Assemblyman Anthony Bucco (R-Boonton) says he is giving careful consideration to a run for the Republican nomination for Congress in the 11th district, and that his final decision will come “sooner rather than later.”
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen announced last week that he would retire after 24 years in the House, setting up a scramble for party and financial support in a fairly short window of time. Sources say that Bucco, a popular Morris County assemblyman, is methodically testing the waters to make sure that he can win — and to see if this race is the right one for his family.
Bucco has already assembled an impressive list of backers for his exploratory committee.
Already in the race is Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains). State Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Montville), who might have been the front runner, announced last week that he would not run. Another state senator, Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa), is still thinking about it, but is widely expected to pass.
Businessman Jerry Langer and former Harding Mayor Nicolas Platt are actively exploring the race.
Former New York Jets player Nick Mangold expressed some interest in the race this morning, but was out by the afternoon.