Rush Holt files Aug. 13 primary petitions

He is seeking U.S. Senate seat held by the late Frank R. Lautenberg

By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
   The campaign of U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) filed petitions Monday with the New Jersey Division of Elections to place his name on the ballot for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming U.S. Senate special election.
   Under New Jersey law, Rep. Holt, a resident of Hopewell Township, was required to file 1,000 signatures. He filed 4,569. He is seeking the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Frank R. Lautenberg, who died June 3.
   Now that Rep Holt has filed his petitions, he is qualified to run in the Special Primary Election for U.S Senate, set for Aug. 13.
   The winner of the primary then would run in a special election Oct.16, one day after Mr. Holt’s 65th birthday.
   Congressman Holt was elected in 1998 to represent the 12th Congressional District. He was re-elected last year to his eighth term in Congress.
   ”The support of so many thousands of New Jersey Democrats has been overwhelming,” the congressman said. “These are exactly the committed, progressive New Jersey Democrats who will vote to choose our next senator in a special election primary.”
   A spokesman said Monday that Rep. Holt did not hire any paid workers to collect signatures, relying instead on the efforts of volunteers.
   The volunteer support represents a continuation of Rep. Holt’s “longstanding grassroots backing: Over the course of his Congressional career, he has raised four times as much money from small-dollar donors as any other New Jersey Democrat in the U.S. House — as well as raising more money overall,” the spokesman added.
   ”We need a United States senator who will recommit our nation to progressive values, who will make the investments needed to keep the American Dream alive in the 21st century,” Rep Holt said.
   ”As you know, I have never shied away from a tough political fight, and I have never wavered in my commitment to advancing progressive priorities,” Rep. Holt added.
   On June 6, Gov. Chris Christie selected New Jersey Attorney General Jeff Chiesa — who, reports say, does not plan to run for the post — to fill the Senate seat, effective June 10.
   After the Oct. 16 special election, the winner will take the late Sen. Lautenberg’s seat.
    Philip Sean Curran, of The Packet Group, contributed to this account.