Assembly Speaker not usually a stepping stone to Congress
By Wally EdgeIf Albio Sires wins the 13th district congressional seat -- as he is widely expected to do -- he will become the first former Assembly Speaker to go to Congress in thirty years. The last was Joseph LeFante, a Bayonne Democrat, who won a House seat in 1976 when Congressman Dominick Daniels retired. LeFante lasted one term; he was replaced by the Hudson County Democratic Organization in 1978 by Frank Guarini, a former State Senator. Before LeFante, the last Speaker-turned-Congressman was Charles Wolverton, a Republican from Camden County who served in Congress from 1926 to 1958. The last Senate President to win a seat in Congress was Edwin Forsythe; the Burlington County Republican served in the House from 1971 until his death in 1984.
Meaningless trivia: The last state legislative speaker to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives was Tip O'Neill. The Massachusetts Democrat was serving as Speaker of the State House of Representatives in 1952 when John F. Kennedy gave up his House seat to run for the U.S. Senate.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Michael Doherty. a West Point graduate and one of the state's most conservative legislators, will take his seat in the State Senate today. A ... >
Bob Torricelli
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Political discourse in America contains much in the way of intellect or intellectual honesty. One considers the Federalist Papers with wistful awe: ... >
Jeff Michaels
As pundits and party leaders look to next year’s Congressional elections in NJ, it appears that freshman Democrat John Adler is the most vulnerable ... >
Richard LaRossa
When will NJ Republicans start acting like Republicans rather than Democrats. Time to stand up for your principles, assuming they have any left. >
Alan Steinberg
As in any transition, speculation is rampant as to whom Governor-elect Chris Christie will appoint as Chief of Staff, State Treasurer, and Attorney ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
Now that the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this ... >
Carla Katz
When he was growing up, Chris Christie's folks must have taught him that when he went to a new playground, he should pick a fight with the ... >
Joey Novick
I have a Blackberry device that I am not completely thrilled with. It’s clunky and not intuitive like an IPhone, which I would rather ... >
Murray Sabrin
New Jersey voters repudiated Governor Jon Corzine's policies of the past four years on November 3rd. Republican Chris Christie and Independent ... >
Poll
Hot Topics
Most Active Stories
- Christie names 19 subcommittee chairs
- Velez-Gentry would take Christie administration position if offered
- Bergen County prepares for the unusual: Republican Freeholders
- Dem leadership teams come together after emerging from caucus meetings
- Hayden files Ferriero motion
- Milgram charges GOP consultant over robocall impersonating Rumana staffer
- Lesniak: bring gay marraige up for a vote
- Goldstein leads 250 marriage equality activists for march on the Statehouse
- Senate Democrats back Sweeney for senate president, says Sarlo
- Wisniewski to make formal play for state party chair when Cryan makes departure official
- Bergen County prepares for the unusual: Republican Freeholders
- Milgram charges GOP consultant over robocall impersonating Rumana staffer
- Velez-Gentry would take Christie administration position if offered
- Lesniak: bring gay marraige up for a vote
- Dem leadership teams come together after emerging from caucus meetings
- Spicuzzo nomination passes committee
- Christie names 19 subcommittee chairs
- Marlboro mayor won't rule out '13 bid for governor
- Fifis formally announces Burlco Dem leadership bid
- Hayden files Ferriero motion
- Quinnipiac: Christie leads 50%-40%
- Quinnipiac poll has Christie ahead by 4 points as Corzine gets closer
- Christie, in West New York, takes questions
- Gore makes his case for Corzine
- Potential LG rivals Allen and Weinberg ally for county committee reform legislation
- Final debate schedule
- Torricelli on making perfection the enemy of good
- Autistic man seeks Assembly seat in 37th
- Jeb Bush attends Christie fundraiser
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
“A lot of blood on the floor.” - Senate President Dick Codey (D-Roseland), emerging from the caucus room after losing his leadership position to Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford)
Recent Press Releases
- Nov 23 2009
Syndicate
