TRENTON, New Jersey — One of New Jersey's best-known conservative activists is running for U.S. Senate.
Former Bogota (ba-GOH'-tah) Mayor Steve Lonegan on Thursday will announce he'll seek the Republican nomination in the August primary that will determine the candidates who will seek the seat left vacant when U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg died.
The special election will be held in October.
Gov. Chris Christie announced the election schedule on Tuesday, setting off a scramble for potential candidates who must file at least 1,000 signatures from supporters by Monday.
Lonegan is the first to publicly say he's in the race.
Lonegan has long been one of the main conservative voices in a state that usually elects Democrats. He is the New Jersey director of Americans For Prosperity and ran for governor in 2005 and 2009.
