Mazzeo still hasn’t ruled out Senate bid

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-Northfield) hasn’t ruled out launching a challenge to State Sen. Chris Brown (R-Ventnor City) next year.

“No, I haven’t ruled it out, but I haven’t confirmed it either,” he told the New jersey Globe Friday. “I’m just seeing what transpires in the next couple months. I haven’t ruled it out though.”

Mazzeo, one of four Democratic assemblymen who holds a seat in districts with split representation, declined to rule out a State Senate bid last March.

His running mate, Assemblyman John Armato (D-Buena Vista) has also declined to rule out a challenge to Brown. He did so in February and again on Thursday.

It’s not clear which of the two South Jersey’s Democratic leaders would prefer for the seat. Mazzeo has represented the district longer, first winning election in 2013, and won a greater share of votes than Armato in 2017 and 2019.

It’s not clear that that makes him a favorite to challenge Brown. Both Assembly seats will be up in 2021, and despite Democrats’ aspirations of ousting the Republican senator, the second district remains competitive.

The fact that Democrats want the seat couldn’t be much more obvious. Armato and Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) launched early attacks at Brown over comments he made during a speech at a Veterans Day ceremony that appear to be a bid to boost the incumbent’s negatives ahead of his re-election bid.

This all comes with a big caveat. If New Jersey gets census data before Feb. 15, district lines will be redrawn for next year’s races.