PolitickerNJ Names Two Residents, One Native as Potential Menendez Challengers

PolitickerNJ has listed two Westfield residents and one native as potential Republican challengers to U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-Hoboken) in the 2012 election.

The political news website has placed former Mayor Rich Bagger, currently chief of staff to Gov. Chris Christie, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) on the list, along with acting Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, who grew up in the Gardens. Kean unsuccessfully challenged Menendez in 2006 and Schundler, a former Jersey City mayor, has lost two races for governor.

Bagger, a former state senator, served as Westfield's mayor in 1991 and is one of the youngest people to serve on the Town Council. He left the Legislature in 2003 to become a pharmaceutical executive and took the Christie post after the new governor was elected.

Others on the list include Lt. Gov. Kim Guadago of Monmouth County, state Republican Chairman Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris County), former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs of Sussex County, state Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth County), former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, businessman John Crowley of Mercer County and acting State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, who is presently relocating to New Jersey.

Click here to see why PolitickerNJ placed Bagger, Kean and Schundler on their list and an analysis of each potential candidate: U.S. Senate 2012