An Englewood physician is expected to join the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in New Jersey against incumbent Cory Booker within the next few days.
Dr. Robert S. Lebovics, a self-identified centrist and nationally-known otolaryngologist, has hired Jamestown Associates, one of the top media firms in the U.S. for Republican statewide candidates.
The filing deadline is on March 23, but the elimination of county organization lines by a federal judge two years ago gives candidates like Lebovics extra time to mount a statewide campaign without participating in the convention process.
Lebovics, 68, is the co-director of the Advanced Lung and Airway Center at Hackensack Meridian Health’s John F. Kennedy University Medical Center. He specializes in infectious and inflammatory disorders of the throat.
He lost bids for the Englewood City Council in 2003 and 2004, and then-Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) defeated him in a 2005 special election for the unexpired term of State Sen. Byron Baer by a 65%-35% margin. Weinberg won a 2011 rematch against Lebovics with 71% of the vote.
Three Republicans are dominating the race to take on Booker: former News 12 reporter Alex Zdan; Richard Tabor, a state trooper and U.S. Army veteran; and former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Michael Murphy. Natalie Rivera, who has run for Senate several times, is also in the race but has skipped Republican conventions in recent weeks.
Another potential candidate, comedian Vinnie Brand, had mulled a challenge to Booker but opted not to run.