NJ-7

Asked whether he’ll endorse anyone to replace him in the state Senate, Congressman-elect Leonard Lance (R-Flemington) said that he would follow advice from his late father, former Senate President Wesley Lance. 

“He said, ‘You cannot choose your successor in political life,’” said Lance.  “I think I will remain neutral.”

At least one of Lance’s running mates, Assemblyman Michael Doherty, is running for the seat.  If his other running mate, Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow, jumps in, it could be an intense battle (Multiple Republican sources say, however, that Karrow is having second thoughts about running). 

“I think very highly of both of my running mates.  I think we have worked well together. Both of my running mates have experience on freeholder boards – experience I did not have, and I want to speak highly of both of them,” he said.

SOMERVILLE - Claiming victory here tonight in his 7th Congressional District contest, state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) gave this crowd of Republicans reason to celebrate on an otherwse mostly difficult landscape.

"I think the editorial board support was important," said Lance, standing among his supporters in the Elks Club. "The papers unanimously endorsed me, and it mattered."

The final ad the Lance campaign ran in the cycle trailed those endorsements across the screen for emphasis.

The Stender campaign attempted to depict Lance as a Bush drone, and he ran much of the race without the necessary cash to punch back.

State Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Flemington) defeated Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) in a hotly contested race for Congress in New Jersey's 7th district, keeping the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson in Republican hands. Lance beat Stender by a 51%-42% margin.

John Adler remains in the war room upstairs, but his supporters seem optimistic about victory based on apparently strong results out of Burlington County.

Evesham Mayor Randy Brown just addressed the crowd, saying that every last precincts remains to be counted, but hinted that a victory speech is imminent.

“I’ve got the feeling that you’re really going to like what’s going to come down the elevator.”

The formerly “pensive” room has transformed into a party atmosphere.

SPRINGFIELD – At the Union County Central Labor Council’s headquarters this afternoon, Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan told about 100 union members getting ready to canvass for Assemblywoman Linda Stender’s congressional bid that turnout was high in Democratic areas of the 7th District, but that it was also high in the traditionally Republican counties of Somerset and Hunterdon.

“Our tracks around the state and our tracks around this district show that our folks are coming out to vote, but you know what? Theirs are too.  What you’re going to do over the next few hours are going to make the difference.” 

Speaking to PolitickerNJ.com before the rally, Cryan talked up Gov. Corzine, saying that he was the person most responsible for what is likely to be a victory for Barack Obama in New Jersey, and U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

SPRINGFIELD – At the Union County Central Labor Council’s headquarters this afternoon, Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan told about 100 union members getting ready to canvass for Assemblywoman Linda Stender’s congressional bid that turnout was high in Democratic areas of the 7th District, but that it was also high in the traditionally Republican counties of Somerset and Hunterdon.

“Our tracks around the state and our tracks around this district show that our folks are coming out to vote, but you know what? Theirs are too.  What you’re going to do over the next few hours are going to make the difference.” 

Speaking to PolitickerNJ.com before the rally, Cryan talked up Gov. Corzine, saying that he was the person most responsible for what is likely to be a victory for Barack Obama in New Jersey, and U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

SPRINGFIELD – At a labor rally today, Assemblywoman Linda Stender said that she feels confident that the high turnout today will benefit her campaign.

“I think it’s thrilling for our Democracy to see people get involved,” she said. “And I have to say, as I’m spending my day continuing to talk to voters at diners, the train station and all that stuff, it feels to me like the numbers are with me in terms of people that have already voted for me. We’ll see. It’s going to be a long day.”

Stender said that 20 percent of registered voters had already turned out by 9:00a.m. in her hometown of Fanwood.