Rep. Rob Andrews will not run for Lautenberg’s seat

A South Jersey Congressman who once challenged retiring senator Frank Lautenberg says he’s happy where he is and will not run for Lautenberg’s seat.

Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) says his goal is to move up in the U.S. House leadership, instead of running for the seat of fellow Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).

“I think I can make the greatest contribution to help my constituents by staying in the House of Representatives,” said Andrews. “I have a leadership position here, I’m honored to have it. I would rather be a leader in the house than a freshman in the Senate. I’m intending to stay here should my constituents re-elect me.”

Andrews ran unsuccessfully for the job in 2008, losing to Lautenberg in the Democratic primary.

That could have spelled the end of his time in Congress, but his wife ran for his house seat.

When he lost and she won, she gave up the nomination allowing Andrews to run for re-election.

Andrews has not had good luck in state-wide elections. He also ran for Governor in 1997, losing to Jim McGreevey in the Democratic primary.

The list of politicians reportedly interested in running for Lautenberg’s seat in 2014 includes Mayor Cory Booker (D-Newark), Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell Twp.), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), and New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex County).  There is also a lot of speculation about whether State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester County) will jump into the race.  On the Republican side, Media personality Geraldo Rivera is entertaining a run.