McGuckin: No choice yet in CD3

Assemblyman Greg McGuckin declined to endorse a candidate in the third congressional district, saying he’d defer to the decision of Ocean County’s Republican Committee.

“We have a convention next month, and as we do in Ocean County, we’ll go by the results of our convention,” McGuckin said. “That’s it.”

Former construction company CEO David Richter dropped his challenge to Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) last month in favor of a run against Rep. Andy Kim (D-Marlton) in the third district.

That decision, which came after Van Drew’s defection to the Republican party effectively killed Richter’s second-district bid, puts the once-frontrunner against former Burlington County Freeholder Director Kate Gibbs.

Gibbs already has the party line in her home county, though Ocean County Republican Chairman Frank Holman has yet to make an endorsement.

Ocean County lawmakers are also steering clear of the race so far.