State Senator Ray Lesniak (D-20) addressed recent rumors of a 2017 gubernatorial run during an interview with Hudson County View, stating: “if enough people think I’m the right person to lead this state … I’ll run for governor.”
Lesniak answered the off-topic question after testifying to the state Assembly Judiciary Committee about the controversial proposed $225 million ExxonMobil settlement on Wednesday.
Should Lesniak throw his hat into the ring, he would likely square off with former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Phil Murphy in the Democratic primary.
Murphy told Hudson County View last month he was “seriously” considering a run at the Garden State’s top elected office.
They would likely also see a challenger in Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who has brushed off talk that he is already in election mode – despite routinely attending Democratic events throughout the state.
Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) is also in the mix, especially given that one of his former top aides opened a Super PAC to support “Democratic candidates for Governor in the State of New Jersey” (h/t NJ Advance Media).
