Peter Biondi

There are five Somerset County residents running for congress in the seventh district, but the county’s three native legislators aren’t endorsing any of them.

On Monday, state Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman, Assemblyman Peter Biondi and Assemblywoman Denise Coyle will endorse State Sen. Leonard Lance, a Hunterdon County resident, for congress.

Pete Biondi won't run for CongressSaying that he doesn't want to spend too much time away from his family, Assemblyman Peter Biondi today opted not to run for Congress to succeed Rep. Mike Ferguson in the seventh district.

Biondi would have likely been the local Republican Party’s candidate of choice in Somerset -- one of four counties that make up the congressional district.

“This was a tough decision. What’s best for me and my family is that I be here,” said Biondi, who is the Republican conference leader in the Assembly. “I think I can better serve my constituents in my leadership position in Trenton.”

The unexpected retirement of Republican Reps. Jim Saxton and Mike Ferguson has opened up a wide field of potential congressional candidates, many of whom have spent the last month in fundraising overdrive mode and have already gotten donors to cough up some impressive amounts of cash.

Congressional District 7

In the seventh congressional district, Republicans are lining up to challenge Democrat Linda Stender, who raised close to $2 million last year only to lose to Ferguson by one point. This time, unlike last, she has the full support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, whose Chairman, Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, came to the state in November to endorse and raise money for her and her third district counterpart John Adler.

Stender would not say how much she raised in 2007, but a source close to her said that the campaign has approximately $500,000 in the bank.

Peter Biondi says he hopes to decide on a bid for Congress by next weekAssemblyman Minority Conference Leader Peter Biondi really wants to run for Congress. It’s just that he’s not so sure how enthusiastic he is at the prospect of raising millions of dollars.

Biondi is still working the phones, and says he’s gotten a lot of commitments and offers to help out and join finance committee. But he’s frank that raising the money won’t be easy, especially when Democrats hold such a large financial advantage over Republicans.

“We’re starting off at a disadvantage, so it’s really important that you have the ability to raise $3.5 to $4 million, and if you can’t raise that you’re not going to be competitive,” said Biondi. “You won’t win it just knocking on doors or with a couple glossy flyers.”

Peter Biondi says he might run for CongressAssembly Minority Conference Leader Peter Biondi said he is considering running for Congress to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson, but he’s having a tough time making a decision.

“Your ego says ‘Yes, this is great,’ but there are a lot of variables you have to consider,” said Biondi.

Meanwhile, his running mate, Assemblyman/state Senator-Elect Kip Bateman, said he will not run for Congress and will support Biondi if he does.

“I’m excited about going to the New Jersey state Senate. I have young children and the Washington seat doesn’t appeal to me at all,” said Bateman, who also said he wouldn’t want to give up his law practice. “If Pete (Biondi) is a candidate, then I would certainly support him.”

Former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman today announced her support of a group of GOP legislative and local candidates who have been endorsed by the Republican Leadership Council. Whitman co-chairs the group with former U.S. Senator John Danforth and former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele, and says the RLC will help the candidates with financial contributions and volunteer activity over the next few weeks.

“New Jerseyans are forced to deal with daily reports of corruption and fraud – if ever there was a time that our state needs the core Republican values of fiscal restraint and local control, now is that time,” said Whitman. “These candidates and incumbents are the kinds of leaders New Jersey needs to get our fiscal house back in order.”

U.S. Senate candidate Anne Estabrook now has the backing of six GOP County ChairmenTwo more Republican County Chairmen have joined Anne Evans Estabrook's U.S. Senate Exploratory Committee, along with three state legislators and a former GOP State Chairman. Hunterdon County GOP Chairman Henry Kuhl and Salem County GOP Chairman Paul Reed join GOP county leaders from Monmouth, Union, Camden and Gloucester counties as likely Estabrook for Senate supporters.

Assemblymen Peter Biondi and Sean Kean, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, and former GOP State Chairman Virginia Littell are also backing Estabrook. They join State Senators Joe Kyrillos and Diane Allen, and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin.

Jon Bramnick wants to succeed Frank Blee as the Assembly Minority Whip Running for Assembly Minority Whip, Jon Bramnick says he would like to reflect the diversity in his caucus by understanding and properly representing ideas from across the GOP spectrum to all members of his party and to his party’s leadership.

The Westfield attorney, who is completing his third term in the Legislature and now serves as Assistant Whip, believes he has the votes to succeed Assemblyman Francis J. Blee the the third-ranking Assembly GOP leadership post, behind Minority Leader Alex DeCroce and Minority Conference Leader Peter Biondi.