Senate Majority Whip Troy Singleton (D-Delran) told the New Jersey Globe today that he won’t be a candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 3rd district, where Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) is giving up his seat after three terms to run for the U.S. Senate.
“I will not be seeking the congressional seat,” Singleton said. “I’m looking at what is happening in Washington. I like being able to get things done, and I’m sticking to Trenton.”
Singleton had been widely viewed as a strong contender for the Democratic nomination if he decided to run. He was re-elected to a third term in the Senate last week with a landslide 68% of the vote against Republican James Fazzone, a former Burlington City mayor.
Assembly Majority Whip Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel) announced her candidacy last month, eighteen days after Kim announced that he would challenge indicted U.S. Senator Bob Menendez in the Democratic primary.
Her running mate, Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr. (D-Delran), is also leaning towards a run for Congress, setting up possible convention fights in Burlington, Mercer, and Monmouth counties.
Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), a labor leader who is pro-life, and Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello are also thinking about a congressional run.
Singleton said his role will be to mediate any divisions between his running mates to avoid a disruption in Burlington County.
“There’s not one of us that’s bigger than our party,” he said.