With a Senate primary comes two contested Assembly seats

If Mike Doherty follows through on his threat to challenge Marcia Karrow in the 2009 Senate primary, it means both candidates might recruit State Assembly candidates to run on their ticket in the 23rd district.  Karrow will almost certainly run on the Hunterdon Republican organization line, and Warren has no line in GOP primaries.

Republicans will hold a special election convention to fill Karrow's Assembly seat.  Two Hunterdon County Freeholders, Matthew Holt and Erik Peterson, are among the candidates, and the results of Saturday's Senate election show a clear advantage for a Hunterdon-based candidate.  The loser of that contest could have another shot at the Assembly, if Karrow opts to run an all-Hunterdon ticket.

But Karrow and the Hunterdon Republicans could decide to continue the tradition of supporting one Warren County candidate for the Assembly.  Freeholders Richard Gardner and Everett Chamberlain are possible candidates, as are the eight Mayors who endorsed Karrow over Doherty: Bonnie Butler of Franklin, Kevin Duffy of Hardwick, Robert Giordano of Independence, John Inscho of Liberty, Ellen Nerback of Mansfield, Robert Resker of Allamuchy, Marianne Van Deursen of Washington, and Harry Wyant of Phillipsburg; or former Frelinghuysen Mayor Thomas Charles.

Should Warren County Freeholder John DiMaio, a Doherty supporter and friend, win the Assembly seat, he would have to decide if he'll run for a full term on the Hunterdon line with Karrow - if the GOP organization were to offer their support - or run with Doherty. Another Doherty backer mulling an Assembly bid, Bloomsbury Mayor Mark Peck, would face a similar situation.

Doherty will likely seek to run with at least one Hunterdon County candidate, probably Peck, and recruit candidates for Freeholder to assure him his own line in the primary.  This could also impact the race for Governor, depending on who the Hunterdon Republican organization supports.  Steve Lonegan endorsed Doherty over Karrow.

In addition to Peck, possible Hunterdon-based Assembly candidates on a Doherty ticket include Richard O'Malley, the Mayor of Karrow's hometown, Raritan Township, and High Bridge Mayor Mark Desire.