LONG BRANCH — He may not have won the statewide Democratic primary on Aug. 13, but on his home turf, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6) carried 45 percent of the votes cast by Monmouth County voters, besting Newark Mayor Cory Booker who was favored to win the statewide contest for the open state Senate seat.
With 100 percent of the precincts reporting in the county Tuesday evening, Pallone’s vote count in Monmouth was 11,536. Booker fell behind Pallone in Monmouth, with 36.2 percent of the vote, and Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) finished third with 17.3 percent, ahead of state Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-34), who drew 1.3 percent of the vote total.
“I never expected to
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6) addresses supporters after official results of the state Senate Democratic primary showed he won Monmouth County and came in second to Newark Mayor Cory Booker in the statewide vote count. be involved in this race at this time,” Pallone said during his concession speech at McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch. “It was only because of the untimely death of my dear friend Senator Lautenberg that we are here for this very short sprint of a race.
“My work is not done, a big part of what I will continue to do is to continue Senator Lautenberg’s legacy,” he said, while adding he will be supporting Booker’s bid for the Senate seat.
Statewide with 97.9 percent of the precincts reporting, Booker tallied 207,891. Pallone 69,311 votes, while Holt and Oliver had 59,922 and 14,996 votes, respectively.
On the Republican primary ticket, former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan defeated Piscataway physician Dr. Alieta Eck. Lonegan garnered 99,265votes, and Eck tallied 25,009.
With his primary victory, Booker secured the right to run on the Democratic ticket in the Oct. 15 special election for the vacant Senate seat formerly held by the late senator Frank Lautenberg.
Booker and Lonegan will square off for the Senate seat, which will have a term that runs until Jan. 3, 2015,
Pallone told the primary night crowd the state-wide campaign gave him the opportunity to meet constituents outside the 6th District.
“This was the best campaign that I could ever imagine, it was so well organized,” he said. “I had a great time going around the state, reaching out to other parts of the state.
“Even though this was a very short campaign, I really did enjoy it.”
Pallone also said he would continue his work in Congress.
“I started out wanting to be in politics when I was in fourth grade, I wanted to be in student government,” he said. “I really believe it is the best calling and the American spirit is alive.
“I believe that government works, I believe I have an obligation to look out for working people, and in particular the little guy. I will fight to make sure the working families and the little guy are always the people we are looking out for.”
Gov. Chris Christie appointed former state attorney general Jeffrey Chiesa to the seat held for five terms by Lautenberg, who died on June 3. Chiesa will serve until January. He did not run as a candidate in the primary.
During his concession remarks Pallone listed some of the initiatives he will focus on during the remainder of his term in the House of Representatives, including advocating for the environment, continuing to support recovery efforts, marriage equality and immigration reform.
“I still believe in the American Dream,” he said before leaving the stage amid ‘Stick with Frank’ chants from his crowd of supporters.
Pallone, a 13-term congressman, is a Long Branch native and a longtime advocate for health care and environmental causes. His district includes towns in Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties.