Well, I'm not going to run for Congress this year.

[Pab Sungenis]

Late last year I announced that I was going to run in the Democratic primary for the House of Representatives if the presumed frontrunner, State Senator Jeff Van Drew, ran. I went so far as to obtain my nominating petitions and start work on them.

Well, I'm not going to finish or file them because I'm not entering the primary. Earlier today Van Drew announced he's not going to run for Congress after all, preferring to sit it out and run for re-election to the State Senate next year.

With his decision not to enter the race, I'm also not going to enter because I'm saving my energy and time to go up against him next year. I'm going to run against him in the Democratic primary for his State Senate seat.

It's time that we stop electing Democrats who actively run against the long-standing principles of the Democratic Party. My goal is to give the Democrats in Cumberland and Cape May Counties a real choice next year: someone who shares their views and their values. Someone who will stand up to Governor Christie when he is wrong, and will fight for a progressive agenda.

That's why I want to replace him. And if I can find two other good Democrats I'll recruit them to run against his Assembly slate, too.

We need to take our party back, and the best way to do that is to Primary the worst offenders. So count me out this year, and count me in next year.

[mike_c]

1. happy to rec, and good on 'ya, my friend....

"We need to take our party back, and the best way to do that is to Primary the worst offenders."

I could not agree more. Best wishes for your campaign!

[tinrobot]

2. So, you're only running to oppose a specific person?

Reading your post - If Jeff Van Drew ran for congress, you'd oppose him. But now that he's decided not to run, you're waiting to oppose him for state senate. Sounds like you have more of an interest in defeating that particular individual than anything else.

If you were interested in representing the people of your state, you'd run for Congress anyways. Who knows, you might just win.

[11 Bravo]

3. Ever put your own ass on the line?

I'm sure it's fairly comfortable to sit behind your computer and belittle someone else for not entering the arena because you disagree with what you imagine their motivation to be; but until we know your bona fides, your opinion means less than nothing and your hubris is comical.

[Pab Sungenis]

4. Like I said, the goal is to get right wing Democrats out of office.

I don't want to go to Congress; I can do better for my district in Trenton where South Jersey always seems to get the short end of the stick.

Replacing a Republican in our Congressional district with a Blue Dog like Jeff Van Drew would actually make things worse, since we could count on him to vote similarly to the Republican we voted out, but be harder to beat as an incumbent Democrat.

That's my reasoning.

[tinrobot]

5. So your sole intention is to be a spoiler.

You're running to oppose a Democrat, yet you don't want the office, and you'd rather have a Republican in the office than the Democrat.

Wow... just wow...

How about, instead of acting as a spoiler, you find a progressive Democrat who actually WANTS the office, then work hard to get him/her elected. That would be a much more positive and constructive way to take back our party.

[Pab Sungenis]

6. No, I don't want to be a spoiler.

I think I can do a better job than him in the State Senate. So I'm going to oppose him for that job. And I will campaign my heart out against the Republican if I win the nomination, too. When I get in, I will get in to win it.

[tinrobot]

7. Good to know...

When you officially decide to run, let me know and I'll contribute.