Former FBI Agent To Run For LoBiondo's Congressional Seat

A former FBI agent from Atlantic County has joined the race for the Second Congressional District seat that will become available when longtime Congressman Frank LoBiondo retires.

Robert Turkavage, of Brigantine, has announced he will run for the seat in the Republican primary, the Cape May County Herald reports. In his announcement, Turkavage said he shares the same spirit of independence as the retiring LoBiondo, a moderate Republican who didn’t hesitate to break with his party on key issues.

He said as a former FBI agent, he knows and understands the risks facing the country, and that he will work on behalf of the children for a better future, according to the report.

LoBiondo announced in November he would be retiring at the end of this year after serving in office since he was first elected in 1994. National Democrats have targeted the seat as one that could be flipped.

In November, State Sen. Jeff Jeff Van Drew announced he would run for the vacant seat in the Democratic Primary. This week, 32-year-old William Cunningham, of Vineland, announced he would challenge Van Drew in that primary.

The Second Congressional District covers all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties, and parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Ocean counties. All eight Democratic county chairs support Van Drew's candidacy.

The deadline for filing in this year's primaries is April 2. The primary, as well as the deadline to file as a third-party or independent candidate in the elections, is June 5. General Election Day is Nov. 6.

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