Jim Saxton

The two New Jersey House seats most clearly in play next year are the two that have been held by the Republicans for the longest period of time:  Democrats have not won the seat now held by Jim Saxton for 126 years, and Mike Ferguson’s district has not elected a Democrat since 1954.

Former Tabernacle Township Committeeman Justin Murphy says he will seek the Republican nomination for Congress in the 3rd district, according to a report in the Courier-Post.  The 41-year-old businessman will oppose Medford Deputy Mayor Christopher Myers and Ocean County Freeholder John Kelly for the seat of Rep. Jim Saxton, who is retiring after 24 years in Congress.  The seat has been held by the GOP continuously since 1884.

Rep. Jim Saxton stands by his endorsement of Duncan Hunter for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, even though Hunter made a strategic decision to skip the February 5 New Jersey primary.

In a statement, Saxton said that Hunter’s move not to file in New Jersey was unfortunate but necessary as he concentrates his resources in other states.

“Duncan is a good guy and a great candidate for president, but because of his funding disadvantage he has concentrated his efforts in key states in the electoral process,” Saxton said.

The most gracious move of the week may have come from Ocean County Freeholder John Kelly, who without opposition became George Gilmore’s choice to succeed Jim Saxton as the third district Congressman.  At the Republican Convention that Kelly won by acclamation (as is usually the case once the Screening Committee makes the decision), he invited his likely primary opponent, Medford Deputy Mayor Christopher Myers, to join him at the podium and address the Ocean County GOP delegates.  Classy move.

Four presidential candidates did not file for the February 5 New Jersey presidential primary: Democrats Christopher Dodd and Mike Gravel, and Republicans Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter.  Dodd is a five-term U.S. Senator from Connecticut, and Hunter, a San Diego Republican who once chaired the House Armed Services Committee, has the support of retiring GOP Congressman Jim Saxton.

GOP Ocean County Freeholder Director Jack Kelly takes the fight to Democratic Party candidate in the 3rd Congressional district, state Sen. Jack Adler.

Ocean County Republicans today picked Freeholder John Kelly as their candidate for Congress.  Kelly, who was backed by the party screening committee on Saturday, won unanimously after Freeholder Joseph Vicari dropped out. 

Kelly, a former Mayor of Eaglewood, is now expected to face defense contractor Christopher Myers, the Deputy Mayor of Medford, in the GOP primary.  The winner will face State Sen. John Adler in the general election for the seat being vacated by 12-term incumbent Jim Saxton

Sources close to Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore say based on the results of their interviews with U.S. Congressional prospects on Saturday, a screening committee plans to recommend the name of Freeholder Director John "Jack" Kelly to the Republican County Committee.

Kelly's name will be entered as the committee's choice to represent Ocean County in the Republican Party primary for the 3rd Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton is retiring.

If the full committee accepts the recommendation at its convention on Monday evening, that would set up an inter-county GOP showdown between Kelly of Ocean County and defense industry boss Chris Myers of Medford Township in Burlington County.

Former GOP State Chairman David Norcross says he won't seek Jim Saxton's seat

The field of potential Burlington County candidate to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton cleared up today, with Republican National Committeeman David Norcross and Freeholder Aubrey Fenton both removing their names from consideration and throwing their support behind the county’s presumptive favorite candidate, Lockheed Martin Vice President Chris Myers.

Myers, 42, the Deputy Mayor of Medford, is the chosen candidate of Burlington County GOP power broker Glenn Paulsen, and has the tacit approval of Saxton. He now looks almost certain to become that county’s chosen candidate.

Norcross, 64, was considered a top tier potential challenger. A prolific fundraiser, Norcross has a long political resume as a former U.S. Senate candidate and GOP state chairman. He currently serves as co-chair of Mitt Romney’s New Jersey campaign.

Ocean County Republicans will hold a screening committee meeting on Saturday morning to meet the candidates for Jim Saxton’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.  In Ocean County, where GOP Chairman George Gilmore rules firmly, an endorsement from the screening committee is almost tantamount to a victory at the open county GOP convention – which will be held on Monday night.

The likely Burlington County candidate, Medford Deputy Mayor and Lockheed Martin Vice President Christopher Myers, plans to screen in Ocean – sources say that former GOP State Chairman David Norcross will not appear before the screening committee, a strong indication that he has decided not to run.  Insiders