Oroho won’t rule out gubernatorial run

State Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Franklin) won’t rule out running for governor, even if he said such a run was extremely unlikely.

“I have no plans to run for governor,” Oroho said Tuesday. “I haven’t ruled it out. I haven’t ruled anything out, but it’s highly, highly, highly unlikely.”

The four-term state senator represents the squarely-Republican 24th district, which he has easily won since his first run in 2007.  He easily won a hotly contested primary with Assemblyman Guy Gregg when longtime State Sen. Robert Littell retired.

His voting record has won him accolades from right-leaning groups, including a 100% rating from the American Conservative Union, and his frequent opposition of Democratic initiatives, largely those related to social policies, could make him a strong contender in a Republican primary.

The campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination got an early jump this week when State Sen. Samuel Thompson (R-Old Bridge) said he wants Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) to run in three years.