr. in the June primary for the newly configured 9th District, northjersey.com reported Monday night. 

Rothman has not confirmed the report, but sources told northjersey.com he would make a formal announcement Tuesday. NJ.com, citing three sources, reported Rothman started telling Democrats on Monday that would leave his hometown of Fair Lawn. 

Rothman was put into the "Republican-leaning" 5th District with Rep. Scott Garrett in last week's congressional redistricting, according to NJ.com. Reports have said Rothman would face a tough fight against Garrett, a conservative Republican with a toehold in Sussex County and Republican-controlled Bergen County towns.

PolitickerNJ.com, citing sources, said Garrett would hold a 53-47 advantage over Rothman were they to face each other. Sources told Politicker that in the new-look District 9, Rothman would retain 61 percent of his current constituents over Pascrell.

The newly formed 9th District will contain parts of Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties. Teaneck was split in the re-drawn map. 

Rothman is a former Englewood mayor.

Editor's Note: Maps of the newly drawn districts attached to this article. 

Related Topics: Steve Rothman