U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews officially announced this morning that he will seek reelection to the House seat that he’s held for 18 years, just months after he took his name off the ballot to challenge U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and said on multiple occasions that he would not seek to return to Congress.

In a statement issued while he held a press conference in Camden to announce his decision, Andrews said “It was not my intention to answer the call of my neighbors and friends who have indicated they would stand with me if I sought re-election.” But after exploring private sector opportunities and discussing it with his family, Andrews said that “after much deliberation, thought and prayer, I have decided that I will seek re-election to the House this fall.”

Andrews said that the decision of who will be the party’s nominee will be left up to the county committees that comprise the district. The county committees, however, are virtually certain to vote to put Andrews back on the ballot. The district’s huge Democratic advantage also makes Andrews a near shoe-in for reelection.

U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights): Politicker file photo 

MINNEAPOLIS - Hearing the news that U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) intends to pursue re-election to the U.S. Congress after repeatedly denying that he would run again, Camden County Republican Chairman Richard DeMichele bewailed Andrews’s actions as "distasteful and misleading."

"If you can’t believe him when he tells you about one of his most intimate decisions, how can you trust him making decisions in Washington?" DeMichele said of the man who forsook his congressional seat to unsuccessfully challenge U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park), swearing all along that he was done with Congress.

The good news for 1st District Republican Congressional candidate Dale Glading is that he now knows who his opponent is.

But he’s not happy about it.

"Frankly, I am outraged that Rob Andrews has once again gone back on his word to the people of New Jersey, revealing for the umpteenth time his uncontrollable political ambitions,” he said. In a statement.  “A man's word should be his bond, and Rob should be ashamed of himself for breaking his promise not to re-enter the race.  The people of the 1st District deserve a representative in Congress who they can trust, not a compulsive liar like Rob Andrews." 

Glading is running a long-shot campaign in this heavily Democratic district. 

1st District congressional candidate Camille Andrews doesn't seem as enthusiastic about debating her opponent as her husband, outgoing Rep. Rob Andrews, was in the Democratic Senate primary against Frank Lautenberg.

Long shot Republican candidate Dale Glading issued a debate challenge to Camille Andrews on June 5th, asking her to respond by Friday, June 13th. But as of yesterday, Glading still hadn’t received a reply from Andrews.

Andrews is running as a placeholder candidate for the seat her husband vacated to run in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary. Party leaders are expected to choose a replacement for Andrews before the general election in November. Among the top prospects to replace her are Assemblyman John Burzichelli and state Sen. Dana Redd.

In the 1st congressional district, Democrat Camille Andrews, who’s holding the ballot spot her incumbent husband Rep. Rob Andrews vacated to run for Senate, has raised a little under $30,000.

Andrews has said that she will run a real campaign but will step aside if party leaders want to give the ballot spot to someone else. Insiders say that Andrews will indeed be replaced. Two names that currently surface as prospective replacements are Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli and Assembly Majority Executive Director Bill Castner.

Last month, state Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney downplayed his congressional aspirations to PolitickerNJ.com, and sources say that Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, previously considered a leading contender for the seat, is not interested.

Andrews has raised $29,455 so far and has $20,430 on hand.

First district Republican congressional candidate Dale Glading today challenged current Democratic candidate Camille Andrews to a series of debates.

Camille Andrews is filling the ballot spot left vacant by her husband, Rob Andrews, who’s running in the Democratic senate primary. She told the Star-Ledger yesterday that she plans to run as more than just a placeholder candidate, though she will step aside if asked by party leaders.

If U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews decides to run for Senate and the first congressional district suddenly becomes an open seat, Republicans will stick with their man: Dale Glading.