The Associated Press is reporting that popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker formally declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on Saturday, saying, "We need someone in the United States Senate who's actually had to work on difficult problems, who's had to find people jobs." He is hoping to fill the seat of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died on Monday at age 89.
Booker, 44, said he hoped to bring a fresh pragmatic voice to Washington, where "too many have come to believe … nothing can get done."
"We need someone in the United States Senate who's actually had to work on difficult problems, who's actually had to find people jobs, who's actually had people standing in front of their homes and had to work on everything from getting people into food stamp programs to helping young people better afford college," Booker said.
Reps. Frank Pallone and Rush Holt are also planning to enter the Democratic primary, which is scheduled for Aug. 13. The only Republican running so far is Steve Lonegan, a former Bogota mayor who runs the New Jersey office of Americans for Prosperity.
Candidates have until 4 p.m. Monday to file petitions to enter the race.
Read more at the Huffington Post.