Frelinghuysen Has One Less Challenger: Democrat Says He Won’t Run

U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen may be breathing a little easier knowing that he faces one less opponent for his congressional seat in 2018.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Assemblyman John McKeon, a Democrat who represents the 27th Legislative District, announced that he will not run for Congress in 2018 against Frelinghuysen, despite speculations about his candidacy.

The 27th District includes the Essex and Morris County towns of Caldwell, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Livingston, Madison, Maplewood, Millburn, Roseland, South Orange and West Orange.

Tuesday’s announcement from McKeon, a former West Orange mayor and Town Council member who was born in Montclair, came the same day Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark announced he was pondering throwing his own hat into the ring against Frelinghuysen.

• See related article: Woodland Park Mayor Considering Running Against Frelinghuysen

With McKeon out of the race, the odds may have improved for Montclair’s Mikie Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy pilot and prosecutor running on the Democrat ticket.

• See related article: Frelinghuysen Challenger Mikie Sherrill Says Campaign Donations Are Rolling In

“It has been the privilege of my professional life to serve as a councilman, mayor and member of the General Assembly representing the town I grew up and raised my family in,” McKeon said. “If the voters choose to return me to the Legislature this November, I will have the honor of serving as a senior member of the Assembly. With a Democratic governor in Trenton, I hope to be an integral part of the solution as New Jersey faces some of its most challenging times. Therefore, at this time I have decided to not run for Congress next year.”

McKeon offered his “heartfelt appreciation to his family, friends, party leaders, longtime supporters and the DCCC and the Members of Congress who encouraged and helped [him] with this process.”

But if you think McKeon is going to ease up on his criticism of Frelinghuysen, the entrenched GOP lawmaker who has served for decades in the 11th District, guess again.

“Last November created a new reality that many of us never believed could be,” McKeon said. “That, along with the failures of Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen to be responsive and respectful to his constituents and vote in a way consistent with New Jersey’s best interests, have made the 11th district congressional seat truly competitive.”

• See related article: Frelinghuysen-Led Plan Has $1.6B For Trump’s Border Wall
• See related article: Frelinghuysen Votes Yes On Revised Health Care Bill

“Now, more than ever, we need a strong Democratic standard bearer to represent our values in the 2018 Congressional race,” McKeon said. “There are many who formally and informally have expressed a willingness to take up that mantle here in the 11th and I am convinced that any one of them would do so with honor and distinction, and ultimately be successful.”

McKeon said that he plans to work with the Democratic nominee against Frelinghuysen, as well as groups like NJ-11th for Change, BlueWaveNJ and others to “assure a change in representation in the 11th district” in 2018 and beyond.

“No matter what, I will continue to speak out and challenge Representative Frelinghuysen on issues that impact New Jersey and our nation,” he added.

• See related article: McKeon: President's Support for Gay Marriage 'Historic Breakthrough'
• See related article: McKeon Gives Statewide 'Green' Update

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